Keys to Success for a Center Referee

1. Keys to Success for a Center Referee

2. What We’ll Cover • The Night Before Your Match – Prepare to Succeed • Countdown to Kickoff – Timing is Everything • Your #1 Job – Player Safety • Starting the Match • The Top 5 Complaints From Coaches • Your Position – Key to Making the Right Call • After the Final Whistle

3. The Night Before Your Match – Prepare to Succeed • Lay Out Your Uniform & Equipment • Jersey, Shorts, Socks, Shoes, Watch, Badge, Whistle, 2 Pens, 2 Coins, Game Wallet with Filled Out Game Sheet, Pre-Game Timing Cheat Sheet • Review • Law Book and Modifications for Your Game, Length of Each Half, Number of Players, Ball Size, Field Location and Time of Game

4. Countdown to Kickoff – Timing is Everything • 30 min – arrive at field, stow bag behind a goal, inspect field especially goal anchors, check goal wheels to make sure the front wheels are pushed back, check corner flags • 20 min – greet coaches, get game card from home coach and have visiting coach enter their roster and sign, start player inspections when all of 1 team is present; for U9-12 house matches, meet with field marshal and have field marshal sign game card • 5 min – coin toss & get 3 game balls from home coach • 1 min – whistle out teams, count players (8 for U9-11, 11 for all else) • 0 min – start watch, check that watch is actually started, point direction and blow whistle (hard)

5. Your #1 Job – Player Safety • Before the Match Ensure Goals Are Anchored • Check Before Every Match, Not Just the 1st One • Sprint to All Injured Players • If the Injury Is Serious Call the Coach on Immediately • If Not, Ask the Player if They Want to Go Off • Call the Coach on if They Do Want to Leave • Do Not Touch the Player

6. Your #1 Job – Player Safety • Checking In the Players • There Are No Player Passes for U9-14 House • No Jewelry: Only 2 Exceptions – Medic Alert & Religious • Medic Alert Should Be Taped, but Leave Logo Uncovered. • Religious Jewelry Should Be Taped • Socks Must Completely Cover Shin Guards • No Baseball or Football Cleats • No Hard Plastic or Metal Hair Clips • No Sunglasses Unless Prescription • No Hard Billed Caps for the Keeper, No Caps for Field Players • Keepers in Different Colored Shirts from Either Team

7. Starting the Match • Count the Players • Keepers in Position • Make Sure Your Watch is Set for the Correct Duration of the Half • Start Your Watch • Look to Make Sure It’s Running • Point Direction and Blow Whistle Hard

8. The Top 5 Complaints From Coaches • Not Calling Fouls • Weak Whistle • Not Calling Offside • Not Enforcing Distance on Goal Kicks and Free Kicks (6 yards for U9-10) • Not Signaling Direction on Throw-ins and Fouls

9. Your Position – Key to Making the Right Call • Behind and Left – So You Can See the Ball, the Goal & Your AR • 10 Yard Rubber Band – Close Enough to Make the Correct Call, Far Enough to Not Interfere with Play • If the Ball Is Moving, You Should Be Moving • Exceptions to Behind and Left • Get in the Landing Zone on Free Kicks • Stay on the Field

10. After the Final Whistle • Exhale! You Did It! • Wait to Shake Hands with the Players & Coaches • Complete Game Card and give to Winning Coach (Home Coach if Match Ended in a Tie) • If Your Mentor or Another Senior Referee Was Watching Your Match Get Their Feedback • Think of 2 Things You Want to Do Better Next Time • At Home, Save Your Game Sheet in Case the Coaches Disagree on the Final Score

11. What We Covered – Any Questions? • The Night Before Your Match – Prepare to Succeed • Countdown to Kickoff – Timing is Everything • Your #1 Job – Player Safety • Starting the Match • The Top 5 Complaints From Coaches • Your Position – Key to Making the Right Call • After the Final Whistle