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

14 (under 14: 9+ newspaper, 12+ agriculture berry/bean; parents) Parent-employed exempt; no referee carve-out (ORS 653.305 et seq.). Employer certificate needed even for seasonal event operators. 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 Oregon if you let someone go?

End of next business day Penalty: wages continue up to 30 days (ORS 652.150). PTO per policy.

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

Statutory (ORS 670.600: free from control + independently established business, multi-factor)

For youth sports organizations and event operators · Oregon rulebook

Youth sports labor rules in Oregon: 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 and youth safety, 50 states + DC, checked against statute text.

Last reviewed Sep 9, 202651 jurisdictions · 29 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

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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 Oregon

All 29 rules for this state, with the statutes and agency pages they came from.

Wages and pay
Minimum wage (2026): $15.55 std; $16.80 Portland metro; $14.55 nonurban (indexed 7/1/2027)
Required pay frequency: Monthly (≤35 days apart)
Final paycheck if you let them go: End of next business day
Final paycheck if they quit: Immediately if ≥48 hrs notice; else within 5 business days or next payday, whichever first
Final-pay penalties: Penalty: wages continue up to 30 days (ORS 652.150). PTO per policy.
State income tax withholding: Yes
Workers' comp required at: 1+
New-hire report due (days): 20
Minors
Minimum working age: 14 (under 14: 9+ newspaper, 12+ agriculture berry/bean; parents)
Work permit: No per-minor permit; EMPLOYER must hold annual BOLI Employment Certificate to employ minors and keep proof of age
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: 44 hrs/wk max (emergency overtime permit); no daily cap; no curfew
Weekend and evening games: 2026 law locks state minor-hour rules at no less protective than FLSA (eff. 1/1/2026)
Referee, coach and recreation exemptions: Parent-employed exempt; no referee carve-out (ORS 653.305 et seq.). Employer certificate needed even for seasonal event operators. 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: Statutory (ORS 670.600: free from control + independently established business, multi-factor)
Same question, for unemployment insurance: Statutory (ORS 670.600 applies to UI under ORS 657.040)
Referee-specific rule: WC: ORS 656.027(13) certified amateur sports officials and (26) match-by-match recreational soccer referees are nonsubject workers. UI: ORS 657.088 (2011 c.106), 'Employment does not include officiating services' at recreational, interscholastic or intercollegiate amateur events, except for nonprofit, state, political-subdivision or tribal employing units.
Seasonal or recreation carve-out: ORS 653.020(10) excludes seasonal employees of a nonprofit organized camp or a for-profit organized camp with <$500,000 gross annual income; (11) excludes employees of nonprofit educational/charitable/religious conference grounds. No seasonal amusement/recreation exemption.
Paid sick leave: Yes: Oregon Sick Time: 1 hr/30 hrs up to 40 hrs (paid if 10+ EEs / 6+ in Portland); part-time/seasonal covered
Paid family and medical leave: Yes: Paid Leave Oregon: 1% total, 60% employee / 40% employer (employers <25 exempt from employer share)
What it costs to get it wrong: ORS 670.600 misclassification: back taxes + penalties; ORS 652/653 civil penalties
Safety
Background checks: Partial: ORS 329A.030/.250/.255 (Central Background Registry) applies to 'school-age recorded programs' (before/after-school & recreation programs recorded with DELC); private youth leagues not mandated, check municipal/league policy. NCPA channeling via OSP.
Concussion law: ORS 336.485 (Max's Law, schools) & ORS 417.875 (Jenna's Law, 2013), non-school youth sports: referees and coaches must complete annual concussion training; parent info; RTP clearance by health-care professional.
Sudden cardiac arrest law: None youth-specific (OSAA policies).
CPR and AED: AED required at places of public assembly ≥50,000 sq ft w/ ≥50 people/day (ORS 431A.450), can include large sports facilities; school coaches first aid via OSAA. Youth league coaches: none.
Coaches as mandated reporters: Coaches named: ORS 419B.005(6): compensated coach/assistant coach/trainer of child athletes (2012). Volunteer coaches not named.
Coach certification: Jenna's Law annual training for youth coaches/referees (ORS 417.875).
Assault-on-official law: Yes (civil), ORS 30.882? (liquidated damages for offensive physical contact with sports official).

All states

Rulebook by state

Oregon at a glance: minimum wage $15.55 std; $16.80 Portland metro; $14.55 nonurban (indexed 7/1/2027). Final paycheck when you let someone go: End of next business day. Minimum working age: 14 (under 14: 9+ newspaper, 12+ agriculture berry/bean; parents). Background checks for youth sports: Partial: ORS 329A.030/.250/.255 (Central Background Registry) applies to 'school-age recorded programs' (before/after-school & recreation programs recorded with DELC); private youth leagues not mandated, check municipal/league policy. NCPA channeling via OSP.