Agenda from 9/8 Elmhurst Referee Corps 2010 Kick-off Meeting

6:40 - Welcome and Thanks

180+ members strong (up 40 over last year!)

64 new members this year!

A ref for every U7, U8 and U10 team

6:45 - Recognition of Referee Staff

Mark Murray – Director of Referee Instruction

Vince Hradil – Assistant Referee Administrator & Chief Ref Ambassador

Chris Landers – Referee Assigner/Scheduler

Sue Hansel – Area Referee Administrator

6:50 – Improved Mentoring Program

7:05 – What to make of the World Cup as a new (or veteran) referee

South Africa is now history. Much of the discussion and/or gossip among the American public is response to the games has included a considerable focus on the referees. Now that you are one of those in stripes, what perspective (and information on which to base it) can you use in defending yourself, your Corps and the Legion of the Striped?

I suggest reading the following: FIFA Ref Esse Baharmast on the refs of the 2010 World Cup

Beyond this perspective, remember the measure of a referee is not solely based on the lack of missed calls but rather the response one takes as the “perfect game” continually eludes us.

7:20 - Referee Assignment Procedures

Easyassigning website – Everyone should be receiving an email each week noting their assigned match with time and field. This should only be for matches with your child’s team. The email will contain a link that should be followed which will bring you to a website where you can accept or decline the assignment. It will be VERY important to confirm these assignments so everyone involved knows what to expect.

Multiple Refs per game – The assigning website will specifically assign people to either the Center Referee, First Assistant or Second Assistant Referee positions. Every attempt will be made to equally distribute CR and AR roles throughout the season. Refs at the field are welcome to trade roles before a match but if there is any lack of agreement, the Assigner’s positioning should be followed. Positioning is explicitly NOT based on home team/away team status. Referees are encouraged to use the 3-man diagonal system of control even on the U7/U8 matches.

While swapping of assigned roles is fine if all are in agreement prior to a match beginning, there should be no swapping of roles during a match unless the referee who begins in a position is unable to complete the match. Having one person center the first half and another center the second half is not allowed. Furthermore, at no time should one referee work one half of the field and the other referee work the other. It is important to maintain a single point of authority and control for every match.

7:30 - “Keeping the Game Fun”

7:40 - Laws of the Game Updates

Law 14 – Penalty Kick (Updated interpretations/Guidelines)

Feinting in the run-up to take a penalty kick to confuse opponents is permitted as part of football. However, feinting to kick the ball once the player has completed his run-up is considered an infringement of Law 14 and an act of unsporting behavior for which the player must be cautioned.

This marks the end of the “paradinha” (pronounced par-a-JEEN-ya) Portuguese meaning "little stop".

3/3/2010 Wall Street Journal Article

Ronaldo YouTube Video

Neymar Gawk Video

7:45 - Regional Directives

Number of Players

U7 B&G 5v5 with no keepers (PUGs) 2 20 minute halves #3 Ball (red)

U8 Girls 6v6 including keepers 2 20 minute halves #3 Ball (red)

U8 Boys 7v7 including keepers 2 20 minute halves #3 Ball (red)

U10 B&G 7v7 including keepers 2 25 minute halves #4 Ball (blue)

U12 B&G 9v9 including keepers 2 30 minute halves #4 Ball (blue)

U14 B&G 11v11 including keepers 2 35 minute halves #5 Ball

U19 co-ed 11v11 including keepers 2 40 minute halves #5 Ball

3 tries on throw-ins for U07 & U08 – As in the past, 1^st and 2^nd grade players will be given three attempts to execute a legal throw in. If first attempt fails, use the “stick out your stomach” trick. If that fails, hold the child’s feet down. No procedures will be defined for what happens after third failed attempt because all members of the Corps commit to doing whatever it takes to achieve success by the third attempt.

No “Offside” calls for U07 & U08 – As in the past, Law 11 (“Offside”) is not to be applied to 1^st and 2^nd grade matches though “cherry picking” (an attacker camping out near the goal mouth) should be discouraged. Law 11 is to be applied at U10 and above and referees are encouraged to take steps to inform players (before and during play) and coaches and spectators (before and after game and at half time) about the basics of the offside position, offside infraction and the moment of judgment vs. time of the call.

No Penalty Kicks for U07 & U08 - At this level, any DFKs and IFKs in PA are moved out to the 18 yard line (PA line) parallel to the location of the foul. The defense can defend using “walls” or other defense tactics as allowed under the LoTG. For U10 and above, the standard LoTG apply with PKs for DKF Fouls in the PA.

Slide tackling – As introduced last spring, the act of slide tackling is allowed at all levels of play. However, any tackle done in a manner that is careless, reckless or using excessive force is at least a DFK foul and potentially misconduct. Slide tackling at the lower levels is not to be encouraged since most players at these ages are not capable of performing this skill safely.

Flip Throw-in – Last year, we had a U10 girl who could execute a “flip” or handspring throw-in. There was considerable concern about this being both legal and safe. It is legal so long as it is executed properly and the ball is released with both feet touching the ground on or behind the touch line. As for the maneuver’s safety, experience has shown that few players will attempt this during a game without first perfecting it on their own. As such, much deference should be given to the player and their ability to perform this difficult skill safely and only if the referee feels the act does not demonstrate clear mastery or if field conditions (concrete, dew or spectators) dictate, should this be not allowed from a safety concern. Do be on the look out for cases of “that looks neat. I think I'll give it a try!”

Keeper safety – All referees are reminded that the keeper is deemed in possession of the ball when touching it with any part of either hand or arm; Clear control and/or both hands ARE NOT A REQUIREMENT. When the keeper has possession, he/she may not be challenged and no attempt to play the ball should be made. Attempting to play the ball when the keeper has possession is an Indirect Free Kick Foul and an IFK for the keeper's team. Referees should also make it a point to let nervous players know that they are on the field to explicitly look out for and keep keepers safe. Hopefully this will reduce the cases where keepers get close to but won't touch a ball in play which is really a worst case scenario for everyone. Referees at the U7, U8 and even U10 level are encouraged to stop play themselves in cases where there is concern for the safety of a young keeper and to use a drop ball to the keeper alone trick (“When this ball touches the ground, pick it up”) to re-start play in accordance with both the LoTG and S/F/F.

Issue Reporting – For any Cautions or Send Offs (yellow/red cards) issued in a match, a report of the issue, including player, should be submitted to me via email as well as the description on the back of the game card. The same holds true for any ref/coach, ref/spectator or coach/spectator confrontations even if the confrontation does not result in an ejection.

Log your matches – Since the best way to establish self confidence in your role of referee is through match experience, having a tangible record of your cumulative experience can be a big benefit. It is also a great way to know which teams and coaches you’ve dealt with in the past allowing you even great preparation. And for those who intend to move on, game count is one requirement that is left to you to keep track of. Logs should be in any format you are comfortable with (written or electronic). Anyone interested in a Excel format that works for me can email me (referee@ayso399.org).

8:00 - Referee Resources

Region 399 website (www.ayso399.org)

Region 399 Game Assignment website (www.easyassigning.com/ayso399)

AYSO “Whistle Stop” weekly email. (www.soccer.org)

LinkedIn “Referees of AYSO” Discussion Group. (www.linkedin.com/group)

AskTheRef website (www.asktheref.com)

USSF Referee website (www.ussoccer.com/Referees)

8:05 - Referee Gear Handout plus unlimited Q & A