1. U8 Game RefIT Training New Spring 2015 Program

2. John Paladino – Referee Assignor Dave Taylor – Referee Mentor Tammy Ryan – Club Administrator

3. “In house” (SYSA) trained U6, U7, and U8 Referee (Spring 2015) Paid by SYSA to Referee lower level games U6/U7 - $10 per game U8 – $15 per game Still only available to players on SYSA teams It is a JOB with responsibilities – take it serious Keeping the games safe and fun is primary job Still 50% Referee and 50% Teacher even at U8 level

4. Formal certified training via State Referee Program www.vadcsoccerref.com Referee U9 thru U19, ‘house’ and ‘travel’ games once certified as a Referee Grade 8 Classroom and Field Training Most classes offered over the winter, a few in summer, cost is $65 Yearly recertification is required, cost is $65 If you enjoy refereeing U8 level games, certification is for you!!!!

5. There are 2 U8 Fields – 8A and 8B

7. U6/U7 Field Markings All restarts based on out-of bounds or fouls should utilize kick-ins from the touchline (no throw-ins, no direct or indirect kicks, no penalty kicks) Corner kicks to be taken by placing ball directly on corner No flags or cones should be present. Take kick offs from an estimated center spot. Take goal kicks from these goal kick hash marks Players are not permitted in either arc area – enforce this rule early and often in the interest of safety! Take goal kicks from these goal kick hash marks For U6: The pop-up Pugg goals are responsibility of coach to set up All players must be 3-4 yards away on ALL kicks!!! SAFETY --- SAFETY --- SAFETY --- SAFETY --- SAFETY

8. U8 Field Markings Restarts: Kickoff, Goal Kick, Corner Kick, Dropped Ball, Indirect Free Kick Corner kicks to be taken by placing ball within corner arc without altering flag position. Goal Line Touch Line Penalty Area Goal Area Goal Kicks are taken from anywhere within the Goal Area Goalkeepers may use their hands within the Penalty Areas and Goal Areas to collect ball. Penalty Area Goal Area Kickoffs are taken from Center Spot. Opposing players must remain outside Center Circle. Ball must move forward. Center Circle Corner Arc Ensure each goal is anchored with at least 2 sand bags goal For a foul within the Penalty area or within 5 yards of the Penalty area, place ball APPROXIMATELY 5 yards outside the penalty area. 5 yards

9. SYSA U6/U7 Detailed Game Procedures for RefITs Game Format: U6 and U7 levels use a dual game format * Each team forms two sub-teams (split between more aggressive and less aggressive players) and plays two games on adjacent fields * A Center Ref is used for each game with no linesman 4v4 is standard, but if teams are short players, can play 3v3 Pre-Game: Arrive 10-15 minutes early, meet partner ref, decide who takes which field If no partner ref shows, ask coach to ref less aggressive game Establish and agree on game format with coaches (4v4, 3v3) Get coaches to sign your pay sheet Conduct player equipment check in for your team with focus on: * no jewelry (absolutely no earrings, necklaces, or hard barrettes in hair) * medical bracelets are allowed but must be taped to skin * shirts must be tucked in and shin guards totally covered by socks * shoes can be tennis shoes * remind players not to go in the arc, and to stop play if you hear the whistle Conduct pre-game meeting at center field with coaches and Team Sportsmanship Liaison prior to kickoff (remind them of signed Code of Conduct for Spectators) and remind coaches of on-the-fly substitutions with no goalies or defenders Skip coin toss, choose orange to kick off first to make it simple During Game: Start “both” games together and on time with a kickoff from center of field Reminder – your highest priority is the safety of the players!!! Blow whistle at following times: * after legitimate score, point to center circle indicating kickoff * to signal when to kickoff * to stop play to address a foul or to assist injured player * to stop play after quarter expires (approx 2 minute break between quarters) * to stop play if anybody gets hurt or falls and is in danger of getting stepped on Whistle appropriately, harder for fouls, softer for out of bounds, but only if needed Provide directional signals as well as verbal signals for all restarts as follows: * Kick-in – point with 45 degree arm signal in proper direction and verbal assistance with “white kick-in” * Goal kick - point to hash mark and verbal “orange goal kick” * Corner Kick – point with 45 degree arm signal to proper corner say “white corner kick” Ensure ALL players are 3-4 yards away from the ball for ALL restarts Keep an eye on the time so that you stop games at proper times and don’t run over Continue 2 nd and 4 th quarter with kick off for team last in possession Encourage players to retrieve out of bounds balls, you remain on field of play Ref should take ball after scores and place in center spot for kickoff Know the game rules, especially the arc rules, which are unique to this level Post Game: Stand at center circle for team handshake and allow players and coaches to shake your hand Smile and be cordial and friendly to players and coaches Save you pay sheets and send them to Tammy Ryan Reminder: Referees for youth soccer games are 50% referee and 50% teacher of the game so you need to talk to the players to offer on-field instruction as well as referee skills Coaches should remain on the sidelines and not enter the field of play No Score is kept, so no need to mark anything down Pick players for restarts if they ask you or they cannot agree on who takes the restart Keep the game moving at all times For any unruly behavior like fighting or unsporting behavior like loud yelling or foul language, blow your whistle, stop the game, and walk the player over to the coach and inform the coach that the player has been dismissed from the game and needs to remain on the sidelines for the remainder of the game Smile and have fun! Interact with the players! Relax! It’s just a game after all! SYSA U8 Detailed Game Format U8 Game Highlights (differences between U6/U7 and U8) This information is provided to coaches so this is their expectation of rules to be used for the various levels:

10. SYSA U6/U7 Detailed Game Procedures for RefITs Game Format: U6 and U7 levels use a dual game format * Each team forms two sub-teams (split between more aggressive and less aggressive players) and plays two games on adjacent fields * A Center Ref is used for each game with no linesman 4v4 is standard, but if teams are short players, can play 3v3 Pre-Game: Arrive 10-15 minutes early, meet partner ref, decide who takes which field If no partner ref shows, ask coach to ref less aggressive game Establish and agree on game format with coaches (4v4, 3v3) Get coaches to sign your pay sheet Conduct player equipment check in for your team with focus on: * no jewelry (absolutely no earrings, necklaces, or hard barrettes in hair) * medical bracelets are allowed but must be taped to skin * shirts must be tucked in and shin guards totally covered by socks * shoes can be tennis shoes * remind players not to go in the arc, and to stop play if you hear the whistle Conduct pre-game meeting at center field with coaches and Team Sportsmanship Liaison prior to kickoff (remind them of signed Code of Conduct for Spectators) and remind coaches of on-the-fly substitutions with no goalies or defenders Skip coin toss, choose orange to kick off first to make it simple During Game: Start “both” games together and on time with a kickoff from center of field Reminder – your highest priority is the safety of the players!!! Blow whistle at following times: * after legitimate score, point to center circle indicating kickoff * to signal when to kickoff * to stop play to address a foul or to assist injured player * to stop play after quarter expires (approx 2 minute break between quarters) * to stop play if anybody gets hurt or falls and is in danger of getting stepped on Whistle appropriately, harder for fouls, softer for out of bounds, but only if needed Provide directional signals as well as verbal signals for all restarts as follows: * Kick-in – point with 45 degree arm signal in proper direction and verbal assistance with “white kick-in” * Goal kick - point to hash mark and verbal “orange goal kick” * Corner Kick – point with 45 degree arm signal to proper corner say “white corner kick” Ensure ALL players are 3-4 yards away from the ball for ALL restarts Keep an eye on the time so that you stop games at proper times and don’t run over Continue 2 nd and 4 th quarter with kick off for team last in possession Encourage players to retrieve out of bounds balls, you remain on field of play Ref should take ball after scores and place in center spot for kickoff Know the game rules, especially the arc rules, which are unique to this level Post Game: Stand at center circle for team handshake and allow players and coaches to shake your hand Smile and be cordial and friendly to players and coaches Save you pay sheets and send them to Tammy Ryan Reminder: Referees for youth soccer games are 50% referee and 50% teacher of the game so you need to talk to the players to offer on-field instruction as well as referee skills Coaches should remain on the sidelines and not enter the field of play No Score is kept, so no need to mark anything down Pick players for restarts if they ask you or they cannot agree on who takes the restart Keep the game moving at all times For any unruly behavior like fighting or unsporting behavior like loud yelling or foul language, blow your whistle, stop the game, and walk the player over to the coach and inform the coach that the player has been dismissed from the game and needs to remain on the sidelines for the remainder of the game Smile and have fun! Interact with the players! Relax! It’s just a game after all! SYSA U8 Detailed Game Procedures for RefITs U8 Game Highlights (differences between U6/U7 and U8)  7 v 7 with GoalKeepers - if each team has a large number of players, you may allow 8 v 8 if the coaches ask  More formal field markings - Goal area - Penalty Area - Corner Arcs - Center Circle  Formal Substitutions (not on the fly like U6/U7) - Initiated by coach’s verbal request to the ref after a stoppage (“Ref, can I sub now?”) - Be listening for this request from sidelines - Must occur on any stoppage of play such as: Throw In (out of bounds across touchline) Goal Kick (out of bounds across goal-line) Corner Kick (out of bounds across goal-line) Kickoff (after a score) Free Kick (after a foul) Dropped Ball (after play is stopped for injury)  A Center Ref is used for each game with no linesman Do not request club linesman for out of bounds call, you make the call the best you can Tell players to play to the whistle Means you must be willing to use the whistle to get the player’s attention if needed

11. SYSA U8 Detailed Game Procedures for RefITs Pre-Game:  Ensure lines have been refreshed (if not, ask home coach to do so)  Ensure goals are securely anchored with at least 2 sandbags (if not ask home coach to do so)  Ensure corner flags are up (if not, ask home coach to do so)  Continue to skip the Coin Toss at this level - Indicate kickoff by Orange to start 1 st quarter, White to start 2 nd quarter, Orange to start 3 rd quarter, White to start 4 th quarter  Perform equipment check for both teams  Make sure each goalkeeper has a “pinnie” on to identify them is the goalkeeper  The quarters are now 12 minutes long so start your watch and try to keep track of time  Never stop your watch, use a running clock at all times  Get the coaches to sign your paysheet the same as U6 and U7

12. SYSA U8 Detailed Game Procedures for RefITs During the Game:  SEE – Safety / Equality / Enjoyment – these are your primary areas of focus and reason for being there  “Protect” the GoalKeepers - Blow the whistle to stop play if an attacker gets close to a challenging goalkeeper -This is a judgement call in the interest of safety -Try not to let the goalkeeper get wiped out by an attacker -Restart is to hand it to the goalkeeper and let her distribute it without interference  Blow the whistle to stop the game for -Any injured player and check if they are OK, or call the coach if necessary (judgement call) -Any player who falls and is in danger of getting injured -Restart with a dropped ball requesting a single player from each team participate  NO PENALTY KICKS are to be awarded, all Indirect Free Kicks  Be on the lookout for fouls including: -Intentional Handball -Tripping, Pushing, Charging  Blatant OFFSIDE calls only (This is what’s meant by “SOFT”) - unless it’s REALLY obvious (offside by more than approx 3 yards – your judgement call)

13. SYSA U8 Detailed Game Procedures for RefITs During the Game:  Signal and verbally state the restart after a stoppage: -Goal Kick: extend hand pointing to Goal Area and say “Goal Kick orange” -Corner Kick: extend hand 45 degrees up towards corner flag and say “Corner Kick white” -Throw In: extend hand 45 degrees up and point in direction of throw in saying “Throw in orange”  For Dropped Ball -Use this after an injury or any stoppage where there is no foul -Invite one orange and one white to participate -Ask them not to kick the ball until the ball hits the ground  No cards should ever be used at U8, only your voice -If you feel a player is not cooperating for whatever reason, you may ask the coach to sit them out for a while  Do not worry about keeping score Post Game:  Remain at center of field in case an after-game sportsmanship handshake line forms and players want to thank you  Smile, act like you enjoyed yourself and be proud of a job well done!

14. WWW.SYSA.NET

16. www.soccer.scoresports.com