Hi ,
Hola Fellow Referees! (ARE YOU READY!)
1) Always arrive on time (30 min prior to kickoff) or even a little early, especially during the first few weeks. Look for field set-up problems FIRST. This way you can let the coaches know what needs to be corrected and it should allow ample time to get it fixed. Please remember some of the coaches have never done this stuff either and they may need a little help/coaxing.
2) NO GAME STARTS if any of the following are missing, 1) secured nets, 2) goal anchors (we use sand bags or stakes), and 3) corner flags.
3) If there is any delay to the start of a game because of field set-up it comes off the game you are doing. Let's say a team is 10 minutes late getting the field ready and they are playing 25 minute halves, then you will play that game with 20 minute halves. Do not do any time adjustments unless you are more than five minutes late.
4) Please enforce the Technical Area from the first game of the season on. We do not have painted technical areas, use the center circle as your guide on the Middle and Cole Grade fields. It will be and additional two yards on either side of the circle on the Football and Lower fields (those are eight yard circles). It is OK to be a little liberal with this on the Division 6 Field (Lower Elementary); that said they may never be closer to the goal line that the top of the penalty area.
5) There is no restraining arc on the Lower Elementary field...that is on purpose, don't worry about it. If you have a penalty kick just use the lines you see. One of the constant things to be aware of on this field is 'did the ball leave the penalty area on a goal kick?' I can't tell you how many goals I saw awarded last year when the ball was never put back in play.
6) You DO NOT get involved with who sits where. You DO NOT get involved in doing any of the field set-up. You have enough to do and be concerned with.
7) No one may be behind the goal line inside the boundaries of the penalty area.
8) The Laws of the Game are the Laws of the Game, there are no do-overs. If the throw-in is a bad throw-in, let the player know why and give the ball to the other team. If they double touch on a properly taken kick-off (the ball moves forward) then it is an Indirect Free Kick for the other team, explain why and do the right thing. No matter how cute they are! ;-)
If you have ANY trouble call my cell phone (760) 518-0535. And, at the end of the day send me an email about any issues that you had, particularly if it was just an over the top coach or parent. We want to fix these things BEFORE they get bigger.
We need reports for any Send-Offs or dismissals for irresponsible behavior.
Thanks and HAVE FUN!
Tom
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