Recreational Referee Classroom Field Training

2 RECREATIONAL REFEREE You may be: Referee or Assistant Referee, on Under-14 or younger, recreational games You may be: Assistant Referee on Under 14 Competitive games RECREATIONAL YOUTH REFEREE

3 UPGRADE PATH Grade 8: 8-hour class + approximately 3 hours online study. Recommended one season as Grade 9. Grade 7: Age 17, officiate 100 games, advanced training class, physical, field assessment on U-19. And then on to…. ….Grade 1 and the World Cup! RECREATIONAL YOUTH REFEREE

4 You're In Charge Now The Referee, The Assistant Referees The Diagonal System of Control Professional Considerations Field Session - Practice Fouls, Free kicks, Penalty kicks Offside Game Mechanics (positioning), Signals, Whistling Handling Coaches and Parents Wrap It Up Course Review, Final Exam RECREATIONAL YOUTH REFEREE

5 Georgia Soccer Youth Modifications Do you remember when, in the videos online, they said: “Know the local rules of competition?” Well, here they are. Follow along in the Georgia Handbook for Referees

6 THE FIELD OF PLAY Small-sided Games for Under-6 & 8 Halfway Line Center Circle Touchline 3 yds 6 yds Goal Area (optional) 6 feet 4 feet 15 – 20 yds yds UNDER-6 UNDER-8 Goal Line Goal line Safety: Goals must be anchored securely to the ground. Portable goals may only be used if they satisfy this requirement. 12 feet 6 feet 1 yd Lines are 5 inches wide 25 – 35 yds 20 – 30 yds 3 yds 12 yds Goal Area (optional)

7 Goal Line THE FIELD OF PLAY Small-sided Games for Under-10 & 12 Halfway Line Center Circle Touchline 10 yds Goal Line Goal Area Penalty Area UNDER-12 Goal line Goal Line 26 yds 10 yds 8 yds 40 – 60 yds.. 8yds Safety: Goals must be anchored securely to the ground. Portable goals may only be used if they satisfy this requirement. 45 – 60 yds 35 – 45 yds 1 yd 18 feet 6 feet 18 feet 6 feet 1 yd Under yds Goal Area Penalty Area 60 – 100 yds Lines are 5 inches wide 10 yds 14 yds 18 yds 6 yds 30 yds 5 ft. 18 yds 6 yds

8 Spherical Not dangerous Ages: U6 & 8 U10 & 12 U14 & up Size:345 Weight: “Palm test” (Law: 14 – 16 ounces, At start of game) Pressure: “Thumb test” (Law: psi) Change only when authorized by referee. Size 5 Ball THE BALL

9 Not more than 11 players on a team, one of whom must be the goalkeeper Under 6: 3 players on the field per team There are NO goalkeepers Under 8: 4 players on the field per team There are NO goalkeepers Under 10: 6 players on the field per team one of whom is the goalkeeper Under 12: 8 players on the field per team one of whom is the goalkeeper THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS

10 SUBSTITUTIONS Georgia Soccer - Youth Recreation U-10 and older and ALL Select including Academy: Throw-inBy team in possession Goal kick Kick off (after goal) Half time Injury stoppage Caution By either team

11 SUBSTITUTIONS U-4 – U-8 (Georgia Soccer - Youth): At the quarter, unlimited substitution (bench must empty except for injured players, discipline). At any stoppage, one player for exhaustion or coaching * For injured player * * Opposing team may substitute a like number

12 PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT

13 PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT All Players Nothing that is dangerous to him/herself or to another player (jewelry) No casts Uniforms must distinguish teams Goalkeepers’ jerseys must be different from both teammates’ and opposing players’ Under 10 and younger Tennis shoes or soft-cleat soccer shoes.

14 DURATION OF THE MATCH Under-6Under-8Under-10Under-12Under-14 8-min12-min 30-min30-min35-min Quarters QuartersHalves Halves Halves 2-minute break between quarters 1-2, min half-time break (U-8 down) 10-min half-time break (U-10 up)

15 START OF PLAY Under:6810&up Kick-off Opponents3 yds6 yds10 yds

16 THROW-IN Field of Play U-8 and Younger: Explain what they did wrong. Let them try again. If fail 2 nd throw – penalize U-10 and older: Laws of the Game

17 GOAL KICK U-6 & U-8 If no goal area,the goal kick should be taken within 3 yards of the goal line anywhere across the width of the field of play at the nearest point from where the ball was retrieved. Opposing players must be three (3) yards for U- 6 and six (6) yards for U-8 away from the ball until it is in play.

18 FOULS and MISCONDUCT U-6 & U-8 Conform to LOTG with the exception that all fouls shall result in an indirect free kick. The referee/coach/parent must explain ALL infringements to the offending player. U-10 and up Conform to LOTG

19 U-6: opponents at least 3 yards from the ball until it is in play U-8: opponents at least 6 yards from the ball until it is in play U-10 & up: opponents at least 10 yards from the ball until it is in play FREE KICKS

20 PENALTY KICK U-6 & U-8 There is no Penalty Kick U-10 The penalty mark is made 8 yards from the goal line U-12 The penalty mark is made 10 yards from the goal line

21 U-6 & 8 There is NO Offside OFFSIDE

22 QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? ONLINE STUDY

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Field Exercise What you are going to do

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Most of your time is spent in these two channels 26

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Recreational Referee Being a Referee or Assistant Referee

32 Referee Assistant Referee Diagonal System of Control Uniform & Equipment BEING A SOCCER OFFICIAL

Misconduct Reports Georgia Soccer – Youth Online Reporting of Misconduct and Game Incidents New system – still being worked on Go to and log in. One of two likely scenarios: There will be a link to click on to take you to the misconduct report form There will be a Message at the top of the screen. Open the document and Ctrl-click on the web address or copy and paste it into your web browser Must be completed within 48 hours of game end

NEW PROCEDURE Misconduct Reports Now Online for Georgia Soccer – Youth Go online at

36 Referee Uniform Gold Shirt, black pin stripes Black Collar Black Cuffs on long sleeve shirt Black Shorts Black Socks, 3 white stripes or USSF logo Black Shoes, black laces, white manufacturer logo USSF Badge with current grade & year

37 Referee Uniform Alternate Shirts: Black Shirt, white pin stripes Red Shirt, black pin stripes Blue Shirt, black pin stripes Green Shirt, black pin stripes Black collar Black Cuffs on long sleeve shirt

38 Referee Equipment Essential Equipment: Two whistles Two watches Game record forms Two pencils or pens Red & Yellow cards Assistant Referees’ flags Flipping coin

39 Referee Equipment Optional Equipment: Water Air pump and needles Air pressure gauge Tape for measuring ball Pre-game checklist Extra shoes / laces Shoe polish or cleaner Sun block Waterproof enclosure for forms

40 Getting Assigned to Games Most referees start at the club where they play. If you don’t know the assignor – Reports – Certified Assignors Can search by zip code, area code Field locator – find a club near you Members – list of clubs with links to web sites On web site, look for a link to Referees.

41 Getting Assigned to Games When you contact an assignor tell them: You are a brand new Grade 9. Personal info – age, address, phone, etc. What level games you want to officiate. Any teams you or a relative are connected to as player, coach, etc. There will be a way for you to tell when you are available

42 Getting Assigned to Games Frequently Asked Questions You are an independent contractor. You can referee anywhere, for any club. Pay rates vary from club to club. It is YOUR responsibility to not accept games you are not allowed to do.

43 Review and Exam