AYSO Region 624
Basic Referee Course
Module 3
Pre-Game Preparation
1
Referee’s Role
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To serve as a facilitator and ensure a fun,
fair, and safe game.
To work cooperatively with the coaches
whenever possible to have the greatest
positive impact on players.
To use discretion in stopping the game
To project a positive and professional image.
The assistant referees are there to assist the
referee in whatever way he or she requests.
Module 3
Laws 5 & 6
2
Pregame Duties
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Arrive to the field early (15 minutes
minimum) fully prepared and equipped.
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Locate assistant referees and give them
instructions on how to best assist you.
Inspect the field, balls, and players to assure
safety.
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Module 3
Whistle, coin, pen, watch, and uniform
The home team generally provides the game ball.
Talk BRIEFLY to the players
Conduct the coin toss
Law 5
3
The Prepared Referee
Prescription glasses so you could
miss all those easy calls coaches
and parents want you to make.
Loud whistle to let everyone
know who’s in charge?
Large pocket to hold a pen, coin
and your match report wallet with
those lovely yellow and red cards
that assure appropriate behavior.
Bright yellow jersey
designed to attract bees as
well as colorful remarks
from coaches and spectators
Trusty timepiece to
keep official game
time?
Official AYSO Referee Badge
informing the world that you’re
a referee, as if anyone would
choose to dress this way or
attempt to impersonate a ref
Stylish knee-high socks
designed to protect
spectators from those
blinding white legs
Module 3
Pregame smile to
put players at ease
and show off nice
dental work
Comfortable black shoes that
enable a referee to out run
the fastest soccer players and
unhappy parents
Steve Kennedy – long time veteran
referee and all around good guy!
4
Referee Equipment
Provided by Region
„ Gold Referee Jersey
„ Referee Badge
„ Black Shorts
„ Referee Socks
„ Match Report Wallet with
yellow & red cards
„ Whistle(s)
„ AR Flags (Ref Tent)
„ Toss Coin
Module 3
Not Provided
„ Pens to write with
„ Watch
„ Black Cleats or
Running Shoes
5
Inspect the Field & Equipment
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See that any dangers on the
field like holes or debris are
corrected.
Check the goals to assure they
are properly anchored and
that nets are properly secured.
Corner flags should be a
minimum 5 feet tall and if
halfway flags are used they
must be 1 yard off the
touchline.
Check the field markings.
Module 3
Law 1
6
Inspect the Game Ball
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In Region 624, the home team generally
provides the game ball. Ask the coach for a ball.
A safe ball is smooth with no loose or scratched
panels. The inflation hole does not stick up.
Properly inflated balls are firm, yet resilient. Test
for proper inflation by pressing on one panel
with both thumbs. The panel should deflect
about ¼ inch.
Ball should be round and rotate evenly when
tossed several feet into the air.
Module 3
Law 2
7
Game Ball
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Check that you have the proper size ball for
the match you’re refereeing:
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Module 3
Size 3 for U5, U6, & U8
Size 4 for U10 & U12
Size 5 for U14, U16, & U19
The referee determines whether a ball is
proper for the match.
You may want to have more than one match
ball if balls leaving the field are difficult to
retrieve.
8
Player Inspection
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Obtain and check the game card.
Inspect the players to ensure that each is
properly uniformed and no one is wearing
anything which is dangerous to themselves or
other players. Players must wear a jersey, shorts,
shinguards, stockings and footwear. Stockings
are long socks that must completely cover the
shinguards.
Goalkeepers must wear colors that are different
from all the other players and the referee.
Module 3
Law 4
9
Allowed Equipment
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Module 3
Players may wear glasses. If glasses
continually fall off during play, a retaining
strap may be needed.
Goalkeepers may wear gloves as long as they
aren’t dangerous.
Knee braces are allowed in AYSO. The referee
must ensure that the brace is padded and
does not pose a danger to others.
Players are allowed to wear flat-soled athletic
shoes and cleats that are not dangerous.
Law 4
10
Unsafe Equipment
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Module 3
Casts and splints are not allowed, even
if padded.
Caps are not permitted, except
occasionally knit caps for young players
on exceptionally cold days.
Dangerous items such as jewelry,
watches, earrings, soft bracelets, etc.
Medical ID bracelets OK if covered and
made safe.
Law 4
11
The Coin Toss
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Call captains from both teams to the center of
the field. Record numbers of captains.
Visiting team gets to call the toss.
Winner of the coin toss gets to choose which
goal to attack.
Loser of the coin toss gets to kick off first.
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The referee should make a note of which team
kicked off in which direction.
To begin the second half, teams switch ends
and the that didn’t kick off to begin the game
kicks off to start the second half.
Module 3
Law 8
12
Module 3 Review
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What items should you have with you when you take
the field as a referee?
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What should the referee do when a child says that a
bracelet cannot be removed?
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No
List the 5 AYSO equipment items that are
compulsory?
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Module 3
Solicit help from the coach and parent to get the bracelet
removed so the child can play.
Can a player with a cast completely covered with
foam and no hard edges be allowed to play?
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Whistle, coin, pens, watch, and uniform
Shirt (jersey), shorts, socks, shinguards, and shoes
13