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

14 (under 14: parents, newspaper, lawn care/snow removal, performers) Unpaid nonprofit volunteers, parent-employed, lawn care, HS grads exempt; 16-17 seasonal amusement/recreation partial exemption; no referee carve-out. 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 Ohio if you let someone go?

Next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever first Liquidated damages under ORC 4113.15. PTO per policy.

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

Common law / right to control (ORC 4111 follows FLSA; economic reality)

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

Ohio is a monopolistic state; employers with one or more employees must carry coverage through the Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) or be approved self-insurers. Independent contractors are not "employees" under ORC 4123.01(A). Outside construction, BWC and the courts apply the common-law right-to-control test (Bostic v. Connor, 1988): who controls the details, hours, tools and manner of work, method of payment, and whether the work is part of the regular business. For construction contracts only, 4123.01(A)(1)(c) sets a 20-factor list where meeting ten factors makes the worker an employee. There is no IC exemption certificate or waiver, and a 1099 does not control. Sole proprietors, partners and LLC members are excluded unless they elect coverage (4123.01(A)(2)); nonprofit volunteer officers are excluded. Ohio has no general statutory employer rule, but BWC can bill a hiring employer for premium on misclassified workers and treat uninsured subcontractors' payroll as the general contractor's in construction. No express sports-official exclusion exists for WC in ch. 4123 or for UI in 4141.01 (NASO lists Ohio as having only proposed legislation). Bottom line: a youth league paying 1099 referees and coaches is at risk; BWC audits reclassify workers and assess back premium, and officials who take league-assigned games at league-set rates tend to fail the control test.

For youth sports organizations and event operators · Ohio rulebook

Youth sports labor rules in Ohio: 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.

Color the map by

n/a

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 Ohio

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

Wages and pay
Minimum wage (2026): $11.00; $11.40 on 1/1/2027 (tipped $5.70; $7.25 small employers)
Required pay frequency: Semi-monthly
Final paycheck if you let them go: Next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever first
Final paycheck if they quit: Same as fired
Final-pay penalties: Liquidated damages under ORC 4113.15. PTO per policy.
State income tax withholding: Yes
Workers' comp required at: 1+ (monopolistic BWC fund)
New-hire report due (days): 20
Minors
Minimum working age: 14 (under 14: parents, newspaper, lawn care/snow removal, performers)
Work permit: Yes: under 16 any time, 16-17 during school term (Age & Schooling Certificate issued by school superintendent; HS grads exempt)
Ages 14 to 15, school in session: 3 hrs/school day, 18 hrs/wk; 7am-7pm (SB 50 to allow 9pm year-round w/ parental consent VETOED 12/3/2025)
Ages 14 to 15, summer and breaks: 8 hrs/day, 40 hrs/wk; 7am-9pm June 1-Sept 1 and school holidays of 5+ days
Ages 16 to 17: No daily/weekly cap; if required to attend school: no work 11pm before school day to 7am on school day (6am if not employed after 8pm prior night)
Weekend and evening games: 16-17 at seasonal amusement/recreational establishments exempt from certain hour rules (ORC 4109.06(D)); no curfew before non-school days
Referee, coach and recreation exemptions: Unpaid nonprofit volunteers, parent-employed, lawn care, HS grads exempt; 16-17 seasonal amusement/recreation partial exemption; no referee carve-out. 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 (ORC 4111 follows FLSA; economic reality)
Same question, for unemployment insurance: IRS 20-factor / common law (ORC 4141.01(B)(2)(k))
Referee-specific rule: None found (no officials-specific statute; general tests apply)
Workers' comp for 1099 referees and coaches: Ohio is a monopolistic state; employers with one or more employees must carry coverage through the Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) or be approved self-insurers. Independent contractors are not "employees" under ORC 4123.01(A). Outside construction, BWC and the courts apply the common-law right-to-control test (Bostic v. Connor, 1988): who controls the details, hours, tools and manner of work, method of payment, and whether the work is part of the regular business. For construction contracts only, 4123.01(A)(1)(c) sets a 20-factor list where meeting ten factors makes the worker an employee. There is no IC exemption certificate or waiver, and a 1099 does not control. Sole proprietors, partners and LLC members are excluded unless they elect coverage (4123.01(A)(2)); nonprofit volunteer officers are excluded. Ohio has no general statutory employer rule, but BWC can bill a hiring employer for premium on misclassified workers and treat uninsured subcontractors' payroll as the general contractor's in construction. No express sports-official exclusion exists for WC in ch. 4123 or for UI in 4141.01 (NASO lists Ohio as having only proposed legislation). Bottom line: a youth league paying 1099 referees and coaches is at risk; BWC audits reclassify workers and assess back premium, and officials who take league-assigned games at league-set rates tend to fail the control test.
Seasonal or recreation carve-out: ORC 4111.03(A) applies state OT 'subject to the exemptions of section 7 and section 13' of the FLSA (so 13(a)(3) seasonal amusement/recreation applies); 4111.03(D)(3)(g) also excludes employees of nonprofit camps/recreational areas for under-18s; 4111.14(B) excludes from state MW those exempt under 29 U.S.C. 213.
Paid sick leave: No
Paid family and medical leave: No
What it costs to get it wrong: No dedicated statute; BWC/ODJFS audits
Safety
Background checks: None statewide for private leagues, check municipal/league policy (ORC 109.572/109.578 permit BCI/FBI checks for youth-serving orgs).
Safe sport: state law: No state safe-sport statute for private youth leagues; federal SafeSport Act baseline and NGB rules apply. Ohio's youth-sports mandates are injury-based: ORC 3707.511 concussion and Lindsay's Law (ORC 3707.58-.59) sudden cardiac arrest training for youth sports organization coaches and officials, with parent information sheets, both of which apply to private leagues (see coach_certification). Nothing requires abuse-prevention training, two-adult, electronic-communication, locker-room or travel policies, or SafeSport Code adoption. Collin's Law, SB 126 (eff. 10/7/2021), rewrote ORC 2903.31 to make hazing a second-degree misdemeanor (third-degree felony with forced alcohol or drugs) and added a duty for school administrators, employees, teachers, consultants and volunteers to report hazing immediately to law enforcement (fourth-degree misdemeanor if ignored); it covers primary, secondary and postsecondary schools and their organizations, not independent leagues. ORC 2907.03(A)(7)-(9) sexual battery covers teachers, administrators and coaches at a school with student victims; private-league coaches fall under general offenses. Coaches are not named mandated reporters under ORC 2151.421 (see mandatory_reporter_coaches). No pending abuse-prevention bill for youth sports identified in the 136th General Assembly as of 10/1/2026.
Safe sport: federal SafeSport Act and NGB rules: Nationally, the Safe Sport Act (36 U.S.C. 220541-220543, 220530; Pub. L. 115-126 as amended by Pub. L. 116-189, 2020) requires NGBs and amateur sports organizations in interstate or international competition to report suspected child abuse within 24 hours (34 U.S.C. 20341), limit one-on-one adult-minor contact (MAAPP), give SafeSport Core training and keep oversight procedures; the 2026 SafeSport Code applies. In Ohio the federal duty is the only abuse-reporting rule for most private-club coaches, since ORC 2151.421 does not list them. NGB clubs must stack the state's concussion and Lindsay's Law training and parent sheets on top of SafeSport Core. The OHSAA promotes the NFHS Protecting Students from Abuse course but does not require SafeSport; school coaches also carry the Collin's Law hazing-report duty.
Concussion law: ORC §3313.539 (schools) & §3707.51-.52 (youth sports organizations, 2013), youth leagues covered; coaches/referees must complete ODH-approved training every 3 years; RTP written clearance by physician or licensed provider.
Sudden cardiac arrest law: Yes: Lindsay's Law, ORC §3313.5310 (schools) & §3707.58-.59 (youth sports organizations, 2017): annual coach SCA training; info to parents; removal & clearance.
CPR and AED: Schools: AED (ORC 3313.6023). None for youth leagues.
Coaches as mandated reporters: Not specifically: ORC §2151.421(A)(1)(b) (current through HB 96, eff. 9/30/2025): professionals, school employees, child-care center staff, 'administrator or employee of a residential camp, child day camp' etc. Coaches, youth-sports staff and volunteers not named; no 2023-26 amendment adds them. Checked 9/9/2026.
Coach certification: Only ODH concussion + Lindsay's Law training for youth coaches/officials; school coaches ODE pupil-activity permit.
Assault-on-official law: No (HB 79 pending).

All states

Rulebook by state

Ohio at a glance: minimum wage $11.00; $11.40 on 1/1/2027 (tipped $5.70; $7.25 small employers). Final paycheck when you let someone go: Next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever first. Minimum working age: 14 (under 14: parents, newspaper, lawn care/snow removal, performers). Background checks for youth sports: None statewide for private leagues, check municipal/league policy (ORC 109.572/109.578 permit BCI/FBI checks for youth-serving orgs).