Advice fr New Referees Welcme t the U.S. Sccer Referee Cmmunity Here are sme helpful tips and advice fr yu as a new referee. They have been gathered frm experienced referees wh all started their careers as referees just like yu and learned many f these lessns the hard way. The advice fund here will get yu ff t the best pssible start. Remember t have fun! Hw des a new referee get game assignments? Initial assignments will likely cme frm a yuth league assignr and will be in the lwer level games. Make sure yu received the name f yur lcal assignr during the entry level curse. If yu didn t, cntact yur instructr fr the curse and ask hw yu find ut wh the assignr is in yur area. (There is a place t nte yur assignr s cntact infrmatin at the end f this dcument.) When accepting mre than ne assignment in a day, make sure yu allw enugh time t travel t the next game. Make sure yu let yur assignr knw what yur game schedule lks like if yu are playing and if yu have any cnflicts f interest with ther teams, such as family members playing n r caching teams in the same league. If yu are interested in wrking as a referee at turnaments in yur state, watch fr a listing n yur state assciatin website, r the referee cmmittee website. The referee assignrs fr turnaments are usually listed, as well as a way t get in tuch with them. Game fees: The game fees paid t referees vary frm state t state, and smetimes even frm league t league. Yu will be able t find ut what the game fees are and hw yu get paid frm yur assignr and/r yur area (district) referee administratr. Knw the Laws: Success begins by being prepared Making a Gd First Impressin Read and knw the Laws f the Game and wrk t learn the crrect interpretatins. Knw the generally accepted mechanics apprved by the USSF and fund in the Guide t Prcedures fr Referees, Assistant Referees and 4 th Officials. Yu shuld have received this bklet in yur entry level curse. Knw the lcal Rules f Cmpetitin. Length f halves Size f ball Number f players
Substitutins Penalty kicks r n penalty kicks Direct free kicks allwed r nly indirect free kicks Offside, n ffside What yu d with the game reprt Unifrm requirements As an inexperienced referee, yu will nt make all the right decisins. Yu will learn frm experience and frm wrking with mre experienced referees. Dress and Act Prfessinal: If yu expect t cmmand respect (ne element f game cntrl) n the field, then yu must lk and act like a prfessinal. Apprach the game in a way that shws yu are lking frward t being there and being a part f the game. Dress fr success - wear the prper USSF unifrm with yur referee jersey tucked in and yur scks pulled up. Take Charge: Taking charge des nt mean yelling and acting like a dictatr (which is abuse f pwer). Greet each cach with a firm handshake, a smile and lk each cach in the eyes. Issue firm, but simple instructins t the players s they knw yu are capable f managing the game.. Start the game n time. What Yu Need t Have An apprved USSF referee unifrm. The gld shirt is the primary jersey clr fr referees s it shuld be the ne jersey yu purchase right away. If yu are nly getting ne jersey, then buy the shrt sleeved ne. Yu can add the lng sleeve jersey later after. Once yu have mre game experience, yu shuld add ne f the alternate clr jerseys. Yu d nt need t buy all the different clred jerseys right away. Hwever, if yu advance as a referee, then yu will need t add the alternate clrs ver the next few years. Slid black referee shrts r black shrts with the USSF Referee lg n the leg. Black scks with three white stripes at the tp r the USSF referee lg n the tp. Scks shuld always be pulled up t yur knees and nt bunched dwn arund yur ankles. Yur current year USSF badge n the left shirt pcket f yur jersey. Yu may need yur 16 digit USSF identificatin number fr turnaments. Yu will find this number n the ID card yu receive in the mail after yu have taken the curse and registered. Yu will get a new card each year, but the number will always be the same. If yu need yur ID number befre yu receive yur card, please cntact yur area referee administratr r yur SRA. If they dn t have it, then yu may cntact U.S. Sccer. A referee bag that shuld cntain the fllwing: A watch with stpwatch functins tw watches is preferred, ne fr starting and stpping and ne fr keeping a running time in case yu frget t start the first ne.
Pens/pencils, Ntebk Red and yellw cards Tssing cins Whistles always have an extra in yur bag Flags fr the Assistant Referees r Club Linesmen (if yu are wrking alne) Cld weather gear when the time f year makes it necessary Street shes and dry scks A large plastic trash bag (t put yur ref bag inside in case f rain) Sunscreen Snacks (energy bars are great!) if yu are ging t be ding mre than ne game. Rubber bands r baggies t hld and separate player/cach cards fr each team. Water dn t frget t bring water. What Yu Need t D Yu shuld arrive at the field at least 30 minutes prir t the game. If yu dn t drive, make sure yu have made arrangements fr smene t pick yu up t take yu hme. Bring change fr emergency telephne calls r a cell phne, as well as the telephne number f yur assignr and club cntact. Pre-Game Respnsibilities Inspect the Field Lk fr hles r depressins that culd cause twisted r brken ankles and see if hles can be filled. All rcks, twigs, debris n the field shuld be remved. Nets shuld be securely fastened t the gal psts and netting pulled back s as nt t interfere with the galkeeper. Gal psts must be securely anchred t the grund. Sandbags n the frame twards the rear are acceptable. Psts dn't have t be in the grund, but they must be anchred. Crner flags are in place and are nt dangerus t players (at least 5 ft high). Entire field is prperly lined. If anything is needed, the hme team is respnsible fr fixing field prblems. Any issues with the field shuld be nted n the game reprt. Check in the Players: Hme team players/caches shuld be checked first but it's nt a requirement. Yu shuld start with the team that appears t be mst ready fr inspectin.
Make sure that all jewelry, earrings, watches, etc. are remved. Medical ID must be taped t the player's chest r taped t the wrist with the inf shwing. (Earrings must be remved. Cvering them with tape des nt make them legal.) All players must wear shin guards and scks must be pulled ver shin guards. Player s shirts are t be tucked in. Check in players and caches as per the requirements and the Rules f Cmpetitin fr that league. The Game Assistant Referee Pay clse attentin t the referee during the pre-game cnference. If yu dn t understand smething the referee is saying, ask fr clarificatin. Make sure yu understand what the referee wants yu t d in managing substitutins, hw lng t hld the ffside signal, etc. Hld the flag in the prper hand. The flag shuld be held in the hand clsest t the referee. Referees usually run a left diagnal, which means the flag will be in yur left hand mst f the time. If yu turn sideways t walk up r dwn the field, switch hands with the flag as necessary s the flag is field side and the referee can see the flag clearly. The flag shuld always be switched hand t hand in frnt f yu, belw yur waist, and nt abve yur head. Make eye cntact with the referee as ften as pssible thrughut the game when yu are nt watching fr ffside r attending t ther AR duties. Stay even with the secnd-t-last defender (remember - the galkeeper is usually the last defender, but nt always); this psitins yu t make accurate ffside decisins. Fllw the ball all the way t the gal line s yu'll be in psitin t see if the ball cmpletely (even just barely) crsses the gal line. Fllwing the ball t the gal line each time is an excellent habit t get int. When yu're running a line, side-step s yu stay square t the field as much as pssible. This psitin allws yu t cntinue t see the field and players. When yu need t sprint t the gal line t fllw play r the ball, then yu will run in a nrmal sprint, while watching the field. Run t the crner flag, r clse t it, when signaling fr a gal kick r crner kick. Raising yur flag yards away frm the crner flag r gal line nt nly calls attentin t the fact that yu nt in the crrect psitin t make that decisin, but als carries with it the idea that yu are either lazy, r yu dn t care enugh abut the game t be in the prper psitin t make the call. When signaling fr a ball that is clearly ff the field acrss the tuchline, pint yur flag in the directin the thrw-in will be taken (nt straight up); this is very helpful fr the referee in making a decisin n which team last tuched the ball and which team shuld be awarded the thrw-in.
Assist the referee in making sure the thrw-in is being taken frm the crrect spt by pinting with yur free hand t where the player shuld be standing when taking the thrw-in. Be practive, dn t wait fr the player t make a mistake, help them get it right. Referees Yu will prbably d mre games as an AR at first, but when yu are assigned as a referee, remember t cnduct a pre-game with yur ARs. Tell them what yu wuld like them t d in varius situatins, such as thrw-ins, free kicks, gal kicks, etc. and make sure they understand what yu are asking frm them. Review ffside and make sure the ARs have a clear understanding f the Rules f Cmpetitin fr the league in which yu are wrking. Be aware f yur psitin n the field. It's tugh enugh t prperly call a sccer match when yu are n tp f the play. It's impssible t make crrect decisins when yu stay clse t r within the center circle. Even when fficiating at the small-sided game level, get in the habit f being in the prper psitin and wrking hard. At first, yu may have t remind yurself t lift the fcus f yur visin frm the ball and the legs f the players s yu learn t take in the whle area f active play. It is nrmal fr new referees t have t make this cnscius effrt t lift their eyes. Once yu are mre experienced, it will be instinctive fr yu t see a large area f play if yu cnditin yurself t d this frm the beginning. Always think abut yur psitining - yu shuld knw why yu are where yu are. What d yu gain by being in this psitin? Maintain gd eye cntact with yur ARs thrughut the game. A gd habit t get int is t make eye cntact with yur ARs n every dead ball situatin. If yu are wrking a game alne, remember t appint club linesmen t help yu ut with balls in and ut f bunds. Club linesmen cannt call ffside r fuls, s this means yu have t wrk extra hard in the middle and cncentrate t make sure yu are cvering ffside n bth sides f the field. Yu will have t adjust yur diagnal accrdingly when wrking alne s yu are where yu need t be. Yu shuld ask fr a club linesman frm each f the teams, rather than tw frm the same team. Make yur hand signals clear; pint the directin with a straight arm. Blw clear and sharp whistles. Learn hw t make yur whistle talk fr yu. Use the whistle t cmmunicate cntrl. T many newly certified referees make a call with barely an audible "tweet" which tells everyne n the field that yu are unsure f yurself. On yur first
call, give the whistle a firm blast and cnfidently pint in the directin f the play. A firm whistle will eliminate 50 percent f the arguments. Vary the strength f yur whistle depending n the infractin - fr a serius ful, blw the whistle very ludly. Be decisive in yur calls; players and caches may try t take advantage f the situatin if yu seem unsure. Run the diagnal system f cntrl when yu have ARs assigned with yu. The mst accepted diagnal system is frm the right crner t the left crner referees refer t this as a left diagnal. If yu d nt have ARs assigned and yu need t use spectatrs as linesmen, ask them t nly indicate when the ball has cmpletely crssed ver the tuchline r gal line, and nt the directin the thrw r whether it is a gal kick r crner kick. That is yur decisin. Remember that ball in and ut f play is the nly thing they can call as club linesmen. At half time and after the game, review all the results (number f cards, scres fr each team and any incident that ccurred, as well as the infrmatin required t be reprted by that particular league) s yur game reprt is accurate. Dealing with Prblem Caches Set the grund rules be practive Shw them where the team and the caches will be seated. Make sure they understand that they must stay in that area. If there is mre than ne cach, ask which cach will be giving instructin t the players and wh will be asking fr subs. Dn't let the caches intimidate yu. Be cnfident in yur knwledge f the Laws f the Game and Rules f Cmpetitin. Remain calm. If smene is hllering at yu, dn t yell back at them. Speak respectfully and quietly, s the cach must quiet dwn t hear yu. D nt take smene yelling at yu persnally. It happens t all referees, even the mst experienced. Hwever, nce the cach steps ver the bundaries f the game and begins t make his cmments persnal r abusive, yu must deal with it. Slwly and calmly walk ver t the cach. In a plite and respectful way, infrm the cach that this type f cnduct is unsprting and cntinuing with this type cnduct will result in his r her remval frm the game. If the behavir cntinues respectfully and prfessinally ask the cach t leave. If the cach refuses t leave, give the cach a warning that if he r she des nt leave, yu will end the game. If the cach des nt leave in a reasnable amunt f time (apprximately 30 60 secnds), end the game. Be sure t file a very detailed reprt with the league s there is a gd understanding f why the game was ended early. Dealing with Prblem Players: Make yur presence knwn frm the mment yu walk n the field - that way players knw yu are in charge. Stand tall, lk peple in the eye and smile cnfidently. Have yur pre-game questins dwn - intrduce yurself even if yu have wrked games with the same caches befre, slicit cpies f the rsters, get the game ball frm the hme team and check it ut, check in players. (D nt tell players hw yu are ging t call the game and what yu are ging t call and nt call. This can cause yu majr prblems in the game.) Ding these game management things cnfidently will carry ver int the game.
Remember t blw the whistle with cnfidence, even if yu are nt feeling s cnfident and use decisive signals with straight arms. If yu have a difficult player dissenting r ding smething else t disrupt the game, at a stppage f play, issue a cautin t them and let the player knw that kind f behavir is unacceptable. If the player still insists n being difficult, use a well delivered warning t let them knw that yu have just abut reached the limit f what yu are ging t take. It is ften helpful t let the cach knw this particular player is wearing ut their welcme and the team may sn be playing shrt. Give the cach a shrt perid f time (apprximately 30 60 secnds) t crrect the situatin. If the bad behavir cntinues, issue a secnd cautin and then a send ff (red card). Remember that the prper prcedure fr this is t display the secnd yellw card and then the red. Remain calm when talking t players, but be firm in yur vice and yur decisins. D nt yell at players and never use ful r abusive language n matter what they are saying t yu. Speak sftly s the players must quiet dwn t hear yu. Listen t what players are saying. Allw them t vent fr a few secnds befre calling it dissent. Yu might find ut abut fuls yu are missing, r there may be smething else ging n that can be easily crrected. This tactic als lets the players knw yu are willing t listen up t a certain pint. This type f exchange shuld nt g n ften in a game and shuld nt last fr mre than a few secnds. If it ges n lnger, yu must deal with it. The mre experience yu have as a referee, the easier it is t set bundaries and t knw when and where t set them. Dealing with Prblem Parents Remain calm. D nt get int discussins r arguments with the sidelines. Reprt any misbehavir n the part f the spectatrs in a miscnduct reprt t the league s that this type f behavir can be disciplined and stpped. Mst leagues and state assciatins have methds fr dealing with bad behavir, but ding s ften requires a written reprt frm the referee. Enlist the supprt f the cach. Ask him t speak with the ffending spectatrs, and let him knw that if the behavir cntinues, the game will nt. This will usually be enugh t quiet mst parents, but nt all. If yu have asked the cach t deal with prblem parents and the situatin cntinues, ask the cach t have the spectatr leave the area. If the spectatr refuses, tell the cach that if the spectatr is nt remved, the game will end. Give the cach a reasnable amunt f time (apprximately 30 60 secnds) t deal with the situatin. If the parent des nt leave, yu shuld feel free t end the game. Be sure yu file a cmplete written reprt with the league s that there is a clear understanding f why the game was terminated. The league must have a written reprt in rder t take any fllw-up disciplinary actin.
Hw D Referees Imprve? T be a gd referee, yu must cntinue t learn and imprve with every game. Experience is the best teacher and cnfidence builder. The mre games yu d the mre cmfrtable and cnfident yu'll be. If smething ccurs in a game and yu aren't sure if yu made the crrect decisin, g back t the Laws f the Game, Q & A and Advice t Referees after the game and duble check. Talk t mre experienced referees abut the decisin yu made and whether r nt yu shuld have dne smething differently, r email an experienced referee with the questin. Watch experienced referees and ntice hw they deal with specific situatins that cause yu truble in a game. Have experienced referees watch and critique yu and then remember t try the suggestins they give yu. Seek ut experienced referees t wrk with. By running lines fr experienced referees, yu gain a better appreciatin as t what the prtcls f the game are as well as learning abut ways in which yu can imprve yur game. This is an excellent tl. Once yu have dne this fr several games, ask t have experienced referees as yur assistant referees when yu wrk the center. G slw in advancing t mre difficult matches dn t rush it, but als challenge yurself t keep grwing as a referee by taking mre challenging assignments nce yu have reached a cmfrt level where yu are currently being assigned. Attend seminars, wrkshps and clinics. Watch games f every level whenever pssible. This helps yu t nt nly watch skilled referees wrk; it als helps yu t learn mre abut the game. Next Year is Just Arund the Crner Recertificatin Referees must register each year with U.S. Sccer thrugh their State Referee Administratr. The gverning dcuments f U.S. Sccer state that a referee must be registered fr the current year t referee games affiliated with U.S. Sccer directly r indirectly. The Referee Administrative Handbk tells yu what yu need t d t recertify. The email addresses fr all state referee administratrs can be fund at ussccer.cm/referee Prgrams. If yu dn t knw when r where t recertify fr the upcming year, cntact yur State Referee Administratr (SRA), State Yuth Referee Administratr (SYRA) r State Directr f Instructin (SDI) in the fall r winter, befre the beginning f the next year. Referee registratin fr the calendar year with U.S. Sccer ends n June 30 th f each year. If yu want t referee in the fall, yu must recertify befre June f that year. Yu must be registered fr a calendar year, befre yu take the field in that calendar year. If yu wish t be cnsidered fr an upgrade, let yur SRA/SYRA r SDI knw that in advance f registratin. They can then give yu instructins n what yu need t d t qualify fr the next grade. Yu can find the criteria fr upgrading frm grade t grade in the Referee Administrative Handbk, which yu shuld receive at yur entry level clinic. If yu lse this bk, yu can als find it at ussccer.cm/referee Prgrams, under Referee Develpment. If yu miss a year f registratin, yu can register nce again by taking a recertificatin curse and passing the test, hwever yu cannt register until after January 1 f the year fr which yu are registered. Resurces Laws f the Game (and Laws f the Game Made Easy) Guide t Prcedures fr Referees, Assistant Referees and 4 th Officials Referee Administrative Handbk yu will find the criteria fr upgrading here, alng with hw t write miscnduct reprts and ther valuable infrmatin abut the Referee Prgram Advice t Referees can be purchased, but is als available fr reference at ussccer.cm/laws f the Game.
Offside Made Easy Psitin papers all are available at ussccer.cm/laws f the Game Yu Make the Call Ask a Referee Many ther training presentatins are available at ussccer.cm/referee Prgrams/Referee Develpment D Yu Need Questins Answered r Additinal Advice? Talk t yur State Referee Administratr, State Yuth Referee Administratr, State Directr f Instructin and State Directr f Assessment fr their guidance, as they are there t help yu. Remember that yu can find their email addresses at ussccer.cm/referee Prgrams r n yur state s website.
Infrmatin I Need t Have The assignrs fr my area are: email: phne: email: phne: My entry level instructrs were: email: phne: email: phne: My Area Referee Administratr is: email: phne: The State Referee Administratr is: email: phne: The lcal referee website is: I can recertify fr next year beginning (date) If I dn t hear anything abut recertificatin, I shuld cntact: email: phne: United States Sccer Federatin, Inc 1801 S. Prairie Ave. Chicag, IL 60616 ussccer.cm