1. Referee Administration
Area Referee Administrator
John Price
(256)
Gene Uhl
Chet Wright

2. Referee Uniform Proper Referee Jersey (short or long sleeve)
Jersey tucked in
Black shorts
Black socks with three white stripes pulled up
Proper AYSO badge
Dark shoes
Other jersey colors OK (officials must match)

3. Referee Minimum Age Guidelines
Youth Referees
Zero tolerance for harassment
Must have an authoritatively capable adult at game
Referee Minimum Age Guidelines
Division
Ref Age
Asst Ref Age
U10 13 12
U12 15
U14 17
U16
no youth
U19

4. Before the Game Ensure You Report to Check-In Prior to Start of Games
Referees must sign up for games in Sportacus – Don’t just show up at the field
Game Equipment
Fields will have
Balls
Pennies *check-in area
First Aid Kit
Ball Pump *check-in area
Bring your own flags

5. Game Cards Roll call players from roster during player inspection
Players not on roster do not play
Enter player numbers if not on card
Referee (may delegate to ARs) maintains cards during game, fill in game info (score, players sitting, etc.)
Both coaches & all referees should verify game cards and sign
Referee brings game cards to soccer central after game (may delegate to AR or coach)

6. Start & End On Time Start Games on Time
No waiting for teams; forfeit if they don’t have enough to start on time (forfeits must be verified with Tournament Director)
Finish the game on time
Substitution breaks should be 1 minute
Halftime should be 5 minutes

7. Minimum Players
Each team must have the minimum number of players ready to field at game start time and to continue playing
U10 – 5 minimum to play
U12 – 6 minimum to play
U14 and higher – 7 minimum to play

8. Player Equipment Regular rules on player equipment
Should not have duplicate numbers – Report it but let them play
Eye glasses and knee braces (allows movement) are OK
Splints/Casts (immobilizes) are an absolute NO NO
Cold weather, check the rules, jersey must be showing
Referee makes final decision as to what equipment is safe, and therefore allowed

9. Legal Soccer Cleats

10. Illegal Cleats

11. Coaches Positive, Instructional, Encouraging
Two coaches max, listed on roster
Should remain in technical area during game
Should not enter field without referee permission
Respect for opponents, officials and all other volunteers.
If problems, be calm and BE NICE!

12. Spectators No coaching from the spectators
Remain behind the spectator control line, between the penalty areas and not directly behind or near goals
Act positively around players
Respect for opponents, officials and all other volunteers.
Noise-makers, air horns, etc. – Law 5
If having a negative effect on the game, they are outside interference and may be disallowed
If problems, allow coaches to address the issue.
BE NICE!

13. Misconduct Coach Sendoff – Minus 3 Points
Player Sendoff – Minus 2 Point
Player Caution – No Points
Sendoff’s carry over to the State Tournament

14. OT and KFPM Indicated by “2x 5 min OT” and “KFPM” on Sportacus.
Two 5 minute overtime (OT) periods (no golden goal) followed by KFPM if needed
OT: coin toss, kick off, no substitution breaks, kick off after the first “half”, swap sides, etc.
Only players on the field, or are temporarily off the field (injury, adjusting equipment etc.) at the end of OT will be eligible to participate in KFPM
Reduce to equate before and during kicks
Team select kicking order from the eligible players
The referee is not informed of the order

15. OT and KFPM (cont)
Coin toss 1: winner picks goal to use (unless Ref decides to override: ground conditions, safety, etc.)
Coin toss 2: winner chooses first or second kick
The referee keeps a record of the kicks
The kick is completed when the ball stops moving, goes out of play or the referee stops play for any infringement of the Laws

16. OT and KFPM (cont) Kicking team’s keeper AR Referee
Review KFPM in the LOTG , Law 10
Kicking team’s keeper AR
Referee

17. Assignments Self assign games using Sportacus
ARA reserves the right to unassign or reassign as needed
Guidelines
Coaches: Do not officiate your team's division
Do not officiate your child's games
Don’t CR and prefer that you don’t AR your child's division
Don’t CR and prefer that you don’t AR your own region
Don’t referee beyond your experience level
If we get desperate, “don’t” in #3 and #4 may change to “avoid” for games that are not finals and semifinals.
Instruct Club Linemen to ONLY INDICATE IN AND OUT OF PLAY.

18. Assignments (cont)
Use good judgment for assignments as well as on the pitch
Changes in game status, location, time, etc. will be ed and texted to you automatically by Sportacus (if enabled in your profile settings)
The prudent referee will check texts, and Sportacus ( before heading to the field.

19. Sportacus Settings
1. User actions
2. User Profile Page

20. Sportacus Settings
Click here to
edit profile

21. Enter password
if you make a change
Change or text
notify settings

22. Tournament Safety Injury or Incident Requirements
Injury / Incident Report Completed and Turned into Tournament/Venue HQ
Blank AYSO Incident Form at Tournament/Venue HQ
If Player is Hurt and You Think They Need Medical Attention Don’t Hesitate To Call 911
After Taking Care of Emergency
Notify Tournament/Venue HQ and/or the Tournament Director

23. Law Changes No Heading U10-U12
Match can’t start or continue without minimum players
Player can be beckoned on without stoppage for equipment correction or minor injury – does not apply if player was substituted (U10-U14)
Referee decisions stand once referee leaves field for halftime or end of game
If several offenses occur at the same time, the most serious offense is punished – no drop ball

24. Law Changes (cont) Advantage signal can be one or two arms
Kick-off can go in any direction
Ball must “clearly move” (in the opinion of the referee) on restarts
Drop ball must touch two players before goal
Offside:
Half line is neutral
Arms not considered
IFK where offense occurred (i.e. touched ball, interfered, involved), not position at time of judgement

25. Law Changes (cont) Fouls
If an offense involves contact it is always a DFK
An offense against someone who is not an opponent is now a DFK (teammate, substitute, team official, referee)
Fouls off the field as the part of normal play will now be restarted with a DFK or PK on the boundary line closest to the offense
Some DOGSO in the penalty area are now punished by a caution and not send off (read LOTG for details)

26. Law Changes (cont) Penalty Kick changes – Read LOTG Law 14
Some offenses are ALWAYS an IFK regardless if a goal is scored
Wrong player takes PK, plus a caution to player who took kick
Ball kicked backwards
Illegal Feinting plus caution to player
If the Goalkeeper infringes and the PK is missed/retaken, the keeper will receive a caution

27. Law Changes (cont)
Throw in: Must be thrown in with both hands, not one hand throwing and one guiding.
An opponent who unfairly distracts or impedes the thrower, including moving closer than 2 yards is cautioned for Unsporting Behavior and if the throw in has been taken an IFK is awarded.
Goal Kick: If an opponent who is in the penalty area when the goal kick is taken touches or challenges for the ball before it has touched another player, the goal kick is retaken.

28. Referee Reminders Fun, Fair, Safe Avoid trifling stoppages
What you don’t call you encourage
Referee has the whistle, don’t argue
No coaching from the spectators
Area staff will not overrule the referee
Alabama Code - Section 13A
Harassment of a sports official is a Class B misdemeanor
Enjoy meeting referees from other regions

29. Additional Information
U16 & U19
Additional Information

30. 4th Official Fill Out Monitored Substitution Form
Control coaches (keep in Technical Area)
Back Up Referee on Book and Time
If member of Referee crew is injured, AR or CR as needed – Establish order before game
Oversee Correct Substitution Procedure
Follow additional instructions given by Referee
May not have a 4th Official

31. FIFA Substitution Law Either team may request to sub at ANY stoppage
Sub is allowed prior to a PK, but the substitute cannot take the kick or replace the goalkeeper
Procedure:
The substitute(s) must line-up at the halfway line
At the next stoppage, a substitution can be requested
The Referee determines if the substitution will be allowed
The players being replaced leave the field
The subs wait to be beckoned on the field by the Referee

32. Substitution Advice
Understand the “Player” vs. “Substitute” Distinction
Substitute becomes a Player when beckoned, and the Player becomes the Substitute
Wait for the Player to pass opponents before beckoning
Critical for Misconduct Issues
AR1 & 4th Official Assists with Counting Players
Review Law 3, The Players

33. Advice to Referees Use Time Monitor Worksheets
Coaches pick up from check-in area prior to the match
Only Tournament issued is allowed.
Center Referees are Responsible for the Time Monitor
Locate the Time Monitor (4th Official or coach-provided) before the match starts
Check at Half Time for Playing Time
Avoid Unnecessary Delays in the Substitution Process
Defer to the next opportunity if the sub is not at the halfway line
Defer to the next opportunity if there’s a quick restart or the ball is about to be put into play
Take Appropriate action for Time-Wasting