Basic Referee Course

1. Basic Referee Course • Regional Referee Badge • Required for U9 and above • No Prerequisites • Requirements: • Register for course • Attend course • Sign roster • Pass test • Signed volunteer application • Field clinic (recommended)

2. —Agenda — Basic Referee Course • *** Opening Remarks(Introductions & Housekeeping) (15 min.) *** • Module 1 Safe Haven Certification (45 min.) [video] • Module 2 The Game of Soccer (15 min.) • Module 3 Pre-game Preparation (15 min.) [video] • Module 4 Starting the Game (15 min.) • Module 5 Stopping Play (15 min.) • Module 6 Restarting Play (90 min.) [video][field][class] • *** Lunch Served (30 min.) *** • Module 7 Fouls (45 min.) [video] • Module 8 Misconduct (15 min.) • Module 9 Offside (45 min.) (Will use The Soccer Tutor) • Module 10 Referee and Assistant Referee Mechanics (30 min.) • Module 11 Post Game (10 min.) [video] • *** Break (5 min. *** • Module 12 Understanding the AYSO Game (25 min.) • *** Basic Referee Test and Review (30 min.) *** • Field Positioning Clinic (30 min.) [field]

3. Basic Referee Course Intro

4. Introduction—Why Are You Here? Top 5 Reasons: • I need the money • My spouse signed me up • If I don’t do it my kids can’t play • I need the service credits (youth referees) • Because I want to: • Help kids have a positive sports experience, and • Increase my own self esteem and self confidence. Whatever your reason for being here— Why not make it an enjoyable learning experience?

5. Safe Haven Certification(Referee) Module 1

6. About AYSO • A volunteer run soccer organization • Over 650,000 players • Over 200,000 volunteers • About 60 paid staff • Organized into about 15 Sections, 50 Areas and 1000 Local Regions • Founded in 1964 • National office located in Hawthorne, CA

7. What is Safe Haven? • A program developed by AYSO to help our volunteers protect both • The kids in our program • And, ourselves • Safe Haven Includes: Rules & Regulations, Polices & Procedures, Job Descriptions, Certification, Training and Background Checks. • Certification: Child-specific Safe Haven courses. • Training: Discipline-specific courses e.g. coach, referee and management training. • Background Checks: conducted by National.

8. AYSO Philosophy • Everyone Plays • Our program goal is for kids to play soccer — so we mandate that every player on every team must play at least half of every game • Balanced Teams • Each year we form new teams as evenly balanced as possible — because it is fair and more fun when teams of equal ability play. • Open Registration • Our program is open to all children between 4 and 19 years of age who want to register and play soccer. Interest and enthusiasm are the only criteria for playing. • Positive Coaching • Encouragement of player effort provides for greater enjoyment by the players and ultimately leads to better-skilled and better-motivated players. • Good Sportsmanship • We strive to create a positive environment based on mutual respect rather than a win-at-all-costs attitude, and our program is designed to instill good sportsmanship in every facet of AYSO.

9. Volunteer Responsibilities& Legal Protections • Submit a volunteer application form and agree to follow AYSO job descriptions, policies, procedures and guidelines. • Volunteers are also required to: • Complete Safe Haven Certification • Be properly trained • Be authorized to do their job • Good Samaritan Laws • Volunteer Protection Act of 1997

10. Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs • Volunteers are role models. • AYSO National Rules & Regulations prohibit use. • Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 does not provide protection for criminal acts.

11. Supervision Policies • Recommended supervision ratios: • One adult per 8 or fewer children (1:8) • At least 2 adults present at all times. • At least 1 adult of the same gender. • Volunteers should never be alone with children.

12. Types of Abuse Widely Recognized • Emotional • Physical • Sexual Newly Recognized • Neglect • Ethical

13. Prevent False Accusations • Avoid being alone with a child. • Stay within sight of others. • Respect privacy. • Hug only from the side. • Avoid sexual jokes, comments or gestures. • Do not use corporal punishment. • Set and respect boundaries.

14. AYSO Touching Policy • Some forms of touching are acceptable. • In response to child’s not adult’s needs. • Touch only with child’s permission. • Resistance must be respected. • Avoid private areas. • Never touch a child in private. • Touching must be brief in duration. • Factors change with age and gender.

15. Blood-Borne Diseases • Possibility of contracting a blood-borne disease is minimal. • Precautions must be taken. • AYSO guidelines are clear. • Cannot play if bleeding • Must properly cover wounds • Must disinfect clothing

16. Risk Management • Volunteers must act to avoid risk. • Consider environmental conditions • Repair or avoid physical surroundings • Act to prevent injury

17. REVIEW AYSO Team Concept • The “Team” must work together to protect the kids and to provide them with a proper environment for development. • A team is only as strong as its weakest link.

18. Making a Safe Haven • If you: • Learn your job • Follow the rules & regulations • Report and follow up on problems • Use common sense • You will create a Safe Haven for yourself and for our children.

19. Conclusion — Part I This Concludes Part I of Safe Haven Certification —————— Please Complete the Safe Haven Certification Test

20. The Game of Soccer Module 2

21. Welcome to the Game of Soccer • Soccer is a game played by two opposing teams, in two halves of equal time, with a spherical ball, on a rectangular field with a goal at each end. • The object of the game is to get the ball entirely over your opponents’ goal line and inside their goal, without using your hands or arms. • After the kick-off, play is continuous until: • The ball entirely leaves the field, or • The referee blows the whistle. • Play is restarted fairly based on why it stopped. • The referee’s job is to keep the game —SAFE, FAIR and FUN for everyone.

22. History of the Game • Known as “Association Football” • Historical Roots — Kicking an “object” from one goal to another goal. • Modern Game — LOTG written in 1863 at a meeting in Fleet Street, London. • FIFA was created in Paris in 1904 and moved to Zurich in 1974. • AYSO complies with FIFA Laws.

23. Spirit of the Game • Over-riding philosophy — “Spirit of Fair Play” • If ball leaves the field, the other team gets to restart(throw-in, goal kick or corner kick). • For infringements of the Law opponents receive a free kick(DFK, IFK or PK). • In the extreme, but only if necessary a cautionor send-off. • Game should be FAIR, FUN and SAFE. • Referee has full authority to enforce the LOTG • Stop, suspend, or terminate, at his/her discretion. • Referee’s degree of discretion is fundamental and unique. • Game is meant to flow continuously • Played with as little interference as possible, • Stops only if ball completely leaves the field, or • Referee blows the whistle

24. Spirit of the Game(Rules & Regs) National Rules & Regulations • “The Laws of the Game are intended to provide that games should be played with as little interference as possible, and in this view it is the duty of the referee to penalize only deliberate breaches of the Law”. • “Constant whistling for trifling and doubtful breaches produces bad feelings and loss of temper on the part of the players and spoils the pleasure of spectators”.

25. Philosophy of Refereeing • Be a friendly “aunt or uncle” not a policeman. • Maintain a fun learning environment. • Know, understand and apply the rules. —Use common sense— • You must see an infraction to punish it. • The need to caution or send-off a young player is extremely rare and can usually be avoided.

26. Small-sided Play • Smaller fields mean more games. • More touches on the ball. • Faster skill development. • Must check local rules • Number of players • Field sizes and markings • Special rules

27. Dealing with Young Players • U-6/8 Program — A taste of the game Positive sports experience – Teamwork – Basic skills • U-6 — Early stages of development Exciting new experience – Just another way to play Can’t sit still – Love praise & attention – Love stories • U-8—Increased coordination & strength Show both enthusiasm & frustration More competitive, sometimes overwhelmed Solve problems – Balance on one foot – Self concept • Positive Coaching is EssentialPositive – Instructional – Encouraging

28. Age Specific Issues • U-6 Very simple rules — just fun • U-8 Simple rules — start learning game • U-10 The whole game — control parents • U-12 Skills better — parents better • U-14 Hormones kick in — control is key • U-16 Better be in shape — fouls galore • U-19 A little easier — if you can keep up

29. Review • Soccer is a game with a long & interesting history. • Underlying “Spirit of the Game” is Fairness. • AYSO is based on five key philosophies. • We want a SAFE, FAIR and FUN environment. • No Tobacco or Alcohol permitted. • “AYSO Team” must work together for the kids. • Referee should be a “Friendly Authority.” • Referee must understand and adjust to age differences.

30. Confirmation • What are the 3 elements of positive coaching? • A coach may smoke if the players cannot see it? • If a member of the AYSO Team does not support the team who gets hurt? • In which city were the LOTG first written? • The main focus of the “Spirit of the Game” is? • Should referees act like Dirty Harry or Mr. Rogers? • A young player who misbehaves must be publicly disciplined as an example?

31. Wrap-up • Each game is a learning opportunity for the players, coaches, parents and referees. Take advantage of it. …... Applause

32. Pre-game Preparation Module 3

33. Referee Pre-game Checklist Arrive: ¼-½ hour early, properly dressed, warm-up, smile, be prepared to have FUN. Bring: Uniform, badge, coin, whistle, flags, Law book, Nat’l. Rules & Regs, watch, pencil, pad, shoes. Referees: Shake hands, review responsibilities. Coaches: Shake hands, get game cards, #subs. (AYSO Team) Field: Check goal posts, nets, holes, water, mud, debris, sprinkler heads, lines, coaches’ area, corner flags. Players: Check for: safe shoes, shinguards, socks, jewelry, uniform colors, goalkeeper colors, hats, shoes tied properly, shirts tucked in. Ball: Obtain and inspect the game ball. Start: Conduct coin toss.

34. Field Issues • AYSO fields may not be perfect. • goal posts, nets, corner flags, lines, coaches’ area, • holes, water, mud, debris, sprinkler heads. • Use common sense • play the game if it’s safe. • The coaches’ area is an important aid in reducing sideline problems. • Coaches’ Area exists even if not marked • Mark one if necessary (use cones or bags)

35. Ball Issues • The referee is responsible for securing and approving a safe ball for the match • Must not be either too hard or too soft. • Regional policies concerning the game ball vary.* • Several options, including getting the best ball available from the home team or retrieving a game ball from a specified location, are listed on page 20 of the Ready, Set, Ref! workbook.

36. Ball Check List • Size – see lineup card or AYSO LOTG. • Condition – smooth, no loose panels, most colors are okay. • Pressure – depress ¼ inch. • Shape – rotates evenly when tossed. • Backup – may need a backup ball. • It is the referee’s duty to determine whether the ball is proper for the match.

37. Uniform & Safety Issues • Players must have required equipment (shirt, shorts, stockings, shinguards and shoes). • All players on a team, except the goalkeeper, should have the same uniforms. • Teams and goalkeepers must be reasonably distinguishable from each other. • Allowed: Prescription glasses, medical alert bracelets and knee braces, unless they are clearly unsafe. • Not allowed: Jewelry, casts or splints, hats with hard bills. Nothing dangerous is allowed.

38. Confirmation • What do you need to bring to the field? • What would you do if a child says that a soft friendship bracelet cannot be removed? • What would you do if a player is wearing a cast that is wrapped in ½” closed-cell, slow-recovery foam with no hard edges showing?

39. Confirmation • Why play small-sided games? • Why is the coaches’ area required by AYSO? • What is the most important thing to consider when approving a field for play? • Which is worse, a ball that is too hard, or a ball that is too soft?

40. Wrap-up • A referee who comes to the field on time, prepared and with a positive attitude, has a much better chance of enjoying the experience. …... Applause

41. Starting the Game Module 4

42. Coin Toss • Don’t forget to bring a coin! • Visiting team gets to make the call. • Winner chooses which end to attack first. • Loser kicks off to start game. • At the start of the 2nd half • Teams switch ends of the field. • Team that didn’t kick off to start the game, kicks off to start the 2nd half. • Kick off is in the same direction as the 1st half.

43. Players and Substitutes * Check local rules for team sizes and minimum playing times. • In full-sided games each team must have at least 7 and no more than 11 players. • AYSO U-6— 3 v 3 and 5 players per team. * • On the lineup card • Mark any players who are missing or unable to play, and any who later become injured. • Mark substitutes on the lineup card. • Count players on field before the kick-off. • Notify coach if any player is playing less than the minimum playing time.* Report if not corrected.

44. The Kick-off • Ball stationary and all players in their own half. • Receiving players outside the center circle. • Referee checks positions then signals start. (whistle) • Ball must be kicked forward. • Ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward. • If not taken correctly, the kick-off is retaken. • Kicker may not touch the ball again until it touches another player. (IFK awarded to opponents) • A goal can be scored directly from a kick-off.

45. Keeping Time * Check local competition rules • Referee is the official timekeeper. • The game is played in two halves of equal time.—See times on the lineup card. • Time runs continuously except for substitutions and half-time.* • Referee allows substitutions approximately midway through each half. —Usually play is already stopped. • Referee may add time lost by excessive time wasting, injuries, or unavoidable occurrences.*

46. Confirmation • Who kicks off to start the game? • Are substitutes players? • Can a goal be scored directly from a kick-off? • When is the clock stopped? • When is the game over?

47. Wrap-up • The best way to start a game is— On time ! …... Applause

48. Stopping Play Module 5

49. Ball In/Out of Play Restarts are covered later • Lines are part of the areas they enclose. • Touch lines and goal lines are part of the field. (Boundary lines) • Ball is out of play when it wholly crosses a touch line or a goal line, on the ground or in the air. • Only D is out of play. • The ball’s position determines whether it is in or out of play, not the player’s position.

50. Goal Scored • Goal lines are part of the field. • The ball’s position determines if it is a goal, not the goalkeeper’s position. • A goal is scored when the ball wholly crosses the goal line, on the ground or in the air, under the crossbar and between the goalposts. • Only D is a goal.