• Feel free to send any questions to the Regional Referee Administrator at [emailprotected]
• NO long pre-game speeches toplayers, check player numbers, and do safety check.
(cleats, socks covering shin guards, shorts, shirt tucked in, no jewelry)
• NO yellow cards(cautions) in U10 or lower.
• NOred cards(send-offs) in U10 or lower.
• YELLOW card is extremely rare in U12 REC.
• RED card should be extremely rare in U12/U14 REC.
• Educate and communicate with the youth players.
• NO referee coaching,but in U12 & lower, you can briefly educate.
REFEREE Q & A
Q: How long are the games?
A: See Regional Guidelines. Running clock for each half no matter what. Restart clock for second half.
Q: What is a Center Referee?
A:There really is no such thing as a Center Referee. It is layman's term for the Referee who is on the field.In AYSO (based on FIFA Law), you are either aReferee (on the field), or anAssistant Referee (off the field, running half the touchline).There are two Assistant Referees,one on each side of the field, covering half the field. The Referee is positioned on the field and is in charge of the game and makes thedecisions. The two Assistant Referees who run half of the touchline on each side of the field,indicateoffside, out of bounds, goal kick, corner kick, fouls, etc. The Refereecan then whistle the stoppage of play and make a call at hisdiscretion. He can accept it and call it, or wave it down, based on what he saw or allows. The referee should have continual eye contact with his Assistant Referees.
Q: Can an Assistant Referee call fouls?
A: NO.The Assistant Refereecanraise their flag toindicatea foul,misconduct,offside offense, and especiallyfouls in the Penalty Area thathave beencommitted out of the Referee's view.The Referee will generally call it, but mayconsult with the Assistant Referee on the call before it is decided. If it wasinthe Penalty Area, it will/should surely be discussed. Before the game, the Referee should give a pre-game talk with the Assistant Referees,go overprocedures, what they will allow, what to watch for, what they want and expect from their Assistant Referees, etc.A good referee team will have good eye contact, great communication and full control of the game.
Q: Which hand should the Assistant Referee use to raise the flag?
A: The Assistant Referee always keeps the flag in his left hand when facing the field, in view of the referee, or always on the side of the field depending on which way he is walking, jogging or running down the touchline.The right hand is used to raise the flag. Throw-in for attacker, Offside, Goal Kick, Corner Kick, and Foul by defender.Two Exceptions:The left hand is used for a Throw-in by a defender and a free kick by an attacker. The flags should always exchange hands, below the waist.
Q: What should theReferee do when a goal is scored?
A: Look to his Assistant Referee to confirm first (no flag up). Upon eye contact, his Lead Assistant Referee should be jogging up the touchline, flag down in his right hand, to confirm its a goal. The Referee should then point to the kickoff mark located at the center of the field where the restart will take place. No whistle is necessary. Only time a whistle is necessary for a goal is if the ball wholly enters the goal and comes back into play, or goes over goal line (not into goal) and back into play.
Q: What should an Assistant Referee do when a goal is scored?
A: When eye contact with the Referee is established, run/jog up the touchline with the flag in his right hand along his side.
Q: What is a Club Linesman?
A: Usually a parent, who is not certified, and is only allowed toindicatewhen the ball goes out of bounds by raising his flag straight up. He does not provide direction of throwor any other calls. A Club Linesman could also be a certified referee who is not in uniform. Only certified referees, in uniform, can perform the duties of an AR-Assistant Referee.
Q: What is a pre-game instruction?
A: Before a game, the Referee provides pre-game instructions to his Assistant Referees on how he wants the game controlled, what is expected. (ie; foul to indicate, offside more important than in and out of bounds, follow the ball to the goalline, indicating fouls in the Penalty Area, all for better communication, and a better game.
Q: Whatshould a Refereedoatplayer check-in?
A: 1) Check for proper equipment; shoes, shin guards, socks over shin guards, shorts, jerseys, 2) Check that all equipment is safe,no jewelry, wristbandsor hard plastic/metal hair clips, earrings, etc are worn. 3) Check that jersey number and playermatch the line-up card.Notate "C-Team Captains" on theline-up card. The Referee SHOULD NOT do anycoaching, or include any detailed advice. The typical is just to advise the players to 1) play the whistle (stop play if they hear your whistle), and 2) to have fun ! Just let them play! In older games, such asU14 and up, a few additional comments could & should be made,to avoid any conflict during the game, like; A) team captain duties, B) respect required distance on free kicks,C) all throw-ins to be taken within one yard where it exited, D) respect the goalkeeper. Keep it short & sweet, you are not the coach. You will have lost their attention after the first coupleminutes. They just want to play!
Q: What are the names of the boxes on the field?
A: There are no boxes on a soccerfield. There is the field (some call it a pitch), two Goal AREA'sandtwo Penalty AREA's (some call it the 18), not boxes.
Q: What is ADVANTAGE?
A: If a foulor misconduct occurs, butthe Referee thinks the attacking team will actually benefit fromcontinuingto play,the Refereewill hold both his hands open above his head and extended out in front of himself, and say "Advantage", and allowplay to continue for 2-3 seconds. If it plays out for the fouled player or his team, no foul is called (they retain possession). If it does not play out for the fouled player,the referee should call theoriginal foul andawardthe free kickfrom where it occurred.Either way, if the foul was deserving of a YELLOW CARD, it can still be given before a restart, and at the next stoppage of play. An advantage after an advantage can also be called. If another foul occurs after an Advantage is called, the more serious of the two fouls should be called.
Q: Can a player play a ball on the ground?
A: YES.Just the mere fact that they are playing the ball on the ground is NOT an infraction, or dangerous play. If whileplaying the ball on the ground,theyput themselves in danger and/or prevent an OPPONENT from making a play on the ball,then it is Dangerous Play. An Indirect Free Kick (IFK) for the opponent is awarded. Same call if a player puts themselves in harms way, when they are not on the ground, such as lowering your head/face to where an opponentis kicking the ball waist high, or putting yourself in danger when a player is going to head the ball.
Q: Can the goalkeeper leave the Penalty Area?
A: YES. The goalkeeperisa player on the field. If the goalkeeper is punting the ball after picking it up in the Penalty Area, it is in his hands, and the ball is slightlyover the Penalty Area line when it is kicked,is consideredtrifling, and should NOT be called. It will not change the game. The Referee should verbally warn the goalkeeper to watch his line. If the ball is wholly over the PA-Penalty Area line, and the ball is still completely inpossession of thegoalkeeper, not being released,it would be adeliberate handling foul, and a DFK-Direct Free Kick would be awarded tothe opponent just outside of the Penalty Area where the foul occured.It doesnot matter where the goalkeeper is. Itonly matters whether the ball has wholly crossed the line of the PA-Penalty Area and it is handled by the goalkeeper, for it to be adeliberate handlingoffense. Sometimes it is just too close to call, or trifling, so don't call it.
Q: If the goalkeeper has possession of the ball, drops it on the ground, and then picks it back up, is that an offense?
A: YES. This violates law 12, second touch by the goalkeeper.Once the goalkeeper has possession, then relinquishes control of the ball, they cannot handle the ball before someone else has touched it (In REC U10, especially when they accidentally drop it, you would want to allow it. Educate the keeper and allow him to pick it back up).It would be an IFK-Indirect Free Kick for the opponent from where the goalkeeper picked it up, unless it was in the goal area. If in the goal area, thenthe IFKwould be taken from the goal area line closest to where it was touched. A goalkeeper is still in possession if they bounce the ball, or parry the ball, or toss it in the air. If the goalkeeperkicks the ball up in the air, and it goesstraight up in the air, and they catch it, it is a second touch by the goalkeeperoffense as well, IFK-Indirect Free Kick. If the goalkeeper deflects a slow ball they could have surely caught (parrying)and then picks it up, it is a second touch, IFK-Indirect Free Kick for the opponent.
Q: Can I change goalkeepers any time I want?
A: Just about. 1) any stoppage of play, 2) you must notify the Referee of the change, and 3)when the other team is NOT taking a quick restart. You should always inform the Referee (center) of any goalkeeperchange, NOT the Assistant Referee. Notify the Referee even if the change is during a substitution. U14 and below, you can only change the goalkeeper with a player on the field, unless it is a substitution period.InU16 and above, you can substitute with any player, ON or OFF the field.Best to have a spare jersey and gloves to not waste time. Goalkeeper must exit the field before the new goalkeeper can enter the field.
Q: When is a playerin anOFFSIDE POSITION?
A: 1) On his opponents half of the field, AND 2) nearer the opponents goal line than the ball, AND3) closer to the opponents goal then the second to last opponent. Even though they are in an OFFSIDE POSITION, it is NOT an OFFSIDE OFFENSE.
Q: When is it an OFFSIDE OFFENSE?
A: It is an OFFSIDE OFFENSE when, a player is in an OFFSIDE POSITION,and when the ball is played or touched by a teammate,that player,1) plays the ball, 2) interferes with an opponent, or 3) gains anadvantage by being in that position.
Q: When is a player definitely NOT penalized for beingOFFSIDE?
A: Whenan attacker receives the ball DIRECTLY on a GOAL KICK, CORNER KICK or THROW-IN. If the ball touches any onside teammatebefore going to the offside attacker, in any way, that attacker should be called OFFSIDE.
Q: Can you be OFFSIDE on a punt from your own goalkeeper?
A: YES. If you are in an OFFSIDE POSITION, when the ball is kicked/punted by your goalkeeper, and you 1) play the ball, or 2) interfere with an opponent or 3) gain an advantage by being in that position, it is an OFFSIDE OFFENSE.
Q: If a player is in an OFFSIDE POSITION, and runs ONSIDE to play a ball played from hisONSIDE teammate,is that an OFFSIDE OFFENSE?
A: YES. The playerwas in an OFFSIDE POSITION when the ball was played or touched by a teammate. It does not matter that he ran ONSIDE or to his own half of the field to play it. It is an IFK-Indirect Free Kick for their opponent from where they touched or interfered.
Q: An attacker kicks the ball and it deflects off a defender, then onto an attacker in an OFFSIDE POSITION. Is that an OFFSIDE OFFENSE?
A: YES.OFFSIDE. If it is not "controlled and possessed" or deliberately played by the defender, andthen played by theattacker in an OFFSIDE POSITION, or thatplayer interferes with an opponent, it is an OFFSIDE OFFENSE. IFK-Indirect Free Kick for their opponent where they played or interfered.
Q: What should the Assistant Referee do when he sees an OFFSIDE OFFENSE?
A: If it is clearly an OFFSIDE OFFENSE, the AR should raise his flag straight up in the air, with his right hand, and stand where the OFFSIDE player played the ball or interfered with play. The flag should continue to remain straight up. Whenthe Referee acknowledges theOFFSIDE and blows his whistle to stop play, the AR should point his flag towards the field at one of threeangles, for where the OFFSIDE occurred. 1) angle upwards for far side of field, 2)straight out(like a goal kick) for middle of the field, 3) angledownwards for near side of the field.
If the Referee never acknowledges the AR, the ARshould continue to hold the flag up until the ball isclearly in control of the defending team or is in the other half of the field. If a goal is scored, the Refereeshould always look at his AR for confirmation of the goal before awarding a goal, as he maysee youwith your flag up. The goal may be disallowed, and an IFK-Indirect Free Kick awarded to the opponent.
The Referee maydiscuss it with the AR.Note: The Referee couldwave your OFFSIDE indication down. 1) The Referee disagrees with the indication and makes the final decision, 2) The Referee lets the goalkeeper have the advantage of picking up the ballfor a punt or 3) the ball has clearly changed possession and directiontowards the other half ofthe field.
Q: Where is the ball placed on an OFFSIDE OFFENSE?
A: The ball is placed where the OFFSIDE OFFENSE occurred, which is where the ball was played or where the player interfered with an opponent, even if they come back to their own side of the field to play the ball.
Q: If a throw-in never goes into play, is it always a retake?
A: NO. It is only a retake if the original throw-in was "performed properly" and it touched the ground before ever going into play. Proper procedure is, the player 1) faces the field of play, 2) part of each foot on or behind the line, 3) holds the ball with both hands, 4) delivers the ball from behind and over his head, 5) delivers the ball from the point where it left the field of play (within 1 yard).The ball is in play when it enters the field of play. If the throw-in was performedimproperly, whether it went in play or not,the opponent wouldget the throw-in. You only get the retake if all 5 requirements of the throw-in wereperformed properly, and it never went into play. In U8, the Refereecan & shouldallow a second chance for a player after a brief instruction. They are learning. Let them play!
Q: Can a player take a free kick immediately?
A: YES, as long as1)the playertaking the kick did not request10 yards, or2)The Referee did not tell the kickerto wait for the whistle,to give a caution or attend to an injured player. If the kicker asks for ten yards, then the Referee needs to tell the kickerto wait for the whistle. The kicker must wait for the whistle before restarting play. This is called a ceremonial restart. If an opponent encroaches the 10 yard distance, the kick must be retaken, and the player who encroached should becautioned with a YELLOW card for failing to respect the required distance.
Q: Can a goal be scored directly from a KICK-OFF or GOAL-KICK?
A: YES, but only against your opponent. No need for the ball to be touched by another player before a score can be accomplished.Note: On a kick-off, there is also no restriction on the number of attackers in the center circle, but they do need to be on their own half of the field. Referee blows the whistle to let attackers know they can start, and after the ball is kicked, in any direction, it is in play. No opponents can enter the center circle until the ball is kicked and moves.
Q: Can a goal be scored directly from a DROPPED BALL?
A: NO. The ball is dropped, and when it touches the ground, it isin play, but must be touched by two players before a goal can be scored.
Q: Can a goal be scored from a THROW-IN?
A: NO.If an attacker throws it directly into his opponents goal, it is a goal kick. If a defender throws it directly into his own goal, it is a corner kick.NOTE THESE SCENARIOS: 1) If an attacker performs a throw-in towardshis opponents goal and it is touched by anyonebefore the ballcrosses the goal line, IT IS A GOAL. 2)If a playerperforms a throw-in towardshis own goal, and his goalkeeper touches it in any way, and the ballcrosses thegoal line, IT IS A GOAL. (If the goalkeeper touched it with his hands, it isa deliberate passback offense, and it wouldbea foul awarded with an IFK-Indirect Free Kick, but you would apply ADVANTAGE, and award the goal.)
Q: Can a player call, yell,or screamat an opponent in any way, or call foran opponent to pass him the ball?
A: NO they may not. The player could becautioned with a YELLOW CARD for USB-Unsporting Behavior, and an IFK-Indirect Free Kick is awarded to the opponent from where the cautioned player was when he yelled or deceived the opponent. One verbal warning is suggested. Note: U10 & below, we do not card, just educate and award the kick.
