RefereeMatch Youth & Guardian Policy
REVIEW DRAFT — 24 September 2026. Version RM-youth-2026-09-draft1. Effective date: [PUBLICATION DATE]. Operator: [FULL LEGAL NAME], trading as RefereeMatch.
1. Current scope
The current program supports guardian applications, restricted private onboarding for ages 12–17, and individual game-permission reviews. Youth profiles remain hidden from the referee directory and youth bookings are blocked. Application approval or permission for a game does not authorize a child to attend, work or be booked through RefereeMatch. Users must not bypass these controls.
The platform's age range is an application criterion, not a general legal minimum age for officiating. Sport-body, competition, venue, school-hour, employment, safety and insurance requirements vary and must be assessed separately for any future participation.
2. Guardian authority and information
The applicant must be at least 18 and be the child's parent or legal guardian with authority for the proposed decisions and information sharing. Disclose a relevant custody restriction, court order or change in authority to support through an appropriate private process. We may pause the application or linked features while authority is clarified. We do not decide custody disputes.
Provide accurate information and only the details requested. Obtain permission before supplying an emergency contact's information. Never email identity documents or place them in a public profile; arrange a suitable verification method with support if evidence is needed. Approval records a platform review; it is not a court finding or government identification credential.
3. Separate decisions
Application consent permits the described application assessment. Private-account consent permits the approved, linked youth account and restricted onboarding. Specific game permission relates only to the game details reviewed. Optional permission-alert emails and optional booking-update emails each have their own consent. None of these choices authorizes advertising, public youth profile publication, an injury waiver or a future feature that was not explained.
The child's wishes and ability to understand must also be considered. Guardian permission must not be used to pressure a young person to participate or to hide information from them. The youth may raise a concern directly with support or a trusted adult.
4. Game review and changes
A reviewer must assess applicable sport and league rules, qualifications, age eligibility, venue and school-hour restrictions, and organizer awareness that the referee is a minor. An adult competition may require additional specific authorization. Record the actual source and review date; do not substitute a generic statement that everything is legal.
The guardian reviews the displayed time, venue, competition and offered pay and may give or decline permission. The status "Permission given — not booked" means permission to consider that particular child for that particular reviewed game only. Changes that invalidate the review require a new review and new permission. A cancelled game cannot proceed on an old permission record. Emails reflect recorded events; check the portal for current status.
5. Withdrawal
Use the relevant portal control to withdraw an application, private-account consent, game permission or optional email consent, or contact support for help. The controls have different effects: withdrawing an application stops it proceeding; withdrawing private onboarding consent restricts further onboarding; withdrawing a game permission removes that permission; withdrawing optional email consent stops future eligible sends once processed. Messages already sent cannot be recalled. Limited evidence of decisions and withdrawals may remain under the approved retention schedule and applicable obligations.
6. Boundaries and reporting
Do not use a child's private details for advertising, unrelated contact or an off-platform booking that evades restrictions. Adults must not request secrecy, intimate images, private meetings or unnecessary personal information from a young person. Concerns about inappropriate contact, threats, pressure or misuse of information can be reported to refereematch@proton.me. Do not include unnecessary sensitive material in the first message; we can arrange a suitable method for relevant evidence.
For immediate danger in Canada, call 911. Where child-protection reporting is required, report directly to the appropriate children's aid society or authority; telling RefereeMatch alone does not fulfil that duty. Support is not continuously monitored emergency care. We may restrict access, preserve necessary evidence and disclose information when lawfully required or permitted for protection.
7. Before any future youth bookings
RefereeMatch will review applicable eligibility rules, safeguarding, supervision, communications, insurance, privacy and actual booking controls before enabling youth bookings. Relevant changes will be explained and additional consent obtained where required. Until then, no youth booking is permitted through the platform. A guardian's checkbox cannot substitute for these measures or waive mandatory rights.
8. A note for young people
Your private account helps us review your information. It does not mean you have a job or must go to a game. You can ask what happens to your information and tell us when something is wrong. You do not have to keep unsafe contact secret. Talk to a trusted adult or contact us for help. In an emergency, call 911.