What is the minimum age to work as a youth sports referee in Louisiana?

14 (under 14: agriculture, domestic, parents) No referee carve-out (R.S. 23:151). State law keys on 'employ/permit to work' - no 1099 carve-out; misclassifying minor officials as contractors does not avoid child-labor rules.

When is a final paycheck due in Louisiana if you let someone go?

Next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever earlier Penalty up to 90 days' wages + fees (LSA-RS 23:631-632). Accrued vacation must be paid.

How does Louisiana decide whether a coach or referee is a 1099 contractor or an employee?

Common law / right to control (no state MW law; FLSA governs)

Does a youth sports league in Louisiana need workers' compensation for 1099 referees and coaches?

Louisiana's act defines an independent contractor as a person who renders service, other than manual labor, for a specified recompense for a specified result, controlling the means and not subject to the principal's control except as to the result (La. R.S. 23:1021(7)). Two things pull 1099 workers back in: the manual labor exception (a contractor who spends a substantial part of work time in manual labor that is part of the principal's business is covered) and the statutory employer rule in 23:1061, under which a principal is liable for the employees of an uninsured contractor doing work that is part of the principal's trade or business, with a written contract creating a rebuttable presumption. Status is otherwise judged by the right-to-control factors. Sole proprietors and partners are not employees unless they elect coverage (23:1035); Louisiana has no general contractor waiver or certificate of exemption. Sports officials: None found in the WC act or in 23:1472 (UI, ABC test). Bottom line: refereeing and coaching are not usually treated as manual labor, so a per-game 1099 referee who meets the 23:1021(7) definition is not covered; coaches whose schedules, methods and pay are set by the league are at risk under both the control test and, for UI, the ABC test, and the 1711 misclassification penalties apply.

For youth sports organizations and event operators · Louisiana rulebook

Youth sports labor rules in Louisiana: who can you put in the game, and what do you owe them?

State rules for everyone a youth sports organization pays: coaches and trainers on payroll, officials and event staff on 1099, program and front-office staff, and the teenagers you hire for a season. Wages, final pay, minors, contractor status, workers' comp, safe sport and youth safety, 50 states + DC, checked against statute text.

Last reviewed Oct 1, 202651 jurisdictions · 32 rules each

Step 1

Pick the state where the work happens

Rules follow where people work, not where you are based. Running an event? Use the event state. Operating a club or league? Use the state where your staff coach, officiate and work.

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Set a role, age and pay type below to see which rules apply to your organization.

Step 2

Check a staffing plan

Tell us who you are paying, how old they are, and whether they are on payroll or 1099. We rank what applies.

State where the work happens

Role

Worker age

Paid as

Not sure if someone should be 1099 or on payroll?Answer 5 plain-English questions. We explain the sticking points in your state.5-question check

Tourney Direct does not decide classification. Confirm with a tax advisor or attorney before you onboard anyone as a contractor.

Step 3

Everything on file for Louisiana

All 32 rules for this state, with the statutes and agency pages they came from.

Wages and pay
Minimum wage (2026): $7.25 (federal; no state law)
Required pay frequency: Bi-weekly/semi-monthly (only certain industries, 10+ emps)
Final paycheck if you let them go: Next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever earlier
Final paycheck if they quit: Same as fired
Final-pay penalties: Penalty up to 90 days' wages + fees (LSA-RS 23:631-632). Accrued vacation must be paid.
State income tax withholding: Yes
Workers' comp required at: 1+
New-hire report due (days): 20
Minors
Minimum working age: 14 (under 14: agriculture, domestic, parents)
Work permit: Yes, under 18 (Employment Certificate 'blue card' issued by school/parish; LWC online)
Ages 14 to 15, school in session: 3 hrs/school day, 18 hrs/wk, 6 days; 7am-7pm
Ages 14 to 15, summer and breaks: 8 hrs/day, 40 hrs/wk, 6 days; 7am-9pm June 1-Labor Day
Ages 16 to 17: No daily/weekly cap; non-graduates: age 16 no work 11pm-5am before school day, age 17 no work midnight-5am before school day (2024 Act 486 removed 30-min break requirement for 16-17)
Weekend and evening games: No curfew before non-school days for 16-17; 8-hr day for 14-15 on Sat/Sun
Referee, coach and recreation exemptions: No referee carve-out (R.S. 23:151). State law keys on 'employ/permit to work' - no 1099 carve-out; misclassifying minor officials as contractors does not avoid child-labor rules.
Contractors and leave
How this state decides 1099 vs. payroll: Common law / right to control (no state MW law; FLSA governs)
Same question, for unemployment insurance: ABC test (La. R.S. 23:1472(12)(E))
Referee-specific rule: None found (no officials-specific statute; general tests apply) (assault laws only)
Workers' comp for 1099 referees and coaches: Louisiana's act defines an independent contractor as a person who renders service, other than manual labor, for a specified recompense for a specified result, controlling the means and not subject to the principal's control except as to the result (La. R.S. 23:1021(7)). Two things pull 1099 workers back in: the manual labor exception (a contractor who spends a substantial part of work time in manual labor that is part of the principal's business is covered) and the statutory employer rule in 23:1061, under which a principal is liable for the employees of an uninsured contractor doing work that is part of the principal's trade or business, with a written contract creating a rebuttable presumption. Status is otherwise judged by the right-to-control factors. Sole proprietors and partners are not employees unless they elect coverage (23:1035); Louisiana has no general contractor waiver or certificate of exemption. Sports officials: None found in the WC act or in 23:1472 (UI, ABC test). Bottom line: refereeing and coaching are not usually treated as manual labor, so a per-game 1099 referee who meets the 23:1021(7) definition is not covered; coaches whose schedules, methods and pay are set by the league are at risk under both the control test and, for UI, the ABC test, and the 1711 misclassification penalties apply.
Seasonal or recreation carve-out: No state MW/OT; FLSA 13(a)(3) applies
Paid sick leave: No
Paid family and medical leave: No
What it costs to get it wrong: La. R.S. 23:1711(G): $250 first / $500 subsequent per misclassified worker (UI); Fresh Start program
Safety
Background checks: None statewide for private leagues, check municipal/league policy (La. R.S. 15:587.1 permits checks for youth-serving orgs; NCPA channeling via LSP).
Safe sport: state law: No state safe-sport statute for private youth leagues; federal SafeSport Act baseline and NGB rules apply. Louisiana's only coach-training law is injury-focused: SB 260 (2026 RS), Act 377, signed and effective May 22, 2026, amends R.S. 9:2798 and enacts R.S. 40:1087.2 so that volunteer coaches, managers, trainers, team health providers and officials of youth leagues and teams keep their civil-liability immunity only if they complete a league safety orientation or a Louisiana Department of Health-approved youth injury mitigation course (emergency preparedness, concussion, heat, overuse, cardiac). It contains no abuse-prevention content and is a condition of immunity, not a mandate. No Louisiana statute requires two-adult, one-on-one, electronic-communication, locker-room or travel policies or parent abuse-information sheets from private leagues, and none adopts the SafeSport Code. Coach-relevant criminal law: the Max Gruver Act (R.S. 14:40.8, 2018) criminalizes hazing, and R.S. 14:81.4 bars sexual conduct between educators and students (school coaches). Cross-reference: Louisiana already names youth sports administrators, employees and volunteers as mandated reporters (Ch.C. art. 603(17)), covered in the existing column.
Safe sport: federal SafeSport Act and NGB rules: National baseline: the SafeSport Act (36 U.S.C. 220541-43, 18 U.S.C. 2258, Pub. L. 115-126 as amended by Pub. L. 116-189 in 2020, no later amendment found) binds NGBs and their member clubs in interstate competition to SafeSport Core training, MAAPP policies and 24-hour reporting to the Center and law enforcement. Louisiana overlay: the state's mandated-reporter rule for youth activity providers (Ch.C. art. 603(17), art. 609, immediate report to DCFS) is stricter than the federal timing, so NGB clubs should report immediately to DCFS and within 24 hours to the Center. Act 377 (2026) safety training is a separate immunity condition that MAAPP compliance does not satisfy. LHSAA rules bind school coaches only.
Concussion law: La. R.S. 40:1089.1-.5 (Louisiana Youth Concussion Act, 2011), schools AND youth athletic activities/organizations; coaches/officials annual education; RTP written clearance by licensed health-care provider.
Sudden cardiac arrest law: Yes (school), La. R.S. 17:440.3/.4 (2019/2024): high school coaches CPR/first aid/AED. Youth leagues not covered.
CPR and AED: High school coaches CPR/AED (La. R.S. 17:440.3). None for youth leagues.
Coaches as mandated reporters: Coaches named: La. Ch.C. art. 603(17): 'organizational or youth activity provider' incl. administrators/employees/volunteers of youth sports programs (Act 2012). No SafeSport-style state mandate.
Coach certification: None for non-school coaches.
Assault-on-official law: Yes: La. R.S. 14:34.4 (battery of school/recreation athletic contest official) & 14:38.4 (harassment).

All states

Rulebook by state

Louisiana at a glance: minimum wage $7.25 (federal; no state law). Final paycheck when you let someone go: Next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever earlier. Minimum working age: 14 (under 14: agriculture, domestic, parents). Background checks for youth sports: None statewide for private leagues, check municipal/league policy (La. R.S. 15:587.1 permits checks for youth-serving orgs; NCPA channeling via LSP).