U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program
Training on Report Writing
Responsibility
Completing a Game Report
Introduction to Documenting and Writing
a Game Report
At the end the referee should know
 Why reports are important
 The important parts of the report
 When to write a game report
 How to complete the report
 Where to file the report
Introduction to USSF report
The completion and submission of reports is an important duty of an
official. If required by the competition, the U.S. Soccer Referee Report
can be used to submit standard game information.
U.S. Soccer Referee Report
Cautionable and Sending-Off Offenses
If needed, and in addition to the U.S. Soccer Referee Report, the U.S. Soccer
Supplemental Referee Report can be used for instances of referee assault,
referee abuse, dismissal of team officials, sending-off offenses, serious injuries,
game abandonment or other substantial occurrences.
Purpose
Reporting Writing is important because:
 It enables league officials to monitor and manage
their league
 It improves fair play and safety
 It provides protection for the referee and league
when actions need to be taken
 It promotes professionalism
Purpose
Reporting Writing is required because:
 It’s a Referee’s responsibility
• Law 5 states that the referee has the responsibility to:
• Acts as timekeeper & records game
• File a game report
 Competition authorities need information
 Future disciplinary actions are based upon
the report
Do’s and Don'ts
Do
 Focus on the facts
 Be clear and concise
 Work with the referee team
Don’t
 Speculate
 Insert opinion
 Make disciplinary suggestions
Remember the A,B,C
A
Be ACCURATE - in reporting the incident avoid
confusing or conflicting statements. Make sure the stated
offense matches the incident described. Double-check
the player information
Remember the A,B,C
B
Be BRIEF - you are required to report only the incident
leading to the caution or sending off. Information about
the state of the playing surface or climatic conditions
should be included ONLY if you feel they play a part in
the incident described.
Remember the A,B,C
C
Be CLEAR - stick rigidly to a description of the incident,
e.g. a kick in the groin, a punch in the face, etc.; it is not
for you to pass judgment. The Disciplinary Committee
will make a judgment from the information you provide.
Writing
In the presentation of your report, try to
make sure that what you write is legible,
correctly spelled and punctuated.
Assistance
If you are uncertain of what you have written
ask for review by:
Mike Rennick
Eugene Mednikov
Ron Clark
Roger Monthie
Go to www.cdref.org for contact information
Offense versus Incident
You must differentiate between the
"offense" and the "incident" when making
a report.
Offense versus Incident
An "offense" is a classification according to
the laws of the game of a player’s
misconduct (ref. the USSF 7 + 7
Misconduct Information)
Offense versus Incident
An "incident" is what the player actually did
at the time he committed the offense.
When does the Recording
Begin?
Pre Game
 Date
 Starting time of match
 Name of Teams
 Assistant Referees Names
 Field Condition
 Weather Condition
Game Report
What information is recorded during the
match
 Game information
 Disciplinary actions
 Any additional events from before, during
and after the game
During Game
What should be recorded during the game
 Goals
 Team
 Time
 Player
(taking the time to record accurately during the game improves accuracy of the report –
however – this should not significantly delay the restart of the game)
Game Reporting
Specific game information includes
Who
 Player
 Name
 Number
 Team Personnel (if applicable)
 Name
 other
 Fan name or associated team
Game Reporting
Specific game information includes
What
 Specific actions (incident)
 Identify the action used to deal with the incident
 Time of incident
 Identify any issues involving spectators or Team
personnel which required action as part of zero
tolerance policy
Game Reporting
Specific game information includes
Where
 On/Off the field
When
 Before/After game
 during game or stoppage
Offense
• 7–7
During Game
What should be recorded during the game
Major Injuries
 Player Name
 Time
 Type of Injury
 Cause of injury - if known
(taking the time to record accurately during the game improves accuracy of the
report – however – this should not significantly delay the restart of the game)
During Game
What should be recorded during the game
 Cautions
 What
 When
 Who
(taking the time to record accurately during the game improves accuracy of the
report – however – this should not significantly delay the restart of the game)
Game Reporting
How
Be Specific using official FIFA language
For Cautions
Misconduct
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
P
U
D
D
L
E
D
•
•
•
•
•
Description
persistently infringes the Laws of the Game (PI)
is guilty of unsporting behavior (UB)
shows dissent by word or action (DT)
delays the restart of play (DR)
deliberately leaves the field without the referee’s
permission (L)
• enters or re-enters the field without the referee’s
permission (E)
• fails to respect the required distance when play is
restarted with a corner kick or free kick (FRD)
During Game
What should be recorded during the game
 Send Offs
 Who
 What
 When
(taking the time to record accurately during the game improves accuracy of the report –
however – this should not significantly delay the restart of the game)
Game Reporting
How - Be Specific using official FIFA language
Abbreviation
• VC
• DGH
• S
• 2CT
• DGF
• AL
• SFP
For Send Offs
Offense
• is guilty of violent conduct
• denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious
goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately
handling the ball
• spits at an opponent or any other person
• receives a second caution in the same match
• denies obvious goal scoring opportunity to an
opponent moving towards the player’s goal by
an offense punishable by a free kick or a
penalty uses
• offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or
gestures
• is guilty of serious foul play
During Game
What should be recorded during the game
ASK
TELL
SEND
During Game
What should be recorded during the game
 Other issues
 delays due to weather
 outside interference
 Length of first and second halves including
added time
(taking the time to record accurately during the game improves accuracy of the report –
however – this should not significantly delay the restart of the game)
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Game Reporting
Post Game
 Conference with Assistant Referees
o Review game issues including major
incidents – Player’s involved – Specific facts
of the game
o Resolve any differences of facts that weren’t
resolved during the game
 Write the report as soon as practical after
the game
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Game Report Writing
When
• Good Practice - complete a report after each game
using online report in Arbiter
• CDYSL Games
Must complete an online report in “Arbiter” for any game
involving a caution
 Must complete an online report in “Arbiter” and a USSF
Referee Report sending copies to CDYSL and the
referee association for any send offs, serious injuries,
parental or coach issues, which involved zero tolerance or
necessitate suspending or abandoning a match. (This does
not include temporary stoppage due to weather)
 Must complete for Referee Assault
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Game Reporting
From the game notes
 Complete sentences describing the incident
and offense which summarize the outcome of
the incident, the game and the results
 If the incident require immediate notification
(Assault of referee) was that done?
Game Reporting
 How
For Example - Rebels against Blackbirds - U14 Boys
At 21:35 player #4 for the Rebels was cautioned for unsporting
behavior (UB) when he grabbed the shirt of an opponent
preventing them from gaining control of the ball. Three minutes
of time was added on the first half. At 44:14 in the second half
player # 6 for the Blackbirds was sent off preventing a goal by
deliberately handling the ball. Four minutes of time was added to
the second half
The remainder of the game was played without further incident.
The rebels won 2-1 with specifics stated above.
Game Reporting
Where
 Arbiter:
• Under the Schedule drop down
• In the assigned game
• Report (R) column brings up the CDYSL
report
In the Arbiter report there are links to USSF
referee report (PDF) and the Northeast
League Official Game Report
Arbiter Schedule Page
Arbiter Report Page
35
USSF Referee
Report
(Page 1)
1. Fill Out Top half
prior to Game
2. Fill out the
remainder of
game report after
the match
3. Be specific
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USSF Report
(page 2 - Supplemental)
Use to specifically
describe
1. Red Card
2. Injury Requiring
Medical or
Emergency
Assistance
3. Actions of
Coaches or
Spectators
4. Field Issues
which are
dangerous
Northeast League Reports
Game Reporting
Filing Game Report
• Follow Competition Rules
• From Arbiter
• Go to Assigned game – Click on R – fill out form.
• Check USSF report for the following situations
–
–
–
–
Red Cards
Injuries requiring medical or emergency assistance
Issues involving Coaches or Spectators
Dangerous field conditions
• Complete USSF report
Game Reporting
Reporting - Email or Mail a copy to individual (s) identified
by Competition Rules
For CDYSL
• CDYSL Office
19 Aviation Rd.
Albany, NY 12205
Attention: Games Committee
Email at [email protected]
Other reports
• Other leagues have different reports
• Thruway League
• Cup and President games
In all cases the USSF report will provide the complete information
needed
Game Reporting
Reporting for all submitted Reports
• Email to CDRef
• Roger A. Monthie
[email protected]
CDRef Review Committee
• [email protected]
Game Reporting
Referee Assault
Follow the Eastern New York Procedure that can
be located at:
http://www.eny-soccer
referees.org/REFEREE_ASSAULT_PROCEDURE.pdf
The following is the procedure and notification requirements
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Referee Assault Procedure Eastern New York
•
http://www.eny-soccer-referees.org/REFEREE_ASSAULT_PROCEDURE.pdf
REFEREE ASSAULT PROCEDURE - Contacts
As soon as possible (preferably same day) contact
•
•
•
•
•
CDRef Roger Monthie (Cellular) 518-573-6873
email: [email protected]
SRA Enrico Romano (845) 721-6324 email: [email protected]
SYRA Ray Wolfe (516) 672-9479, email: [email protected] or
[email protected]
SARA Boris Lazari (516) 770-0419, email: [email protected]
the ENY State Association President
• Adult Game: Sal Rapaglia, phone: (917)371-5188 email:
[email protected]
• Youth Game: Richard Christiano, phone: (516)766-0849, email:
[email protected])
Eastern New York Assault Procedure
Examples
• During an Adult Match the following
misconducts occurred:
• 4 incidents of unsporting behavior
• 1 incident of decent
• 4 incidents of violent conduct
What information should the referee team be
recording?
Report front page
Specific
information
Name
Player #
Offense
Supplement
Description of
events; When,
who, what did the
referee
See – Observation
Facts
Opinions only about
the facts
No suggestions
Example #2
Facts
Who
What
When
Where
Observable
Measurable
Example
Ask
Tell
Send
Conclusions
• Reporting improves the game by
providing the league with information
• It enhances professionalism
• It’s a Referee’s responsibility
• Is mandatory for all cautions – Using
Arbiter
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Conclusions
• Is mandatory for send offs, major injuries,
suspensions and abandonment – Except
those that are temporary or don’t involve
spectators or team management
 Report in Arbiter
 USSF referee report
 Other league reports as required
• Is mandatory for Referee Assault
• Follow ENY procedure
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Conclusion
Your report must also make Clear and
Legible
Conclusion
Information that should be written, if
applicable
• The time at which the incident took place and how
long it lasted.
• Whether it had any consequences and, if so, what
• Where it took place using a field diagram to establish
location, if necessary
Conclusion
Information that should be written if
applicable: (continued)
• your position and distance from the incident
• Whether the ball was in play or not
• If a player was fouled, the part of the body that was
struck
• Whether the player received medical treatment. Do
not state any personal medical opinions.
Conclusions
• Be Specific – Be Specific – Be Specific
• Stating facts and only opinions regarding
the facts
• Use the appropriate language of the laws of
the game and procedures for referees
• Confer with the Assistant Referees for
accuracy of facts
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Conclusions
• Document accurately during the game
• Write the report, as soon as, possible to
ensure accuracy
• Filling out a report in Arbiter is good practice
on all games
Conclusions
Don’t make suggestions or recommendation
regarding any additional action that you feel
should be taken against a player, team
management or outside agent as the result of
the misconduct
Conclusions
Thank you
Power Point Presentation as a PDF will be available
on the CDYSL Website
Any questions please contact - Michael Rennick or Roger Monthie
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