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

14 (under 14: parents, farm, newspaper, casual) No referee carve-out (SDCL 60-12). 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 South Dakota if you let someone go?

Next regular payday (may hold until property returned) Penalties under SDCL 60-11. PTO per policy.

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

South Dakota's act covers employees, not independent contractors. SDCL 62-1-3 defines "employee" as any person in the service of another under a contract of employment. SDCL 62-1-11 supplies the contractor test, which is the same two-part test used for UI (61-1-11): the person must be free from control or direction over performance of the service, both under the contract and in fact, and customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation or business. A worker may sign an independent-contractor affidavit under 62-1-19, which creates only a rebuttable presumption. Coverage is nominally presumed accepted (62-3-3), but there is no penalty for not insuring; an uninsured employer loses its common-law defenses and can be sued or face double benefits (62-3-11), which is why the rulebook lists SD as elective. Sole proprietors are not employees and need no waiver; owner-operators may elect in (62-1-13). A principal or intermediate contractor is liable for a subcontractor's injured employees to the same extent as the immediate employer (62-3-10). No express exclusion of sports officials from WC or UI was found; NASO lists none. Bottom line: 1099 referees and coaches are outside the act if they meet both prongs; a league that dictates assignments and methods risks an employee finding, which matters mainly as tort exposure without defenses if the league carries no policy.

For youth sports organizations and event operators · South Dakota rulebook

Youth sports labor rules in South Dakota: 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 South Dakota

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

Wages and pay
Minimum wage (2026): $11.85 (indexed 1/1/2027)
Required pay frequency: Monthly
Final paycheck if you let them go: Next regular payday (may hold until property returned)
Final paycheck if they quit: Same as fired
Final-pay penalties: Penalties under SDCL 60-11. PTO per policy.
State income tax withholding: No
Workers' comp required at: Elective (not mandatory; employers lose defenses)
New-hire report due (days): 20
Minors
Minimum working age: 14 (under 14: parents, farm, newspaper, casual)
Work permit: No
Ages 14 to 15, school in session: State: 4 hrs/school day, 20 hrs/wk; no work after 10pm before school day - FLSA 3/18, 7pm governs
Ages 14 to 15, summer and breaks: 8 hrs/day, 40 hrs/wk; FLSA 9pm summer
Ages 16 to 17: None: federal has none
Weekend and evening games: State law looser than FLSA; FLSA controls
Referee, coach and recreation exemptions: No referee carve-out (SDCL 60-12). 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
Same question, for unemployment insurance: ABC test (SDCL 61-1-11)
Referee-specific rule: None found (no officials-specific statute; general tests apply)
Workers' comp for 1099 referees and coaches: South Dakota's act covers employees, not independent contractors. SDCL 62-1-3 defines "employee" as any person in the service of another under a contract of employment. SDCL 62-1-11 supplies the contractor test, which is the same two-part test used for UI (61-1-11): the person must be free from control or direction over performance of the service, both under the contract and in fact, and customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation or business. A worker may sign an independent-contractor affidavit under 62-1-19, which creates only a rebuttable presumption. Coverage is nominally presumed accepted (62-3-3), but there is no penalty for not insuring; an uninsured employer loses its common-law defenses and can be sued or face double benefits (62-3-11), which is why the rulebook lists SD as elective. Sole proprietors are not employees and need no waiver; owner-operators may elect in (62-1-13). A principal or intermediate contractor is liable for a subcontractor's injured employees to the same extent as the immediate employer (62-3-10). No express exclusion of sports officials from WC or UI was found; NASO lists none. Bottom line: 1099 referees and coaches are outside the act if they meet both prongs; a league that dictates assignments and methods risks an employee finding, which matters mainly as tort exposure without defenses if the league carries no policy.
Seasonal or recreation carve-out: SDCL 60-11-3 excludes from state MW employees of amusement or recreational establishments, organized camps, or religious/nonprofit educational conference centers meeting the 7-month or 33-1/3% receipts test (SD has no state OT law).
Paid sick leave: No
Paid family and medical leave: No
What it costs to get it wrong: No dedicated statute
Safety
Background checks: None statewide: check municipal/league policy.
Safe sport: state law: No state safe-sport statute for private youth leagues; federal SafeSport Act baseline and NGB rules apply. South Dakota requires no abuse-prevention training, written child-protection policies, or parent notification from youth sports organizations, and no statute references the SafeSport Code or the federal Act. There is no coach-specific hazing or sexual-misconduct offense; general sexual-contact and child-abuse crimes (SDCL 22-22) apply. The one recent change is HB 1187 (2026), signed March 16, 2026 (effective July 1, 2026 under SD's standard effective date), which amends SDCL 26-8A-3 to add "coach of a school activity" to the mandated-reporter list; after a committee amendment it reaches only coaches of SDHSAA-sanctioned school activities, not club, league or volunteer youth coaches, who remain non-mandated (update the mandated_reporter cell accordingly). No bill creating training or policy duties for private leagues was located in the 2025 or 2026 sessions.
Safe sport: federal SafeSport Act and NGB rules: Nationally, the Safe Sport Act (36 U.S.C. 220541-220543, P.L. 115-126 of 2018 as amended by P.L. 116-189 of 2020) binds the USOPC, every national governing body and their member clubs and other amateur sports organizations in interstate or international competition to SafeSport Core training, MAAPP-style minor athlete protection policies, and reporting of suspected child abuse to law enforcement and the U.S. Center for SafeSport within 24 hours, regardless of state law. South Dakota adds no stricter rule for clubs. From July 1, 2026, school-activity coaches are state mandated reporters (SDCL 26-8A-3, HB 1187), which overlaps the federal duty for school coaches who also work for NGB clubs; club-only coaches rely on the federal Act and NGB rules (e.g., USA Hockey, Dakota Alliance Soccer, USA Wrestling affiliates).
Concussion law: S.D.C.L. §13-36-9 (2011), school only; RTP clearance by licensed health-care provider.
Sudden cardiac arrest law: None.
CPR and AED: None for youth leagues.
Coaches as mandated reporters: Not specifically: S.D.C.L. §26-8A-3 (professionals list).
Coach certification: None.
Assault-on-official law: No.

All states

Rulebook by state

South Dakota at a glance: minimum wage $11.85 (indexed 1/1/2027). Final paycheck when you let someone go: Next regular payday (may hold until property returned). Minimum working age: 14 (under 14: parents, farm, newspaper, casual). Background checks for youth sports: None statewide: check municipal/league policy.