National Referee Program

Transcription

1 Natinal Referee Prgram Natinal Referee Prgram

2 The AYSO Natinal Supprt & Training Center TEL: (800) FAX: (310) All rights reserved American Yuth Sccer Organizatin Reprductin in whle r in part is encuraged prvided n changes are made t cntent and the Manual Name Here is referenced. 2 Natinal Referee Prgram

3 Cntents Cntents Cntents 3 Intrductin 5 AYSO Visin & Missin 6 AYSO Visin 6 AYSO Missin 6 Administratin 7 Natinal Referee Prgram Organizatinal Overview 7 AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram: Three Main Elements 8 The Organizatin f Sccer 9 Guidelines fr Cperatin: AYSO/USYSA 10 The Diagnal System f Cntrl 11 Administering the Reginal Referee Prgram 12 Training and Certifying Referees 19 Scheduling Referees 22 Ensuring General and Persnal Safety 22 Miscellaneus Administrative Matters 24 Cnclusin 26 Instructin Prgram 27 The AYSO Referee Instructr Prgram 27 Planning a Referee Training Curse 27 Using Written Examinatins Effectively 30 Rster Return Plicy 31 Assessment and Mentr Prgram 32 Assessr, Mentr Training Prgram Overview 32 Referee Mentr Prgram 33 The Mentr 33 Assessment: Requirements and Prcedures 36 Plicies gverning assessments and bservatins: 37 Requirements fr Observatins and Assessments fr Upgrade 37 Required Prcess fr Assigning an Assessr and Scheduling an Assessment: 37 Natinal Referee Prgram

4 Assessment: Assessr Techniques and Prcedures 38 Assessment: Field Observatin Narratives 42 Observing the Intermediate Referee Candidate 42 Assessing the Advanced Referee Candidate 44 Assessing the Advanced Referee Candidate as Assistant Referee 45 Assessing the Natinal Referee Candidate 47 Assessing the Natinal Referee Candidate as Assistant Referee 49 Training and Develpment f Assessrs 50 Thughts n Assessment and Suggestins fr Assessrs 52 The AYSO Referee Assessr s Creed 55 Appendix 56 AYSO Referee Training Matrix 56 AYSO Referee Certificatin Requirements 58 AYSO Referee Instructr and Evaluatr Certificatin 60 AYSO Referee Assessr, Mentr Requirements 62 AYSO Referee Physical Test 63 AYSO Sectin Map 64 4 Natinal Referee Prgram

5 Intrductin Intrductin This manual is meant t be an easy-t-use surce f infrmatin regarding the AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram. It cntains infrmatin f use t all AYSO Referee Administratrs, Instructrs, and Assessrs. An elabrate supprt system is available t assist yu in prviding the best pssible fficiating prgram fr the enjyment f AYSO players, vlunteers, and spectatrs in yur regin. Please d nt hesitate t cntact members f the AYSO referee supprt staff available t yu at the Area, Sectin and Natinal Level. The Referee Administratr Reference Guide is a must-have fr all Referee Administratrs and is available frm the AYSO Supply Center at (888) Additinal materials als available t help yu build a successful fficiating prgram include: The AYSO editin f the Laws f the Game (available in English and Spanish); The AYSO Guidance fr Referees and Caches (available in English and Spanish); The Annual Referee Update; The Referee Mentr Handbk; The Referee Instructr Resurce Bk; The AYSO Recruiting and Retaining Referees Manual, The AYSO Shrt- Sided Games Guide fr Referees; Develping and Maintaining a Yuth Referee Prgram; The Yuth Referee Manual; A Guide fr Wmen Referees; and a multitude f supprting materials and lessn plans n Thank yu fr vlunteering yur time and talent t cntribute twards a psitive AYSO experience fr the players, caches, and spectatrs wh participate in AYSO. The verall success f AYSO and f the AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram depends upn yur effrts as a member f the vlunteer referee supprt staff. Thse effrts are greatly appreciated. Thmas Bbadilla AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram Administratr Natinal Supprt and Training Center (NSTC) Phne: AYSO Thmasbbadilla@ays.rg Natinal Referee Prgram

6 AYSO Visin & Missin AYSO Visin & Missin The American Yuth Sccer Organizatin, AYSO, was established in 1964 with nine teams and the dream t bring sccer t American children. Tday, AYSO has mre than 60,000 teams and 600,000 players in nearly 1,000 Regins. Thanks t the effrts f ver 250,000 vlunteers and the visin f the funding members, AYSO cntinues t be a leader in prviding quality yuth sccer prgrams. AYSO Visin T prvide wrld class yuth sccer prgrams that enrich children s lives. AYSO Missin T develp and deliver quality yuth sccer prgrams in a fun, family envirnment based n the AYSO philsphies: Everyne Plays Our gal is fr kids t play sccer s we mandate that every player n every team must play at least half f every game. Balanced Teams Each year we frm new teams as evenly balanced as pssible because it is fair and mre fun when teams f equal ability play. Open Registratin Our prgram is pen t all children between 4 and 19 years f age wh want t register and play sccer. Interest and enthusiasm are the nly criteria fr playing. Psitive Caching Encuragement f player effrt prvides fr greater enjyment by the players and ultimately leads t better-skilled and better-mtivated players. Gd Sprtsmanship We strive t create a safe, fair, fun and psitive envirnment based n mutual respect, rather than a win-at-all-csts attitude, and ur prgram is designed t instill gd sprtsmanship in every facet f AYSO. Player Develpment We believe that all players shuld be able t develp their sccer skills and knwledge t the best f their abilities, bth individually and as members f a team, in rder t maximize their enjyment f the game. These fundamental principles are the fundatin f the AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram and must be emphasized in all aspects f prgram implementatin in lcal AYSO regins thrughut the cuntry. Referees play a crucial rle in ensuring that there is truth in the mtt: In AYSO, it s abut mre than the game! 6 Natinal Referee Prgram

7 Administratin Natinal Referee Prgram Organizatinal Overview Administratin Natinal Referee Prgram Organizatinal Overview Natinal Referee Advisry Cmmissin The Natinal Referee Advisry Cmmissin (NRAC) members are nminated by the Natinal Referee Administratr in cnjunctin with the NRAC Chairman and appinted by the AYSO Natinal President. The members f NRAC prvide technical expertise t prduce, maintain, and revise as needed the AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram in respnse t the needs f AYSO referees. Natinal Referee Advisry Cmmissin Chairman The Natinal Referee Advisry Cmmissin Chairman is nminated by the Natinal Referee Administratr and appinted by the AYSO Natinal President. The NRAC Chairman is an executive member f AYSO and represents the AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram at all Natinal Bard f Directrs meetings and at the AYSO Annual General Meeting. The NRAC Chairman chairs NRAC meetings and wrks clsely with the Natinal Referee Administratr t assist with the develpment, revisin and implementatin f the Natinal Referee Prgram. AYSO Natinal Referee Administratr The AYSO Natinal Referee Administratr (NRA) is hired by the AYSO Natinal Executive Directr and is respnsible fr the develpment, revisin, and implementatin f the AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram in respnse t the verall needs f AYSO referees. The NRA acts n recmmendatins regarding prgram develpment and implementatin frm NRAC. Sectin Referee Administratrs The Sectin Referee Administratr (SRA) is appinted by the Sectin Directr and is respnsible fr implementing the AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram in respnse t the needs f AYSO referees within the sectin, areas, and regins. The SRA appints Sectin Directrs f Referee Instructin and Assessment. These directrs are charged with implementing the respective areas f the AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram under the directin f the SRA. Area Referee Administratrs The Area Referee Administratr (ARA) is appinted by the Area Directr and is respnsible fr implementing the AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram in respnse t the needs f AYSO referees within the area and regins. The ARA appints Area Directrs f Referee Instructin and Assessment. These directrs are charged with implementing the respective areas f the AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram under the directin f the ARA. Reginal Referee Administratrs The Reginal Referee Administratr (RRA) is appinted by the Reginal Cmmissiner and is respnsible fr implementing the AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram in respnse t the needs f AYSO referees within the regin. The RRA appints Reginal Directrs f Referee Instructin and Assessment. These directrs are charged with implementing the respective areas f the AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram under the directin f the RRA. Natinal Referee Prgram

8 Administratin AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram: Three Main Elements The Natinal Referee Advisry Cmmissin MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES CONTACT Pat Mullane Jerry Andersn David Keller Ry Levin Dug Ryan Jane Vanderhk Chair Interim Liaisn: Sectins 2, 4, 6, 9 Pint f Cntact: Instructin NRAC Liaisn: Sectins 3 & 13 Pint f Cntact: Assessment NRAC Liaisn: Sectins 11 & 12 Pint f Cntact: Curriculum NRAC Liaisn: Sectins 1 & 7 Pint f Cntact: Cmmunicatin NRAC Liaisn: Sectins 5 & 14 Pint f Cntact: Wmen Referees NRAC Liaisn: Sectins 8 & 10 NRAC.chair@ays.rg NRP.instructin@ays.rg NRP.assessment@ays.rg NRP.instructin@ays.rg NRP.cmmunicatin@ays.rg NRP.wmen@ays.rg T cntact the entire cmmissin: NRAC@ays.rg Fr administrative matters: NRP.administratin@ays.rg Fr all ther Natinal Referee Prgram matters: NRP@ays.rg Supprting the Natinal Referee Advisry Cmmissin ROLE CONTACT Nanette Munz Prgram Crdinatr (Staff) nanettemunz@ays.rg Tm Bbadilla Natinal Referee Administratr (Staff) thmasbbadilla@ays.rg Bill Masn AYSO FIFA Law Interpreter Jeff Stern NBOD Liaisn t NRAC jeflin@cmcast.net Margie Clse Directr f Prgrams (Staff) margieclse@ays.rg AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram: Three Main Elements Administratin Administrative training is available fr referee administratrs: Referee Administratr Training plus generalized management training curses. The Natinal Referee Prgram Manual (this dcument) prvides details regarding respnsibilities, perating prcedures, and guidelines fr administering an AYSO referee prgram. Crss-certificatin pprtunities with the United States Sccer Federatin (USSF) are available fr referees. Instructin Six levels f Referee certificatin and training are available: U-8 Official, Assistant Referee, Basic Referee, Intermediate Referee, Advanced Referee, and Natinal Referee. 8 Natinal Referee Prgram

9 Administratin The Organizatin f Sccer Special prgrams are ffered fr yuth referees. Three levels f Referee Instructr certificatin are available: Referee Instructr, Advanced Referee Instructr, and Natinal Referee Instructr. Certificatin as a Referee Instructr Evaluatr is available. Assessment Tw levels f referee assessr certificatin are available: Assessr and Natinal Assessr. Referee Mentrs are trained t be a helping hand fr new and develping fficials. The Organizatin f Sccer Fédératin Internatinale de Ftball Assciatin (FIFA) Sccer is played thrughut the wrld. The internatinal gverning bdy f sccer is the Fédératin Internatinale de Ftball Assciatin, mst cmmnly referred t as FIFA. FIFA was funded in Paris in 1904 by the ftball assciatins f France, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. FIFA cnsists f ver 200 member natinal assciatins. Natinal assciatins are recgnized as the gverning bdy f sccer fr the cuntries r territry they represent. The FIFA Headquarters has been based in Zurich, Switzerland, since Laws f the Game The Laws f the Game are prmulgated and altered by the Internatinal Ftball Assciatin Bard (IFAB), which cnsists f twenty members, fur f whm are appinted by the Executive Cmmittee f FIFA and sixteen f whm are appinted by the fur British assciatins, each f which nminates fur members. This structure cannt be changed except by the unanimus cnsent f the members f the bard. FIFA annually publishes The Laws f the Game. The Internatinal Ftball Assciatin Bard (IFAB) is made up f The Ftball Assciatin (England), The Scttish Ftball Assciatin, The Ftball Assciatin f Wales, The Irish Ftball Assciatin and the Fédératin Internatinale de Ftball Assciatin (FIFA). The IFAB meets annually in February r March t cnsider prpsed alteratins t the Laws f the Game. IFAB meets annually t cnsider any requests fr changes t the Laws r any decisins necessary t clarify any aspect f the Laws. FIFA publishes a cpy f the Laws f the Game each year. AYSO, with the permissin f FIFA, publishes an AYSO Editin f the FIFA Laws f the Game each year. Cpies are available frm the AYSO Supply Center. All AYSO games are cnducted in accrdance with the current FIFA Laws f the Game and decisins f the Internatinal Bard, subject t thse mdificatins adpted by AYSO in the current AYSO Natinal Rules and Regulatins. Cpies are available frm the AYSO Supply Center and by dwnlad frm Cnfederatin Nrte-Centramericana y del Caribe de Futbl (CONCACAF) FIFA member natinal assciatins are divided int six cntinental cnfederatins: Africa, Asia, Suth America, CONCACAF, Eurpe, and Oceana. The United States is a member f CONCACAF, which is cmprised f 35 cuntries frm Nrth and Central America and the Caribbean. Natinal Referee Prgram

10 Administratin Guidelines fr Cperatin: AYSO/USYSA United States Sccer Federatin (USSF) The United States Sccer Federatin (USSF) is the natinal gverning bdy fr sccer in the United States, and is a member f the Federatin Internatinale de Ftball Assciatin (FIFA), the wrldwide gverning bdy. The United States Sccer Federatin, als knwn as US Sccer, is made up f fur cuncils: Yuth Cuncil Adult Cuncil Prfessinal Cuncil Athletes Advisry Cuncil The Yuth Cuncil members include US Club Sccer, the American Yuth Sccer Organizatin (AYSO) and the United States Yuth Sccer Assciatin (USYSA). AYSO is the secnd largest member f USSF. As members f USSF, AYSO has vting representatives n the Referee Cmmittee, as well as a number f ther cmmittees. AYSO and USYSA bards f directrs, based upn the recmmendatins f the jint cmmittee f AYSO and USYSA representatives, have adpted the fllwing guidelines, which are cnsistent with the April 1989 AYSO/USYSA agreement, fr the gd f yuth sccer. Guidelines fr Cperatin: AYSO/USYSA Friendly Games AYSO and USYSA member teams are encuraged t participate in friendly games under the fllwing suggested frmat: Establish the rules and regulatins gverning friendly games befre play begins, preferably befre teams meet n game day. Fllw the hst team s rules with the understanding, hwever, that cnsideratin will be given t the ther, nn-hsting rganizatins rules and regulatins, including AYSO s Everyne Plays rule (even if substitutins are made nly at halftime). The hst team will prvide prf f liability insurance. Bth teams must have and prvide prf f medical insurance. The USYSA state assciatin and the AYSO Reginal Cmmissiner, thrugh their designated representatives, shuld be ntified by their teams that a friendly game has been scheduled. League Play If an AYSO team applies t play in a USYSA league, r vice-versa, that team must cmply with all the rules, regulatins, and financial cmmitments f the league in which it wishes t participate. Als: Dual registratin is permitted; hwever, nce players have played with a team, they must fulfill their bligatins t that team. Once an AYSO r USYSA team is frmed, n recruitment f players frm that team by anther team cmpeting during all r a prtin f that seasn is permitted. Creating leagues that cmbine a number f AYSO and USYSA teams is nt recmmended. Turnaments Each rganizatin is encuraged t hst Open Turnaments. Any team invited t a turnament must cmply with the turnament rules f the hsting rganizatin. All teams must cmply with the prcedures gverning travel in the turnament and/r travel manual f their wn rganizatin. 10 Natinal Referee Prgram

11 Administratin The Diagnal System f Cntrl Natinal Cups AYSO and USYSA will cntinue t hld separate natinal cmpetitins (AYSO Natinal Games and USYSA Natinal Yuth Challenge Cup). Caching and Refereeing Prgrams Crss-certificatin agreements have been established between AYSO and the USSF Natinal Caching and Refereeing Prgrams. Cperatin AYSO and USYSA will cntinue t encurage an nging dialgue and wrk tgether t reslve any state and/r lcal issues. They will als cntinue participating in each ther s bard and membership meetings, e.g., wrkshps, NAGMs and sectin meetings. The AYSO/USYSA cmmittee has been granted a cntinuing rle as a facilitatr f lcal AYSO/USYSA issues, and will be a strng nging cmmunicatins link between AYSO and USYSA. AYSO and USYSA will respect each ther s disciplinary actins against players and/r adult vlunteers. Neither grup will accept players r adults frm the ther rganizatin if the primary purpse f seeking a change is t escape disciplinary actin. Nr shuld a prgram be accepted if the purpse fr switching is t circumvent the reasnable rules f the ther s cnstitutin and bylaws. The AYSO/USYSA cmmittee will meet peridically t evaluate the prgress f implementing these recmmendatins and, if needed, address any new issues that arise as a result f their implementatin. The Diagnal System f Cntrl The diagnal system f cntrl is the nly system fr fficiating utdr sccer games that is currently recgnized by FIFA. The diagnal system emplys three fficials fr every match: ne referee and tw assistant referees. The diagnal system f cntrl (ne referee n the field) is the apprved methd f cntrl fr all AYSO matches. The applicatin f the diagnal system f cntrl, including cperatin between the referee and the assistant referees, the mechanics f the use f the diagnal system, and the signals used by the referee and assistant referees, shall be as recmmended in the current AYSO editin f the FIFA Laws f the Game. In additin t being the universally recmmended methd f fficiating utdr matches, the diagnal system can be a mst effective methd f increasing and retaining the number f fficials. Recruiting new vlunteers as assistant referees has prven t be an effective methd f intrducing new fficials int AYSO. After prper training and expsure t the game while serving as assistant referees, many therwise uninterested vlunteers becme enthusiastic fr mre training s that they can try their hand as the fficial in the middle. The AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram is designed t supprt and encurage the use f the diagnal system f cntrl. The Referee Administratr Training Curse includes cmpnents that address the recruitment and scheduling f fficials. The Referee Training and Certificatin Prgram prvides instructin tailred t all levels f AYSO. The Referee Assessment Prgram incrprates the diagnal system as an essential cmpnent f referee testing, bservatin, and assessment fr advancement t higher-grade levels. Nte: Use f the dual refereeing system must be avided. The dual refereeing system uses tw referees n the field, bth with whistles. This system encurages the develpment f pr fficiating habits and is the surce f frustratins as the fficials attempt the impssible task f remaining clse t play and, at the same time, being crrectly psitined t watch fr ffside infringements. This Natinal Referee Prgram

12 Administratin Administering the Reginal Referee Prgram system als fsters hesitancy n the part f the fficials and/r unnecessary interruptins in play as the tw fficials attempt t cnsult with ne anther fr a cnsensus. If nly tw qualified fficials are available fr a match, ne shuld assume the duties f the referee and the ther shuld becme a neutral assistant referee. A club linesman, if available, may be used after receiving instructins frm the referee. If a club linesman is nt available, the referee must assume the duties f the missing assistant referee as is dne in the single referee system. Administering the Reginal Referee Prgram Administrative training is ffered in the Referee Administratr Training Curse as well as the generic Intrductry and Advanced Management curses available t all AYSO administratrs. The Intrductry Management curse ffers the new reginal management team (the Reginal Cmmissiner, Reginal Referee Administratr, and Reginal Cach Administratr) a unified, practical apprach t management training at the reginal level and is designed t equip the reginal management team with the basic management skills and tls, which they will require during their first year tgether, t establish and manage a viable reginal prgram. The Advanced Management curses ffer an enhanced curriculum t the mre experience reginal management team that will als prvide a unified, practical apprach t management training. They are designed t upgrade the reginal management team with the advanced management skills and tls that they will require t negtiate the mre cmplex issues f maintaining and imprving a reginal prgram. It is strngly recmmended that every Reginal Referee Administratr attend these curses with their management team at the earliest pssible pprtunity. General Management and Prgram Delivery Each referee administratr sectin, area, r reginal has the same verall respnsibility: t be a cnduit thrugh which the energy f the AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram can flw. This is an in/ut prcess; the prgram must be bth received and sent. Any referee administratr wh receives training r prgramming and fails t pass it n makes the training r prgram valueless, just as thugh it had never been received in the first place. T assist in the delivery f the Natinal Referee Prgram, each referee administratr is expected t be familiar with the prgram s purpse, intended audience, and usefulness t particular situatins, and limitatins. Part f the Sectin Referee Administratr s duty is t be thrughly familiar with the Natinal Referee Prgram and t pass that familiarity n t the Area Referee Administratrs as part f their training. An Area Referee Administratr has the same duty in training the Reginal Referee Administratrs. The Reginal Referee Administratr shuld then apply the prgram at the lcal level. The Sectin Referee Administratr shuld take either direct respnsibility fr a prgram s implementatin r indirect respnsibility by passing it t the Area Referee Administratr; the Area Referee Administratr takes direct respnsibility r passes the prgram t the Reginal Referee Administratr fr direct implementatin. Fr example, since the develpment f instructrs r the educatin f advanced r natinal level referees requires special resurces, planning, and training nt usually fund at the reginal r area level, these prgrams are usually executed by the Sectin Referee Administratr with the assistance f the Area Referee Administratr. On the ther hand, the Sectin Referee Administratr is nt usually invlved in the training f beginning r intermediate level referees in every regin because that is mre prperly the respnsibility f the Reginal r Area Referee Administratr. T deliver a prgram, ne becmes familiar with it and passes it n; t implement a prgram, ne places it at the apprpriate level, and then gives it the capability t succeed thrugh mtivatin, planning, resurces, and tls. The referee administratr wh des these things helps t ensure the successful cmpletin f the delivery/implementatin cycle. 12 Natinal Referee Prgram

13 Administratin Administering the Reginal Referee Prgram Making Lcal Rules The Reginal Referee Administratr is primarily respnsible fr ensuring that the matches within the regin are cnducted in cnfrmance with FIFA Law and AYSO Natinal Rules and Regulatins (as interpreted by the AYSO Natinal Referee Advisry Cmmissin and the AYSO FIFA Law Interpreter). Surces f infrmatin include current editins f: AYSO editin f the FIFA Laws f the Game AYSO Natinal Rules and Regulatins AYSO Guidance fr Referees and Caches USSF Advice t Referees n the Laws f the Game USSF Guide t Prcedures fr Referees, Assistant Referees and Furth Officials Cmmunicatin with Area, Sectin, r Natinal referee staff The very first line f the AYSO Natinal Rules and Regulatins states, All AYSO games shall be cnducted in accrdance with the current FIFA Laws f the Game and decisins f the Internatinal Bard The bulk f the remaining cntent f the Natinal Rules and Regulatins clarifies the specific exceptins that are permitted. In the beginning f the FIFA Laws f the Game, under Mdificatins, it states, Subject t the agreement f the natinal assciatin cncerned and prvided the principles f these Laws are maintained, the Laws may be mdified in their applicatin and then specifies the kinds f mdificatins permitted. These statements endeavr t make it clear hw AYSO games shuld be played and wh, hw, and t what extent the Laws may be mdified. Making a lcal rule in the presumed interest f safety may appear well-intentined n the surface but careful cnsideratin must be given t the verall effect f the rule and whether r nt it is permissible r, in fact, beneficial. Accidents happen in sccer, and if we tried t make a rule t prevent all f them we wuld be verrun with rules that dn t make sense. Running, jumping, kicking, heading, dribbling, tackling, shting, and galkeeper effrts t prevent gals all have ptential t cause injury. Sccer is a cmpetitive sprt and physical cntact between players is a nrmal and acceptable part f the game; hwever, players must play within the Laws and respect the principles f fair play. Sccer is a cntact sprt and injuries are pssible. It is impssible t avid. Players and parents must recgnize there is risk invlved in playing sprts. The waiver n the player registratin frm, which all parents are required t read and sign, makes this pint very clearly. It is the jb f caches t teach players crrect technique t help them avid injury t themselves and t thers. It is the jb f referees t learn t recgnize when skills are executed crrectly r nt. Players shuld develp, caches shuld teach and referees shuld learn t recgnize skills that are a part f sccer. When we make a lcal rule that takes away ne r mre f the skills used in playing the game, we lessen the pprtunities fr players t learn t execute the skill crrectly, caches t teach the skill, and referees t recgnize the skill perfrmed legally. An argument culd be made that such lcal rules actually may cause mre injuries because caches will be discuraged frm teaching crrect techniques t the players since there is a lcal rule prhibiting the skill. Wrking with the Reginal Cmmissiner and Reginal Bard The reginal referee prgram des nt exist in a vacuum. It is just ne cmpnent f an AYSO regin. It is the respnsibility f the Reginal Referee Administratr t ensure that the needs f the reginal referee prgram are incrprated int the regin s verall prgram. It is recmmended that the Reginal Referee Administratr wrk clsely with the Reginal Cmmissiner and reginal bard (especially the Reginal Cach Administratr) t establish, at a minimum, the fllwing: a referee prgram budget reginal guidelines (including guidelines fr referees and caches) weather plicy prtest plicy apparel requirements cdes f cnduct Establishing a Reginal Officiating Staff The activities required t run a successful reginal referee prgram are simply t numerus and time cnsuming t be effectively carried ut by any single individual. A team effrt is required. The first gal f any Reginal Referee Administratr (RRA) shuld be t establish a reginal fficiating staff. Every RRA shuld appint a Reginal Directr f Referee Instructin and a Reginal Directr Natinal Referee Prgram

14 Administratin Administering the Reginal Referee Prgram f Referee Assessment. It is strngly recmmended that every RRA shuld als appint a Reginal Crdinatr f Recruitment, and a Reginal Crdinatr f Scheduling. The RRA, while prviding directin and maintaining cntrl, shuld delegate the respnsibility fr these elements f the reginal referee prgram t the appinted individuals. The RRA must als ensure that the appinted fficials receive adequate training and instructin in their particular area s that they can perfrm their duties. Registering Vlunteer Officials It is critical that all vlunteer fficials are annually registered with AYSO. This is accmplished thrugh the use f the AYSO Vlunteer Registratin Frm r thrugh an n-line prcess at eayso.rg. Registratin ensures that referees are cvered by the Sccer Accident Insurance. Certifying Vlunteer Officials Every vlunteer referee (and cach) in AYSO must be suitably trained and certified, including Safe Haven certificatin. This ensures the maximum pssible prtectin fr ur children and fr the vlunteers wh wrk with them. The RRA shuld ensure that all reginal referees/fficials have successfully cmpleted their training and certificatin including the AYSO Referee Safe Haven Certificatin curse befre they are given any assignments. This Safe Haven curse is a ne-hur curse fr which the lessn plan can be fund n AYSO.rg. The certificatin can als be taken nline at AYSOtraining.rg. Equipping the Referees It is abslutely essential that reginal referees be prperly equipped with a cmplete prper unifrm and the necessary accessries fr the jb. A referee shuld lk the part t really feel the part. A sharp-lking referee, in prper unifrm, will receive mre respect than an equally trained, but nnunifrmed, referee. Thrughut the sccer cmmunity, referees and assistant referees are identified by their unifrms. The AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram s gal is t have three trained fficials at every game. This gal applies t unifrmity and cnsistency in the applicatin f the Laws, and it includes the appearance f the fficiating team. The AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram encurages referees, when fficiating a match, t wear a shirt that distinguishes them frm the members f bth teams. It als recmmends that, whenever pssible, referees and assistant referees fllw these unifrm guidelines: REFEREE SHIRT It is suggested that when purchasing new shirts the United States Sccer Federatin recmmended shirt clrs be chsen. They are as fllws: Primary shirt clr: gld with black stripes and trim. Alternate clrs: black with white stripes and trim red with black stripes and trim blue with black stripes and trim green with black stripes and trim REFEREE SHORTS Slid black. Length nt less than 3 r mre than 7 inches abve the knee. REFEREE SOCKS Black with three white stripes at tp Pulled up ver the calf REFEREE BADGE The nly badge apprpriate fr referees t wear during AYSO games is the current AYSO referee certificatin level badge earned by the referee. Exceptins: An Internatinal Referee may wear his r 14 Natinal Referee Prgram

15 Administratin Administering the Reginal Referee Prgram her FIFA badge; and, if prvided, special referee turnament badges may be wrn by referees during that turnament s games. Only ne badge n unifrm. REFEREE FOOTWEAR Black, r black with white trim. Smth, turf, r cleated sles. Cleaned and plished regularly REFEREE HATS Hats are nt traditinal fr sccer referees and are discuraged. If hats are wrn fr sun-prtectin health reasns, the fllwing guidelines shuld be bserved: Slid black, r predminately black with white trim, r Slid white, r predminately white with black trim. Hats shuld bear n lg r slgans, except AYSO lgs (traditinal, prmtinal, reginal, r turnament) are permitted, and Natinal crprate apparel spnsr lgs are allwed. Lcal cnditins and cmmn sense may dictate sme variatins frm these recmmendatins. Fr example, a regin may have purchased shirts f different clrs r styles than thse nted abve fr their referees and assistant referees. If variatins are apprpriate, they shuld be applied cnsistently. The referee and assistant referees shuld wear shirts f similar clr and style, thus appearing as a team n the field. If the referee chses t wear an alternate jersey that the assistants d nt have, then the assistant referees shuld at least match each ther. Unifrmity n the part f the fficials establishes initial credibility fr them as a team, and it demnstrates their kinship with an imprtant grup: the trained, dedicated referees and assistant referees f AYSO. It is usually nt necessary t prvide all f the reginal fficials with a cmplete set f new equipment every year. Fr example, returning referees can nrmally use the same unifrm shirt and shrts fr tw r mre years, depending n the quality f unifrm purchased. On the ther hand, scks may need t be replaced every year. Whistles, data wallets, red and yellw cards, and assistant referee flags als tend t last fr several seasns. Keeping a recrd f the returning referee s equipment needs ver several seasns is a practical way f prviding the Reginal Referee Administratr with guidelines as t the equipment needs f returning referees. Hwever, it is critical that every registered referee be prvided each year with the current AYSO editin f the FIFA Laws f the Game, the AYSO Natinal Rules and Regulatins, and the Guidance fr Referees and Caches. Develping a Reginal Referee Prgram Budget One f the attractins f the game f sccer is that it is a relatively inexpensive sprt t play. The reginal bard s primary financial fcus is, legitimately, n the players (unifrms, sccer balls, etc.) and the fields (gal nets, line markings, crner flags, etc.). Because f this, it is smetimes easy t verlk sme f the less apparent financial implicatins f the game, particularly thse csts assciated with the implementatin f an effective reginal referee prgram. It is, therefre, the respnsibility f the Reginal Referee Administratr t make sure that sufficient funds are available t supprt the reginal referee prgram. The mst effective way t accmplish this respnsibility is fr the Reginal Referee Administratr t prepare a reginal referee prgram budget element fr inclusin in the regin s annual perating budget. In preparing this budget, the Reginal Referee Administratr shuld wrk clsely with the members f the reginal referee staff. The Reginal Directrs f Referee Instructin and Assessment shuld identify their anticipated needs, particularly regarding prpsed clinics and wrkshps. The crdinatrs f recruitment and scheduling may als have specific prgram plans that require funding. Each f these individual referee prgram cmpnents shuld be brken dwn int specific detailed csts and priritized. When cnsidering what items t include in yur reginal referee budget, yu may wish t keep the fllwing cmments in mind. While AYSO is a vlunteer rganizatin, ne cannt realistically expect the vlunteer fficials, wh are already giving substantial amunts f their time, t als absrb the Natinal Referee Prgram

16 Administratin Administering the Reginal Referee Prgram ttal csts assciated with the implementatin f a successful reginal referee prgram. Impsing a significant financial burden n the vlunteer fficial can severely limit yur ability t recruit and retain all but the mst dedicated, and affluent, vlunteers. Therefre, it is critical that a regin prvide adequate financial assistance t its referee prgram. This assistance may cme frm a variety f surces, including player registratin fees, referee spnsrs, etc. Regardless f the surce, mney invested t train and equip the regin s fficials, fllwing a well-cnceived plan and budget, will result in a high rate f return. The bttm line is that the regin s players will have a mre psitive experience and the games will be mre enjyable fr all if the regin s referees are prperly trained and equipped t perfrm their duties. A prperly prepared reginal referee prgram budget is critical t achieving this end. A standard reginal referee prgram annual budget frm is available n AYSO.rg. Yu may use this frm as a guide in frmulating yur wn reginal referee prgram budget. Once the reginal referee prgram budget is prepared, the Reginal Referee Administratr must wrk with the Reginal Cmmissiner and reginal bard t see that the referee prgram budget is included as a cmpnent f the regin s annual perating budget. Under a plicy adpted in 2009, regins may pay referees if they adhere strictly t guidelines established by the NSTC. Develping a Reginal Referee Calendar Just as the thinking referee establishes game cntrl by being practive n the field, the thinking Reginal Referee Administratr needs t be practive in planning the regin s referee prgram. The preparatin f a reginal referee calendar is essential fr the successful administratin f the reginal referee prgram. Preparatin f the reginal referee calendar needs t begin far in advance f the actual playing seasn. Indeed, initial planning shuld nrmally begin during the cnclusin f the preceding seasn with an assessment and evaluatin f that seasn s successes, prblems, etc. The Reginal Referee Administratr must wrk with the reginal fficiating staff t identify thse aspects f referee administratin, recruitment, instructin, assessment, certificatin, and scheduling requiring mdificatin r increased emphasis fr the next seasn. It shuld be determined which f these activities must be addressed prir t the registratin f players and vlunteers, after registratin but prir t the cmmencement f the player seasn, and during the seasn itself. One technique many Reginal Referee Administratrs have fund successful in preparing a reginal referee calendar is t begin with a full twelve-mnth blank calendar, which cincides with the regin s playing year (e.g. January December, July June, etc.). They then identify thse key dates that have already been established, such as reginal bard meetings, player and vlunteer registratin, the beginning and ending f the playing seasn(s), reginal play-ffs r turnaments, etc. Special events utside the regin, such as area meetings, sectin and natinal annual general meetings, area and sectin turnaments, referee clinics and camps, etc., shuld als be included. The Reginal Referee Administratr, tgether with the reginal fficiating staff, then wrks backward frm each f these events t establish what actin is required at the reginal level t prepare fr that activity, when that actin must take place, and wh specifically is respnsible and accuntable. 16 Natinal Referee Prgram

17 Administratin Administering the Reginal Referee Prgram DATE ACTIVITY NOTES Jan thru Dec Jan Feb Mar thru May Mar Apr May thru Aug Aug Attend bard meetings Prepare budget and plicies Appint referee staff Schedule training classes Schedule referees fr spring games Train instructrs Recruit referees and assistant referees Train and certify referees, ARs, and assessrs, Mentrs Cach presentatins Help establish standards and supprt referee prgram Order training materials and unifrms early. Plan and dcument plicies fr prtests and player and cach discipline. Set bjectives fr recruiting, training, retentin, and assessment and appint staff fr each discipline Crdinate with area and sectin fr infrmatin n instructr, assessr, and referee upgrade curses Preseasn referee meeting is advisable. Games can serve as pprtunities fr training, assessment, and recruiting. Make use f spring games as pprtunities fr training. Reserve facilities fr referee camps and curses. REGISTRATION DAY. Register all referees n vlunteer registratin frms. Recruiting is a year-rund activity. If there are summer games, use them fr training, bservatin/assessment, and recruiting The Laws f the Game shuld be part f all cach training. Representing the Regin s Officials It is ften said that there are three teams n the field during every sccer match: tw teams f players and the team f fficials. It is imprtant that the AYSO vlunteer fficials at the reginal level recgnize that they are als a part f a larger team that extends t all ther vlunteer fficials at the area, sectin, and natinal levels. The Reginal Referee Administratr (RRA) is the cnduit between vlunteer fficials at the reginal level and: the Reginal Cmmissiner and reginal bard, the Area Referee Administratr (ARA), the Sectin Referee Administratr (SRA), and the Natinal Referee Administratr (NRA) and Natinal Referee Advisry Cmmissin. The RRA is the vital link in a tw-way cmmunicatin chain. The RRA must cmmunicate natinal, sectin, and area referee plicy and news t the reginal fficials. Equally imprtant, since AYSO is a grass-rts up rganizatin, the cncerns, needs, and prblems f the reginal referees and assistant referees must be passed alng s that area, sectin, and natinal staff can respnd by prviding directin and prgrams that are tailred t the experiences f the vlunteers in the trenches. T accmplish this gal, the Reginal Referee Administratr must be prepared t meet and cmmunicate frequently with the reginal fficials during the seasn. The RRA must als be cmmitted t active participatin in area and sectin referee meetings, instructinal clinics and camps, and ther activities s that the infrmatin prvided in these frums can then be passed alng t the reginal fficials. The Reginal Referee Administratr als serves the imprtant rle f recgnizing and reinfrcing the effrts f the vlunteer fficials within the regin. The RRA can demnstrate the fact that AYSO appreciates the effrts f ur vlunteer fficials in a number f ways: Natinal Referee Prgram

18 Administratin Administering the Reginal Referee Prgram A simple verbal: Thank yu! Withut yur dedicatin, ur children wuldn t get t play can g a lng way tward reinfrcing bth the imprtance f the vlunteer and the AYSO philsphy. The intrductin and acknwledgment f fficials at the end-f-the-seasn picnics r banquets is anther way f prviding public recgnitin in frnt f players and parents. Vlunteer fficials wh have put in extra effrt in terms f the number f games cvered, advancement t a higher certificatin level, r wh have becme referee instructrs and/r referee Mentrs, assessrs can and shuld be given extra acknwledgment. Small tkens f appreciatin, such as AYSO Certificates f Appreciatin, referee pins, special cins fr the pre-game cin tss, etc., are apprpriate. Useful referee equipment like data wallets and cards, assistant referee s flags, warm-up jackets, etc., may als be cnsidered. It must be emphasized that, cnsistent with the vlunteer nature f AYSO, ur vlunteer fficials may nt be paid r therwise financially cmpensated in any manner fr their effrts. Recruiting Referees Recruiting vlunteer fficials is the mst challenging respnsibility f the Reginal Referee Administratr. Frequent surveys f Reginal Referee Administratrs identify the recruitment f fficials as their number-ne prblem. T maintain a qualified and cmpetent reginal referee staff, it is necessary t pursue and recruit new fficials cntinually. A general rule f thumb suggests that the recruitment effrt shuld attempt t bring new fficials int the fld at a level f 50% f the previus seasn s staff. Because f attritin, this will keep the referee rster at apprximately a cnstant level. If yu anticipate an expansin f yur regin, the effrt has t be intensified t increase the referee crps. In general, there are never an adequate number f referees, especially well-versed and well-trained nes. Due t the imprtance and nging nature f referee recruitment, it is strngly recmmended that the Reginal Referee Administratr designate a Reginal Crdinatr f Referee Recruitment. When lking fr a candidate fr this psitin, the RRA shuld be cgnizant that this individual will be the salespersn fr the reginal referee prgram. The crdinatr shuld, therefre, have sme refereeing experience, and be able t answer basic questins abut the game, the Laws, and mst imprtantly, the AYSO philsphy f fficiating. The crdinatr must be persnable, utging, and able t make prspective vlunteers feel at ease. The crdinatr shuld develp a staff f referee recruiters t assist with recruitment. The reginal recruiting staff shuld represent a crss sectin f the regin s referees. It shuld include men, wmen, and yuth referees. The main bjective is t cnvince ptential vlunteers that refereeing in AYSO is pen t everyne, and that AYSO will prvide the vlunteer fficial with the training necessary t perfrm the jb. The greatest pprtunity fr referee and assistant referee recruitment usually ccurs at reginal player registratin. Registratin ccurs well in advance f the seasn befre the calendars f ptential recruits have becme crwded. Registratin als prvides an pprtunity where a large number f individuals can be cntacted easily in ne place, and in persn. It is als the perfect pprtunity t meet the parents f new players, especially thse in the yunger age divisins. Careful planning can make the mst f this pprtunity. One suggestin is t have a team f referees and assistant referees in unifrm present at registratin. Wmen and yuth referees shuld be part f this referee team at registratin s that these tw imprtant surces f vlunteers have a very visible presence. The referee team can help the registratin prcess in an indirect way by answering questins regarding registratin r the AYSO prgram and at the same time recruiting referee candidates. Care must be taken in chsing the referee team, selecting thse wh present a friendly image and wh can explain the enjyment f supprting the AYSO sccer prgram by actual invlvement in the game itself. Members f the referee recruiting team must remember that many f ur vlunteers have little r n familiarity with the game f sccer. Therefre, ptential fficials must understand that they shuld nt hesitate t vlunteer simply because they d nt knw the game. The recruiting team shuld briefly utline the training prgram t assure ptential referees and assistant referees that they will be prepared t take the pitch. 18 Natinal Referee Prgram

19 Administratin Training and Certifying Referees Anther surce f referee recruits is U-8 Officials and club linesmen, whm Referee Mentrs shuld encurage t becme trained as certified referees. (The Referee Mentr prgram is utlined in the Assessment sectin f this manual.) A surce f referees ften verlked is the players themselves. Infrmatin n starting a Player Referee Organizatin (PRO) Prgram can be btained frm the NSTC. Valuable infrmatin n develping a yuth referee prgram can be fund in the manual, Develping and Maintaining a Yuth Referee Prgram. Wmen represent a largely untapped surce f referees. Wmen wh are als trained referee instructrs, assessrs, and administratrs will serve as respected rle mdels fr ther wmen wh are recruited. The NSTC can prvide additinal infrmatin n develping and supprting a wmen referee prgram. Fr a mre in-depth discussin f sme specific techniques that have prven successful in recruiting and retaining referees, please see the AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram publicatin Recruiting and Retaining Referees, available frm the AYSO Supply Center. Training and Certifying Referees Prper training is the crnerstne f any effective reginal referee prgram. Withut adequate referee training everyne assciated with the game is adversely affected. Fr this reasn the Natinal Referee Prgram strngly recmmends that each Reginal Referee Administratr appint a Reginal Directr f Referee Instructin, wh is then delegated the respnsibility fr the implementatin f the AYSO Referee Training Prgram. The Referee Training Prgram is delivered by AYSO referee instructrs utilizing NRP-apprved curse curricula. The prgram ffers six levels f referee training pprtunities: U-8 Official, Assistant Referee, Basic Referee, Intermediate Referee, Advanced Referee, and Natinal Referee. Special prgrams are available fr yuth referees. Three levels f instructr training are als available: Referee Instructr, Advanced Referee Instructr, and Natinal Referee Instructr. Tw levels f assessr training are available: Assessr and Natinal Assessr. As RRA yu shuld ensure yur Reginal Directr f Referee Instructin and all yur referee instructrs btain a cpy f this manual (the AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram Manual), which is available frm the AYSO Supply Center. One f the mst imprtant parts f the AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram is the AYSO Referee Certificatin and Training Prgram. All referees (and caches) in AYSO are required t be trained and certified. AYSO Referee Administratrs and their staff, the Directrs f Referee Instructin, and Directrs f Referee Assessment administer the prgram fr ur vlunteer referees accrding t the spirit and intent with which the prgram was designed. The philsphy f the AYSO Referee Certificatin and Training Prgram invlves: prtecting referees thrugh AYSO Safe Haven Referee Certificatin helping referees t imprve their fficiating skills assisting referees t advance in level prviding supprt and encuragement establishing realistic achievement standards prviding challenges cmmensurate with ability and experience prviding cnsistent and unifrm prgram implementatin Each level f referee certificatin is intended t be representative f the fficiating skills needed at a specific level f play within AYSO. Certificatin levels are nt linked t specific age grups. Necessary fficiating skills vary accrding t bth the age and skill level f the players invlved and range in cmplexity frm ur beginning under-6-year-ld players t the mre advanced play cmmn amng ur under-19-year-ld teams. Natinal Referee Prgram

20 Administratin Training and Certifying Referees Ratinale fr AYSO Referee Certificatin Levels U-8 Official: Trained in the fundamental skills needed t fficiate shrt-sided games fr players under 8 years f age. Assistant Referee: Trained in basic skills needed t be an AYSO Assistant Referee, as well as t fficiate shrt-sided games fr players under 8 years f age. Reginal Referee: Trained in the basic skills needed t referee AYSO matches under AYSO (FIFA) Laws and AYSO Natinal Rules and Regulatins. Intermediate Referee: Trained in the skills needed beynd the basic level t referee sccer matches that are mre physically demanding and challenging under the AYSO (FIFA) Laws and AYSO Natinal Rules and Regulatins. Advanced Referee: Trained in the advanced skills needed t referee mst upper-level AYSO sccer matches under the AYSO (FIFA) Laws and AYSO Natinal Rules and Regulatins. Natinal Referee: Trained in the prfessinal aspects f refereeing needed t referee mre challenging upper-level matches under the AYSO (FIFA) Laws and AYSO Natinal Rules & Regulatins. AYSO Safe Haven Referee Certificatin and training fr the Assistant Referee, U-8 Official, and Reginal Referee levels is the respnsibility f the Reginal Referee Administratr and requires the cmpletin f the required curses. It als requires the annual cmpletin f a vlunteer registratin frm and submittal f the frm t the Natinal Supprt and Training Center. Crss-certificatin pprtunities with the United States Sccer Federatin (USSF) are available upn applicatin. Training Curses The AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram is designed t prvide training t referees and prspective referees that will allw them t referee an AYSO sccer match under FIFA Laws f the Game and the AYSO Natinal Rules and Regulatins. It is the intent f this prgram t standardize the curse requirements fr cnsistency thrughut AYSO. With the exceptin f training fr the U-8 Official, referee designatins and training are nt directly assciated with any specific age grup. The U-8 Official Curse prepares vlunteers t fficiate AYSO matches fr players under 8 years f age but des nt adequately prepare them fr any ther level f AYSO play. It is the belief f AYSO that Reginal Referees and abve shuld have sufficient training t prvide skills t referee many AYSO sccer matches. It is bvius that t effectively referee higher level games a referee must have experience, physical cnditining and mental preparatin, as well as training. Training in AYSO is a cntinuing prcess. Referees are encuraged t cntinue their educatin by annually attending additinal training and update sessins. Lessn plans fr each f the curses have been prepared as guidelines fr instructrs. Each lessn plan indicates the referee instructr level necessary t be the lead instructr. AYSO encurages lead instructrs t use their wn initiative in develping hw material may be presented. Each instructr hwever, is respnsible t ensure the lessn gals and learning bjectives f the lessn plans are met. Exclusive f breaks (and testing), apprximate curse duratins are: U-8 Official Curse: 3 hurs Assistant Referee Curse: 5 hurs Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Referee Curses: 8 hurs each Natinal Referee Curse: 15 hurs 20 Natinal Referee Prgram

21 Administratin Training and Certifying Referees Althugh AYSO referee training is mst cmmnly delivered as whle curses, the cnstituent classes f the curses, smetimes referred t as mdules, may be used fr stand-alne training where they serve a need. In sme cases, instructrs will find it necessary t adjust the cntent f class lessn plans used in this way due t implicit r explicit prerequisites. Every referee must have a sund fundatin in the Laws f the Game as a prerequisite t being certified as a referee. The training prgram prvides the fundatin at the Reginal Referee level. T cnfirm this knwledge at the Reginal Referee level and higher, candidates are expected t successfully pass apprpriate level referee examinatins. These examinatins are cnsidered t be a separate requirement and are nt a required part f the referee training curses. Certificatin Referees may enter the certificatin prcess at the U-8 Official, Assistant Referee, r Reginal Referee level. Certificatin at the Intermediate, Advanced, and Natinal levels builds n knwledge and experience acquired at the previus level(s). Certificatin requirements fr referees are listed in the Appendix f this manual (page 58). Additinally, t address exceptinal situatins, there is a frm fr vlunteers t request exemptin frm sme certificatin requirements (available n AYSO.rg). Referee Upgrade Prcess The Applicatin fr Referee Certificatin frm must be cmpleted by the candidate fr upgrade t Intermediate Referee level and abve. The frm is available at AYSO.rg r frm the AYSO Supply Center. An apprpriate referee staff member verifies that all requirements have been signed ff by individuals authrized t d s. After btaining the verifying signature, the referee must send the frm t (nte that this address is likely t change in the first half f 2011 verify it n befre using): AYSO Natinal Supprt and Training Center S. Isis Avenue Hawthrne, CA Fr Intermediate and Advanced Referee upgrades, the verificatin f requirements is perfrmed either by the Area (r Sectin) Referee Administratr r the Area (r Sectin) Directr f Assessment. Fr Natinal Referee upgrades, the verificatin f requirements is perfrmed by the Sectin Referee Administratr r Sectin Directr f Assessment. At all levels, verificatin f requirements is chiefly an administrative actin, the purpse f which is t verify that the individuals wh have signed the frm indicating cmpletin f the requirements fr upgrade are in fact authrized t d s. In additin, by signing the upgrade, the verifier attests that he/she knws that the candidate is registered as an AYSO vlunteer fr the current membership year. Verificatin must be cmpleted within 30 days f the submissin f the cmpleted upgrade frm by the referee t the individual respnsible fr verificatin. If the verifier is unable t cmplete the verificatin fr any reasn, he/she must ntify the referee f the reasn in writing within the 30 day perid. Obtaining Certificates and Badges U-8 Official, Assistant Referee, and Reginal Referee badges (and, ptinally, certificates) are awarded by the curse instructr upn cmpletin f the assciated curse and exam. These (and nly these) entry-level badges and certificates may be rdered directly frm the AYSO Supply Center. Intermediate and Advanced badges are supplied by the Referee Prgram Crdinatr (see p. 8) t the Area r Sectin Referee Administratr, wh awards a badge upn receipt f a cmpleted and verified Applicatin fr Referee Certificatin frm. A Natinal badge (and certificate) is mailed t the upgraded referee by the Natinal Referee Administratr (see p. 8) upn receipt f a cmpleted, signed, and verified Applicatin fr Referee Certificatin frm. Natinal Referee Prgram

22 Administratin Scheduling Referees Scheduling Referees A thrugh review f the varius ways referees can be scheduled can be fund in the Referee Administratr Reference Guide, which is available frm the AYSO Supply Center. Scheduling is ne f the mst imprtant aspects f the reginal referee prgram. If dne haphazardly, scheduling can be the Achilles heel that may undermine the mrale f the referees and hinder the reginal referee prgram. The task f scheduling referees fr each f the regin s games thrughut the sccer seasn invlves a vast effrt f crdinating individuals persnal schedules, their children s schedules and game/field schedules. Cnfrnted with this chre, the initial reactin is t believe that all the variables cannt be brught int cntrl. Obviusly, the Reginal Referee Administratr shuld attempt t seek assistance in cnducting the scheduling effrt. It is strngly recmmended that the RRA appint a crdinatr f scheduling t devte full attentin t this imprtant task. In filling this psitin, the RRA shuld recgnize that this is ne f the reginal referee staff psitins that d nt require a trained referee. The crdinatr f scheduling simply needs t be smene wh is rganized, cmputer-literate, a gd cmmunicatr, and skilled at crdinating the activities f thers. The RRA shuld prvide the crdinatr f scheduling with a list f what referees are available, and guidelines as t what level games they are qualified t fficiate. The scheduling f yuth referees shuld be given sme special thught and planning. Sme regins schedule teams f yuth referees, while ther regins want an experienced adult referee n each team. Certainly, the yuth referees shuld be cnsulted n this. There is a lt t be said fr putting three yung friends tgether t wrk as a team, they enjy it! Yuth referees call a very gd game, but they shuld nt be put in a situatin where they must deal with adult dissent. A respnsible adult shuld be assigned t be at the field where yuth referees are wrking games. The respnsible adult can explain t anyne wh needs reminding that negative cmments abut the referees are inapprpriate and are nt tlerated in AYSO. This is especially critical when yuth referees are invlved. There is much t be gained by using all-wmen teams ccasinally as well. A well-fficiated game dne by three experienced wmen referees can help dispel sme cmmnly held steretypes abut the cmpetence f wmen referees. Schedulers shuld supprt the Referee Mentr and Assessr Prgram by scheduling games t prvide apprpriate time fr the cnduct f assessments and bservatins and debriefing f candidates. Be sure t btain a cpy f the Referee Administratr Reference Guide fr mre details regarding scheduling referees and the varius ptins available. Ensuring General and Persnal Safety Fr additinal safety infrmatin, please refer t the AYSO Guidance fr Referees and Caches. The referee administratr has many cncerns, but ne f the fremst is safety. The entire referee staff needs t be invlved bth befre and during the seasn t deal with all the factrs that affect safety fr bth the players and the referees. Factrs that affect the safety f referees and players equally are: field cnditins weather Factrs that affect the safety f the players are: players equipment galpsts and crner flags fitness pre-game warm-up dangerus play treatment after an apparent injury 22 Natinal Referee Prgram

23 Administratin Ensuring General and Persnal Safety Referee administratrs cannt demand referee fitness, but they can encurage it. Talk abut fitness at clinics, in casual cnversatins with referees, and wherever the pprtunity presents itself. Pint ut that yu have a selfish reasn fr wanting referees fit: fit referees are less likely t miss games due t injury. At clinics, have a sprt s trainer teach yur referees the best way t stretch and warm up befre a game t avid injury. Get referees t help each ther t remember t stretch befre and after games. Stretching shuld be a ritual at all pre-game and pst-game gatherings f referees. Make fitness and stretching a part f referee scial interactins. In the ff-seasn the referee administratr and the referee staff can prmte referee fitness. Remind the referees t wrk n fitness s they will be prepared fr the seasn. Get fit t referee dn t referee t get fit. Use clinic mailings, registratin, and newsletters t prmte fitness als. Spnsr a fitness grup. Invite referees t jg tgether 3 r 4 times a week. Get a fitness expert t attend ne f these wrkuts t teach fitness techniques. Teach safety and first-aid with a clinic n sprts medicine. Crdinate this thrugh the regin s risk manager/safety directr. Wrk with the field directr t ensure that the fields and sidelines are as smth as pssible. Als check the galpsts fr structural damage. Hles and uneven grund n the fields and sidelines can cause the regin t lse the services f its best referees. Wrk with the field directr, sparing n effrt t get the fields in the best cnditin pssible. Referees shuld be encuraged t cntact the field directr when dangerus field cnditins exist. The referee rganizatin shuld als remember t thank and recgnize a hard wrking field directr (many cnsider the jb f field directr as ne f the mst difficult and thankless). Wrk with the reginal bard t ensure that everyne knws that games will end, and nt simply be pstpned fr a few minutes, when thunder is heard r lightning is seen. It des n gd t stp a game fr lightning if peple are ging t stand arund by the field wndering if the game will cntinue later. If there is n dubt that the game is finished fr the day, peple will clear the fields and get int the safety f their cars mre quickly. AYSO Severe Weather Plicy The Natinal Severe Strms Labratry (NSSL) currently recmmends that all individuals shuld leave the game site and reach a safe structure r lcatin when lightning is within 6 miles. The Natinal Cllegiate Athletic Assciatin (NCAA) Lightning Safety Guidelines indicate that since lightning can strike ut f a clear blue sky as far away as ten miles frm a rain strm, when the Flash-t-Bang cunt is thirty secnds r less, everyne shuld leave the game site t a safe lcatin. The United States Sccer Federatin (USSF) psitin is that if yu can hear thunder yu are within reach f lightning and that referees must prtect the safety f all participants by stpping game activities quickly, s that participants and spectatrs may retire t a safer place befre the lightning threat becmes significant. Applying the rule is recmmended and t wait thirty minutes r mre after hearing the last thunder befre leaving shelter. In view f the abve, the fllwing is the psitin f the AYSO Natinal Referee Advisry Cmmissin regarding severe weather: It is said that lightning can strike frm a clear blue sky within a ten-mile radius f a strm. It is therefre strngly recmmended that practices and games be terminated immediately upn hearing thunder r seeing lightning. If yu can see it - flee it; if yu can hear it clear it. Natinal Referee Prgram

24 Administratin Miscellaneus Administrative Matters Instruct referees nt t wait until a thunderstrm is near t stp the game. The game needs t be stpped while the strm is miles away s that the field can be cleared f peple befre the lightning is verhead. Inspecting Players Equipment The referee s pinin as t dangerus equipment is the final authrity in the FIFA Laws f the Game. As Reginal Referee Administratr, yu must set minimum standards t help yur referees wh may nt recgnize pssible dangerus situatins. The specifics regarding what equipment is and is nt permitted can be fund in the AYSO publicatin Guidance fr Referee and Caches make sure all yur referees are supplied with a current editin. Dealing with Player Injuries In AYSO, the caches have a frm signed by the parent giving authrity t deal with the injured player. The referee des nt have that authrity. Parents and caches als get very cncerned when they think their yung child is injured n the field. Fr these tw reasns it is imprtant fr referees t stp the game and bring the cach n the field when a player appears injured. Bth caches and parents want the game stpped immediately. The referee shuld nt hesitate t stp play t allw injured players t be attended t by the cach. T parents and ther spectatrs, secnds seem like minutes when a child is n the grund. The referee s calm vice can be reassuring t an injured yung player. First he/she can encurage the child t avid further injury by lying still. EMT s, paramedics, r dctrs can always be fund t address yur referees at clinics r meetings t teach the signs f pssible injury. This training has an extra advantage beynd the safety f the players the referees can feel better prepared t deal with a pssible emergency in the event it is necessary t d s. Dealing with Bleeding Law 5 f the Laws f the Game states that the referee ensures that any player bleeding frm a wund leaves the field f play. The player may nly return n receiving a signal frm the referee, wh must be satisfied that the bleeding has stpped. It is the decisin f the AYSO NRP that a player, referee, r assistant referee wh is bleeding frm a wund must leave the field and may nly return when the bleeding has been stpped, the wund is cvered, and the bld n the skin and clthing is neutralized. Miscellaneus Administrative Matters The tpics in this sectin address issues that arise frequently. Fr additinal guidance n these and ther administrative matters, refer t the Guidance fr Referees and Caches, available frm the AYSO Supply Center. Allwing Additinal Clthing Regins in clder climates must decide what additinal clthing, wrn fr warmth, will be allwed. Ideally, the rule wuld allw nly sweats, wrn under the unifrm, and a stcking hat. But in reality, nt all families can be expected t have these items, and s ther types f lng pants, jackets, and hded sweatshirts are ften allwed. The regin shuld have a plicy n this that is printed fr caches, parents, and referees. If jackets have zippers r snaps, they must be clsed and nt flapping lse. Hds that are nt being wrn ver the head shuld be tucked in. Lng pants shuld nly be allwed when the weather is cld enugh t warrant it. Checking players equipment shuld be a ritual taught in detail at referee clinics. The mre prescribed the ritual, the less likely it will be skipped. Sme regins have bth teams t line up fr the cin flip and/r equipment check. One benefit is that the referee s instructins are heard by everyne. But mst imprtant, the equipment check is thrugh and nt frgtten. In the upper divisins, with lder players, the preference is fr minimum pre-game instructins, usually invlving nly the team captains. Player equipment inspectins are dne individually rather than with bth teams assembled tgether. 24 Natinal Referee Prgram

25 Administratin Miscellaneus Administrative Matters Managing Mnitred ( Free ) Substitutin The AYSO Natinal Bard f Directrs, at its March 22-23, 1985, meeting authrized the creatin f a ne-year natinal pilt prgram fr U-16/U-19 play. The fllwing year, the Bard annunced the indefinite cntinuatin f the prgram. The bard reaffirmed the apprpriateness f this plicy in July, It als reaffirmed that this plicy nly applies t U-16/U-19 play. The purpse f the experimental prgram is t explre different ways t enable sectins, areas, and regins t attract and keep U-16/U-19 players in the AYSO prgram. Eligibility: All regins (chartered r pilt) r areas that have r wish t establish a U-16/U-19 r cmbinatin prgram and wish t deviate frm the Natinal Rules & Regulatins with respect t substitutin and ther matters are subject t this plicy. Guidelines: The experimental prgram will cntinue t permit U-16/U-19 play t be cnducted with greater flexibility by permitting the fllwing: Mre infrmal play; Mre games and less practices; C-ed play; Prviding different prgrams in U-16 and/r U-19 based n the ability f the participants t cmmit their time (e.g., a 10-hur prgram fr thse with mre time and a fur-hur prgram fr thse with less time). Fixing game times n a regular basis t suit the wrking schedule and ther cmmitments f the participants; Mre flexible player substitutins; Limitatin f the play f any participant wh is excessively vilent and receives a red card during a game; Creatin f a traveling team t participate in nn-ayso leagues but nly where there are insufficient AYSO players t frm a viable U-16 r U-19 league r a cmbined U-16/U-19 league within the regin r area; Creatin f a select team t play in USYSA, SAY r ther turnaments; Creatin f neighbrhd r reginal r area based teams t minimize the travel f the participants. Mnitred Substitutin: Much f the cncern abut the need t cntinue the U-16/U-19 experimental prgram seems t have centered arund the desire t have free substitutin. Free substitutin will be permitted in the U-16/U-19 Experimental Prgram, but nly if it is handled in a manner that will ensure that every participant plays at least ne half f every game by requiring a separate time mnitr, independent f either team r cach, wh checks each player in r ut f the game. Other Areas Of Flexibility: Rural, suburban, ex-urban and city areas seem t require different types f prgrams because f the varying demands n the time f the participants. C-ed practices and/r teams r parallel scial prgrams shuld be cnsidered since they have been fund t lead t greater participatin. Crdinate team structuring, playing schedule and practice time and seasn with the lcal high schls in the event the lcal schl rule prhibits high schl and AYSO play at the same time. Mnitring: It is the respnsibility f the reginal cmmissiner r the area directr, as the case may be, t mnitr the experimental prgram during the seasn. Natinal Referee Prgram

26 Administratin Cnclusin Cnclusin Experienced Reginal Referee Administratrs knw the basic tasks: recruiting, training, certifying, equipping, scheduling, assessing/advising, enfrcing, etc. Yet the practive Reginal Referee Administratr knws the jb invlves much mre. In fact, the mre subtle aspects f being an RRA are nt part f the nrmal jb descriptin. Althugh yu are in charge f all reginal referees, yur respnsibilities are nt limited t them. As the RRA, yu are the link between the referees and the ther members f the AYSO reginal team. Therefre, yu must deal with all grups using supprt, mediatin, and prfessinalism. Sme f the rules yu already knw: never criticize anther referee; avid needless debate with caches and spectatrs abut a referee s decisins, especially during a game; etc. But there are ther rules that will create a supprtive relatinship between yu and yur referees, as well as between yu and the rest f yur regin: Deal quickly and psitively with pr fficiating thrugh discreet ne-t-ne cntact and cunseling. Prvide supprt t referees and fficials by actively implementing a Referee Mentr prgram. Address cach and spectatr cncerns sensitively fr the welfare f yur referees and the regin. Help yur referees keep a psitive attitude tward all caches and spectatrs, even the difficult nes. Maintain yur referee s gd humr thrugh camaraderie, praise and rewards. Even when yu prvide slid supprt fr yur referees, yu can still experience cnflicts between referees and the rest f the prgram. This is where yur practive mediatin rle becmes critical. As the Reginal Referee Administratr, yu are uniquely psitined t be the fficial speaker fr yur referees. This als makes yu the fficial receiver f cmplaints. If yur reactins are brusque and defensive, yu may be supprting yur referees but alienating yurself frm the rest f the prgram. If yur respnse is an attempt t mediate the cnflict, listening with genuine interest and respnding with careful cnsideratin, yu can prtect yur referees and turn prbable ppnents int pssible allies. Yu will als need t be diligent t mediate referee antagnism tward caches, spectatrs and players. Thrugh yur supprt and mediatin activities, yu are demnstrating yur prfessinalism. Prfessinalism is acting and being the best Reginal Referee Administratr yu can be. This means, in additin t a psitive attitude and philsphy, having a gd cmmand f the Laws f the Game, exercising cmpetent management (including the delegatin f respnsibility) and attentin t detail. When yu present yurself with prfessinalism and a cperative attitude, yu increase the dds f being respected and accepted, and this helps all yur referees as well as the lcal prgram. Supprt, mediatin and prfessinalism!! As Reginal Referee Administratr, yur example in these areas will help yur referees, ther reginal vlunteers and mst imprtantly, the players in yur regin. Remember: In AYSO, it s abut mre than the game! 26 Natinal Referee Prgram

27 Instructin Prgram The AYSO Referee Instructr Prgram Instructin Prgram The AYSO Referee Instructr Prgram Referee Instructrs play a crucial rle in the develpment f referees and the verall success f AYSO. This is particularly true fr instructrs wh teach entry-level referee curses, since it is in these curses that new vlunteers first develp an understanding f the mst imprtant and fundamental aspects f refereeing AYSO sccer. Instructrs must ensure that AYSO philsphy, plicies, prgrams, and child and vlunteer prtectin issues are explained. AYSO instructrs must instill in the minds f the referees they instruct the imprtance f understanding and applying the spirit f the Laws and the significant rle they each play t ensure that, In AYSO, it s abut mre than the game! Having qualified lcal instructrs is imprtant because they give the regin the flexibility t train new vlunteers at a time and place mst cnvenient fr the lcal referees. The AYSO Referee Instructr Prgram ffers pprtunities fr vlunteers t becme trained and certified as instructrs at three levels: Referee Instructr, Advanced Referee Instructr and Natinal Referee Instructr. The AYSO Referee Instructr Prgram als prvides standardized curriculum and teaching plans fr all training curses t encurage cnsistency referee training acrss AYSO. The AYSO Referee Instructr Prgram cnsists f three cmpnents: Intrductin t Instructin Curse: This curse emphasizes cmmn instructinal skills and strategies applicable t all disciplines. Referee discipline-specific training curses: The Referee Instructr Curse and Advanced Referee Instructr Curse cver the referee-specific knwledge needed t instruct at each f these levels. Natinal Referee Instructrs are develped thrugh a mentring prcess. Student teaching cmpnent: Students practice teaching in real curse situatins with evaluatin and mentring by certified Referee Instructr Evaluatrs. The criteria and requirements fr certificatin as an AYSO Referee Instructr r Instructr Evaluatr are listed in the Appendix f this manual (page 60). Questins r cncerns related t the AYSO Referee Instructr Prgram may be ed t NRP.instructin@ays.rg. Planning a Referee Training Curse Are yu ready t give a clinic? Whether this is yur first r yur thirty-first referee clinic, the steps yu must g thrugh are the same. Yu must plan: plan fr every little detail, every cntingency. The majr difference between the experienced instructr and the new instructr is that this year the new instructr will make the mistakes the experienced instructr made last year. Infrmatin in this dcument will help yu t prevent making the mistakes made in the past. Perhaps the best advice yu can get is, If yu fail t plan, then plan t fail. Okay, yu are an instructr. Yu want t put n a class, but where d yu start? Start with a need. D yu need mre referees? (What regin desn't?) When will the referees be needed? With just this infrmatin, yu can make several decisins: whether r nt utdr classes may be held; the number f days that will be required. Sme recruiting methds are time-dependent, and training aids culd be affected by the time available. The amunt f time available t wrk with c-instructrs culd be hampered. Natinal Referee Prgram

28 Instructin Prgram Planning a Referee Training Curse As yu can easily see, the need fr planning becmes very evident. If yu wait until the last minute t plan a clinic, yu reduce the number f ptins and invite the pssibility, and perhaps even the likelihd, f failure. One effective methd f planning is t determine when yu want the class t finish, and wrk backwards frm there. The steps used might be similar t the fllwing list. 1. Cntact the apprpriate Directr f Referee Instructin. 2. Determine ttal time available frm the present t the training date. 3. Determine the amunt f planning time required prir t the first class. Include time fr ntificatin f students, instructrs, btaining suitable class space, preparing lessn plans and develping training aids. 4. Determine the number f hurs per class and the number f classes per week, and select which days the classes will be taught. 5. Determine the lcatin and get cmmitments fr use f the facility. 6. Cntact ptential instructrs; determine availability; assign classes. 7. Initiate the recruiting prgram. Let ptential students knw when and where the clinic will be. If pssible, get cmmitments fr attendance. 8. Review lessn plans, develp training aids, practice lessns, and review classes with cinstructrs. Chsing a Lcatin Facilities fr referee instructin shuld include the fllwing: Blackbard r marker bard Overhead prjectr and screen r prtable cmputer with prjectr Electrical utlet (always bring yur wn extensin crd) Tables r desks fr students Enugh space in the rm fr demnstratins Sccer field (gym if necessary when n field is available). Pssible lcatins: Schl classrm: junir high, high schl, cllege (elementary schls shuld be avided due t small size f desks) Church hall Yuth r senir citizen center Library cnference rm Twn hall meeting rm Class Scheduling Classes may be scheduled in a variety f ways t accmmdate the varying cnditins and needs f lcal prgrams. Self-cntained lessn plans are available fr teaching the cmplete curses. Additinally, all f the curses, except the Natinal Referee Curse, may be ffered in smaller increments f time ver an extended perid. The type f class schedule used depends upn a variety f factrs such as availability f facilities, instructrs, and students. The mst imprtant cnsideratin t remember is t teach the infrmatin that is needed fr the experience level f the students. Fr example, when teaching entry level fficials wh will nly be assigned t lwer divisin r shrt sided matches (U-6 t U-8), it is neither advisable nr prductive t teach aspects f the game that are rarely present at this level f play. Likewise, when teaching advanced fficials, it wuld nt be wrthwhile t schedule lengthy sessins n such aspects as ball in and ut f play, basic referee and assistant referee signals, r crrect restart prcedures. Fr curse length and cntent requirements f the varius AYSO referee training curses, please refer t the Referee Training Curses sectin in this manual. 28 Natinal Referee Prgram

29 Instructin Prgram Planning a Referee Training Curse Use f C-Instructrs It is a gd idea t make use f additinal AYSO certified instructrs in yur regin r area. Classes are always made mre interesting when taught by a variety f instructrs. Whenever pssible, try t assign at least ne wman referee instructr, whse presence may make the training prcess mre cmfrtable fr female candidates. At the same time, having wmen instructrs demnstrates the knwledge and cmpetence f wmen referees, a psitive message fr bth wmen and men referee candidates. If yu have nt wrked with a particular instructr befre, it is a gd idea t g ver the particular class he r she will be assigned t teach. Yu may want t practice tgether, especially if yu are using a newly qualified instructr. If yu will be using an instructr whse teaching is unfamiliar t yu, ensure apprved teaching r lessn plans are being used. Be sure t ask yur guest instructr what teaching aids he/she will be using s yu will knw if a slide, verhead, mvie, r multimedia prjectr will be needed. Teaching Aids Teaching aids are nt mandatry, but they can be very helpful. Remember that percent f all learning is accmplished thrugh the eyes. As Ken Astn said, I see and I understand. As yu begin t prepare classes, think abut what teaching aids, particularly visual aids, yu might be able t use t assist in the transfer f knwledge t the students. The Natinal Referee Prgram has prduced a number f very gd teaching aids which are available n AYSO.rg.These aids are cnstantly being prduced and imprved. Cntact yur referee staffs r ther instructrs fr assistance in finding the mst recent list f available teaching aids. If n teaching aids are available, r if the available aids d nt suit yur purpse, d nt despair. Use yur imaginatin; develp yur wn. As yu develp teaching aids, cnsider the fllwing: Objective: the teaching aid shuld be designed t assist yu. It shuld fcus the students' attentin n the infrmatin yu want them t retain. A beautiful, well-designed aid that illustrates smething ther than what yu are teaching will distract the students. Audience: the teaching aid shuld be tailred t the audience and shuld nt be t cmplex. Accuracy: the infrmatin n the teaching aid must be accurate and current. If yu start frm material prvided by anther instructr, be sure t verify that it is still crrect. Use current reference surces, such as the current year AYSO editin f the Laws f the Game. Type f presentatin: hw durable shuld the teaching aid be? Is this a ne-time class, r is this a class fr which yu will use this aid ver and ver? Hw imprtant is this presentatin? Can yu affrd t spend hurs preparing an aid that will be used fr 30 secnds in ne presentatin? Time fr preparatin: hw much time d yu have t develp the aid? Simplicity: keep the teaching aid simple. A picture is wrth a thusand wrds. A picture f a thusand wrds isn't wrth much. When using teaching aids, remember the fllwing tips: Practice with the teaching aid. An instructr wh fumbles with an aid r wh is perceived as nt familiar with its cntent lses credibility with the students. Dn't have the aid in frnt f the class befre yu need it. When yu are finished with it, put it away s that is des nt becme a distractin fr the students. Natinal Referee Prgram

30 Instructin Prgram Using Written Examinatins Effectively Using Written Examinatins Effectively All AYSO referee certificatin levels require taking a written exam. Fr the entry-level curses, the exam is a part f the curse; fr higher-level curses, the exam is generally ffered in cnjunctin with the curse. The purpse f these exams is t cnfirm that knwledge has been acquired, nt t pass r fail anyne. Nevertheless, many peple get unduly anxius abut written exams. Instructrs can reduce the anxiety and increase the value f the exams as fllws: Set aside sufficient time fr administratin f the exam, which in sme cases culd be n a separate day frm the rest f the curse. Allw time fr review and a questin-and-answer sessin befre the exam. Establish an apprpriate atmsphere in the classrm fr administering the exam. Ensure that the rm is free f distractins and/r interruptins. Be sure that the students put away their reference materials befre starting the exam. AYSO Referee exams, ther than the designated sample tests, are clsed-bk. Make sure that the students read the instructins n the cver page f the exam. Emphasize that there are n trick questins. Encurage the students t ask the instructr if the meaning f a questin is unclear. Be available during testing s yu can answer questins. As students cmplete the exam, ask them t leave the rm s as nt t disturb thse wh have nt yet finished. Grade the exams as sn as pssible. When grading, understand the intent f the student s answer and give credit if yu are cnvinced that the student knew the answer, even if it isn t perfectly expressed. Dn t be petty remember that the purpse f the exam is cnfirmatin f learning. Review the exam with the students and ensure that everyne understands the crrect answer t each questin. (Answer keys prvided fr mst exams include explanatins with the answers.) In sme cases, it may be apprpriate r necessary t g ver individual exams ne-n-ne. Thse wh did nt achieve a passing grade shuld be given sme extra tutring and shuld be encuraged t take the exam again. Have a plan fr administering the exam a secnd time. Mst exams have tw different versins available use a different versin the secnd time in accrdance with the AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram s retesting plicy (see belw). Hwever, if a student fails the exam badly, he/she shuld prbably nt take a secnd exam withut taking sme time t study, and the instructr shuld encurage that. Well befre the curse, the instructr shuld btain the current versin(s) f the apprpriate exam. The fllwing exams are available n the AYSO.rg website: U-8 Official (2 versins) Referee Instructr (2 versins) Assistant Referee (2 versins) Advanced Referee Instructr (2 versins) Basic Referee (2 versins) Referee Assessr Intermediate Referee (2 versins) Natinal Referee Assessr Advanced Referee (2 versins) Sample Intermediate Referee Natinal Referee (2 versins) Sample Advanced Referee Natinal Referee Pretest (sample exam) 30 Natinal Referee Prgram

31 Instructin Prgram Rster Return Plicy Nte that the exams are passwrd-prtected, except fr the sample exams. (Answer keys fr sample exams are passwrd-prtected.) Instructrs may btain the passwrds frm their Sectin Referee Administratr r Sectin Directr f Referee Instructin. T preserve the utility f the database frm which exam questins are drawn, instructrs must nt allw students t retain exams. After the exams have been reviewed, they shuld be cllected and destryed. Peridically, new versins f the exams with grading keys are prduced. Instructrs shuld ensure they have the latest versins and destry ld versins. Old versins must nt be distributed t students as practice tests, since this cmprmises the exam questin database. Current sample tests (see list abve) are intended fr this purpse. With the exceptin f the Natinal Referee and Natinal Assessr exams, all exams can be administered by any Referee Administratr, Directr f Assessment, Directr f Instructin, r referee instructr. Thus, students wh need t retake an exam shuld nt feel cmpelled t d s immediately, and instructrs shuld arrange fr retesting t ccur utilizing these authrized administratrs. The Natinal Referee and Natinal Assessr exams must be administered by the Sectin Referee Administratr, Sectin Directr f Assessment, Sectin Directr f Instructin, a Natinal Referee Instructr r a persn designated by any ne f them. Instructrs wh wish t prvide suggestins fr imprving AYSO s written exams shuld cmplete the feedback frm, available n the AYSO.rg website n the same page as the exams. Cmments may als be sent t NRP.exams@ays.rg. Include the exam name and versin and the questin identifier a pair f numbers f the frm nn/mm in the right margin f the questin. Retesting Plicy If a candidate des nt achieve the required scre n a written referee exam (including Law, Assessr, and Instructr exams), the candidate may retake the exam at any time prvided that the versin f the exam used fr the retake (a) differs frm all versins administered t the candidate in the preceding fur weeks, and (b) is current (that is, n newer versin f the exam has been issued by the Natinal Referee Prgram). Since at any time there are tw current versins f mst exams (see list, abve), a retake can ccur (using a different versin) as sn as the candidate wishes. If a candidate des nt pass the secnd time, (s)he will generally have t wait fur weeks befre trying again. Rster Return Plicy The AYSO Natinal Bard f Directrs has established the fllwing plicy regarding curse rsters: In rder t ensure attendees receive credit fr cmpleted training, it is vital that training rsters are returned t the Natinal Supprt and Training Center (NSTC) t be entered int the AYSO database in a timely manner. Therefre, the dispsitin f any training curse authrized by the NSTC must be reslved within 60 days fllwing the scheduled date f the curse and ntificatin f the curse status prvided t the rster administratr at the NSTC. Any lead Instructr wh has failed t accunt fr a rster within the 60 day perid fllwing the scheduled training date will nt be authrized t cnduct additinal training until the past due rster is returned r its status satisfactrily reslved. A Final Wrd t Instructrs As AYSO Instructrs yu are a windw thrugh which ur vlunteer referees see the AYSO experience as it is intended t be fr all wh participate r watch AYSO games. Keep that visin clear and unbstructed and remember t instill the belief that: In AYSO, it s abut mre than the game! Natinal Referee Prgram

32 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Assessment and Mentr Prgram Effective referees are indispensable if the American Yuth Sccer Organizatin is t grw and prsper. Effective referee assessrs and Mentrs are als indispensable if ur cre f effective referees is t cntinue t grw. The effectiveness f ur referee assessrs and Mentrs has a tremendus effect n ur referees and ultimately the verall success f AYSO. The gal f the Assessment, Mentr Prgram is t prduce effective referees thrugh the develpment and use f effective referee assessrs and Mentrs. Assessr, Mentr Training Prgram Overview The AYSO Referee Assessr, Mentr Training prgram is a vluntary prgram in which referees and ther qualified individuals are encuraged t participate. It is designed t enable anyne with apprpriate sccer experience and training t assist in imprving the standard f refereeing within the AYSO prgram by bserving, mentring, and assessing ur vlunteer referees. Assessrs and Mentrs need nt be current referees. The prgram is administered by AYSO Directrs f Assessment. Referee Mentrs and Assessrs The first level f develpmental supprt fr AYSO fficials is the Referee Mentr Prgram. Under this prgram, Reginal Referee Administratrs and Reginal Referee Directrs f Assessment identify and assign qualified referees t act as a helping hand t new and less experienced fficials. This helping hand cnsists f frequent cntact t supprt and encurage develpment f fficials. Experience shws that the Mentr Prgram is imprtant t referee develpment, retentin, and recruiting. At the secnd level is the Assessment prgram. This prgram trains tw levels f assessr (Assessr and Natinal Assessr) t prvide required evaluatins f referees fr upgrade. These assessrs are als encuraged t act as Referee Mentrs fr less experienced fficials. Observatin and Assessment Part f referee upgrade invlves evaluatin f the n-the-field perfrmance f the fficial. This evaluatin serves at least three purpses. First, it ensures fficiating cmpetency at the level required t fficiate a Typical Regular Seasn AYSO match in a specified age grup. Secnd, it prvides a mechanism fr fficials t btain psitive and cnstructive feedback and t measure the prgress f their fficiating skills. Third, it prvides a means f recgnitin fr that prgress. Assessments and Observatins are either fr upgrade r fr service. The field evaluatin f referee perfrmance fr upgrade is either an bservatin r an assessment, depending n the specific upgrade. Assessments and Observatins may als be used t prvide the referee with feedback that is nt assciated with upgrade. These service assessments and bservatins are cnducted using the same criteria and prcess utlined in this sectin f the manual Observatin f an fficial fr upgrade shuld be perfrmed by an AYSO Assessr (r Natinal Assessr). (Under circumstances where a qualified assessr is nt available, an bservatin fr upgrade may be perfrmed by a Referee Mentr.) Observatins are an pprtunity t bserve a referee under game cnditins with psitive feedback prvided t the upgrade candidate. These bservatins are intended t be part f an infrmal and relaxed activity designed t assist in the develpment and imprvement f a fellw fficial s skills. Upn cmpletin f the game and after 32 Natinal Referee Prgram

33 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Referee Mentr Prgram receiving a debriefing, the candidate fr upgrade has fulfilled the bservatin requirement fr Intermediate Referee. Observatins are als used as a develpment tl and may be cnducted independent f the upgrade prcess. Assessment f an fficial fr upgrade must be perfrmed by an AYSO Assessr r Natinal Assessr. Assessments are an pprtunity fr the assessr t bserve a referee under game cnditins, evaluate his/her perfrmance, and subsequently prvide balanced, cnstructive feedback. The assessr als decides whether the referee has demnstrated the skills and prficiency necessary fr upgrade. These requirements are described beginning n page 42. The training and develpment f assessrs is described beginning n page 50. Referee Mentr Prgram The Mentr The Referee Mentr acts as A HELPING HAND FOR NEW AND DEVELOPING OFFICIALS. The Mentr plays many imprtant rles in the develpment f referees: As Friend, the Mentr must be persuasive in his r her cmments t the fficials. The fficial must trust the mtives as well as the judgment f the Mentr and believe that the Mentr gives freely f time and effrt. As Observer, the Mentr must prvide sund, simple advice and assistance that leads the trainee n the shrtest path t success. The fficial must believe in the sincerity and credibility f the assistance given. As Supprter, the Mentr ffers encuragement in unlimited supply. In this view, the fficial can d n wrng, but can always be encuraged t d better. This is uncnditinal supprt fr the persn, nt fr everything the persn des. As Advcate, the Mentr is bligated t take the part f the fficial in all encunters. N criticism r dissent can g unchecked; n party can challenge withut the practive, psitive invlvement f the Mentr. As Chregrapher, the Mentr helps the new and develping fficial t stage the fficiating prcess. Frm the pening (arrival and inspectin f the field) t clsing (pst-game ceremny and bkkeeping), the Mentr helps the fficial t mve with purpse and directin frm ne part f the prcess t the next. The Mentr als encurages and assists the fficial in mving thrugh upgrades in certificatin. As Advisr, the Mentr prvides accurate, factual infrmatin that gives the fficial additinal insight and understanding. As Cach, the Mentr ffers tactical instructins that help the fficial t perate at the tp f his/her game, and prvides the fficial with practical suggestins t imprve perfrmance. As Rle Mdel, the Mentr gives the develping fficial a real persn t emulate. The Mentr s attitudes, values, and behavirs set the example that the fficial is likely t fllw n the field. The Mentr Prgram can be a great tl fr any AYSO regin s retentin and up-grade effrts. If successful, the prgram als aids the recruiting effrt, and ptential vlunteers realize the safety net that surrunds each new fficial. The Mentr Prgram is simple, effective, and free. And, best f all, it wrks. Natinal Referee Prgram

34 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Referee Mentr Prgram Mentr Qualificatins The Mentr shuld: Be cmmitted t AYSO and the AYSO philsphies Be willing t devte time and energy t the Mentr Prgram Have clear and cncise verbal cmmunicatin skills Learn t prperly bserve fficial s perfrmance Have a psitive attitude in presenting infrmatin Develp an aptitude fr listening and respnding t fficial s questins and cncerns Encurage fficials and understand an fficial s shrtcmings Serve as a rle mdel t ther vlunteers Knw the laws f the game and referee mechanics Administratin f the Mentr Prgram The Reginal Cmmissiner shuld ensure that qualified persnnel fill the psitins f Reginal Referee Administratr (RRA) and Reginal Directr f Assessment (RDA) and that the Mentr Prgram has a high pririty in the Regin. The Reginal Referee Administratr (RRA) supprts and encurages the Reginal Directr f Assessment (RDA) t develp and administer the prgram. Supprt must include ensuring that scheduling is dne in such a manner t supprt the Mentrs and fficials being assisted. The Reginal Directr f Assessment (RDA) develps and administers the prgram including: Recruiting and training Mentrs. It is recmmended that sufficient Mentrs be assigned t prvide an Mentr t each U-8 Official, Assistant Referee, and Reginal Referee. Mentrs shuld be assigned n mre than three (3) fficials at any ne time. Develping a specific prgram that will ensure assignment f an Assessr t each new U-8 Official, Assistant Referee and Reginal Referee during at least the first seasn f the fficial s assignment f games in the Regin. Encuraging Mentrs t cntinue their educatin t becme Assessrs and Natinal Assessrs. The Area Referee Administratr (ARA) and Area Directr f Assessment (ADA) shuld prvide supprt and encuragement t the RRA s and RDA s in their Area and shuld prvide inter-regin supprt fr the prgram. Sectin Directrs and Sectin Referee Staff shuld give the Mentr Prgram high pririty in the Sectin and prvide supprt t the Area and Reginal prgrams. Fr a successful Mentr Prgram, Reginal Referee Staff must: Identify and appint sufficient Mentrs t meet Regin requirements Prvide Mentrs with adequate training and material Cnduct a briefing n their duties and respnsibilities Cnsider cnducting training cnsisting f rle playing fr new Mentrs befre wrking with fficials Prvide a cpy f the Referee Mentr Manual Assign Mentrs t fficials immediately upn the fficial receiving training and certificatin Avid scheduling a Mentr as a referee in a game immediately befre r after a game in which (s)he is advising an fficial Recgnize Mentrs with awards r ther recgnitin prgrams. 34 Natinal Referee Prgram

35 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Referee Mentr Prgram Alternative Administratin f the Mentr Prgram While a ne-n-ne, nging Mentr Prgram is mst effective, there are times when resurces are nt available r where cnditins exist that prhibit this structure. In these rare cases, interim steps can be taken t supprt a Mentr Prgram until circumstances permit a ne-n-ne rganizatin: Assign fields and times t Mentrs: A Mentr will bserve and supprt all fficials n the fields during the times assigned. Officials shuld be infrmed, in advance, f the Mentr s rle. If necessary, a Mentr may cver tw fields at a time. Frm teams f fficials: A Mentr shuld be assigned t a team f fficials wh will rtate duties during a series f games. The Mentr shuld give feedback at the cnclusin f the series f games. Assign in grups: Mentrs shuld be assigned refereeing duties in clse prximity t an fficial wh is t be advised. The Mentr shuld be available t assist the fficial and respnd t questins befre and after the game. Recruit retired r injured referees t act as Mentrs. Sme f these referees may nt initially meet all f the prerequisites f a Mentr. They shuld be carefully selected and thrughly briefed n their duties. They shuld be encuraged t cmplete the necessary requirements as sn as pssible. Guidance fr Mentrs Initial Cntact: Cntact the fficial yu are assigned t advise as sn as pssible. Initial cntact may be by telephne r . Persnal cntact shuld be made as sn as pssible. D nt expect the fficial t make initial cntact with yu. Arrange an initial meeting in which yu: Intrduce yurself and explain yur referee experience Describe the Mentr Prgram Make sure that the fficial understands that the Mentry prcess is intended t be a psitive experience Learn as much abut the fficial as pssible Understand the fficial s gals, bjectives, experience and cncerns Answer any questins r dubts Arrange fr a next meeting, including attending the fficial s next game. Develp yur bjectives that meet the needs f the fficial and AYSO As a Mentr yu: Act as a Mentr in all f the rles utlined abve Always present a psitive attitude tward fficiating and AYSO Create a safe, psitive envirnment fr imprvement Be available as ften as needed t prvide supprt and answer questins Observe the fficial as ften as needed Encurage the fficial t cntinue certificatin t higher levels f fficiating Natinal Referee Prgram

36 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Assessment: Requirements and Prcedures Ask the fficial t serve as assistant referee fr ne f yur games Participate with the fficial in cntinuing training and scial activities ffered by the Regin Seek help frm thers t insure that the needs f the fficial are met Reprt t the Reginal referee staff any special needs r prblems that shuld be addressed fr the fficial Actively recruit ther vlunteers t becme fficials and Mentrs Supprt the fficial at any game yu bserve. This includes psitive cmments t caches, spectatrs, and players. Prvide psitive feedback t the fficial after all bservatins: Make at least tw r three psitive cmments Identify n mre than tw areas fr imprvement by the fficial Be specific in all cmments made t the fficial using game experience r specific examples f perfrmance. Give small, attainable, immediately imprvable gals fr the fficial Use psitive language such as: Yu might cnsider trying Other referees ften find that Frm my experience It may be easier fr yu if yu Avid phrases such as: Yu shuld I always Never Always End discussins f bservatins with a psitive cmment Encurage the fficial at all times. Assessment: Requirements and Prcedures Assessments and bservatins, as elements f the referee upgrade prcess, have a smewhat mre frmal structure than the referee advising discussed abve. Referees wh are upgrading abve the Reginal Referee level have learned the basics f sccer fficiating and seek certificatin f their greater skills and prficiency. Accrdingly, the requirements fr upgrade at each level are prgressively mre specific, and there is a recmmended prcess fr evaluatin (bservatin r assessment). These prcesses are described belw. If the recmmended prcess is nt fllwed, an assessment dne by certified AYSO assessr must nevertheless be accepted. 36 Natinal Referee Prgram

37 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Assessment: Requirements and Prcedures Plicies gverning assessments and bservatins: 1. It is the right f every AYSO referee t request and t btain in a timely manner an assessment r bservatin by an apprpriately trained AYSO assessr. Reginal, Area, and Sectin staffs must nt refuse t schedule r indefinitely delay an assessment r bservatin when ne is requested. 2. A referee seeking an assessment r bservatin must recgnize that suitable advanced ntice is required t permit the necessary scheduling f an assessr r bserver. The required time may vary with the gegraphy, time f year, and level f upgrade sught, amng ther factrs. Whenever pssible, referee staff shuld hnr a request fr bservatin r assessment within 2-3 weeks. Requirements fr Observatins and Assessments fr Upgrade Fr upgrade t Intermediate Referee: One bservatin as referee in a U-12 game. The game shuld be f regular AYSO length. Fr upgrade t Advanced Referee: One assessment as referee and ne as an assistant referee in a U-14 r abve game. The game shuld be f regular AYSO length (preferred) r a game with each half nt less than 30 minutes in duratin (acceptable). Nn-AYSO matches are acceptable as lng as the game is refereed using the diagnal system f cntrl and meets minimum duratin requirement. Fr upgrade t Natinal Referee: Tw assessments as referee and ne as an assistant referee in U-19 games. When U-19 games are nt available, U-16 games may be used fr assessment with the apprval f the SDA r SRA. The game shuld be f regular AYSO length r a game with each half nt less than 30 minutes in duratin. Nn-AYSO games are acceptable as lng as the game is refereed using the diagnal system f cntrl and meets minimum duratin. Required Prcess fr Assigning an Assessr and Scheduling an Assessment: 1. The referee seeking an assessment shuld cntact the RDA r RRA f the Regin where he/she is registered t request an assessment. The RDA/RRA may crdinate the assessment r may delegate the crdinatin f the assessment t anther individual, such as an Area r Sectin referee staff member. 2. Assessments fr Advanced Referee candidates: a. Whenever pssible, the assessment shuld be perfrmed by an assessr wh is nt active in the Regin where the candidate is registered. b. If the assessment will ccur within the Area where the candidate is registered, the assessment crdinatr must cntact the referee s hme ADA (r ARA r a designee) wh assigns an Assessr r Natinal Assessr. c. If the assessment will ccur utside the Area where the candidate is registered but within the Sectin where the candidate is registered, the assessment crdinatr must ntify the SDA (r SRA r a designee). The SDA (r SRA r designee) has respnsibility fr ensuring crdinatin between the relevant staffs f the candidate s Area and the Area in which the assessment will ccur. In particular, the assignment f the assessr may mre lgically be handled by the staff f the Area in which the assessment will ccur, wrking in cllabratin with the candidate s Area staff. d. If the assessment will ccur utside the Sectin where the candidate is registered: Natinal Referee Prgram

38 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Assessment: Assessr Techniques and Prcedures i. The assessr is assigned by the designated Area referee staff member f the Area in which the assessment will ccur. ii. The candidate s ADA (r ARA) is infrmed in advance f the assessment by the assessr assigner where the assessment is t be cnducted. iii. The candidate s ADA (r ARA r designee) shuld wrk clsely with the assessr assigner t prvide infrmatin that is pertinent t the assignment f an assessr. 3. Assessments fr Natinal Referee candidates: a. Whenever pssible, the assessment shuld be perfrmed by an assessr wh is nt active in the Area where the candidate is registered. b. If the assessment will ccur within the Sectin where the candidate is registered, the assessment crdinatr must cntact the referee s SDA (r SRA r a designee) wh assigns a Natinal Assessr. The SDA (r SRA r designee) has respnsibility fr ensuring crdinatin between the relevant staffs f the candidate s Area and f the Area in which the assessment will ccur. c. If the assessment will ccur utside the Sectin where the candidate is registered: i. The assessr is assigned by the designated Sectin referee staff member f the Sectin in which the assessment will ccur. ii. The candidate s SDA (r SRA) is infrmed in advance f the assessment by the assessr assigner where the assessment is t be cnducted. iii. The SDA (r SRA r designee) frm the candidate s Sectin shuld wrk clsely with the assessr assigner t prvide infrmatin that is pertinent t the assignment f an assessr. 4. Wherever pssible the fllwing cnditins shuld be bserved fr assessments fr upgrade: a. The candidate shuld nt be assigned a game immediately befre r after the game t be assessed. b. If being assessed as the referee, the candidate shuld be allwed t pick the ther members f the fficiating team. c. If being assessed as the referee, the candidate s assistant referees shuld nt be assigned a game immediately preceding r fllwing the assessment game. The candidate shuld have the ptin f having the assistant referees available fr part r all f the assessment debriefing. d. Game time, lcatin, and names and cntact infrmatin f assistant referees shuld be prvided t the candidate well in advance f the game. Assessment: Assessr Techniques and Prcedures The techniques and prcedures used by the assessr are critical t the utcme f the evaluatin. The way an assessr appraches and cmmunicates with a candidate and the efficiency with which the assessr cnducts the prcess can determine the evaluatins success r failure. It is essential that the referee being assessed feels that the assessr s cmments are wrthwhile. 38 Natinal Referee Prgram

39 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Assessment: Assessr Techniques and Prcedures Assessr Expectatins f Candidate Perfrmance Assessrs must understand that candidates fr upgrade are at the upper end f the skills required at their current certificatin level and at the lwer end f the skills required fr the level they are being assessed. Therefre, candidates shuld nt be expected t perfrm at the highest pssible level f the certificatin fr which they are being assessed. An Advanced Referee candidate with a ttal f 50 games experience with 10 games at the U-14 level shuld nt be expected t perfrm with the same level f cmpetence as an Advanced Referee with 90 games experience and 30 games in U-16 games. Similarly, a Natinal Referee candidate cannt be expected t perfrm at a level equal t a referee with many years f U-19 experience. As with any benchmark f prficiency, cntinued grwth thrugh experience is expected as referees mature prfessinally. Frms The AYSO website (AYSO.rg) has frms fr assessment and bservatin: Field wrk sheet Checklist - Referee Checklist - Assistant Referee Referee Observatin Wrksheet Assessment Verificatin Frm Assessment Feedback Frm Assessr Techniques and Guidelines Assessrs shuld bserve the fllwing practices, which generally apply t bth assessments and bservatins (see specific exceptins in the sectin Cncerning Observatins, p. 41). Pre-Game Cntact the referee team befre match and review grund rules, fr instance shuld the entire referee team be assessed r nly the specific candidate. Verify name f referee t be assessed and time and place f match. Arrive at the match at least 30 minutes befre the start time. Dress cnservatively and incnspicuusly (d nt wear a referee unifrm r anything that identifies an assessr). Ensure all assessment frms are available and brught t the game. Remember what the gals and bjectives f the assessment are. Review the assessment criteria and understand the standard. Observe the teams and caches pre-game activities Observe but d nt cntribute t the fficials pre-game cnference. Observe but d nt interfere with player pre-game instructins by referee. During the Game Observe the entire game: The first 5 r 10 minutes f each half will set the tne fr that half The last 5-10 minutes f each half may becme challenging t bth the referee and the players as fatigue sets in and if the players feel pressure t scre Avid persnal prejudices and shwing any negative reactins The referee s style may differ frm yurs The referee s judgment may be different frm yurs Natinal Referee Prgram

40 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Assessment: Assessr Techniques and Prcedures Dn t judge the referee s perfrmance strictly n yur view f an incident Dn t be influenced by any ver-reactin f players, caches r spectatrs Avid cnversing r scializing with r respnding t questins asked by players, caches, r spectatrs Take gd, specific game ntes. Feel free t mve arund the field but stay incnspicuus Evaluate verall perfrmance f the referee and d nt veremphasize minr pints Refrain frm interfering with the referee team while the match is in prgress. In particular, d nt interfere with the referee team s half-time discussins. After the Game Allw the referee team t cmplete their pst-game duties. This is a gd time t review yur ntes and decide what yu will discuss. Greet the referee team with a smile and a friendly wrd f thanks. Give them time t cl dwn. Quickly establish a peer r cnsulting relatinship. Avid shwing any reactin t utcme f match. When the referee team is ready, mve t a cmfrtable, quiet, and reasnably private area. Allw the candidate(s) t cmplete the self-evaluatin prtin f the Assessment Verificatin Frm. Using the Referee Assessment Checklist, a Field Wrksheet, r ther ntes cnduct the pst-game interview (see Thughts n Assessment and Suggestins fr Assessrs, p. 52). If nly ne member f the team is being assessed, quickly identify strengths and areas fr imprvement f the ther members f the team and excuse them frm further invlvement unless agreed therwise. Leave adequate time fr discussin. Address the key strengths f the candidate. This is critical if the candidate is t perceive the experience psitively. Substantiate with specific incidents in the match. N matter hw prly the referee perfrmed, always find smething psitive t say. Respnd t the referee s self-evaluatin. Ask Hw d yu think yu did? and listen carefully t the respnse befre ffering yur wn pinin. Identify n mre than three areas fr imprvement. Again use specific incidents t substantiate. Be frank, psitive, cnstructive, and encuraging. D nt dwell n what yu perceive as mistakes. Try t pick things that can be imprved in the very next game. Offer cncrete, specific suggestins fr imprvement. Stay away frm always and never. Use phrases like: In my pinin I believe Natinal Referee Prgram

41 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Assessment: Assessr Techniques and Prcedures Frm my perspective... The way I see it Yu might think abut, yu culd Others have... Anther way t accmplish Use the interview as a teaching and learning experience. Invlve the candidate in the discussin using questins like these: Hw d yu see this? What d yu think abut? Hw might yu d this differently in the future? What happened during a specific incident? Were there any mments in the match that challenged yu mre than thers? Which players needed the mst watching and why? Hw did the tactics f the teams challenge yur game cntrl? What were the key times in the match that yu felt were mments f truth? Clse by plitely stating yur recmmendatin and with a handshake. It is imprtant that, whatever the recmmendatin, the candidate leave the interview feeling gd abut the experience and ready t cntinue t fficiate. It is als imprtant that the candidate understand the basis fr yur recmmendatin. Cmplete all assessment the frms, sign and give t the candidate fr further prcessing. If yur recmmendatin is psitive, sign the candidate s AYSO Applicatin fr Referee Certificatin frm. Retain the lwer half f the Assessment Verificatin Frm fr yur recrds. Prvide the candidate with an Assessment Feedback Frm and encurage the referee t cmplete and submit the evaluatin. Keep the assessment cnfidential. Referee Administratrs are the nly persns ther than the referee team wh need t knw yur findings. After the Assessment: Fllw-up Send written evaluatin as cnfirmatin f discussin Phne fr questins Offer yurself as a resurce Help develp an actin plan Make sure that the referee knws that yu and AYSO have the resurces t help him r her get better and t enjy the experience. Gd pst-assessment activities can help ensure that yur cmments and cnstructive criticism are applied t the advantage f all. Cmmunicatin and Attitude f the Assessr Assessrs must display integrity, prfessinalism and crdiality Assessrs must cnvey a sense f friendly persuasin t the referee being evaluated Referees being assessed must never be made t feel inferir r put dwn in any way Feedback must be psitive and cnstructive advice - nt instructins r cmmands Referees must be given an pprtunity t explain the circumstances f incidents frm their pint f view. Assessrs must shw respect fr the referee s pinin. Cncerning Observatins Observatins are unlike assessments fr upgrade in tw several respects: Natinal Referee Prgram

42 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Assessment: Field Observatin Narratives An bservatin is nt a pass/fail situatin. An bservatin des nt usually invlve a written reprt. A Referee Observatin Wrksheet is available t the bserver. The Assessr (r Mentr) cnducting the bservatin need nt be incnspicuus. If necessary, the Assessr shuld insure that the caches and spectatrs are aware f his r her presence. Mentrs may participate with the fficial, when necessary, in pre and pst-game activities. While nt encuraged, limited discussin with the fficial may als take place during the halftime. As with assessments, bservatins shuld be psitive, win-win experiences. There must always be a pst-game discussin with the fficial. Assessment: Field Observatin Narratives This sectin describes the skills and prficiencies candidates fr upgrade are expected t demnstrate. Observing the Intermediate Referee Candidate Recgnize that candidates are being advised n the elements t successfully referee a typical regular seasn AYSO U-12 game. The bservatin shuld fcus mainly n the abilities necessary t fficiate matches beynd the basic level, which are mre physically demanding and challenging. The candidate shuld be given feedback n his perfrmance as an entry level Intermediate Referee. Appearance: The Intermediate Referee candidates shuld arrive at the game prperly attired and have the required equipment. Pre-Game Intermediate Referee candidates shuld: arrive at the game at least 20 minutes befre it starts, be prperly equipped and be ready t walk nt the field administer the field, players and field equipment inspectin prvide simple but acceptable pre-game instructins t their assistant referees demnstrate acceptable techniques during the cin tss, and leadership in acquiring game cards and game ball prperly psitin themselves fr the kick-ff, and direct the referee team and the players as t their psitin fr the kick-ff Fitness In general, candidates: keep up with play while traveling the diagnal sprint as required demnstrate the rudiments f anticipating play Attitude Candidates: 42 Natinal Referee Prgram

43 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Assessment: Field Observatin Narratives shuld practice the AYSO Team philsphy at all times shuld be friendly and accmmdating t fellw referees, players and caches may indicate sme nervusness but shuld demnstrate an aura f authrity Curage, character, and cnsistency Candidates shuld: demnstrate willingness t call fuls equally fr bth teams when they ccur be capable f recgnizing and dealing firmly with any challenges t their authrity n r ff the field, and interference frm the sidelines Psitining, mechanics, and signals Candidates shuld: demnstrate knwledge f the peratin f the diagnal system f cntrl psitin themselves crrectly in advance f restarts direct assistant referees t preferred psitins during a restart by the attacking team near the ppnent s gal rient themselves in a manner that maximizes their eye cntact with their assistant referees indicate their awareness f prper restart signals and shw a measure f prfessinalism while executing them use the whistle in a manner that reflects the seriusness f the ffense Accuracy f decisins Candidates shuld: cnsistently recgnize and whistle fuls which ccur in a typical regular seasn AYSO U-12 game including DFK and IFK fuls recgnize the difference between ffside psitin and ffside participatin apply the prper penalties and restarts Cntrl Candidates shuld demnstrate that they have cntrl f the game at all times by: starting and stpping the game n time stpping and starting quarters and halves n time cntrlling substitutins handling injuries being aware f the readiness f players and the assistant referees prviding sufficient whistle signal level s that players are aware that the referee has made a call Cnclusin T satisfy the field certificatin requirements at the Intermediate level while refereeing a typical regular seasn AYSO U-12 game, candidates must cmplete the game and be debriefed by the Assessr, Mentr. Natinal Referee Prgram

44 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Assessment: Field Observatin Narratives Assessing the Advanced Referee Candidate Recgnize that candidates are being critiqued n their ability t successfully perfrm as referees and assistant referees in a typical regular seasn AYSO U-14 game. The assessment shuld fcus n the candidates ability t fficiate beynd the Intermediate level sufficiently well t handle mst AYSO matches with skill equal t an entry level Advanced Referee. See: Assessr Expectatins f Candidates Perfrmance n p. 39. Appearance Advanced Referee candidates are expected t arrive at the game prperly attired and have the required equipment. Pre-Game Advanced Referee candidates are expected t: arrive at the game at least 20 minutes befre it starts, be prperly equipped and be ready t walk nt the field administer the field, players and field equipment inspectin, and require crrectin r marking f unsafe cnditins befre the game is allwed t begin prvide general, but acceptable pre-game instructins t their assistant referees that include: psitining and signaling n restarts, ffside, and gal prvide acceptable techniques during the cin tss, and leadership in acquiring game cards, and game ball prperly psitin themselves fr kick-ff, and verify prper psitin f players and assistant referees fr kick-ff Fitness In general, candidates are expected t: be within yards f play generally travel the diagnal while demnstrating their ability t cver the extremes f the field when required sprint as required demnstrate their ability t anticipate play by psitining themselves in advance f play Attitude Candidates are expected t: practice the AYSO Team philsphy at all times be friendly and accmmdating t fellw referees, players and caches including intrducing assistant referees t team captains during the cin tss demnstrate cnfidence and be perceived by players and caches t be cnfident cntrl the game at all times Curage, character, and cnsistency Candidates are expected t: demnstrate willingness t call fuls equally fr bth teams when they ccur be capable f recgnizing and dealing firmly with any challenges t their authrity n r ff the field, and interference frm the sidelines Psitining, mechanics, and signals Candidates are expected t: 44 Natinal Referee Prgram

45 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Assessment: Field Observatin Narratives demnstrate knwledge f the peratin f the diagnal system f cntrl, and when it is apprpriate, t deviate frm the diagnal t fllw play psitin themselves crrectly in advance f restarts cnsistently rient themselves in a manner that maximizes their eye cntact with their assistant referees indicate their awareness f prper restart signals and shw a measure f prfessinalism while executing them use the whistle in a manner that reflects the seriusness f the call Accuracy f decisins Candidates are expected t: recgnize and whistle less bvius as well as bvius fuls have n difficulty distinguishing between DFK and IFK fuls distinguish between ffside psitin and ffside participatin apply the prper penalties and restarts demnstrate the use f advantage Cntrl Candidates are expected t demnstrate that they have cntrl f the game at all times by: starting and stpping the game n time stpping and starting quarters and halves n time cntrlling substitutins handling injuries being aware f the readiness f players and the assistant referees prviding sufficient whistle signal level s that players are aware that the referee has made a call Cnclusin T satisfy the field certificatin requirements at the Advanced level while refereeing a typical regular seasn AYSO U-14 game, candidates are expected t be mstly successful in demnstrating: knwledge f the Laws prper applicatin f the Law the mechanics f the diagnal system f cntrl prper psitining fr restarts Assessing the Advanced Referee Candidate as Assistant Referee Recgnize that candidates are being critiqued n their ability t successfully perfrm as assistant referees in a typical regular seasn AYSO U-14 game. The assessment shuld fcus n the candidates ability t fficiate beynd the Intermediate level sufficiently well t handle mst AYSO matches as an assistant referee. See: Assessr Expectatins f Candidates Perfrmancen p. 39. Appearance Advanced Assistant Referee candidates are expected t arrive at the game prperly attired and have the required equipment. Pre-Game Advanced Assistant Referee candidates are expected t: arrive at the game at least 20 minutes befre it starts, be prperly equipped and be ready t walk nt the field in respnse t directin frm the referee, inspect players and field equipment be attentive t the referee s pre-game instructins, and when in dubt, ask questins Natinal Referee Prgram

46 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Assessment: Field Observatin Narratives assume prper psitin fr the kick-ff FItness In general, candidates are expected t: maintain a psitin ppsite the secnd t last defender sprint and side-step as required demnstrate their ability t anticipate play by psitining themselves in advance f play crrectly psitin themselves fr restarts Attitude Candidates are expected t: practice the AYSO Team philsphy at all times exhibit an apprpriate prfessinal attitude, and a spirit f cperatin and supprt fr the referee team Curage, character, and cnsistency Candidates are expected t: maintain their cmpsure and attentin t their respnsibilities demnstrate a willingness t make cnsistently fair and unbiased decisins Psitining, mechanics, and signals Candidates are expected t: demnstrate their knwledge f the peratin f the diagnal system f cntrl crrectly psitin themselves in a manner that maximizes their eye cntact with the referee crrectly psitin themselves in advance f restarts indicate their awareness f prper restart signals and shw a measure f prfessinalism while executing them maintain the flag unfurled and n the field side while mving up and dwn the field Assistance: Offside, Gal line and Tuch line Candidates are expected t: prvide timely and accurate assistance t the referee fr ball ut f play acrss the tuch line r gal line and indicate the prper restart required prvide accurate assistance fr ffside calls (participating players) Assistance: Fuls and miscnduct Candidates must: indicate a willingness t flag infractins that are ut f view f the referee ask fr supprt when sideline interference is interrupting the game and their cncentratin Cnclusin T satisfy the field certificatin requirements at the Advanced level while refereeing a typical regular seasn AYSO U-14 game, candidates are expected t be mstly successful in demnstrating: knwledge f the Laws prper applicatin f the Law the mechanics f the diagnal system f cntrl 46 Natinal Referee Prgram

47 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Assessment: Field Observatin Narratives prper psitining fr restarts Assessing the Natinal Referee Candidate Recgnize that candidates are being critiqued n their ability t successfully referee a typical regular seasn AYSO U-I9 game. The bservatin shuld fcus mainly n the candidate s basic understanding f the prfessinal aspects f refereeing, the applicatin f the spirit and intent f Laws f the Game and the intelligent use f the diagnal system f cntrl. The candidate shuld demnstrate skills equal t an entry-level Natinal Referee. The candidate is nt expected t perfrm at a level that wuld allw him r her t referee the mst challenging AYSO game. See: Assessr Expectatins f Candidates Perfrmance n p. 39. Appearance Natinal Referee candidates must arrive at the game prperly attired and have the required equipment. Pre-Game Natinal Referee candidates: shuld arrive at the game at least 20 minutes befre it starts, and must be prperly equipped and be ready t walk nt the field must administer the field, players and field equipment inspectin, and require crrectin r marking f unsafe cnditins befre the game is allwed t begin is expected t prvide acceptable pre-game instructins t their assistant referees that include: psitining and signaling n restarts, ffside, gals, and fuls clse t the gal line assigning senir assistant referee, keeping backup time substitutin mechanics entering and leaving the field as a team, and at the center during the half-time interval respnsibility fllwing the scring f a gal calling fuls in assistant referee s area respnsibility during penalty kicks shw acceptable techniques during the cin tss exhibit leadership in acquiring game cards and game ball verify prper psitin f players and assistant referees fr kick-ff assume crrect referee psitin fr kick-ff Fitness In general, candidates are expected t: be within yards f play generally travel the diagnal while demnstrating their ability t cver the extremes f the field when required sprint and back-pedal as required demnstrate their ability t anticipate play by psitining themselves in advance f play Attitude Candidates must: practice the AYSO Team philsphy at all times be friendly and accmmdating t fellw referees, players and caches including intrducing assistant referees t team captains during the cin tss Natinal Referee Prgram

48 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Assessment: Field Observatin Narratives demnstrate cnfidence and be perceived by players and caches t be cnfident Curage, character, and cnsistency Candidates must: demnstrate willingness t call fuls equally fr bth teams when they ccur be capable f recgnizing and dealing firmly with any challenges t their authrity n r ff the field, and interference frm the sidelines Psitining, mechanics, and signals Candidates must: demnstrate their knwledge f the peratin f the diagnal system f cntrl, and when it is apprpriate, t deviate frm the diagnal t fllw play psitin themselves crrectly in advance f restarts be capable f back-pedaling direct assistant referees t preferred psitins during a restart by the attacking team near the ppnent s gal cnsistently rient themselves in a manner that maximizes their eye cntact with their assistant referees indicate their awareness f prper restart signals and shw a measure f prfessinalism while executing them use the whistle in a manner that reflects the seriusness f the ffense Accuracy f decisins Candidates: shuld recgnize and whistle less bvius as well as bvius fuls must have n difficulty distinguishing between DFK and IFK fuls shuld be alert t, and deal with, subtle fuls and with players wh simulate fuls t attract favrable calls shuld demnstrate the ability t distinguish between fuls and aggressive play must distinguish between ffside psitin and ffside participatin must apply the prper penalties and restarts shuld demnstrate the use f advantage Cntrl Candidates must demnstrate that they have cntrl f the game at all times by: starting and stpping halves and the game n time cntrlling substitutins handling injuries being aware f the readiness f players and the assistant referees prviding sufficient whistle signal level s that players are aware that the referee has made a call using dialgue t warn players f pending infractins in lieu f cnstant whistling being aware f, and dealing with infractins away frm play prperly managing the 10-yard rule psitining players fr restarts within the penalty area 48 Natinal Referee Prgram

49 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Assessment: Field Observatin Narratives prviding prtectin fr galkeeper as well as ensuring prper galkeeper cnduct nt tlerating time wasting r dissent Cnclusin T satisfy the field certificatin requirements at the Natinal level while refereeing a typical regular seasn AYSO U-19 game, candidates must be successful in demnstrating: knwledge f the Laws prper applicatin f the Law the mechanics f the diagnal system f cntrl prper psitining fr restarts variatin f psitins as required frm reading the game maintaining the flw and cntrl f the match recgnizing and dealing with players wh are nt in cntrl f themselves adjusting referee style t experience and attitude f players fr maximum enjyment fr all Assessing the Natinal Referee Candidate as Assistant Referee Recgnize that candidates are being critiqued n their ability t successfully perfrm as assistant referees in a typical regular seasn AYSO U-19 game. The assessment shuld fcus mainly n the candidates ability t fficiate any AYSO sccer match at the mst challenging level as an assistant referee. See: Assessr Expectatins f Candidates Perfrmance n p. 39. Appearance Natinal Assistant Referee candidates must arrive at the game prperly attired and have the required equipment. Pre-Game Natinal Assistant Referee candidates: shuld arrive at the game at least 20 minutes befre it starts, and must be prperly equipped and be ready t walk nt the field in respnse t directin frm the referee, must inspect players and field equipment must be attentive t the referee s pre-game instructins, and when in dubt, ask questins must assume prper psitin fr the kick-ff Fitness In general, candidates must: maintain a psitin ppsite the secnd t last defender unless therwise directed by the referee fllw the ball t the gal line sprint and side-step as required demnstrate their ability t anticipate play by psitining themselves in advance f play crrectly psitin themselves fr restarts Attitude Candidates: must practice the AYSO Team philsphy at all times must exhibit an apprpriate prfessinal attitude and a spirit f cperatin and supprt fr the referee team shuld assist the referee, nt insist shuld maintain an even temperament in the presence f sideline and player criticism r miscnduct Natinal Referee Prgram

50 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Training and Develpment f Assessrs Curage, character, and cnsistency Candidates must: maintain their cmpsure and attentin t their respnsibilities demnstrate a willingness t make cnsistently fair and unbiased decisins Psitining, mechanics, and signals Candidates must: demnstrate their knwledge f the peratin f the diagnal system f cntrl crrectly psitin themselves in a manner that maximizes their eye cntact with the referee crrectly psitin themselves in advance f restarts indicate their awareness f prper restart signals and shw a measure f prfessinalism while executing them cnsistently maintain the flag unfurled and n the field side while mving up and dwn the field Assistance: Offside, Gal line and Tuch line Candidates must: prvide timely and accurate assistance t the referee fr ball ut f play acrss the tuch line r gal line and indicate the prper restart required in respnse t the referee s directin, prvide play n signals fr play alng the tuch line and gal line, and fr nside prvide accurate assistance fr ffside calls (participating players) Assistance: Fuls and miscnduct Candidates must: indicate a willingness t flag infractins that are ut f view f the referee ask fr supprt when sideline interference is interrupting the game and their cncentratin Cnclusin T satisfy the field certificatin requirements at the Natinal level while refereeing a typical regular seasn AYSO U-19 game, candidates must be successful in demnstrating: knwledge f the Laws applicatin f the Laws the mechanics f the Diagnal System f Cntrl prper psitining fr restarts full supprt fr the referee Training and Develpment f Assessrs The bjective f the AYSO Assessment Prgram is t prvide assistance t Advanced and Natinal Referee candidates in becming a better referee. The assessr shuld prvide psitive, cnstructive guidance in areas the assessr believes will help make the referee mre cnfident in his/her perfrmance and enhance the enjyment f the game fr everyne. This principle als applies t the Referee Assessr and Natinal Assessr candidates being mentred t their new grades. The certificatin requirements fr AYSO referee assessrs are listed in the Appendix f this manual. After cmpleting the classrm training requirements, the assessr candidate perfrms practice assessments under the guidance f an experienced Referee Assessr r Natinal Assessr. These practice assessments prvide the candidate the pprtunity t demnstrate the attributes f a 50 Natinal Referee Prgram

51 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Training and Develpment f Assessrs knwledgeable, psitive, caring assessr. Assessr mentrs need t be careful when mentring new assessr candidates t ensure that the referee candidates they are actually bserving are nt frgtten in the effrt t help the assessr candidate in the pst-game interviews. T help the referee candidates and the assessr candidates thrugh the sensitivity f the pst-games debrief with an assessr candidate, here are sme D s & Dn ts that shuld be fllwed by the assessr mentr. D s DO remember that yu are respnsible fr setting a psitive tne fr bth the referee and assessr candidate. DO spend time with the assessr candidate befre meeting with the referee candidate t establish the prcedure yu intend t use t cnduct the evaluatin. DO get t knw the assessr candidate s methds and the techniques he/she intends t use r is cmfrtable practicing. DO determine whether yu need t stand with the assessr candidate during the match r let him/her bserve the game alne. (This applies chiefly t Referee Assessr candidates). DO tell the referee candidate that yu are mentring a new assessr candidate s that (s)he will understand why there appears t be tw assessrs. DO recrd yur findings as yu wuld at any assessment. DO cmpare yur ntes and bservatins with the assessr candidate at half-time and clarify questinable bservatins. DO be sure that the assessr candidate uses the techniques and guidelines described in this manual (p. 39), especially thse relating t the pst-game discussin. DO ask the assessr candidate hw he/she wuld apprach the selected tpics with the referee candidate and make apprpriate crrectins, if necessary. Befre the interview, DO spend a little extra time privately with the assessr candidate t review the pints t be cvered and the technique t be used. See if the assessr candidate has been able t identify the persnality f the referee candidate and the techniques that will lead t an atmsphere f meaningful exchange between the assessr candidate and the referee candidate. DO let the assessr candidate cnduct the interview. DO help maintain a psitive atmsphere and an pen, hnest discussin f the game bservatins. DO listen carefully t the assessr candidate fr any negative apprach that might destry the rapprt established. After the interview when the referee candidate has left, DO sit with the assessr candidate alne and g ver yur bservatins f the assessment. Discuss the varius techniques that can be used t understand the referee candidate better and t cnduct the interview. DO determine if the assessr candidate shuld have anther mentring bservatin. DO make yur recmmendatins t the apprpriate Referee Administratr r Directr f Assessment. Dn ts DON T gang up n the referee with a tw-prnged apprach. Natinal Referee Prgram

52 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Thughts n Assessment and Suggestins fr Assessrs DON T allw negative cmments frm the assessr candidate t cntinue where the referee candidate is bviusly becming discuraged and has stpped listening. DON T dminate the pst-game interview with yur wn bservatins and assessment knwledge. DON T fail t fllw-up with the assessr candidate t answer any questins abut the prcess r any ther aspect f the prgram. Thughts n Assessment and Suggestins fr Assessrs The Tp Ten Ways t Help Referees Imprve 1. Begin with praise and hnest appreciatin. 2. The nly facts are the Laws f the Game. Everything else is an pinin, a suggestin, r a thught. Avid the phrase: Yu shuld... Instead, use phrases like: I suggest... r Perhaps yu can try... r T avid that happening again perhaps yu can try Call attentin t mistakes indirectly by citing examples. 4. Talk abut yur wn mistakes. 5. Ask questins instead f giving directives. Fr example, ask Hw culd yu handle that differently the next time? 6. Let the referee save face, dn t argue. 7. Praise the slightest imprvement and praise every imprvement. Be hearty in yur apprval and lavish in yur praise. 8. Use encuragement, make a fault seem easy t crrect. 9. Assess the game yu saw, nt the game that might have been. 10. Make the referee happy abut ding the thing yu suggest. Hw t Deliver the Message Gd assessment will allw referees the pprtunity t review areas f strength and areas t strengthen. This means the referee will benefit frm a candid assessment f bth areas, presented in a psitive manner. The critical issue is hw these subjects are addressed. The assessr can address pr perfrmance in a psitive way, but must think abut hw t d s. Cnsider these pssibilities: 1. State the psitives, but state what is wrng. 2. State the negatives, then the psitives. 3. State hw referee can imprve and state the psitive things (s)he is already ding. Apprach #1 generally results in a negative message because the referee frgets everything that was said befre the but. Apprach #2 is better, but risks lsing cntrl f the cnversatin if the referee becmes defensive at a recitatin f the negatives. Apprach #3 generally wrks best because the referee s attentin is fcused n imprvement: what can be dne in the next game t be better and what can cntinue that is already gd. That is, the fcus in n the future, nt the past. The purpse f assessment is imprvement. Imprvement implies the future. One cannt imprve the past. One can nly use the past as a guide t what might be accmplished in the future. 52 Natinal Referee Prgram

53 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Thughts n Assessment and Suggestins fr Assessrs Reducing Resistance t Change Cnvincing smene t change is almst always difficult. Unless the persn sees sme benefit t the change, (s)he will be reluctant. Here are sme ideas t help induce psitive change. While cuched in general terms, they are specifically relevant fr assessrs. Recgnize that thers may nt share yur beliefs r apprve f yur attitudes. Realize that the beliefs and attitudes f thers are habit patterns. Visualize the change frm the viewpint f thse wh will have t use r adapt t yur recmmendatins. Anticipate difficulties in getting acceptance f yur recmmendatins and devise ways t make the transitin mre acceptable. Slicit thughts frm the referee as t hw imprvements can be made in specific areas f cncern. Carefully cnsider all cnsequences f a change and avid recmmendatins fr abrupt, sweeping change. It is almst always best t bring abut gradual change a step at a time. Recgnize that any significant change triggers emtinal tensin, either because ld behavir is fund t be inadequate r because new behavir must be acquired. The dissipatin f tensin may take sme perid f time. A clear incentive t change, where pssible, helps thse affected d s. When pssible, maintain cntact with peple while change is being made. Think abut yur wn behavir and actins: Hw well d yu listen? D yu watch the speaker as well as listen? D yu decide by the speaker s appearance and delivery whether what he has t say is wrthwhile? D yu cnsciusly evaluate the lgic and credibility f what yu hear? D yu listen primarily fr ideas and underlying feelings? D yu keep yur mind n what the speaker is saying? D yu interrupt immediately if yu hear a statement yu feel is wrng? D yu think abut yur respnse befre yu have finished listening? D yu determine yur wn bias, if any, and try t allw fr it? D yu make sure befre answering that yu have taken in the ther persn s pint f view? D yu try t have the last wrds? Cmmn Surces f Errrs in Assessments Regrettably, there are many ways in which assessments can g prly. These are sme cmmn nes: Persnal prejudices f the assessr. The assessment criteria in the field narratives (p. 42) are intended t help avid this errr. Unwillingness t d a thrugh, well-dcumented assessment. Overweighing events that ccur late in the game. Failure t cnsider the candidates pint f view n specific situatins. Reluctance t pint ut weaknesses. Cmmunicating negatively rather than in a psitive and cnstructive manner. Natinal Referee Prgram

54 Assessment and Mentr Prgram Thughts n Assessment and Suggestins fr Assessrs Failure t use specific incidents as a basis fr cnstructive criticism. Watching a Game This article is reprinted frm the June 1997 Referee Magazine. After yu ve becme an fficial, attending games is different frm when yu were just a fan. Obviusly yu re much mre aware f the fficials and what they are ding. This becmes even mre prnunced when yu assume the title f Assessr. With that cmes tremendus respnsibility. Yu must watch a game the right way. Be Invisible: Maintain this philsphy; yu dn t want peple t knw yu re an fficial. If yu are identified as an fficial while attending games, yu re pening yurself up fr questins, cntentin and criticism. Every time there s a clse call r cntrversial ruling, fans will lk t yu fr an explanatin. Dn t lk at that as an eg strke, it s nt, it is a tugh situatin t handle while maintaining yur fficiating integrity and prfessinalism. Avid it all by staying in the backgrund. Dn t Wear Yur Unifrm: Whether yu re a first-year fficial r a grizzled veteran, yu re prbably prud t be an fficial. Yu als might be prud f the fficials assciatin yu belng t r the league yu wrk in. Attending a game is nt the time t display yur pride. D nt wear yur fficiating unifrm r assciatin r league jacket r patches while attending a game. Wearing yur unifrm r any ther items identifies yu as an fficial. If yu re wrking multiple games and yu ve gt a break between games, change int smething else r dn t sit in the stands. Remember, yu re a ptential target fr the players, caches and fans f the game yu just wrked and the game yu re abut t wrk. Yu dn t want a cnfrntatin and yu dn t want schmsing either. Sit Alne: If there s an area away frm fans, sit there. That way, even if peple knw yu are an fficial, they have t g ut f their way t talk t yu. Dn t Criticize the Officials: Sadly, fr many fficials, that s the mst difficult part f attending a game. That s because sme revel in ther peple s mistakes and enjy pinting them ut t thers. It makes them feel gd. It als ruins their prfessinal reputatins. There s little mre appalling than an fficial publicly bad-muthing anther fficial, especially while attending a game and watching that fficial wrk. Keep in mind hw imprtant the fficiating brtherhd is and hw vilating that trust amng fficials hurts thers. After all, if the fficiating is really that lusy, yu ught t be ding sme psitive things t help thse fficials (a pst-game cnference, a fllw-up phne call, an assciatin meeting tpic, etc.) and nt criticizing them. Dn t Cmment t Fans: If yu re truly a member f the fficiating cmmunity, yu care abut the fficials wrking the game whether yu knw them r nt. Yu feel gd fr them when they make a great call. Yu als hurt with them when things g awry. One thing that happens in all games: fans criticize fficials. Thse cmments are even mre apparent when yu re in the stands. Resist the urge t verbally fight back. Realistically, yu re nt ging t change their utlk n us and yu re surely pening yurself up fr prblems. If it gets t bad, mve t anther sectin r leave. Be Careful Answering Questins: If yu re a lcally knwn fficial in attendance, yur rle is difficult. Many fans will lk t yu fr answers abut things ccurring in the game. Many f thse questins will be abut judgment calls. 54 Natinal Referee Prgram

55 Assessment and Mentr Prgram The AYSO Referee Assessr s Creed Resist answering them. The fans are ften lking fr supprt in their arguments. If yu say That was a bad call r I wuldn t have called it that way yu re fueling the fire. Sme questins are rules-related. Answer them carefully. If the fficials handled a rule crrectly, explain what they did. If they didn t, either avid the questin r explain the rule carefully withut criticizing the fficials. That s a very difficult thing t d. Smetimes, yur safest mve is t say, I didn t see the entire play r We dn t have the same view as they d n the field. That little white lie hurts less than trashing the fficials. Keep Emtins in Check: That s especially true when yu re a parent watching yur sn r daughter play. Smene nce said Officials watch games with their eyes; players, caches and fans watch games with their hearts. Even thugh yur ffspring is invlved, yu must avid emtinal displays created by watching a game with yur heart. Many fficiating reputatins have been damaged when fficials lst cntrl and acted like fans. If yu can t watch yur sn r daughter play withut shwing emtin against the fficials, yu have nly tw real ptins: Dn t attend the games r quit fficiating. There s mre respnsibility and accuntability when watching a game after yu ve becme an fficial. Lk at it as a great pprtunity t learn frm thers while aviding cntrversy and yur attendance will help, nt hurt, yur career. The AYSO Referee Assessr s Creed When perfrming my duties as a Referee Assessr I will evaluate referees based upn the standards established, apprved and set frth by the AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram. My assessment will take int accunt the refereeing perfrmance I am witnessing nly and I will endeavr, t the best f my ability, t nt be influenced by my wn biases and expectatins r the views f thers. Mst imprtantly, as assessrs and Mentrs, always remember that In AYSO, it s abut mre than the game! Natinal Referee Prgram

56 Appendix AYSO Referee Training Matrix Appendix AYSO Referee Training Matrix Curse Descriptin Length Prerequisites Minimum Lead Instructr Requirements Verificatin f Lead Instructr Requirement Safe Haven Referee This curse certifies vlunteers in child and vlunteer prtectin issues fr referees. This is the certificatin curse fr all AYSO Referees (nt caches). 1 hur Nne Referee Instructr Reginal Referee Administratr U-8 Official This curse trains vlunteers t fficiate in U-8 matches. 3 hurs Nne Referee Instructr Reginal Referee Administratr Assistant Referee This curse trains vlunteers in the basics f being an Assistant Referee fr AYSO matches under FIFA Laws and AYSO Natinal Rules and Regulatins, and t fficiate in U-8 matches. 5 hurs Nne Referee Instructr Reginal Referee Administratr Basic Referee This curse trains referees in the basic aspects f refereeing needed t d AYSO matches under FIFA Laws and AYSO Natinal Rules and Regulatins. 8 hurs Nne Referee Instructr Reginal Referee Administratr Intermediate Referee This curse trains referees t d mre physically demanding and challenging matches under FIFA Laws and AYSO Natinal Rules and Regulatins. 8 hurs See page 58 Referee Instructr Area Referee Administratr r Directr f Referee Instructin Advanced Referee This curse trains referees t d mst matches under FIFA Laws and AYSO Natinal Rules and Regulatins. 8 hurs See page 58 Advanced Referee Instructr Area Referee Administratr r Directr f Referee Instructin Natinal Referee This curse trains referees t referee all AYSO matches under FIFA Laws and AYSO Natinal Rules and Regulatins. 15 hurs See page 58 Natinal Referee Instructr Referee Prgram Crdinatr (NSTC) r eayso Referee Assessr This curse trains assessrs t assess fficiating skills at the Advanced level. 4.5 hurs See page Errr! Bkmark nt defined. Advanced Referee Instructr and either an Assessr r Natinal Assessr Sectin Referee Administratr r Directr f Referee Assessment Natinal Referee Assessr This curse trains Assessrs t assess refereeing skills at the Natinal level. 5 hurs Referee Assessr Natinal Referee Instructr and Natinal Referee Assessr Referee Prgram Crdinatr (NSTC) r eayso 56 Natinal Referee Prgram

57 Appendix AYSO Referee Training Matrix Curse Descriptin Length Prerequisites Minimum Lead Instructr Requirements Verificatin f Lead Instructr Requirement Assessr Update This training prvides cntinuing educatin fr Assessrs and Natinal Assessrs n pints f emphasis and a review f assessment requirements and techniques 1.25 hurs Referee Assessr Advanced Referee Instructr and either an Assessr r Natinal Assessr Reginal Referee Administratr Annual Referee Update This training prvides cntinuing educatin fr referees. Prgram verview, Law changes, and pints f emphasis will be reviewed hurs Nne Referee Instructr Reginal Referee Administratr Annual Update fr Referee Administratrs, Instructrs, and Assessrs This training prvides cntinuing educatin fr referee Administratrs, Instructrs and Assessrs. Prgram updates and prgram requirements are reviewed hurs Nne Advanced Referee Instructr Sectin Referee Administratr r Directr f Referee Instructin Referee Administratr Training This training teaches ptential Referee Administratrs the essential activities needed t manage a referee prgram. 2.5 hurs Nne Referee Instructr Area Referee Administratr r Directr f Instructin Intrductin t Instructin This training teaches ptential instructrs their rle as instructrs and general aspects f presenting AYSO curses using AYSO directed teaching plans. 3 hurs Nne Advanced Instructr in any discipline Area staff in any discipline Referee Instructr This training teaches Instructr candidates hw t cnduct intrductry and intermediate referee training curses using AYSO teaching plans. 7.5 hurs See page 60 Advanced Referee Instructr Area Referee Administratr r Directr f Referee Instructin Advanced Referee Instructr This training teaches Referee Instructrs hw t cnduct advanced referee training curses using AYSO teaching plans. 6.5 hurs See page 61 Advanced Referee Instructr Sectin Referee Administratr r Directr f Referee Instructin Referee Instructr Evaluatr This training teaches Referee Instructrs t evaluate ther instructrs and t prvide psitive cnstructive feedback. 5.5 hurs Referee Instructr See page Errr! Bkmark nt defined. Sectin Referee Administratr r Directr f Referee Instructin Natinal Referee Prgram

58 Appendix AYSO Referee Certificatin Requirements AYSO Referee Certificatin Requirements U-8 OFFICIAL Age: Training: Test: 10 r lder Ntes: 1, 2, 3 ASSISTANT REFEREE Age: Training: Test: Cmplete U-8 Official Curse Take U-8 Official Exam 12 r lder Ntes: 1, 2, 3 REGIONAL REFEREE Age: Training: Test: Cmplete Assistant Referee Curse r Be a U-8 Official and cmplete U-8 t Assistant Referee Upgrade Curse Take Assistant Referee Exam 12 r lder Ntes: 1, 3, 4 INTERMEDIATE REFEREE Age: Games: Training: Test: Observatin: Verificatin: Cmplete Basic Referee Curse r Be a U-8 Official and cmplete U-8 t Basic Referee Upgrade Curse r Be an Assistant Referee and cmplete AR t Basic Referee Upgrade Curse Scre 75% r higher n the Basic Referee Exam 14 r lder Ntes: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14 ADVANCED REFEREE Age: Games: Training: Test: Assessment: Fitness Test: Service: Verificatin: 25 as referee with at least 5 in U-12 matches Cmplete Intermediate Referee Curse Scre 90% r higher n the Intermediate Referee Exam One bservatin as a referee in a U-12 match is required One bservatin as an assistant referee is recmmended (nt required) Area (r Sectin) Referee Administratr r Area (r Sectin) Directr f Assessment 16 r lder 50 as referee with at least 10 in U-14 matches and 5 as assistant referee in U-14 matches Cmplete Advanced Referee Curse Scre 90% r higher n the Advanced Referee Exam One as a referee in a U-14 match, and One as assistant referee in a U-14 match Cmplete the AYSO Physical Fitness Test fr the Advanced level D a minimum f 5 service units Ntes: 1, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15 NATIONAL REFEREE Age: Games: Training: Test: Assessment: Experience: Fitness Test: Service: Verificatin: Area (r Sectin) Referee Administratr r Area (r Sectin) Directr f Assessment 18 r lder. 100 as referee with at least 30 in U-16 and U-19 matches, f which at least 15 must be in U-19 matches if available, and 25 as assistant referee with at least 10 in U-19 matches, if available Cmplete Natinal Referee Curse. It is strngly recmmended that the candidate cmplete at least 80 matches as referee befre attending the Natinal Referee Curse Scre 90% r higher n the Natinal Referee Exam Tw as a referee in U-16 r U-19 matches with at least ne in U-19, if available, and One as assistant referee in a U-19 match, if available A minimum f ne year f experience as an AYSO Advanced Referee Cmplete the AYSO Physical Fitness Test fr the Natinal level D an additinal 5 service units Sectin Referee Administratr r Sectin Directr f Assessment Ntes: 1, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, Natinal Referee Prgram

59 Appendix AYSO Referee Certificatin Requirements Ntes t Referee Certificatin Requirements: 1. Certificatin at all levels requires (ne-time) cmpletin f Safe Haven Referee certificatin. 2. N minimum scre required n written exam. 3. The equivalent mdules may be cmpleted in lieu f the curse(s). 4. Althugh there is n physical test requirement at this certificatin level, an intrductin t the AYSO Physical Fitness Test is recmmended. 5. An bservatin is nt an assessment. See Assessment sectin f this manual fr details. 6. Prir cmpletin f the Basic Referee Curse is recmmended. 7. Prir cmpletin f the Intermediate Referee Curse is recmmended. 8. Prir cmpletin f the Advanced Referee Curse is recmmended. 9. Field assessments fr upgrade must be dne based n the fficiating skills needed in a typical regular seasn AYSO match, in the age grup specified, in any sccer game using the Diagnal System f Cntrl. Matches used fr upgrade assessments are recmmended t be f the duratin specified fr that particular age grup in the AYSO Natinal Rules and Regulatins (NRR). Where NRR length matches are nt readily available, the duratin f matches used fr upgrade assessments may be reduced t n less than 30-minute halves with the cncurrence f the ARA r ADA fr Advanced, SRA r SDA fr Natinal. 10. If requested by the referee being assessed, a higher age grup match r a nn-ayso match f the equivalent age level (r higher) may be used fr the assessment. 11. The Reginal Referee Administratr (RRA) awards service pints in accrdance with the fllwing lists after verifying that a candidate has perfrmed a listed service activity. One service unit may be awarded fr: Assisting RRA in scheduling, supervising, r training referees Assisting with seasn registratin day Instructing r c-instructing a referee curse/clinic Acting as a Referee Mentr, bserving a referee fr develpment r upgrade (If certified t d s) Assessing a referee candidate fr upgrade Attending a sectin cnference Tw service units may be awarded fr cmpleting any referee training curses including: Administratr training Instructr curses Instructr Evaluatr curses Assessr curses Five service units may be awarded fr serving in the fllwing referee staff psitins Reginal Referee Administratr, Directr f Assessment, r Directr f Instructin Area Referee Administratr, Directr f Assessment, r Directr f Instructin Sectin Referee Administratr, Directr f Assessment, r Directr f Instructin Member f the Natinal Referee Advisry Cmmissin Natinal Referee Prgram

60 Appendix AYSO Referee Instructr and Evaluatr Certificatin Serving n a Natinal Task Frce Nte the fllwing additinal prvisins regarding service units: When pprtunities utlined abve are nt available, the RRA may award service units fr ther activities as lng as the activities benefit the AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram. Activities fr which service units are awarded must be perfrmed after the candidate achieved the current badge level. (S, fr example, service units required fr Advanced Referee certificatin must be earned while the candidate is an Intermediate referee.) The requirement fr perfrming service units is waived in the case f candidates wh are under 18 years ld. 12. The SRA may authrize substitutin (fr bth game cunt and assessment) f U-16 matches fr U-19 matches if U-19 matches are nt available. 13. The experience requirement fr Natinal Referee is nt a new requirement; it was inadvertently mitted frm the 2009 editin f this manual. 14. The verifier f certificatin requirements fr upgrade must serve in ne f the specified rles in the Regin, Area, r Sectin in which the upgrade candidate is registered. The verificatin must be cmpleted within 30 days f the submissin f the cmpleted upgrade frm by the candidate t the verifier. If the verifier is unable t cmplete the verificatin fr any reasn, he/she must ntify the upgrade candidate f the reasn in writing within the 30 day perid. 15. The assessr fr an Advanced Referee upgrade assessment will be assigned by the candidate s Area Directr f Assessment (r designee) if the assessment will take place within the Area in which the candidate is registered; assessr assignment will be crdinated with the candidate s ADA (r designee) if the assessment will take place utside the Area in which the candidate is registered. The assessr fr a Natinal Referee upgrade assessment will be assigned by the candidate s Sectin Directr f Assessment (r designee) if the assessment will take place within the Sectin in which the candidate is registered; assessr assignment will be crdinated with the candidate s SDA (r designee) if the assessment will take place utside the Sectin in which the candidate is registered. AYSO Referee Instructr and Evaluatr Certificatin Referee Instructr 1. Be a registered AYSO vlunteer 2. Be an Intermediate Referee and shuld be an Advanced Referee 3. Cmplete the AYSO Intrductin t Instructin curse 4. Cmplete Referee Instructr Curse 5. Pass Referee Instructr Examinatin 6. Pass Referee Instructr evaluatins: a. As an instructr in a 30-minute presentatin frm the Basic Referee Curse with a qualified Referee Instructr Evaluatr, and b. As an instructr in a 30-minute presentatin frm the Intermediate Referee Curse preferably with a different certified Referee Instructr Evaluatr 60 Natinal Referee Prgram

61 Appendix AYSO Referee Instructr and Evaluatr Certificatin 7. Applicatin fr certificatin verified by Area (r Sectin) Referee Administratr r Area (r Sectin) Directr f Referee Instructin Advanced Referee Instructr 1. Be a registered AYSO vlunteer 2. Be a Referee Instructr 3. Be an Advanced Referee and shuld be a Natinal Referee 4. Cmplete Advanced Referee Instructr Curse 5. Pass Advanced Referee Instructr Examinatin 6. Pass Advanced Referee Instructr evaluatin in a ne-hur presentatin frm the Advanced Referee Curse with a certified Referee Instructr Evaluatr 7. Applicatin fr certificatin verified by Sectin Referee Administratr r Sectin Directr f Referee Instructin Natinal Referee Instructr 1. Be a registered AYSO vlunteer 2. Be an Advanced Referee Instructr 3. Be a Natinal Referee 4. Be a Referee Instructr Evaluatr 5. Be a Referee Assessr (r Natinal Assessr) 6. Be recmmended by Sectin Directr f Referee Instructin (SDI) 7. Be recmmended by a Natinal Referee Instructr ther than a member f the recmmending SDI s sectin s staff based n teaching prtins f the Natinal Referee Curse and satisfying the evaluatin criteria fr Natinal Referee Instructr Referee Instructr Evaluatr 1. Be a Referee Instructr and shuld be an Advanced Referee Instructr 2. Cmplete Referee Instructr Evaluatr Curse 3. Pass tw required practice evaluatins 4. Applicatin fr certificatin verified by Sectin Referee Administratr r Sectin Directr f Referee Instructin Natinal Referee Prgram

62 Appendix AYSO Referee Assessr, Mentr Requirements AYSO Referee Assessr, Mentr Requirements REFEREE MENTOR Training: Testing: Appintment: Authrized t: REFEREE ASSESSOR Experience: Training: Testing: Successfully cmplete the Intermediate Referee Curse class The AYSO Natinal Referee Prgram. Recmmended, but nt required, that the Mentr be an Intermediate Referee Pass the Basic Referee Examinatin Appinted as a Referee Mentr by the Reginal Referee Administratr r Reginal Directr f Assessment Advise U-8 Officials, Assistant Referees, and Reginal Referees. When assessrs are nt available, bserve Reginal Referees fr upgrade t Intermediate Referee. At least three (3) years f sccer experience as a referee, and must have perfrmed five (5) bservatins fr service r upgrade t Intermediate Referee. The candidate must be an Intermediate Referee r higher and must have the apprval f the Reginal Referee Administratr. Successfully cmplete the Advanced Referee Curse and the Referee Assessr Curse. Pass the Advanced Referee Examinatin and the Assessr Examinatin. Assessment: Successful cmpletin f tw (2) practice assessments n referees fficiating U-14 AYSO matches (r equivalent). These "ver-the-shulder" assessments must be mentred by a Referee Assessr r Natinal Assessr. Apprval: Authrized t: NATIONAL REFEREE ASSESSOR Experience: Training: Testing: Assessment: Apprval: Authrized t: Apprved as a Referee Assessr by the Area Referee Administratr r the Area Directr f Referee Assessment. Advise U-8 Officials, Assistant Referees, and Reginal Referees. Observe Reginal Referees fr upgrade t Intermediate Referee and assess Intermediate Referees fr upgrade t Advanced Referee. Certified as a Referee Assessr with a minimum f ne (1) year in grade and perfrmed at least ten (10) assessments/bservatins, with a minimum f five (5) assessments n Intermediate Referees seeking upgrade t the Advanced Referee level. The candidate must be an Advanced Referee r higher and must have the apprval f the Sectin Referee Administratr r the Sectin Directr f Assessment. Successfully cmplete the Natinal Referee Curse and the Natinal Assessr Curse. Pass the Natinal Referee Examinatin and the Natinal Assessr Examinatin. Successful cmpletin f ne practice assessment f a referee fficiating a U-16 AYSO match (r equivalent) and ne practice assessment f a referee fficiating a U-19 AYSO match (r equivalent). These "ver-the-shulder" assessments must be mentred by a Natinal Assessr. Apprved as a Natinal Assessr by the Sectin Referee Administratr r the Sectin Directr f Referee Assessment. Advise U-8 Officials, Assistant Referees and Reginal Referees. Observe Reginal Referees fr upgrade t Intermediate Referee, and assess Intermediate Referees fr upgrade t Advanced Referee and Advanced Referees fr upgrade t Natinal Referee. 62 Natinal Referee Prgram

63 Appendix AYSO Referee Physical Test AYSO Referee Physical Test The referee physical fitness test is designed t test the referee s ability t stay up with play and t react t match situatins encuntered at these levels. All referees shuld warm up befre taking the test by perfrming stretching exercises t prevent muscle pulls. Administering Referee Physical Tests Physical tests fr certificatin as Advanced Referee are authrized by the Area Referee Administratr r Area Directr f Referee Assessment. Physical tests fr certificatin as Natinal Referee are authrized by the Sectin Referee Administratr r Sectin Directr f Referee Assessment. Others may be designated t administer the test. Fitness tests administered by USSF may be used t cmply with AYSO fitness test requirements. Physical Testing Cnditins Part f the upgrade requirements t Advanced and Natinal referee include testing the candidate s physical cnditin. The fllwing cnsideratins are imprtant fr thse wh may be invlved in administering physical tests: Suitable running surface (well marked, smth, level, track r mwed grass) Weather cnditins (temperature extremes, rain, natural r artificial lighting) Ample time (warm-up, rest between events and cl-dwn) Sufficient timers t avid lng waits t be tested (staff at start and finish lines) First aid precautins (availability t medical prfessinals) Prper Equipment (frms, stpwatches, cnes, clipbards, first aid supplies) Remind the candidates that it is nt a race t see wh is the fastest but rather a test f their ability t meet minimum physical standards. (Avid unnecessary exertin.) Physical Requirements All three parts f the physical fitness examinatin shuld be cnducted n the same day, with 15 minutes between events. These parts are: Endurance Run: This event cnsists f a run/jg fr the entire 12 minutes, regardless f the distance cvered n a standard 400-meter track (440 yards). Speed Run (50 meters r 55 yard dash): This run is a straight 50 meters (r 55 yard) dash and must be cmpleted in n mre than the time allwed. Speed Run (200 meter r 220 yard dash): This run is a straight 200 meters (r 220-yard) dash and must be cmpleted in n mre than the time allwed. Natinal Referee Prgram

64 Appendix AYSO Sectin Map CERTIFICATION TEST REQUIREMENTS Advanced Referee Endurance Run Speed Run (50 meters) Speed Run (200 meters) Must run fr 12 minutes and cver at least ne mile (1600 meters) Maximum 10.5 secnds Maximum 42 secnds Must run fr 12 minutes and cver: Endurance Run Age Under 38 Minimum Distance 2200 meters (5.5 laps) meters (5.0 laps) Natinal Referee 46 & ver 1800 meters (4.5 laps) Speed Run (50 meters) Age Under 46 Minimum Distance 9.0 secnds 46 & ver 9.5 secnds Speed Run (200 meters) Maximum 40 secnds AYSO Sectin Map 64 Natinal Referee Prgram