Referee's Corner

The Westchester Soccer Referees Organization (WSRO) is offering the standard grade Level 8 course and a recreational grade Level 9 course in August at the Hommocks Ice Rink Recreation Room in August.  Registration form.  More info.

See Westchester Soccer Referee Organization for information on referee courses and other game information.

Welcome to the Referee's Corner!  Referees are a very important part of our soccer club.  This new page is being written by the LJSL Referee Coordinator, and is meant to provide guidance and helpful suggestions for referees.  The topics will reflect a variety of potentially difficult issues which come up in games.  Please keep checking back throughout the season for new items!

 

Question for the Referee Coordinator:   Last year, the referee for our games sometimes showed up just before the scheduled starting time for the match.  Is that right?  It didn't feel right to me!  (9/2/05)
Excellent question, can I sign you up to be a ref?  Seriously though, the referee actually begins working well before she (or he) blows the whistle at the start of the match.

The referee should arrive about 15 to 20 minutes before the match and check that the field is safe, that the goals have nets and are placed properly, and that the corner flags are up.

After warming up with his or her own calisthenics, the referee does an equipment check on all players.  No jewelry whatsoever and no watches are allowed on players.  Shin guards must be completely under socks-no fold-overs allowed.

After all players are checked, the referee may remind the players of key rules, such as:  "Play until the whistle blows" or "Don't make contact with the keeper."

The referee will then confirm length of halves with the coaches.  Then the referee gets the game ball and checks its size, shape, and inflation.

Finally, the referee gets "Captains" to midfield to do the coin toss:  (Did you know that USSF Advice says: the only thing "called" at the coin toss is that the calling (visiting) team calls only the choice of end to defend and the other (home) team always kicks off.)

The last thing the referee does is count the players on the field before the match

ALL THIS, AND THEN THE MATCH STARTS!  


Question:   What should the referee do when a player curses or swears on the field?

As with most questions, the good referee starts in the "Laws of the Game"  [Yes, soccer has seventeen "laws," and no "rules"].
 
The Laws of the Game treat what is described as "offensive, or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures" VERY SERIOUSLY.  Law 12 says that the offense is misconduct and is punishable by being shown the RED card and being sent off! 
 
And the United States Soccer Federation Advice to Referees says that:  "the referee should judge offensive, insulting, or abusive language according to its contents (the specific words or actions used), the extent to which the language can be heard by others beyond the immediate vicinity of the player, and whether the language is directed to officials, opponents or teammates.  In evaluating language as misconduct, the referee must take into account the particular circumstances in which actions occurred and deal reasonably with language that was clearly the result of a momentary emotional outburst.
 
Referees must take care not to inject purely personal opinions as to the nature of the language when determining a course of action.  The referee's primary focus must be effective management of the match and the players in the context of the overall feel of the Spirit of the Game."
 
What this all means is that, as in all decisions, the referee must focus on the match and the people in it, not punishing just because there was a curse uttered.  If the words were said not in the heat of the moment (as in after the player gets up after a collision and looks toward another player), or were directed at other persons, or were heard by many people, or if the words caused someone else to act or not act, are all factors to be considered before a referee decides to throw a player out for cursing. 
 
Now if the curse was coupled with a swing at someone or throwing the ball at someone, then the referee must protect the players and the integrity of the game and may take strong action.
 
And if the referee decides not to use a RED card, the referee may still use the YELLOW to caution the player for "unsporting behavior".   Once again, the referee is the only one who decides if that may resolve the offense without ejecting a player.

All in all, players are well advised to, "Keep it in your head, and not let it out of your mouth!"

Play on!