Referee Page

Conduct Toward Referees

There is a critical shortage of qualified youth soccer referees. Why? Referees cite repeatedly that they quit refereeing because of the abuse they take from parents, coaches and players. Many teenagers quickly discontinue refereeing youth soccer games because it is not worth what they are paid to be yelled at, insulted, belittled and threatened. It does not matter whether you are a coach, a parent, a player or a disinterested fan: don't tolerate a climate that allows yelling at or abusing the referee. Some guidelines:

Support the referee's decisions. Refereeing soccer, like playing soccer, looks easier from the sidelines then it is on the field. The field is large, there are a number of players moving both with and away from the ball, and the referee cannot see everything from all angles.
Understand the laws of the game. FIFA rules give soccer referees a great deal of discretion. They are not required to call every single breach of soccer's laws. Reasonable humans often disagree whether conduct resulted in a breach (depending, of course on whether the breach helps or harms their team). Under FIFA rules only the referee's opinion counts; if the referee didn't call it, it is not a foul.
Inquire about calls respectfully. If coaches do not understand or disagree with a call they should discuss it one-on-one, quietly and rationally, with the referee at half-time or after the game. If parents disagree with a call they should ask the coach to explain it. Parents should not question referees directly under any circumstances. PERIOD.
That referee is your neighbor's child. Quite often youth soccer referees are teenagers. Treat them, whether or not you agree with their calls, as you would want other adults to treat your child should he or she be in the same position. Treat them as you would want to be treated if your were performing a difficult job in a fluid, fast-paced game.

Look at the big picture. Soccer is a GAME. Most of our youth soccer players will stop playing before high school. Keep the games in perspective. If you cannot watch the game without losing control, stay home.

Fouls and Misconducts

LAW 12- FOULS AND MISCONDUCTS:

(Kicker can score directly without ball touching another player)

(Kicker CANNOT score without ball touching another player first)

(Two yellow cards = Red Card)

(Red Card = Player leaves field, team plays down one man. & Next game suspension )

A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following six offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

·kicks or attempts to kick an opponent

·trips or attempts to trip an opponent

·jumps at an opponent

·Charges an opponent

·Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent

·Pushes an opponent

A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following four offences:

·tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball

·holds an opponent

·spits at an opponent

·handles the ball (not the ball hitting the player) deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the referee, commits any of the following three offences:

·plays in a dangerous manner

·impedes the progress of an opponent

·prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands

An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, commits any of the following five offences:

·takes more than six seconds, before releasing the ball from his possession

·touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from his possession and has not touched any other player

·touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked or thrown to him by a teammate

·wastes time

The indirect free kick (IDK) is taken from where the offence occurred.

A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following seven offences:

·is guilty of unsporting behavior (Punishment: IDK from point of infraction unless more serious offense has occurred)

·shows dissent by word or action

·persistently infringes the Laws of the Game

·delays the restart of play

·fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick or free kick

·enters or reenters the field of play without the referee's permission (Punishment: IDK from point where play stopped)

·deliberately leaves the field of play without the referee's permission (Punishment: IDK)

A player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits any of the following seven offences:

·is guilty of serious foul play

·is guilty of violent conduct

·spits at an opponent or any other person

·denies an opponent a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)

·denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player's goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick

·uses offensive, insulting or abusive language

·receives a second caution in the same match

Definition of Terms:

Carelessly-Committing an action without paying attention to its impact. (Foul)

Recklessly-Committing an action even though you are aware of its impact. (Foul + possible caution)

Disproportionate Force-Committing a foul with excessive or violent force. (Foul + possible caution/sending off)

Conditions of a foul:

·Committed by a player

·Committed on the field of Play

·Committed while ball is IN PLAY

·Victim of Foul is an opponent

Remember:

A foul can also result in a misconduct

Reminder:

Handling the ball to deny the start of an attack must result in a caution

Reminder:

Refs can reverse a call, but only if play has not yet restarted

Advantage: "Play-on". Applied when it would give the OFFENDING team the advantage to stop play and reset teams. Once given, it can be taken back within a few seconds if the expected advantage is not realized and ref can always go back and deal with the offending player (caution/send-off)