1. Getting a uniform
Showing up in a complete uniform goes a long way toward establish a referee’s authority before they even say a word. All referees are expected to appear in a proper uniform each time they do a game, including a referee’s shirt, the ugly black shorts, black knee socks with three white stripes, and black cleats or soccer shoes. Thunder sporting goods in Wellesley sells the basics (they sell a starter kit at a bargain price) and will offer a 10% DISCOUNT if you tell them you are from the Weston Soccer Club. Stores that specialize in soccer gear, like the Soccer Spot in Needham, have a greater selection. The Soccer Spot also sells referee gear at Recertification Clinics. Finally, the largest selection of uniforms and gear for referees can be found on the web at Official Sports (www.officialsports.com).
2. Other gear
In addition to your uniform, to every game you must bring: a whistle, a stop watch, something to drink, coins, pencil and paper to write down the score. In the Spring you will also need to bring a BAYS Referee Assignment sheet to get the coaches signature. For referees doing youth games there is no need to have or bring yellow and red “cards”.
3. Getting paid
During the fall season, Weston Soccer Club pays the referees and in the spring BAYS pays the referees. In the fall the Referee Scheduler will keep track of your games, turn in a pay sheet and you will receive a single check for the entire season. It’s also a good idea for you to keep track of your games so you can be sure everything is correct. For the spring season referees are paid by BAYS, so you will need to mail in the rosters and a BAYS Referee or Assistant Referee Assignment sheet to the BAYS accountant. After the Spring season is over the WSC will also send a check covering any bonus earned..
4. What to allow players to wear.
- Equipment which shall be considered dangerous includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Jewelry of any sort, including earrings, necklaces, chains, watches. No matter what you hear, players are not allowed to play with earrings that are simply covered with athletic tape or band-aids. Religious medals or medical tags may be worn if taped to body or inside uniform.
- Hair control devices, of any material, other than soft pliable plastic or rubber. Hair barrettes containing any metal or hard plastic parts, shall be considered dangerous, regardless of any coverings.
- Plaster casts or hard splints, even if padded, even with the permission of a parent, or medical approval.
- Orthopedic braces that have exposed or uncapped metal parts.
- Hats or other headgear with hard brims. Standard baseball caps are not considered soft and pliable material. A goalkeeper may wear a soft billed cap or soft headgear with the approval of the referee.
The referee at the field has the FINAL SAY on what may be dangerous equipment!
5. Enforcing Zero Tolerance
This rule (see link under Other Referee Resources) is designed to protect you from obnoxious coaches and spectators. It states that NO ONE make speak to you during or after a game except for substitutions, to ask for the time or to draw your attention to an injury. You will be talking to the coaches before the game and they may ask for clarification then about rules. The BAYS policy also lays out your procedure for dealing with bad behavior. The important thing is that it is the coach’s job, not yours, to deal with fans. If you are having problems with a visiting coach, you can remind them in a friendly way that their behavior is inappropriate. You can also ask the home coach to speak to them. All Weston coaches know it is their responsibility to look after Weston’s referees. Although the Zero Tolerance policy is clear, it is wise to be fairly thick-skinned about the odd shriek from the sidelines. Unless the comments are interfering with your ability to do a good job or involve obscenities, or unless you feel that THE COACHES or SPECTATORS are setting a poor example for the players; it may help you and the game if you act a little hard of hearing. A warning via the coach at half time is often all that is need (do not approach PLAYERS yourself). If the yelling is really distracting or displays poor sportsmanship, stop the game and talk to the coach – he/she is responsible for his parents.
6. The five (5) most common problems.
a. Stronger signals. “Couldn’t hear their whistle, couldn’t tell what they were calling”.
b. Move with the game. “The referee never moved from the middle of the field” “They missed calls because they were too far away”.
c. Control rough play. “Kids were murdering each other and there was no whistle”.
d. Know rules about substitutions. “They let the other team substitute on a direct kick”.
e. Execute penalty kicks properly. PKs can be upsetting for everyone, make sure you know when and how to manage them. Know the goal area for each field. Get the teams to the proper position.
7. Laws of the Game
www.ussoccer.com/laws/index.jsp.html
From the USSF web site section for referees you can download the current FIFA Laws
8. BAYS rules
www.bays.org/HTML/BaysRulebook.htm
The BAYS site shows all the special rules for BAYS competition (like how long games last for different ages)