AYSO National Referee Program
RULES, REGS and
REALITY
Workshop number: # 315
09/17/2014
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RULES, REGS and REALITY
Let’s set the tone for this workshop:
AYSO R&R I.D.5 (Law V, IBD 8)
“The Laws of the game are intended to provide that games
should be played with as little interference as possible, and in
this view it is the duty of referees to penalize only deliberate
breaches of the Law. Constant whistling for trifling and
doubtful breaches produces bad feeling and loss of temper on
the part of the players and spoils the pleasure of spectators.”
Keep it Safe, Fun, and Fair and ENJOY yourself!!
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This workshop, through a series of specific situations,
questions and answers, presents a number of Law
interpretations that are widely accepted but may, or
may not, be found in the Laws of the Game.
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• Examples of Laws not interpreted exactly as written.
• Accurate Law interpretation and application
improves officiating.
• This knowledge makes your job easier.
• Resources available to you.
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Where can we find the current official Laws of the
Game?
• AYSO supply center
• Free download from www.aysotraining.org
LOTG is also available in a Spanish edition.
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How many of you have a current edition of the Law book?
If you have your Law book with you, please hold it up so we
can see what it looks like.
Does your copy have the AYSO logo on the cover?
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FIFA permits some modifications to the Laws for youth
soccer.
The AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game contains a
number of modifications.
For example, in Law 7 (‘The Duration of the Match’), you
can find AYSO’s rules giving the length of each half for
each age group.
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AYSO edition of the FIFA Law Book contains
additional competition rules that do not pertain to a
particular Law.
For example, which player gets credit for a ‘quarter’
played when a substitution is made for an injury?
(Only the injured player gets credit.)
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• FACTS:
– a FIFA Law Book is good.
– an AYSO edition of the FIFA Law Book is better.
– if you don’t have one, you need to get one!
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The AYSO National Rules and Regulations (AYSO
R&R) are an integral part of AYSO soccer.
Valuable for all coaches and referees.
You may obtain this publication from:
• AYSO Supply Center
• Free download found on www.ayso.org
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AYSO - FIFA LAW BOOK
The Law Book contains more than just the Laws and the
Decisions of the International Board.
What are some of the topics immediately following Law 17 in
the Law Book?
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There are many:
 A concise set of mechanics and interpretations
 Referee & AR positioning diagrams
 Referee & AR signals
 Offside diagrams
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And, here are some more:
 Procedures to Determine the Winner of a Match or Homeand-Away
 The Technical Area
 The Fourth Official
 Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for
Referees
 Rules of the IFAB
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Other Publications:
– AYSO’s Guidance for Referees, Coaches, Parents, and
Other Volunteers
– USSF’s Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game
– USSF’s Guide to Procedures
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AYSO’s Guidance for Referees, Coaches,
Parents and Other Volunteers
• This is a particularly important document for coaches, who
might be unfamiliar with the other resources we’ve discussed.
• The ‘Guidance’ manual is a reference of supporting materials
and is intended to supplement the instruction provided at
AYSO referee and coach education courses.
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AYSO’s Guidance for Referees, Coaches,
Parents and Other Volunteers
• The main sections include:
– Basic overview of the Laws of The Game
– AYSO National Rules & Regulations
– Short Sided Game Guide
– Frequently Asked Questions
– AYSO’s Mission,Vision and Six Philosophies
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Here are some examples from “Frequently Asked
Questions:
Q--Who is responsible for verifying a Participation Release Form
before allowing a player to participate in a game following a
known serious injury or sickness which required medical
attention?
A--Coaches must verify this and provide a copy to the
Regional Commissioner and/or Regional Safety Director. It is
not the referee’s responsibility.
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May players drink water during a game?
Yes, but only on the touch line.
May Regions adopt local playing rules outside
of FIFA and AYSO rules?
No.
Why doesn’t AYSO teach or approve of referees
using the Dual Referee System?
Often asked question – we’ll save it for another time.
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USSF’s Advice to Referees on
the Laws of the Game
Provides game officials with USSF’s interpretations of the Laws.
AYSO is a member of USSF and, as such, considers this booklet
as authoritative. Should there be conflict, the Laws of the Game
take precedence.
• It is available for download at www.ussoccer.com
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USSF’s Guide to Procedures
For Referees, Assistant Referees
And Fourth Officials
Includes:
Item by item list of things to do from your arrival at the field
until match debrief. Includes referee and AR mechanics for all
restarts...and much more.
• It is available for download at www.ussoccer.com
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Other Resources:
• Your Section Referee Staff
• National Referee Advisory Commission (NRAC)
• AYSO National Referee Staff
• National Referee Program Administrator
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Let’s not forget
Law 18 – Common Sense
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Here are some questions and their interesting
answers.
Do you know the source for the answer
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I watch the ball enter the net. It is an apparent score.
How do I ‘signal’ a score?
What is the correct mechanic between myself and my
assistant referee?
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There is no official signal to indicate a goal has been
scored.
However, don’t whistle.
Before publically announcing the score, always look to
your assistant referee…communication is everything.
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A goal is scored. Before restarting the game, I
determine that one of the teams had 12 players on the
field.
[…or outside agent, substitute, substituted player, team
official…]
Is the score valid?
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Yes.
And No.
It depends.
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The defenders must be 10 yards from the ball on a Free
Kick.
Is this required or does the kicking team have to ask
me?
How do I move the defenders back without converting
the Free Kick to a Ceremonial Kick?
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10 Yards is required and automatic.
The kicking team does not have to ask the referee for “10
yards, please”. See Law 12.
If you see tentative encroachment, verbally ask for 10 yards
as the ball is being placed to kick. If the kicking team asks
for 10 yards, the kick becomes a Ceremonial Kick.
Don’t take away the ‘quick kick’.
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I want to keep the game moving, so at substitution time
I allow the substitutes to enter the field as the players
being substituted are leaving. It really speeds things up.
Besides, this is how the coaches handle their subs.
Is this the correct procedure?
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Actually, no! This is not correct.
-11 players per team are allowed the field.
-Substitutes are treated differently from players.
-You can easily get in game control trouble.
What is the correct procedure?
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Talk with ARs about the substitution procedure in your pregame.
Remind the coaches before the game that:
•
You will be using the correct substitution procedure.
• The substitution period is not for a coaching meeting.
• Not a snack time.
• Encourage player hydration at any time during the game. The
players should come to the touchline and remain on the field.
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In a recent game, a player leaves the field without the
referee’s permission to tie his shoe [or get a drink of
water]. I cautioned him under Law 12. His coach got
really upset with me. But, I was clearly enforcing the
LOTG.
Why did the coach get upset?
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Technically, you were correct.
However…
Review what really happened. Did the behavior of this
player really bring the game into disrepute?
How could you have handled this situation differently?
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In a U-19 game, the coach advises the Assistant Referee
that he wants to substitute Blue #7. The AR advises me
and I allow the substitution.
However Blue #7 refuses to leave the field.
I caution Blue #7 for USB.
Was this the correct action?
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Law 3. Number of players.
If a player who is about to be replaced refuses to leave
the field of play, play continues. The referee or coach
cannot force a player to leave field.
It is up to the coach to deal with the player. The
referee does not invoke any sanctions.
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FIFA does not allow jewelry except for medically
related items. How should it be worn?
What jewelry is allowed in AYSO?
What is jewelry?
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Oh!
LOTG state that referees cannot wear jewelry except
for timekeeping items.
Bet you didn’t know.
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I saw a tripping foul and decided to stop play to award a DFK.
Before I could whistle, the player who was tripped gave the
offender a push. Due to the game circumstances, I felt it important
to aware the DFK for the trip but deal verbally with the minor
push. I hadn’t blown the whistle.
How do I deal with two fouls, when I wanted to only sanction the
trip?
When does time start or stop?
Why?
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Time starts or stops when the referee so decides.
Blowing the whistle simply lets everyone know of that
decision.
It is ok to award only the DFK as you decided to stop play before
the push.
Pretty tricky. Or, not?
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It’s seconds away from the end of the game. Tension
mounts with the score tied at 1-1. The Corner Kick is
taken. The ball is in the air and is on a clean arc nearing
the goal.
My watch tells me no time if left. The game is over.
I put the whistle to my mouth and…
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The Blue team took a goal kick before all the red
players had left the penalty, so I had the kick retaken.
The coach of the Blue team came unglued. I quoted
Law 16, which says, “opponents remain outside the
penalty area until the ball is in play”.
What was the coach’s problem – I was following the Laws
of the Game?
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AYSO Guidance (Law 16): “As with free kicks, the team
taking the goal kick may elect to take a quick kick before
all of the opposing team has retreated outside the penalty
area as required.”
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I overheard a Red player say something to a Blue player
but only caught the last two words “…your sister.” The
Blue player immediately head butted the Red player.
Nothing more occurred between the two players.
Was I correct in red-carding both players?
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No.
Only send off the Blue player.
For such a violent reaction to occur, the Red team
player almost certainly deserved a send-off. However,
you may only sanction what you or one of your
officiating team heard or saw.
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Two teammates attempt to play a ball, one by trying to
head it and the other by trying to kick it. You blow your
whistle and stop play.
Do you call ‘dangerous play’ and give an indirect free kick to
the opposing team.
Correct?
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No.
Law 12 DOES state that an IFK is awarded to the
opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the referee,
“plays in a dangerous manner”.
However…
USSF 12.13 states: “Playing in a manner considered to be
dangerous when only a teammate is nearby is not a foul.”
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If play is stopped for a dangerous situation involving
only TEAMMATES, play must be restarted with a
dropped ball.
Since there was no disadvantage to the opposing team,
it would be unfair to give them a free kick.
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I had to speak with a coach about his negative
comments to players, reminding him that his touchline
participation must be limited to comments that are
positive, instructional, and/or encouraging [PIE]. Later in
the game, I heard him swearing at one of his players. I
stopped play, showed him the red card and sent him off.
Did I take the appropriate action?
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The earlier verbal warning – YES
Dismissing him from the field and immediate
surroundings – YES
Displaying the red card – NO
Law 12, Disciplinary Sanctions states, “Only a player or substitute
or substituted player may be shown the red or yellow card.”
USSF Advice 5.10: “…such persons may be warned regarding their
behavior or expelled from the field of play and its immediate area.”
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Red player 7 is in an offside position near the touchline
when Red player 9 takes a shot that deflects off the
Blue goalkeeper into goal.
Not Offside/Goal? or Offside/No Goal?
Not Offside/Goal
Law 11: Player 7 was neither interfering with play,
interfering with an opponent, nor gaining an advantage
from being in an offside position.
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Red player 7 is in an offside position in the penalty area
when Red player 9 takes a shot that deflects off the
Blue team’s goalkeeper to red player 7.
Offside? or Not Offside?
Offside.
Player 7 gained an advantage from being in an offside
position.
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Law 11: “A player in an offside position is only penalized if, at the
moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is,
in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by:
• interfering with play; or
• interfering with an opponent; or
• gaining an advantage by being in that position”
Clarification: Judge the offside position of the player at the
moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, and
then wait to see if he subsequently becomes involved in active
play.
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I consider myself a good referee. I call every foul, and I
have a strong whistle. However, the players are edgy
and the parents are complaining.
I don’t get it!
Where, in any of the resources we’ve discussed, might there
be some guidance as to what you’re doing wrong and how
to correct it?
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It’s Worth Repeating:
AYSO R&R I.D.5 (Law V, IBD 8)
“The Laws of the game are intended to provide that games
should be played with as little interference as possible, and in
this view it is the duty of referees to penalize only deliberate
breaches of the Law. Constant whistling for trifling and
doubtful breaches produces bad feeling and loss of temper on
the part of the players and spoils the pleasure of spectators.”
Combine this with Law 18 – Common Sense
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Near midfield, just as a Red player went up to head a
ball, a Blue player gave him a slight nudge in the back,
causing the ball to glance off the Red player’s head to
another Blue player.
I didn’t call anything, since the nudge was neither
careless, reckless, nor with excessive force.
Should I have called pushing?
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Apply Law 18 – Common Sense by asking yourself,
“Was it safe & fair?”
If not, apply Law 12: blow the whistle and award the
free kick.
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I gave an IFK to the Red team outside the Blue team’s
penalty area, but forgot to raise my hand to indicate the
kick was indirect. The ball was kicked directly into goal. I
awarded a goal kick to the Blue team.
Was my decision correct?
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No.
“An indirect free kick should be retaken if the referee
fails to raise his arm to indicate that the kick is indirect
and the ball is kicked directly into the goal.”
Also Note: USSF Advice to Referees 13.9 tells us that
a direct free kick accompanied by the indirect free kick
signal should be retaken as well.
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When is handling the ball deliberately NOT
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This has been just a sampling of what is available in the
resources we have discussed.
Keep your referee resources handy and refer to them
often.
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Customer Service
Goal for the referees:
Support the delivery of a great AYSO
experience for the players and others.
How will today’s workshop help you
support this goal?
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Thank you for attending.
QUESTIONS?
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