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

14 (under 14 only parents/farm/domestic/newspaper) No referee carve-out (W.S. 27-6-107 et seq.). 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 Wyoming if you let someone go?

Next regular payday Penalty up to $750 (WS 27-4-104). Accrued vacation per written policy.

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

Wyoming runs a monopolistic state fund (Workers' Compensation Division, Department of Workforce Services); private policies cannot substitute. Coverage is mandatory only for employers in the extrahazardous NAICS classifications listed in Wyo. Stat. 27-14-108(a); other employers, which would include most youth sports leagues, may elect coverage, and if they elect they must cover all employees. The act covers employees in extrahazardous (or elected) employment (27-14-102(a)(vii)), excluding casual labor, sole proprietors and partners unless they elect in, corporate officers unless elected, volunteers, and professional athletes except as provided in 27-14-108(q). 27-14-102(a)(xxiii) defines an independent contractor by a three-part test: free from control or direction over the details of performance by contract and in fact, represents services to the public as self-employed, and may substitute another person to perform the services. There is no waiver certificate; a sole proprietor simply is not an employee, and may elect coverage through the Division. Wyoming has no general statutory-employer rule making a league liable for an uninsured contractor's workers. UI uses the two-part test in 27-3-104(b). No express exclusion of sports officials from WC or UI was found, and NASO lists none. Bottom line: a non-extrahazardous youth league that has not elected coverage covers no one, so 1099 referees and coaches are not covered; a league that has elected coverage must include any official or coach who fails the (a)(xxiii) test, with premiums due to the fund.

For youth sports organizations and event operators · Wyoming rulebook

Youth sports labor rules in Wyoming: 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 Wyoming

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

Wages and pay
Minimum wage (2026): $7.25 (federal; state $5.15 superseded)
Required pay frequency: Semi-monthly
Final paycheck if you let them go: Next regular payday
Final paycheck if they quit: Next regular payday
Final-pay penalties: Penalty up to $750 (WS 27-4-104). Accrued vacation per written policy.
State income tax withholding: No
Workers' comp required at: 1+ (monopolistic; extra-hazardous industries required; others elective)
New-hire report due (days): 20
Minors
Minimum working age: 14 (under 14 only parents/farm/domestic/newspaper)
Work permit: No
Ages 14 to 15, school in session: State: max 8 hrs in any 12-hr period; no work 10pm-5am before school day - FLSA 3/18, 7am-7pm governs
Ages 14 to 15, summer and breaks: State: midnight-5am ban before non-school days/not enrolled; FLSA 8/40, 9pm summer governs
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 (W.S. 27-6-107 et seq.). 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: 2-part test (Wyo. Stat. 27-3-104(b): free from control + independently established)
Referee-specific rule: None found (no officials-specific statute; general tests apply)
Workers' comp for 1099 referees and coaches: Wyoming runs a monopolistic state fund (Workers' Compensation Division, Department of Workforce Services); private policies cannot substitute. Coverage is mandatory only for employers in the extrahazardous NAICS classifications listed in Wyo. Stat. 27-14-108(a); other employers, which would include most youth sports leagues, may elect coverage, and if they elect they must cover all employees. The act covers employees in extrahazardous (or elected) employment (27-14-102(a)(vii)), excluding casual labor, sole proprietors and partners unless they elect in, corporate officers unless elected, volunteers, and professional athletes except as provided in 27-14-108(q). 27-14-102(a)(xxiii) defines an independent contractor by a three-part test: free from control or direction over the details of performance by contract and in fact, represents services to the public as self-employed, and may substitute another person to perform the services. There is no waiver certificate; a sole proprietor simply is not an employee, and may elect coverage through the Division. Wyoming has no general statutory-employer rule making a league liable for an uninsured contractor's workers. UI uses the two-part test in 27-3-104(b). No express exclusion of sports officials from WC or UI was found, and NASO lists none. Bottom line: a non-extrahazardous youth league that has not elected coverage covers no one, so 1099 referees and coaches are not covered; a league that has elected coverage must include any official or coach who fails the (a)(xxiii) test, with premiums due to the fund.
Seasonal or recreation carve-out: Wyo. Stat. 27-4-202 MW exemptions track FLSA
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 (NCPA channeling via DCI).
Safe sport: state law: No state safe-sport statute for private youth leagues; federal SafeSport Act baseline and NGB rules apply. Wyoming imposes no abuse-prevention training, written child-protection policies (two-adult, one-on-one, electronic communication, locker room, travel), or parent information-sheet duties on youth sports organizations, and no statute references the SafeSport Code or the federal Act. There is no hazing statute and no coach-specific offense; the relevant criminal provisions are sexual abuse of a minor in the second and third degrees (W.S. 6-2-315, 6-2-316), which apply when the actor holds a "position of authority," defined in 6-2-301(a)(vi) as a parent, teacher, employer, custodian or any other person able by position to exercise significant influence over the minor, language that has been applied to coaches. Reporting is universal (14-3-205, immediate report to DFS or law enforcement, see mandated_reporter cell). Background checks are permissive (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. Wyoming's all-persons immediate-reporting duty (14-3-205) is faster than the federal 24 hours and reaches every league; otherwise the federal Act and NGB rules (Wyoming Soccer Association, Wyoming Amateur Hockey, USA Swimming, Little League) are the only safe-sport mandates. WHSAA uses NFHS coursework rather than SafeSport.
Concussion law: W.S. §21-2-202(a)(xxxiii)? / §21-3-110(a)(xxxi) (2011), school only; district policies; RTP per district policy (no statutory clearance standard).
Sudden cardiac arrest law: None.
CPR and AED: None for youth leagues.
Coaches as mandated reporters: All persons: W.S. §14-3-205.
Coach certification: None.
Assault-on-official law: No.

All states

Rulebook by state

Wyoming at a glance: minimum wage $7.25 (federal; state $5.15 superseded). Final paycheck when you let someone go: Next regular payday. Minimum working age: 14 (under 14 only parents/farm/domestic/newspaper). Background checks for youth sports: None statewide: check municipal/league policy (NCPA channeling via DCI).