ARLINGTON SOCCER ASSOCIATION
ASA REFEREE CERTIFICATION COURSE
Participant Workbook
SPRING 2010
Youth Referee Course Workbook Spring 2010
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FOREWORD
The Arlington Soccer Association has developed this course under the direction of
Harvey Snyder to help young soccer players understand the rules of the game and, by
refereeing, to gain confidence and promote the game of soccer. This course is a first
step for many in a series of referee instructional programs offered by the Arlington
Soccer Association (ASA) and the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). The USSF
basic referee certification (level 8) is also given in Arlington by Harvey Snyder and this
information is on the ASA website www.arlingtonsoccer.com
We have made every attempt to explain not only the essential rules of the Federation
International of Football Associations (FIFA) but also to explain adequately the rules of
the game as modified by the Arlington Soccer Association.
The object of the game is to play, have fun, and be safe. We hope that by good
refereeing, we provide an equal opportunity for everyone to meet this objective on the
field.
Charles Corry
Arlington Soccer Association
Referee Commissioner
i
Youth Referee Course Workbook Spring 2010
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Arlington Soccer Association: ASA Referee Certification Course
Instructions: The workbook is a tool for your learning. Review it before coming
to the course class, use it actively, and refer to it frequently. The course is
organized around FIFA Laws of the Game, with the Arlington modifications
regarding different age groups as found in the ASA Age Group Rules – both FIFA
Laws and ASA Rules are found on the ASA website. The important differences for
Arlington that you must know are shaded below. Please fill in the questions in
the sections below, looking up the information when needed in the other
resources, or preparing questions for the classroom time.
Please review FIFA Rules before attending the course.
LAW I.
The Field
Try to remember that all fields differ. Arlington County has tried
to make good use of the limited space available. Fields differ in
size. Attempts are made to put smaller children on smaller fields.
There are basic rules about the fields, many of which center on the penalty and goal
areas. The penalty area is the big box 18 yards in depth. The goal area is the smaller
box, 6 yards in depth. There are other dimensions that are important, and you can
remember them easily – and their relative sizes. Fill in the blanks with correct name:
6 yds? _________ 8 yds? ____________ 8 ft?_____________ 10 yds?________
12 yds? _________ 18 yds? _______ What about “5's” (1)________(2)__________
What is the goal area?
What is the penalty area?
Talk in a small group. Identify the measurements, and label them. Try to remember the
ratios or relative sizes of the FIFA areas and apply them to smaller fields – you will need
to know this if a box or penalty spot is not marked!
ARLINGTON. In Arlington, we have the following modifications to Law I.
U-8
4v4 Small field. No penalty area. (No PK!)
U-9, U-10
6v6 Field is proportionately smaller; sometimes, fields
may not be fully marked. This challenges everyone to
use good judgment - you should be the expert!
LAW II.
The Ball
Shape, material, size, weight.
HOME TEAM PROVIDES THE BALL.
The ball must be safe (no balls in disrepair).
Youth Referee Course Workbook Spring 2010
U-8
U-9
U-10 through U-12
U-13-up
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Size_____________
Size_____________
Size_____________
Size_____________
LAW III.
Defines numbers/subs. 11 per side, one of whom must be the
Number of goalkeeper. Minimum of 7 to start.
Players
ARLINGTON
Any 11v11 play (U14)
Any 8v8 play (U11, U12)
Any 6v6 play (U9,U10)
Any 4v4,
Minimum of 7 to start.
Minimum of 5 to start
Minimum of 4 to start
Minimum of 3 to start
Runaway Games -- "4 Goal-Difference Rule" In the event that one teams scores
to create a 4-goal lead, the losing team adds 1 player. If winning team scores
again, add a second player, but no more in the event of further goals by leading
team. If losing team scores and reduces the goal difference to 4 (from 5 or more)
or to 3, remove a player.
Substitution are allowed on throw-ins, ___________, and ____________, as well as
_________.
Each sub-team in 4v4 games must have _____________________to start.
DO NOT permit coaches to change these rules. All these rules have been
thoroughly discussed by managers and coaches on a regular basis. Rule changes
must be agreed upon by the entire association. If one team has only 3 players and
one has 4, the coach with 4 players does not have to reduce the size of his/her
team. That is a decision left to the coaches, not the referee.
LAW IV.
Player
Equipment
The ______ team changes colors if the same.
Different shirt for goalkeeper
MUST WEAR SHIN GUARDS, with socks over them
Be liberal about uniforms. Colors should
be just about the same.
No jewelry or anything unsafe. No studs.
A cast must be padded and SAFE.
Label the required equipment. ----------
LAW V.
Referees
Starts and stops game. Controls game. Controls
substitutions.
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ARLINGTON
Teaches the game through calls and assists players.
Controls the game including sidelines.
Reports all ejections to referee commissioner.
Maintains record of the game during the game, recording
score for U9 and above.
Allows play with as little interference with play as possible.
LAW VI.
Assistant
Referee
Indicates when ball is out of play. Indicates when sub is desired.
Assists referee to control the game.
ARLINGTON
Use 2 club “assistant referees” per game at U9 and above
levels.
Use “assistant referee” only to indicate when ball is out and
which team is in possession.
(Assistant referee with flag should not be the coach.)
Referee has control and the final say in decisions.
Referee calls ___________.
Things to cover with assistant referees before the game:
__________________________________
__________________________________
LAW VII.
Duration of
the Game
45 minute halves. Halftime not to exceed 15 minutes.
ARLINGTON
U-14 (recreation soccer), 2x30 minutes
U-11 through U-14, 2x30 minutes
U-10,
2x25, 5 min. at half
U-9,
2x25, 5 min. at half
U-8,
4x10 min.; 3 min. break at quarters, 5 min. at half
KNOW THE TIME SCHEDULE FOR THE GAMES YOU REF.
LAW VIII.
Start of Play
Begin at center with teams on their sides. Ball must move forward.
The kicking person may not touch it again until touched by another
player.
ARLINGTON
How does the game start?
● U-8,9,10
________________
Where are the parents?________________________
Describe what happens at the center of the field before the game
starts?________________________________________________
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Who chooses the goal they wish to attack?_________
Who takes the 2nd quarter kick off in U-8 play?__________
Can a goal be scored on the kick off? U-8?___ U-9 and 10?___
Is the kick off direct or indirect?____________
LAW IX.
Ball In and
Out of Play
The ball is out of play when the ball is completely over the goal-lilne
or touch-line.
Touch Line 
.......FIELD IS HERE.......
___________________
___________________
___________________
___________________
Imagine you are looking directly down on the "touch-line;" on the
left side of the "line" above, draw the ball that some people
mistakenly call out of play. The field is located to the area on the
top part of the sheet. On the right side of the "line” above, draw a
ball that is out of play.
LAW X
Method of
Scoring
A goal is scored when the whole ball has passed
over the goal-line, between the goal posts and under
the cross-bar provided it has not been thrown, carried
or intentionally propelled by hand or arm by a player of
the attacking side....
Imagine that the field is toward the top part of the paper...
Draw: 1. A ball that is scored a goal
2. A ball on the line that some people mistakenly call a goal.
LAW XI
Offside
A player is in an offside position if s/he is nearer to his/her
opponents' goal-line than the ball, unless:
a) s/he is in his/her own half of the field
b) s/he is not nearer to the opponents' goal-line than at least
two of his/her opponents. Count the keeper as an opponent!
Only an offense if player is: in an offside position AND (a)
involved actively in the play; or (b) gains an advantage by
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being in that position.
Not offside merely for being in an offside position.
Not offside if s/he receives the ball directly from a goal-kick, a
corner kick or a throw in, or after being PLAYED by a defender
ARLINGTON
U-8 no offside calls, U-9 when blatant or intentional, and U-10,
FIFA laws apply. Teach – many coaches are not sure!!
Implementation of the rules:
Situation 1: Keeper is in the goal. “A” is attacker with ball (“O”) and “X” is defender.
“A1” is a teammate of “A”.
A1
A-O
X
A is attacker with ball and shoots on goal. A1 is in an offside position.
Is A1 offside at this point?
Situation 2: Using the letters and symbols above, construct a diagram below that
clearly shows a situation where a player is Offside. Be ready to share your
diagram and your situation.
Situation 3: Using the letters and symbols above,
construct a diagram on the page opposite that
clearly shows a situation where a player
is NOT offside, but people often believe
the person to be offside. Be ready to
share your diagram and your situation.
LAW XII
Fouls and
Misconducts
DIRECT free kick: (careless, reckless or excessive force)
kick, trip, jumping at, charge, striking, push, tackling incorrectly,
holding, spits at an opponent, handles the ball deliberately
INDIRECT free kick: dangerous play, charging fairly but not within
reach of the ball, impeding the progress (when not playing the ball),
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charging the goalkeeper without contact; keeper plays a ball with
hands a second time before an opponent plays it in the area or either
side plays it outside the area, plays ball with hands after it has been
deliberately kicked to him by a team-mate; goalkeeper delays game
(more than 6 seconds).
Restart?
No Kick _ ___?____
--warn----dangerous---
___?____
____?____
___?____
careless ----- reckless (yellow) excessive force (red)
serious foul play
violent conduct
YELLOW CARD (List Cautionable Offenses):
________________________ ____________________________
________________________
____________________________
________________________
____________________________
________________________
RED CARD (List Ejectionable Offenses):
__________________________ __________________________
Arlington
LAW XIII
Free Kick
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
__________________________
U-8 ALL FREE KICKS (even with direct kick fouls) ARE INDIRECT.
U-12 and below, sliding tackles are not permitted. Penalty is indirect
free kick, unless contact is made, then a contact foul was committed
– direct. Indirect kick must be touched by another before a score
may be counted. Player may be removed for part or all of a game for
repeated violations or unsafe play.
Direct - a goal may be scored
Indirect - a goal may not be scored until touched by another player.
If a free kick is in own penalty area, all opposing players must be out of
area.
Indirect kick in goal area by attacking team must be taken from
_________________________.
Iindirect kick in goal area by defenders may be taken from ___________
Penalty Kick - direct kick foul by defender in penalty area (see Law XIV)
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ARLINGTON
1, A direct kick foul against the attacking team occurs right at the
mark where a penalty kick would be taken. Place an “X” where you
would place the ball for a restart.
2. An indirect kick foul occurs inside the goal area against the
defending team (perhaps a purposeful kick back to the keeper) Place
an “I” where you would place the ball for a restart. Be prepared to
explain your solution and reasoning.
LAW XIV
A penalty kick is awarded when a direct kick foul occurs in penalty area.
Penalty Kick
All players out of area at least 10 yards from ball and behind ball; goalie may
not move from line until kicked; kick must go forward and kicker may not
touch the ball again until touched by another player. (PK taken on circle in
above example.) Players, if on the side of the penalty area, must be behind
the ball.
ARLINGTON
U9-U10, PK taken from a spot 10 yards from the goal line.
Questions:
What are the 4v4 guidelines regarding penalty kicks?
In U9 and U10 play, may a second player kick the ball?
If so,under what circumstances?
LAW XV
Throw in
When the whole of the ball passes over a touch-line either on the ground
or in the air, it shall be thrown in from the point where it crossed
the line. At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower must face the
field of play and part of each foot shall be either on the touch-line or on
the ground outside the touch-line. The thrower shall use both hands and
shall deliver the ball from behind and over his/her head. The thrower
shall not play the ball until it has been touched by another player. A goal
shall not be scored directly from a throw-in.
ARLINGTON
Encourage re-tries for all youth recreation games. Instruct.
If after several tries, may give to other team, but try to avoid this in U-8,
just change players on same team. One retry in U-10 maximum, unless it
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is clear the thrower has not been taught the rules or technique.
Remember opponents must back away at least 2 yards.
Touchline
Field of Play
Is Here
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Draw a ball over the touch-line out of bounds. Draw a ball not ‘out of bounds.’
If a throw-in is attempted but the ball does not go in onto the field of play,
explain what happens.________________________________________
If a throw-in is attempted and the ball goes into play and then out again
without being touched, what's the call?____________________________
May a person be on the line while throwing the ball into play? __________
LAW XVI
Goal Kick
When the ball goes out over the goal line (not a goal) and is last played by
attacker. Kick is taken anywhere insider goal area, and it must clear the
penalty area or it is a rekick. In that case, the ball was not yet in play.
Place an "X" or series of “X’s” where the ball may be placed for goal kick.
LAW XVII
When the whole ball passes over the goal-line (except when a goal is
Corner Kick scored) either in the air or on the ground, having last been kicked by the
defending team, attacking team shall take a corner kick. The ball shall
be placed within the quarter circle. The flag shall not be moved.
A score may be made directly from a corner kick. This is not a direct kick but
a corner kick.
A kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it is touched by another
player.
ARLINGTON
No change, except defender must be 2 yards in U-8 and at least 6
yards away from the corner arc in U-9, U-10.