Create and Connect Your Account With Stripe (Youth 13 - 17) – SportLynx LLC

Youth referees can receive electronic payments through Stripe Express Accounts. Referees between 13 and 17 years old must complete the setup with a parent or legal guardian.

These instructions apply to referees in the United States.

Before You Begin

Have the following information available:

The referee’s legal name, date of birth, address, and Social Security number
The parent or legal guardian’s legal name, date of birth, address, and last four Social Security number digits
Bank account and routing numbers
A government-issued ID, in case Stripe requests additional verification

Step 1: Enter the Referee’s Information

The Stripe Express account is for the referee receiving the payments.

When Stripe asks for information about the individual or account holder, enter the referee’s:

Legal name
Actual date of birth
Home address
Social Security number

Do not substitute the parent’s date of birth or Social Security number for the referee’s information. Using the referee’s actual date of birth allows Stripe to display the required legal-guardian section.

Unless the referee operates through a legally established business, select Individual as the business type.

Step 2: Complete the Legal-Guardian Section

When Stripe determines that the referee is between 13 and 17 years old, it will display a separate form for a parent or legal guardian.

The guardian should enter their own:

Legal name
Date of birth
Postal address
Last four Social Security number digits
Consent to the applicable Stripe agreements

Stripe may request a copy of the guardian’s government-issued ID if it cannot verify the information automatically.

The referee’s information belongs in the referee or individual fields. The guardian’s information belongs only in the legal-guardian fields.

Step 3: Add a Bank Account

For the most reliable verification, use one of the following:

A youth checking or savings account in the referee’s name
A joint parent-and-youth account that includes the referee’s name

The account must be able to receive ACH deposits.

Stripe may verify the bank account’s ownership and request a bank statement, voided check, or bank letter. A bank account held only in the parent’s name may not match the Stripe account information and could delay payouts. A youth or joint account is therefore recommended.

Step 4: Submit the Account for Verification

After all information is entered:

Review the information for accuracy.
Accept the required Stripe agreements.
Submit the account.
Watch for email or text messages from Stripe requesting additional information.

Payments cannot be deposited until Stripe finishes verification and enables payouts.

Important Reminders

A youth referee must be at least 13 years old to create a U.S. Stripe Express account.
Referees under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian complete Stripe’s guardian verification.
Always use the referee’s actual date of birth.
Use the referee’s Social Security number in fields requesting the referee’s tax information.
Use the guardian’s Social Security number only when Stripe specifically requests guardian information.
Do not create the account entirely in the parent’s name.
Do not create a second Stripe Express account if the referee has already started setup. Continue the existing onboarding process instead.
SportLynx does not receive or store the full Social Security numbers or bank-account credentials entered into Stripe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should we enter the referee’s date of birth or the parent’s?

Enter the referee’s actual date of birth. This tells Stripe that legal-guardian authorization is required.

Whose Social Security number should we use?

Use the referee’s Social Security number for the referee’s identity and tax-information fields. The guardian enters their own information only in the separate legal-guardian section.

Can we use the parent’s bank account?

A youth or joint account that includes the referee’s name is recommended. A parent-only account may cause an ownership mismatch or require additional verification.

What if the referee is already 18?

The referee completes the account using their own information. No legal-guardian section is required.

What if the referee is under 13?

Stripe does not allow a U.S. Stripe Express account to be created for someone under 13.

Additional Information