Soccer Notes (and Hints) for new referees

1. Referee and player shirts must be tucked in.

2. No jewelry on referee (except watch) or players (except medical alert bracelet).
3. Bring to the game,… whistle, note paper (I use a folded recipe card), pen(s), coin
(Looney is best), water bottle, yellow/red cards, referee passport ID (when we get them),
sun screen, Rules document (for the league you are ref’ing) and small towel. Wrist bands
(to wipe off sweat) are a good idea, too. If you forget a watch, ask a coach to time the
half.
4. You are permitted to wear corrective glass (regular or sunglasses), and a “plain” baseball
cap on rainy days (to keep rain off of glasses).
5. On cold days, you can wear a shirt under ref shirt. Any long-sleeved shirt should be
black. Wear rain gear before and after game, and during half time to keep dry.
6. Go to the game knowing the Category (eg. MU12D2O), game #, Home and Receiving
teams, and field. (There are often 3 U10 games on Monday nights, so you have to know
which game is yours, and validate the game information on game sheet !!) Each soccer
team (U10+) has a number ( G1, H2, CA3, CH5, CH30, etc). These numbers must always
be on the games sheet to assist in identifying the teams.
7. You may call a “two minute” water break on hot days. Advise the coaches before the
game starts that you may call a water break, and that it will be at your discretion. If there
is not another game being played on that field after the current one, you may extend the
half by two minutes. Indicate this to the coaches.
8. For U7-U8 and U10, we do not normally extend the time of the game to compensate for
time spent for an injured player. However, if there is not another game being played on
that field after the current one, and you don’t have your own game or practice to get to,
you may extend the half by two minutes-or-so. Indicate this to the coaches.
9. Don’t call “hands” if the ball hits a player’s hands or arms unintentionally. Wave the
game on, and yell “UNINTENTIONAL”. Warn players (and coaches) during equipment
inspection that “hand ball” is only called when a player touches it intentionally, and that
is your duty to determine that.
10. Use the “PLAY-ON” or “CONTINUE” motion (and say it loudly) if there has been
“questionable” incident that you have chosen to not to call (eg. unintentional hand ball).
11. For U7-U8, U10 and U12 (or all leagues if you choose,), when a ball goes out of the
Touch Line, and there is to be a throw in, call out the team who is to take the throw-in
(eg…. “Buckingham throw” or “red ball”, or “touche à Masson-Angers” ).
12. You can quickly and verbally warn players if you think their play is getting rough. (eg.
“WATCH YOUR ELBOWS”, “YOU CAN’T PUSH LIKE THAT, OR I WILL CALL
YOU FOR A PENALTY THE NEXT TIME”) , while the play is going on.
13. If you did not see which player kicked the ball out of bound, quickly yell “I DIDN’T SEE
IT”. A parent or player will usually give you an honest answer. If no one helps you
immediately, make a quick decision….
14. Length of game:
a. U7-U8 2 X 20 minutes or 4 X 12 minutes (verify with coach)
b. U10 2 X 25 minutes
c. U12 2 X 35 minutes
d. U14 2 X 40 minutes
e. U16, U18 2 X 45 minutes
15. For U7-U8 and U10, if the difference in goals is 6 (six) (eg. the score becomes 8-2), the
official game is over. Record the score in your notes. Indicate the game is officially over
to the players and coaches. Volunteer to ref the rest of the game as a friendly practice
match.
16. For U12 – U14 , verbally warn players who are in an off-side position (eg. “ CAREFUL,
YOU ARE IN AN OFF_SIDE POSITION”, “WATCH THE OFF-SIDE “…
“ATTENTION - TU EST HORS-JEU » ). If you do call an Indirect Fee kick against a
player for off-side, tell them why they were off-side. Off-side applies to U12 and up.
17. Get the game ball from home team coach 10 minutes before start of game. Conduct
equipment and passport inspection 8-10 minute before game time. Whistle and call for
the “coin toss” 3-4 minutes before game time. Warn the captains that the game will begin
in one minute… start on-time !!
18. Any problems with the behavior of a coach, please call me immediately after the game.
19. You have the right to change your call if you’ve erred, or “reflected” on the call (eg. a
goal is scored, you indicate it a goal, but then change your mind after realizing that a
player was off-side). Loudly explain the call so both coaches can hear. (eg. I MUST
DISALLOW THE GOAL. UPON REFLECTION, PLAYER 4 WAS IN AN OFF-SIDE
POSITION WHEN PLAYER 9 SCORED.) However, you cannot change your call after
you have restarted play.
20. Walk, talk, act confidently. Speak loudly and clearly.
a. Introduce yourself and shake hands with the coach and make frequent eye
contact.
b. Make sure coaches can hear your calls.
c. You must be fast, and run with the play.
d. Announce “time remaining” near the end of each half (produces excitement!).
21. On your “game note pad”, indicate team names, colour of jerseys, start time of each half,
and jersey number of each scorer. Confirm with coaches at the end of game if you have
any concern that you have recorded anything incorrectly.
22. You, as the referee have the right not to begin a game if there is any problem with the
field. For example, if the field is “drenched” with water, players are in higher risk of
 injury. Another reason not to play on a very wet field is that it can become severely
damaged for the remainder of the season. (Hopefully, these games will be cancelled by
the coaches before they show up to the field.)
23. If weather conditions become terrible during a game, (eg. driving downpour), halt the
game and suggest players wait in their cars if you think it may blow-over. Try to
complete 75% of the game, then the score will stand. If the game cannot be finished, give
back the game sheets to the coaches (do not indicate the score), and instruct them that
they will have to reschedule the game between themselves. Then call me ( Tim Rumball )
to explain situation (eg. how many minute were into the game, what was the score).
24. If there is any threat of lightning, halt the game immediately and urge players to wait in
their cars if you think it may blow-over. Wait (safely) for 15 minutes, then cancel the
game if the threat of lightning is still in the area. Same “75% rule” as above.
25. For U10 games to proceed, there must be a minimum of 5 players on each team. For U12,
the minimum is 6. Officially, the team has 15 minutes to assemble enough players after
the scheduled start of the game. (On rare occasions, little brothers/sister may substitute if
they have all the proper equipment… inform other coach first). If the coach doesn’t show,
then a parent must step in.
If they cannot assemble enough players, the game is forfeited. Do not “tell” a team that
they have won by forfeit. The ARSO will decide this. Do not indicate any score on the
game sheets. Mark on both game sheets that the “XXXX team did not have the minimal
number of players”. Call me when you get home.
Collect games sheets from coach at the beginning of the game. Make sure they have filled
in all the information, and their players’ jersey numbers and passport # s. ARSO game
sheets must be neat and complete. Each coach gets the yellow or pink copies of a
completed game sheet. You must place the white, completed “master” copy of the game
sheets in “taxes” chute (not the Library book-return chute !!) at Chelsea Town Hall.
26. If you agree to take another referee’s game assignment, let me know. If I don’t know, you
may not get paid for that game.
27. You will get paid in mid-July for the first half of the season, and end of September for
second half. Make sure I have proper postal address for where you want the cheque sent.
Have a great season !
Tim