The Midland Soccer Club

Referee Field Instruction Sessions April 2012

Basics – 5 mins

• Referee attire; Look professional, it says a lot about the impression you will make .

– Shirt; tucked in, referee crew wearing same color. Same sleeve length if possible.

– Different color than the other teams if possible – Shorts; black referee shorts strongly recommended, no jean shorts, no basketball shorts – Socks; Ref socks black with 3 stripes, pulled up – Shoes, predominately black • Referee gear – Bring a bag for all your gear, make sure you have a water bottle! Drink lots of fluids – Inside the bag – Watch & Whistle – Cards (red and yellow) & Coin – Referee wallet, with paper and pencil to write on – Flags (AR) – Badge (make sure its straight on your uniform) – Law Book (provided at clinic) – read it!!

– Trash bag (for rain), bug spray, sun block, cold weather gear – BE PREPARED FOR ALL CONDITIONS!

Basics – 5 mins

• What not to wear – The players cannot wear jewelry, and neither can you.

– No sunglasses!! No gum!!!

– Remove your earrings, bracelets, and rings (unless married) • Adverse weather conditions – Goal is to stay comfortable – Gloves, knit caps, “ski” bands, sweatshirts, are OK, if they are black – If the teams are not wearing it, then neither should you!

– Uniform must be on the outside – Not to be worn for “show” – Come to the game you were assigned, don’t assume its cancelled – Games are played in almost all weather, including rain. Exceptions – Thunder and lightning – 30 minutes from last event, reset time on each occurrence – Club officials will be present to assist in these situations.

Center Referee duties – 15 mins

• Movement & Positioning – Don’t stand and watch; stay close to play, it sells your call….

– Run with purpose and like you mean it – Anticipate where the ball is going to be played and get into position • Talk / Communicate to Players – After you blow the whistle, say what the call is if it helps to make it clear – You are teaching the players what you will and will not allow during the game • Game Mechanics – Coin flip, away team chooses; “Winners Pick (direction to attack), others Kick – Stop running, signal, then continue, be crisp with your signals – When a goal is scored: Look at AR for signal, back away, & point to center circle.

– Lazy S, not a straight line diagonal when covering the field – Whistle communication

required only for the following

     Starting the game Fouls & misconducts Stopping play for injury End of half, game Not required for throw ins, goal kicks, or corner kicks, unless you feel its needed to help the situation.

Center Referee Signals Direct Free Kick & Throw In

Arm at 45 degrees, pointing in the direction of the team taking the kick or throw.

Indirect Free Kick

Arm straight up, keep up until a 2 nd player has touched the ball

Goal Kick

Arm horizontal, pointing towards the goal.

Corner Kick Penalty Kick

Arm at 45 degrees up, pointing towards the corner flag Arm at 45 degrees down, pointing towards the penalty park

Foul Recognition and Restarts

• If it doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t… blow the whistle

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Direct Free Kicks (DFK):

 1 with the body   1 with the mouth 4 with the hands  4 with the feet.

10 penal fouls; –

Indirect Free Kicks (IFK):

 8 fouls; 4 with the player – (dangerous play, impeding progress, prevent GK releasing ball, commits any other offense – GK inside his own penalty area)  4 with the keeper – (GK pickup from own team passback, GK pickup from own team throw in, GK controls ball >6 sec, GK 2 nd touch with hands)

• Whistle communication

– Intensity (loudness) – Length (duration)

Assistant Referee duties – 15 mins

• Movement & Positioning – Stay facing to the field when possible.

– Flag is in hand closest to the field or the center referee – Offside; stay with the 2 nd to last defender or the ball, whichever is closest to the goal – Run all the way to the goal line when following play – Miscellaneous items – Keep time also, in case the CR needs help – Do not tell the coach that the CR did something wrong, support your CR – They have a different point of view, may have seen things differently – CR is closer to the play, better position to judge the call

Assistant Referee Signals Throw In

Arm at 45 degrees, pointing in the direction of the team taking the throw.

Goal Kick Corner Kick Substitution Offside

Go to within a yard of the corner flag, face the field, right arm out horizontal pointing towards the goal Arm at 45 degrees down, pointing towards the base of the corner flag Hold flag over head as shown, put down once the center referee has acknowledged the substitution.

1: Hold flag straight up until acknowedged by center referee 2: Specify location of restart on field by flag position (far,middle,near). Put down when ball is in correct position

Offside

• Judging Offside

– Decision to be made at time ball is kicked by attacking team – Imagine taking a picture with a camera – Picture resets each time the ball is kicked or played – Two (2) steps: 1. Determine if a player is in an offside position  Cannot be offside in their own half of the field  Cannot be offside if even or level with second to last defender  Cannot be offside if behind the ball  Its not an offense to be in the offside position (unless #2 happens) 2. Determine if the player is involved in active play  Interfering with play OR  Interfering with an opponent OR  Gains an advantage (from being in that position)