We're Back for 2025

Want to improve your referee skills and receive helpful pointers from some of Southern California's most experienced AYSO referee mentors?

Want to engage in some friendly competition with other referees?

Sign up for the 2025 Ken Aston Cup!

 The Ken Aston Cup is an annual referee "competition" within an AYSO tournament that promotes refereeing excellence through feedback from experienced referee evaluators. Teams of referees are evaluated on their performance during tournament matches.

In 2025, The Cup will be presented in conjunction with the 30th Annual California Strawberry Cup Tournament on May 3-4, 2025 at the Pleasant Valley Fields in Camarillo. Participation is open to currently registered AYSO referee volunteers.

Competition will take place in both an Advanced and an Excellence division. The Advanced Division is open to volunteers with a certification level of Advanced, Intermediate or Regional Referee. Matches will be drawn from the 12U and 14U age divisions. The Excellence Division is open to volunteers with a certification level of National, Advanced, Intermediate or Regional Referee. Matches will be drawn from the 16U and 19U age divisions.

Evaluators will be chosen by the Tournament Directors based on the recommendations of the Section Directors of Referee Assessment and the Section Referee Administrators.

• Each referee participating in the Ken Aston Cup will receive a token of recognition.

• The highest scoring referee team in each Division will receive an additional token of achievement and recognition in the Whistle Stop newsletter.

• There will be a Saturday event for all Cup participants to socialize and a Sunday awards ceremony.

• Any AYSO Section may nominate referee teams and / or evaluators to participate.

• A limited number of hotel accommodations (double occupancy) will be made available for Evaluators travelling from long distances

• Subject to having a sufficient number of evaluators, each match will have a minimum of 3 Evaluators assigned. Evaluators are expected to work as a team in both in observing the referee team and in a debriefing session lasting no more than 30 minutes. Feedback should be actionable and constructive.