1. Management U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program
Online Training Script:
Welcome to U.S. Soccer’s online training for the Grade 7 Referee Course.
Training for this course is specific to preparing officials for the amateur adult game.
This presentation focuses on management.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:
U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program
Grade 7 Referee Course
Amateur Adult Training

2. Environment Players Experienced Multicultural Physically mature
Competitions
Competitive
Challenging
“Abuse” of referee more common/intense
Online Training Script:
Soccer at the amateur adult level can be a melting pot of cultures and influences that create a unique environment for officials.
Players are often the same age or older than the referee team and they bring a diverse collection of experiences and backgrounds onto the field of play.
Matches can be very competitive and can involve unique social dynamics that will test the entire referee team.
Because of this, the referee’s ability to effectively manage the players and game will be critical to successfully officiating in this environment.
And, although unfortunate and unacceptable, referees that cannot effectively manage the game may find themselves the target of abuse or assault.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

3. RefereeAbilities and Skills
Confident
Composed
Personality
Embrace the need to manage
Game control
Game flow
Know the Laws of the Game
Work with referee team
Online Training Script:
In order to succeed in the amateur adult game, the referee must have certain abilities and skills.
In particular, referees must have a strong personality, be composed under pressure and embrace their role as a player and game manager.
This means that referees will need to strike a balance between game flow and game control.
Game control refers to the stoppages the referee makes to enforce the Laws of the Game.
Game flow refers to the game’s tempo or pace.
The fewer stoppages, the more free flowing the game is, while more stoppages usually result in reduced game flow.
They will also need to deal with gamesmanship and potential criticism from the players.
Knowing the Laws of the Game is critical, in part so referees know when they can be flexible or not when managing the match.
And finally, working with the entire referee team and having a well defined strategy for the game is essential.
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4. Tool Box Online Training Script:
In addition to the skills and abilities needed for success, the referee must be able to execute on these principles through decisions and actions.
To accomplish this, U.S. Soccer recommends that referees develop and utilize a tool box.
The referee’s tool box is simply a collection of strategies used to manage any variety of scenarios encountered during the game.
There is no exact list of these approaches and a referee’s tool box will develop and improve over time as they gain more experience.
The objective of the referee’s tool box is to maintain game flow without compromising game control.
That begin said, in preparation for the amateur adult game, referees should consider the following.
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5. Tool Box Laws of the Game Correct interpretation and application
Required action
Practical approach to refereeing
Online Training Script:
The referee must be able to correctly interpret and apply the Laws of the Game.
This ability is essential so that referees can differentiate between situations where they must take action and those that allow for a more flexible or practical approach.
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6. Tool Box Communication Verbal and non verbal Body language
Eyes and facial expression
Stance and proximity
Gestures
Whistle
Cards
Online Training Script:
Communicating with players should be another tool that referees use.
This is accomplished in a variety of ways that include verbal and non verbal approaches.
When talking with players, referees should be mindful of how their volume or tone can send different messages.
They should also consider how close they are in proximity to the player when interacting with them.
There are also times where words are not needed and the referee’s body language can send a more effective message.
This can include a variety of facial expressions and physical gestures.
Referees can also communicate a great deal by varying the use of their whistle and by issuing cards for misconduct.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

7. Tool Box Trifling Game control Foul selection Careless or misconduct
Advantage - Game flow
Proactive approach
Online Training Script:
The referee must also gauge and decide on how often the game needs to be stopped.
This refers to game control, but it’s really the referee’s approach to exerting game control that dictates overall game flow.
The first element in game control is foul recognition and selection.
The referee must decide what fouls are careless and which involve misconduct.
In addition, the referee must decide if the careless foul is also trifling.
A trifling foul is one that has little or no impact on play.
As a result, referees must be able to differentiate between the different types of fouls to effectively apply advantage.
Applying advantage at this level is important because it promotes game flow while meeting the expectations of the players involved.
In addition, the referee can be proactive in dealing with situations during existing stoppages in play to prevent future problems or delays.
These types of situations can include when players are jostling for position during free kicks, wasting time, displaying signs of frustration toward the opposition or dissenting toward the referee team.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

8. Tool Box Consistency Expected by players Similar situations
Same outcome for both teams
Regardless of variables
Online Training Script:
Players at the amateur adult level will expect referees to be consistent.
This simply means that players will expect that similar situations are dealt with the same for both teams.
Referees should also consider consistency as it relates to what is allowed earlier in the game versus later in the match.
Sometimes game control dictates that a referee call a game more tightly later on in the match or after certain incidents transpire.
What matters most is that the match is being called consistently for both teams even though the types of fouls being whistled for may have changed.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

9. Tool Box Proactive and preventive Relatable Respectful Firm but fair
Work with team captains
Online Training Script:
It is important that referees remember that the game is for the players.
With this in mind, proactive and preventive officiating can be paramount in giving the players and the game what is needed.
Referees must be able to relate to players and coaches and this starts by being professional and respectful.
Treating others with courtesy, avoiding debates and arguments, showing compassion, and being firm but fair are just some of the core behaviors that referees should adopt.
Working with team captains is one approach referees can use when looking to proactively manage problems while building and strengthening player relations.
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10. Management
Objective
Maintain game flow without compromising game control
Overview
Tool box
Decisions
Clear, effective, immediate
Experience is the best teacher
Online Training Script:
Remember that the overall objective of management is to maintain game flow without compromising game control.
To accomplish this, referees working the amateur adult game must use their tool box.
Decisions need to be effective and communicated clearly without hesitation.
Despite best efforts and preparation, mistakes are always a possibility so being perfect is not realistic.
With this in mind, the referee team should exert maximum effort and concentrate on officiating the game fairly.
Lastly, experience can be the best teacher, so working amateur adult games is needed in order to develop and improve these skills and abilities.
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11. Review Question
Can a strong personality help officials effectively manage games at the amateur adult level?
Yes No
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12. Review Question
Is a comprehensive understanding of how to interpret and apply the Laws of the Game needed to be a successful referee at this level?
Yes No
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13. Review Question What is the overall objective of management?
Maintain game flow
Maintain game control
Maintain game flow without compromising game control
Issuing as many cards as possible for misconduct
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14. Review Question
What should referees use to effectively communicate with players?
Verbal and non-verbal language
Whistle
Cards
All of the above
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15. Review Question
Does game control refer to stopping play to punish offenses under the Laws of the Game?
Yes No
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16. Review Question What does the term game flow mean?
The tempo or pace of the game
How many times the referee has stopped the game to enforce the Laws of the Game
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17. Review Question
Should referees working the amateur adult game develop a tool box to assist with managing games at this level?
Yes No
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