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

14; 12+ may be employed as a referee for sports programs by a nonprofit (eleemosynary) organization or state/local government (Va. Code 40.1-79.01); 12-13 farm; under 16 parent-employed exempt Explicit: 12+ referees for nonprofit/government sports programs exempt from chapter (private for-profit operators NOT covered); occasional work, parent-employed exempt. 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 Virginia if you let someone go?

Next regular payday Treble damages for knowing violations (VA Code 40.1-29). PTO per policy.

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

IRS 20-factor common law with presumption of employment (Va. Code 40.1-28.7:7, 2020)

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

Virginia's act covers employees, and Va. Code 65.2-101 ("Employee," subdivision 1) adds a true independent contractor only if the employer elects to include him, the contractor agrees and the insurer agrees in writing. Otherwise the Commission applies the common-law test: right to control the means and methods of the work, with hiring and firing power, method of payment and furnishing of equipment as the supporting factors. Virginia has a strong statutory-employer rule: anyone who contracts out work that is part of its trade, business or occupation is liable for injuries to the contractor's workers as if it had hired them directly (65.2-302), with recourse against the contractor; there is no certificate-of-insurance safe harbor for leagues. Employers with more than two employees must insure. There is no waiver or exemption certificate; a sole proprietor is simply not an employee unless he elects coverage by notifying the insurer. The key provision for this rulebook is the express exclusion in 65.2-101 "Employee" subdivision 2(m): a person performing services as a sports official for an interscholastic or intercollegiate event sponsor, or for a public entity or private nonprofit sponsoring an amateur sports event, is not an employee, unless otherwise employed by the sponsor. It is limited to amateur, school and nonprofit events and does not reach coaches. No parallel sports-official exclusion appears in the UI act (60.2-212). Bottom line: 1099 referees and umpires at a nonprofit or school-sponsored youth event are expressly not covered; 1099 coaches remain at risk under the control test and 65.2-302.

For youth sports organizations and event operators · Virginia rulebook

Youth sports labor rules in Virginia: 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 Virginia

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

Wages and pay
Minimum wage (2026): $12.77; $13.75 on 1/1/2027; $15.00 on 1/1/2028 (HB1/SB1 2026, Va. Code 40.1-28.10); indexing resumes 2029
Required pay frequency: Bi-weekly or semi-monthly (hourly)
Final paycheck if you let them go: Next regular payday
Final paycheck if they quit: Next regular payday
Final-pay penalties: Treble damages for knowing violations (VA Code 40.1-29). PTO per policy.
State income tax withholding: Yes
Workers' comp required at: 3+ (more than 2)
New-hire report due (days): 20
Minors
Minimum working age: 14; 12+ may be employed as a referee for sports programs by a nonprofit (eleemosynary) organization or state/local government (Va. Code 40.1-79.01); 12-13 farm; under 16 parent-employed exempt
Work permit: Yes, 14-15 (Employment Certificate via VA DOLI Electronic Employment Certificate System, parent + employer); 16-17 age certificate on request
Ages 14 to 15, school in session: 3 hrs/school day, 18 hrs/wk; 7am-7pm; 30-min break after 5 hrs
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: None: federal has none
Weekend and evening games: Mirrors FLSA; SB 10 (2026) only touched hazardous apprenticeships
Referee, coach and recreation exemptions: Explicit: 12+ referees for nonprofit/government sports programs exempt from chapter (private for-profit operators NOT covered); occasional work, parent-employed exempt. 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: IRS 20-factor common law with presumption of employment (Va. Code 40.1-28.7:7, 2020)
Same question, for unemployment insurance: IRS 20-factor / common law (Va. Code 60.2-212(C))
Referee-specific rule: Va. Code 65.2-101 'Employee' subdiv. 2(m): sports official for interscholastic/intercollegiate sponsor or public/nonprofit amateur event sponsor is excluded from WC 'employee' (unless otherwise employed by sponsor)
Workers' comp for 1099 referees and coaches: Virginia's act covers employees, and Va. Code 65.2-101 ("Employee," subdivision 1) adds a true independent contractor only if the employer elects to include him, the contractor agrees and the insurer agrees in writing. Otherwise the Commission applies the common-law test: right to control the means and methods of the work, with hiring and firing power, method of payment and furnishing of equipment as the supporting factors. Virginia has a strong statutory-employer rule: anyone who contracts out work that is part of its trade, business or occupation is liable for injuries to the contractor's workers as if it had hired them directly (65.2-302), with recourse against the contractor; there is no certificate-of-insurance safe harbor for leagues. Employers with more than two employees must insure. There is no waiver or exemption certificate; a sole proprietor is simply not an employee unless he elects coverage by notifying the insurer. The key provision for this rulebook is the express exclusion in 65.2-101 "Employee" subdivision 2(m): a person performing services as a sports official for an interscholastic or intercollegiate event sponsor, or for a public entity or private nonprofit sponsoring an amateur sports event, is not an employee, unless otherwise employed by the sponsor. It is limited to amateur, school and nonprofit events and does not reach coaches. No parallel sports-official exclusion appears in the UI act (60.2-212). Bottom line: 1099 referees and umpires at a nonprofit or school-sponsored youth event are expressly not covered; 1099 coaches remain at risk under the control test and 65.2-302.
Seasonal or recreation carve-out: Va. Code 40.1-28.9(A)(7) excludes any person employed by a summer camp for boys and/or girls; (A)(16) excludes any person exempt from federal MW under 29 U.S.C. 213(a)(3) (seasonal amusement/recreation) - version in effect through June 30, 2027.
Paid sick leave: No
Paid family and medical leave: Voluntary (Va. Code 38.2-3500? PFL insurance product)
What it costs to get it wrong: Va. Code 40.1-28.7:7: $1,000 / $2,500 / $5,000 per misclassified worker (first/second/third)
Safety
Background checks: Partial: Va. Code §19.2-389 / §19.2-392.02 (National Criminal Background Check for youth-serving 'qualified entities', permissive); localities' parks & rec require checks; Va. Code §15.2-?, no statewide mandate for private leagues. Check municipal/league policy. NCPA channeling via VSP.
Safe sport: state law: No state safe-sport statute for private youth leagues; federal SafeSport Act baseline and NGB rules apply. Virginia's one direct touch on private youth sports is the 2012 mandated-reporter amendment naming athletic coaches, directors and other adults employed by or volunteering with private sports organizations (Va. Code 63.2-1509, see mandated_reporter cell); it imposes a reporting duty but no training, written-policy or parent-notification requirement. Va. Code 22.1-271.5 requires non-interscholastic youth sports programs using school property to follow the school board's concussion policy, an injury rule, not an abuse rule. No Virginia statute mandates two-adult, one-on-one, electronic-communication, locker-room or travel policies or references the SafeSport Code or the federal Act. Coach-relevant crimes: taking indecent liberties by a person in a custodial or supervisory relationship (18.2-370.1), which courts have applied to coaches, and hazing (18.2-56), which applies to any person but with training duties only at colleges (Adam's Law, 2022). Background checks remain permissive for private "qualified entities" (see background_check cell). No 2025 or 2026 youth-sports abuse-prevention bill was located.
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. Virginia is stricter on reporting scope: 63.2-1509 makes every private sports coach and volunteer a mandated reporter (report immediately to local DSS or the hotline, with civil penalties for failure), which reaches non-NGB leagues the federal Act skips and runs faster than the federal 24 hours. Localities' parks and recreation departments often require NCSI or SafeSport-equivalent training as a facility-use condition. Virginia Youth Soccer, USA Swimming and Little League affiliates enforce SafeSport Core and MAAPP.
Concussion law: Va. Code §22.1-271.5 (2010) schools; §22.1-271.6 (2014) non-interscholastic youth sports programs using public school property must comply with district concussion policy; coaches training; RTP written clearance by licensed health-care provider.
Sudden cardiac arrest law: Yes (school), Va. Code §22.1-271.8/.9 (2020/2024): cardiac emergency response plans; removal. Youth leagues not covered.
CPR and AED: Schools: AED (Va. Code §22.1-274.5); VHSL coaches CPR/AED/first aid. None for youth leagues.
Coaches as mandated reporters: Coaches named: Va. Code §63.2-1509(A): any person 18+ associated with or employed by any private organization responsible for the care/custody/control of children, and 'athletic coach, director or other person 18+ employed by or volunteering with a private sports organization or team' (2012). No SafeSport-style training mandate for private coaches.
Coach certification: None for private youth coaches.
Assault-on-official law: Yes: Va. Code §18.2-57 as amended by SB 986/HB ? (2025, eff. 7/1/2025): Class 1 misdemeanor assault/battery on sports official; ≥6-month event ban.

All states

Rulebook by state

Virginia at a glance: minimum wage $12.77; $13.75 on 1/1/2027; $15.00 on 1/1/2028 (HB1/SB1 2026, Va. Code 40.1-28.10); indexing resumes 2029. Final paycheck when you let someone go: Next regular payday. Minimum working age: 14; 12+ may be employed as a referee for sports programs by a nonprofit (eleemosynary) organization or state/local government (Va. Code 40.1-79.01); 12-13 farm; under 16 parent-employed exempt. Background checks for youth sports: Partial: Va. Code §19.2-389 / §19.2-392.02 (National Criminal Background Check for youth-serving 'qualified entities', permissive); localities' parks & rec require checks; Va. Code §15.2-?, no statewide mandate for private leagues. Check municipal/league policy. NCPA channeling via VSP.