Chino Hills AYSO Region 779 U5 / U6 / U8 Referee Supplemental Handbook
Table of Contents Introduction... 3 AYSO Vision Statement 3 AYSO Mission Statement 3 Referee Volunteer Requirements 4 Team Referee Requirements 4 Referee Responsibilities. 4 U5/U6/U8 Game Formats 5 Field Layouts 6 Number of Players. 6 Number of Referees.. 6 Ball In and Out Play.. 7 Starts and Restarts 7 Kick Offs.. 7 Throw-ins 8 Direct Free Kicks 9 Goal Kicks (U8 only). 10 Corner Kicks (U8 only). 11 Keeping the Game Flowing. 12 2
Introduction The referee plays an essential role to a successful match. First and foremost, without a referee, a match cannot be played. The referee has the responsibility of controlling the field of play, controlling the tempo of the game, applying the Laws of the Game, and the safety of the players. If the referee applies these responsibilities correctly, each game will be fun, fair, and safe. We have created this handbook to assist those referee volunteers in the U5, U6, and U8 divisions and provide the basics to run a successful match. Once you become comfortable with refereeing at this level, we encourage you to take the next step and take the Regional Referee course as it is required to referee in the U10 and higher divisions. Should you have any questions about refereeing, please e-mail our referee team at ref@ayso779.com. We have many volunteers who will be able to assist you. Thank you for volunteering your time so that our children can have a great soccer experience. John Eddings Regional Commissioner Chino Hills AYSO Region 779 AYSO Vision Statement To provide world-class soccer programs that enrich children s lives. AYSO Mission Statement To develop and deliver quality youth soccer programs in a fun, family environment based on the AYSO philosophies: Everyone Plays Balanced Teams Open Registration Positive Coaching Good Sportsmanship Player Development 3
Referee Volunteer Requirements The following are the requirements to volunteer as a referee in the U5/U6/U8 divisions: 1. Be at least 12 years of age. 2. Complete a volunteer application. Volunteer applications can be completed at www.eayso.org. Once completed, please print two copies and give them to your division coordinator. Youth volunteers are also required to have a completed application which is completed by a parent. Volunteer forms must be submitted to the league on an annual basis. 3. Complete the Safe Haven course. The course can be completed by going to www.aysotraining.org. You will need your AYSO ID number which can be found on the volunteer form. 4. Be ready to have a lot of fun! Team Referee Requirements Each team is required to provide one referee for each game. The referees will referee their own team s match. Referee Responsibilities Pre-game (10 minutes before game time): Line up the players and make sure the players are wearing shin guards, wearing socks over the shin guards, wearing the proper uniform, and wearing closed toed shoes, and that the shoes are tied. Make sure that the players are not wearing any jewelry, earrings, hats, non-prescription glasses, jackets over the jersey, etc. There are no exceptions. Collect the game balls from the home team. Verify that size 3 soccer balls are being used and that they are properly inflated. Determine which team will be taking the kick-off and which goals the teams will be defending. It is recommended that the visiting team kick-off and the home team choose which goal they want to defend first. However, if you choose to do a coin toss, the winner of the toss chooses which goal to defend and the loser of the toss kicks off first. Talk to the players briefly and remind them to be safe and have fun. 4
Game Time : Start the game on time! During the Match: Make sure the teams switch goals and the team that team that did not kick off on the first half, kicks off for the second half. Make sure that the players are playing safely. Keep the game flowing. Try to position yourself so that you do not interfere with play or the ball. Stop coaches and parents from entering the field. The referee controls the field at all times. Completion of the Match: Stop the match on time! Bring the teams together to do a team handshake and tell the players they did a great job. Report any issues that may have occurred to the person at the volunteer tent at the field. Game Formats U5 and U6 Games: Teams are divided into two balanced squads. Teams play 5 v. 5 There are 4-5 minute quarters with a 5 minute half time break. The home team switches fields at half time. There are no goal kicks, corner kicks, or penalty kicks allowed. There are no offside infractions. If the ball goes out of play, the restart is a throw-in. Restarts on the field are direct free kicks (no indirect kicks). U8 Games: Teams are divided into two balanced squads. Teams play 5 v. 5 There are 4-10 minute quarters with a 5 minute half time break. The home team switches fields at half time. There are no goalkeepers or penalty kicks. There are no offside infractions. There are goal kicks and corner kicks. Restarts on the field are direct free kicks (no indirect kicks). 5
Field Layout U5/U6 Field Figure 1 U5/U6 Field Layout U8 Field Figure 2 U8 Field Layout Number of Players A maximum of 5 players from each team may play on the field during the match. Fewer players are allowed. Coaches are required to balance their teams before games, so if a team only has 8 players that show up to the game, the coach is required to split the squads into two groups of 4 and not one group of 5 and one group of 3. 6
There are teams that may have more than 10 players on a roster. In this situation, each player is required to play a minimum of 3 of the 4 quarters of the game. Player substitutions are only allowed at the quarter, at the halftime break, or if a player needs to come off the field due to an injury. Under no circumstances is a team allowed to play more than the maximum number of players and there is no free substitution. Number of Referees Only one center referee will utilized for each field. No assistant referees are to be used. Ball In and Out of Play It is important to understand when the ball is in play and when it is out of play (see figure 3). To be out of play, the ball has to be completely over the line. Starts and Restarts Figure 3 Ball in and out of play Kick-off When: At the start of the game, at the start of the second half, or after a goal is scored. How to signal it: At kick-off, point towards the direction of the start or restart of play and blow the whistle to signal the start of play. After a goal is scored, point to the center of the field. At this level the referee should also say goal to let the players know. 7
Who takes it: At the start of the game; any player from the team designated to take the kick-off. At the start of the second half; any player from the opposing team of the team that did the initial kick-off. After a goal is scored; any player on the opposing team of the team that scored the goal. Where the ball is placed: At the center of the field on the center line. Special Requirements: For U5 and U6 teams, players on the opposing team need to be a minimum of 6 yards from the ball on their own half of the field. For U8 teams, players on the opposing team need to be outside the center circle on their own half of the field. Throw-ins: When to call it: When the ball completely crosses the touch line. How to signal it: With the body parallel to the touch line, raise the arm at a 45 degree angle in the direction of restart. The referee should also say throw-in for the [color of the uniform] team to let the players know. Who takes it: Any player on the opposing team of the team that last touched the ball before it went over the touch line. Where to take the throw-in: Within 1 yard of where the ball crossed the touch line. Special Requirements: Opposing players need to be at least 2 yards away from the player throwing in the ball. 8
The player taking the throw-in must be on or behind the touch line. Direct Free Kicks: When to call it: When a foul occurs. When play becomes dangerous and the game needs to be stopped. When the ball needs to be restarted due to an injury or other issue that caused the whistle to be blown. How to signal it: Blow the whistle and point in the direction of the restart. Who takes it: For a foul; any player on the team that was on the receiving end of the foul. For dangerous play or injury; any player on the team that had last possession of the ball. Where the ball is placed: Within 1 yard of where the ball was located on the field at the time the whistle was blown. Special Requirements: Players on the opposing team need to be at least 6 yards away from the ball. Goal Kicks (U8 Only): When to call it: When the ball completely crosses the goal line and it is last touched by a player on the attacking team. Signal: Referee points to the goal line where the ball crossed with the arm extended perpendicular to the body. At this level the referee should also say goal kick as the players may not be aware of what the signal means. 9
Who takes it: Any player from the defending team. Where the ball is placed: The ball is placed within the goal area (see figure 4) Special Requirements: Figure 4 Ball Placement for Goal Kicks A player from the opposing team needs to be at least 6 yards (approximately 6 steps) from the ball when the ball is kicked. They may not stand in front of the ball. Corner Kicks (U8 Only): When to call it: When the ball completely crosses the goal line and is last touched by a player on the defending team. Signal: Referee points in the direction of the corner flag closest to where the ball crossed the goal line with the arm at a 45 degree angle. At this level the referee should also say corner kick as the players may not be aware of what the signal means. Who takes it: Any player on the attacking team. 10
Where the ball is placed: The ball is placed within the corner arc nearest the corner flag signaled by the referee (see figure 5). Figure 5 Ball placement for a corner kick Special Requirements: A player from the opposing team needs to be at least 6 yards (approximately 6 steps) from the ball when the ball is kicked. They may not stand in front of the ball. Keeping the Game Flowing It is important to understand that at this age that kids are learning the game. It is also important to keep the game flowing as players only improve when they are playing and the game times are short. The game is also more enjoyable for the spectators. In order to keep the game flowing, please keep the following in mind: Once the game starts, the clock continues to run until the half is over. There are no timeouts. No time is added for water breaks at the quarters, for substitutions, or injuries during the match. Don t blow the whistle every time the ball goes out of play or every time a player falls down. The only time the whistle needs to be blown is to signal a kick-off, a free kick, the start of play, the end of the game, or when it is needed to get players attention. Here are some examples: Example 1 - The ball goes out of bounds across the touch line. Don t blow the whistle if: A player from the team awarded the throw-in is the only player that goes to collect the ball to perform the throw-in. 11
Do blow the whistle if: A player from the team that was not awarded the throw-in goes to collect the ball or several players continue to play the ball after it has crossed the touch line. Example 2 - A player trips over their shoelaces and falls down on the field. Don t blow the whistle if: The player is able to get back up in a short time period and continue to play. Do blow the whistle if: The player does not get up, there is a safety issue due to play that is happening in his or her immediate vicinity, or appears injured after getting up. In this case, the restart should be for the team that last possessed the ball. Example 3. A player performs a throw-in, but raises a foot in the process. Don t blow the whistle for this as they are just starting to learn at this age. 12