1. LAW 4 – THE PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT
Online Training Script:
Welcome to U.S. Soccer’s online training for the Grade 9 Referee Course.
Training for this course is specific to preparing officials for the small-sided and recreational youth game.
This presentation focuses on Law 4 – The Players’ Equipment.
U.S. SOCCER FEDERATION REFEREE PROGRAM GRADE 9 REFEREE COURSE
SMALL-SIDED AND RECREATIONAL YOUTH TRAINING

2. COMPULSORY (Required) EQUIPMENT
Shirt with sleeves
Shorts
Socks
Shin guards
Footwear
Online Training Script:
There are 5 pieces of players’ equipment that the referee should check for. These are:
Shirts and Shorts – A Player must wear shorts and a shirt that is the same color as their teammates.
Shin guards – Each player must wear Shin Guards that must be made of a suitable material and provide a reasonable amount of protection.
Socks – The socks must completely cover the shin guards.
Footwear – The Footwear must be considered safe.
Each goalkeeper must wear the require equipment but wear colors that are distinguishable from the other players and the match officials.
The two teams must wear colors that distinguish them from each other and the match officials.
Referees should check the local rules of competition for any other specific uniform requirements.
If small-sided and recreational youth players are wearing additional clothing or equipment, referees should make sure its safe for play and be lenient if the colors don’t match the rest of the uniform.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

3. PLAYER CHECK-IN & SAFE EQUIPMENT
Online Training Script:
The referee is responsible for checking-in the players and making sure the equipment worn is safe for themselves and their opponents.
If during check-in, an official finds a player whose equipment does not meet the requirements of safety, the player must correct the problem before he or she can play in the game.
If during the game, the referee notices a player with unsafe equipment, the referee should tell the player to fix or remove the equipment.
If the player has not fixed or removed the unsafe equipment by the next stoppage, the referee should order the player to leave the field to correct the issue.
A player that has been ordered from the field because of illegal equipment cannot return until the correction has been checked and confirmed by either the referee or an assistant referee.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:
PLAYER CHECK-IN & SAFE EQUIPMENT

4. PLAYER SAFETY Online Training Script:
Safety should be the top priority for referees at all levels so players can not use equipment or wear anything that is considered dangerous to that player or any other player.
This includes any kind of jewelry or any other item the referee deems unsafe.
The only potential jewelry exception would be for items that are medical in nature, but even they must be deemed safe for play by the referee.
An example would be a medical alert bracelet, which could be taped to the player’s wrist leaving just the emblem exposed, or a medical alert necklace taped to the inside of the player’s uniform.
It is common to inspect equipment while checking player passes against a team’s roster.
Referees should check the local rules of competition regarding player equipment and safety.
When such rules exist, they must be enforced by the referee.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:
PLAYER SAFETY

5. CASTS Online Training Script:
There is nothing in the Laws of the Game that specifically prevents a player from playing with a cast so long as it is deemed safe by the referee, and it is not prohibited by the local rules of competition.
Typically, casts are wrapped with a soft material to be made safe and players are informed not to use the cast in an dangerous manner.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:
CASTS

6. REVIEW QUESTIONS Online Training Script:
Please answer the following review questions to complete the online training. All questions must be answered correctly for the completion criteria to be met for this presentation. Additional instructions and information will be provided after the review questions so please carefully read and listen to the conclusion screen.
REVIEW QUESTIONS

7. REVIEW QUESTIONS
Which of the following are required pieces of equipment that all players must wear?
Shoes
Shin guards and socks
Shorts and a shirt with sleeves
All of the above
Online Training Script:
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

8. REVIEW QUESTIONS
Are goalkeepers required to wear the same equipment (shirt & shorts, shin-guards & socks, and footwear) as other players?
YES NO
Online Training Script:
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

9. REVIEW QUESTIONS
Are goalkeepers required to have a different color shirt/jersey from the rest of their teammates?
YES NO
Online Training Script:
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

10. REVIEW QUESTIONS
Are players allowed to wear earrings so long as they are completely taped over?
YES NO
Online Training Script:
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

11. REVIEW QUESTIONS
Who is responsible for ensuring that the players’ equipment is safe for play?
Referee
Both team captains
Online Training Script:
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

12. USSOCCER.COM Online Training Script:
Before closing the presentation, please make sure that the completion criteria prompt at the top of the page has turned from red to green.
If the prompt has turned green, you can click it to download or print the certificate of completion if required by your state referee association. Please note the option to print depends on your web browser and the certificate can appear as a pop-up depending on your filters.
If the prompt is still red, it means that you have either not viewed all of the slides or you have incorrectly answered review questions. Please remember that you are required to answer each review question correctly in order to complete the presentation. If you answered any question incorrectly, you will need to exit this presentation and start over by reopening the presentation on the Course Modules page at USSoccer.com.
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To continue learning in this course, simply close this window and select the next presentation.