Game Day Protocol

The Referee crew is to arrive at the field at least 30 minutes before each game’s scheduled kick-off time. The time listed on  the Game Details in Sportlynx.  The League strives to keep all the games on schedule throughout the day.
 
Upon arrival, the Ref crew usually meets behind one of the goals.
 
Referee Preparation

Uniform and Equipment
Referees are to dress professionally, wearing the approved USSF referee uniform
  • The referee jersey with current US Soccer Federation badge affixed properly
  • Solid black shorts or black shorts with the USSF logo
  • Black referee socks with three white stripes at the top or the USSF referee logo on the top
  • Predominantly black shoes.
  • Any visible under shirts should be black. Black baseball-style caps with no logos may be worn.
  • A plain black cap or one with the USSF logo
 
Referees (Centers and ARs) should carry the following gear in their kits:
  • Watch(es)
  • Pens/pencils,
  • Scoresheets
  • Red and yellow cards
  • Flipping coins
  • Whistles – always have an extra in your bag
  • Flags   
  • Cold weather gear when the time of year makes it necessary (optional)
  • A large plastic trash bag to cover your gear in case of rain (optional)
  • Sunscreen
  • Snacks (energy bars are great!), especially if you are going to be reffing more than one game.
  • Water/sports drinks/etc.
 
Health and Fitness
  • Referees should wear sunscreen/sunblock for UVA and UVB protection and reapply as necessary.
  • US Soccer recommends hats for sun protection.
  • Do a 5-10 minute warm up: run a couple laps around the field, stretch, run backwards, run diagonals, run a few sprints.
 
Pre-Game

During the 30 minutes before kick-off, the Ref crew will perform four tasks:
  • Field inspection
  • Pre-game Briefing
  • The Check-in
  • The Coin Toss
 
Field inspection
  • Look for holes or depressions that could cause twisted or broken ankles and see if holes can be filled. All rocks, twigs, debris on the field should be removed.
  • Nets should be securely fastened to the goal posts and netting pulled back so as not to interfere with the goalkeeper.
  • Goal posts must be securely anchored to the ground. Sandbags on the frame towards the rear are acceptable. Posts don't have to be in the ground, but they must be anchored.
  • Corner flags are in place and are not dangerous to players (at least 5 ft high).
  • Entire field is properly lined.
  • If anything is needed, the home team is responsible for fixing field problems.
  • Look for other hazards that can be corrected before the game (e.g., debris, glass, rocks, holes, sprinkler heads).
  • Any issues with the field should be noted on the game report.
 
Pre-Game Briefing
The Referee will conduct a pre-game briefing with Assistant Referees, covering, but not limited to the following points:
  • Stay in line with the second-to-last defender,
  • Call fouls or not, including fouls in the box,
  • Discuss expectations,
  • Ensure good communication through good eye contact or by other means, such as a nod or a thumbs up
  • Position for Penalty Kicks,
  • Back up with time-keeping and score-keeping,
  • Call to the Ref (by name) if he’s not looking at your signal (e.g., an Offside flag signal, a request for a substitution, etc.)
  • If parents help out as assistants on the lines, the Referee will instruct them to assist only when the ball leaves the field (fully crossing the touch line or goal line). The parent should not make any Offside calls.
 
Check-in Procedures
The Referee crew has the full responsibility for an accurate check-in.  Home team players/coaches should be checked first but it's not a requirement. You should start with the team that appears to be most ready for inspection.
 
The home team should provide the ref with a printed of the Match/Game Card and three game balls. Competitive Team Officials will provide a NorCal Premier League Match Cards printed from their Gotsport Team Management Portal. JLYSL RecPlay Team Officials will provide a Game Cards printed from their Team Games Page in SportLynx.

The Game Card is not strictly required for JLYSL RecPlay games to proceed. Referees are encouraged to bring blank game cards in case of neither team providing the Game Card.

A coach holding a valid passcard may coach ANY team in the club for which they hold the card. It is not required that they be printed on the game card.
 
Player Equipment
  • No hard casts.  Soft casts allowed are referee’s discretion.
  • Make sure that ALL jewelry, earrings, watches, etc. are removed. Medical IDs must be taped to the player's chest or taped to the wrist with the info showing. Note: Earrings covered with tape are not allowed for any game.
  • All players must wear soccer shoes and shin guards. Socks must be pulled over shin guards.
  • Check in players and coaches as per the requirements and the Rules of Competition for that league.
 
Norcal Premier League Competitive Games

Credentialed adults (Coaches and Team Managers)• A valid pass is required for each adult on the bench.  To establish validity check these three things: (i) the club name on the pass matches the game card, (ii) the expiry date is current, (iii) the photo on the pass matches the individual.
• Teams must have at least one and at most three credentialed adults on the bench
• The coach pass can be physical (note: laminated cards are now optional) or electronic.  Note: electronic passes must be an image of the actual pass.  It is not sufficient to simply show a USSF-ID.
• If no credentialed adult is present then a Norcal Incident Report must be submitted.

Players
• All players must have a valid pass.  As above, check the club name, expiry date, and the photo.
• The player pass can be physical (note: laminated cards are now optional) or electronic.  Note: electronic passes must be an image of the actual pass.  
• No pass = No play.  No exceptions
• If a player with a valid pass is not listed on the game card then the ref must do the following: (i) write in the name on the game card (full name, USSF-ID, shirt #).  (ii) inform both coaches that the game is to be played under protest.  (iii) make a note of this on the game card.

Game Cards
• If neither team has a game card then the ref must ask both teams to prepare a handwritten list of players (full name, USSF-ID, shirt #).  
• Write in the names of the referee. (signature not required)
• After both coaches have signed the game card the ref must take a photo before handing the card to the home team.

 
 JLYSL Recreational Games

Coach Passes
  • Every coach must have proof of registration completion, as documented in either a physical or digital coach pass, with registration number, or the registration number shown on the top of the official team roster.
  • A coach holding a valid pass card may coach ANY team in the club for which they hold the card. It is not required that they be printed on the game card.
  • A maximum of 3 team officials with a valid club pass can be on the bench.
  • Only team officials STANDING IN THE TECHNICAL AREA are allowed to instruct or address the players.

Player Passes
  • The referees shall verify the identity of each player and coach with the CalNorth Official Roster for the valid playing season or his/her valid CalNorth Coach and Player IDs, in either physical or digital format.
  • The CalNorth Official Roster or IDs must contain the Cal North USYS/CYSA Registration Numbers as official proof of Coach and player completion of registration. Headshot Photos and Dates of Birth are also required to be on the CalNorth Official Roster or IDs.
  • Roster Cards and Player Passes if presented physically, are to be laminated to preserve the authenticity of the information on them. Digital passes can be presented on a SmartPhone or Tablet.

Concussion Protocol Healthcare Professional
If a club plans to use a healthcare professional to evaluate suspected head injuries during a match, the healthcare professional must
be presented to the referee before the match.
 
The Coin Toss
  • Call team captains to the Center Circle for introductions and handshakes preceding the coin toss.
  • Visitor captain calls the coin toss.
  • The winner of the toss gets to choose ball or side. If they choose ball, then the loser gets to choose side.
 
During the Game
  • Manage the game and keep it safe for all.
  • Call fouls as appropriate for the age and level of play.  (There’s no need to apply Advantage in younger age group games. Advantage calls are appropriate in older, more skilled matches,)
  • Promote enjoyment and safety.  
  • No re-entry for a suspected head injury unless cleared by a Healthcare Professional
  • Record time of: goals, cautions, and send offs on the Card; including time of warnings given to coaches.
  • Stop the game for appropriate substitutions or any injuries.
  • Keep Game Card in your possession until the game is over.
  • For any parent misbehavior, consult coach to remedy the situation and/or stop the game until conduct ends.
  • A “Build Out Line” shall be used for U9-U10 Matches.

    1. The build out line promotes playing the ball out of the back in a less pressured setting
    2. When the goalkeeper has the ball in his or her hands during play from the opponent, the opposing team must
    move behind the build out line until the ball is put into play
    3. Once the opposing team is behind the build out line, the goalkeeper can pass, throw or roll the ball into play
    (punts and drop kicks are not allowed)
    4. After the ball is put into play by the goalkeeper, the opposing team can cross the build out line and play
    resumes as normal
    5. The opposing team must also move behind the build out line during a goal kick until the ball is put into play
    6. If a goalkeeper punts or drop kicks the ball, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team
    from the spot of the offense
    7. If the punt or drop kick occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line
    parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred
    8. The build out line will also be used to denote where offside offenses can be called
    9. Players cannot be penalized for an offside offense between the halfway line and the build out line
    10. Players can be penalized for an offside offense between the build out line and goal line
    11. Ideally, the goalkeeper will wait to put the ball into play once all opponents are past the build out line
    12. However, the goalkeeper can put the ball into play sooner but does so accepting the positioning of the
    opponents and the consequences of how play resumes
 
Half Time

The Referees review the first half of play and discuss what they are seeing, and any adjustments or improvements for the second half. ARs can use this time to ask questions or get clarifications.
 
After The Game
  • Monitor handshakes between teams
  • Shake hands with players and coaches
  • Fill out game card: Center referees should make sure they have all information required to file their online report of the game as explained under Match Reporting Instructions.
 
Game Cards:
Fill out game card including the final score and any other information that had a bearing on the game.
  • Yellow/red cards info; team, jersey #, name, Player Pass ID number, time, reason of yellow/red card
  • Coaches and players behavior that you want the league to know
  • Referees and coaches sign the game card (not parent line persons)
 
Return the Card
  • For CCSL and Norcal comp matches, give the CCSL or Norcal game report form to the Home Team who is responsible for entering the scores on the systems for those leagues. If the Referee has a camera phone, it is recommended the referee take a picture of the Game Card as witnessed documentation of the game outcome.

  • For Jack London recreational league, keep the Game Card until end of season
 
Ref Crew Debriefing
Take some time to discuss the game with the crew:
  • What went well?
  • Any unusual situations?
  • What could each team member improve on?
 
Enter the Game Report online
  • ALL refs must file a match report in order to get paid
  • SportLynx: Set the game status, enter the score, and put any general comments when reporting in SportLynx. There are also areas for field condition and yellow and red card reports which are used to report problems and/or issues that arose during the particular match.
  • Norcal Games: If there were send-offs or incidents, fill out the online Send Off Report within 24 hours if you gave out any red card.  http://www.norcalreferees.com/
  • JLYSL games: send-offs or incidents are noted in the SportLynx Game Report and the JLYSL League Referee Coordinator
    will follow up.
 
Good Luck and Have Fun!