Officiating a 7U or 8U Game

Be prepared:

• Remember our focus - keep the game Safe, Fun and Fair
• Have the proper equipment

• Yellow referee shirt, Shoes you can move in comfortably. If a hat - black and baseball type - no offensive advertising logos. Avoid wearing sunglasses if possible - it can be intimidating when speaking to children
• A watch worn on your wrist - preferably with a timer or stopwatch function 

• Do not use a phone or stopwatch held in the hand or around the neck.

• A whistle, coin, pen and something to write on in case you need it

Give yourself time before the game

• Check the field to make sure the goals are anchored and the field isn’t dangerous

• If not anchored - get a coach/parent/division director to provide stakes
• Fix or mark things like holes or sprinkler heads. (Fill, or mark holes if possible - use cones or paint.) If in doubt - check with the division director
• Introduce yourself to the coach and do a quick player equipment check

• Make sure a team’s uniform is consistent
• Check that shoes are safe - (cleats are not required),
• Shin guards are required - No shin guards, No play - No exceptions
• No Splints, casts or slings allowed and no Jewelry - No exceptions  - medical alert bracelets -ok - taped down

• Ask the home team coach for game balls  - ideally, one next to each goal and one to start  - make sure they are properly inflated and not torn.
• Do a coin flip with the coaches. The winner kicks off - note which color kicked off and in which direction - if you can, write it down, so you don’t forget.

6v6, 20 minute halves, no heading

Ball over the touchline - 7U restart Kick-In, 8U - Throw-In

Starting the Game 

• When each team is ready, start your watch, then blow your whistle to signal the kickoff.
• The opposing team stays outside the center circle until the ball is touched and moves
• During play - Remember players are getting used to the game, they may fall with little or no contact and they stumble into each other.  If it’s not “unfair” let play go - we want them to play.

• If you see something that looks like a foul - blow your whistle to stop play - you may have to blow it loudly. Give the direction that the restart will go.
• If a player is injured (by a foul or otherwise)  stop the game, and check the player. Make sure the players stop. Ask the player if they’re ok. If they seem hurt - call or wave the coach onto the field and step away - you are not authorized to give care or even to touch the child. Let the coach handle it.  

• Restart the game appropriately depending on what was happening when play stopped.

• If the ball had been kicked out of bounds - start with a kick-in or throw-in.
• If a foul was committed - then restart with an indirect free kick
• If you stopped for some other reason - a dropped ball to the team who last touched the ball.

Coaches keep track of their own subs

• Approximately midway between the start of play and ½ time (around 10 minutes) blow your whistle and signal for substitutions. Say “Subs!” or “Substitutions!” out loud and stop play - noting what the restart will be - kick-in, etc. and for what team.

• The clock keeps running during substitutions
• Try to keep the break to a minute or two.  Gently urge the teams to get the game going, “let’s go blue team, the clock is running!”

• When the first half is over - blow the whistle twice to signal the end

During halftime

• Pick up the ball and get yourself a drink of water.
• After about 5-10 minutes  - get the players back out to start the 2nd half - use your whistle!

Start the 2nd Half

• The teams switch attacking direction. If someone argues that it’s confusing, remind them we’re teaching and it’s in the Laws of soccer as well as the rules of all similar sports.
• The team that didn’t kickoff to start the game, kicks off to start the 2nd half.
• Reset your watch and start the second half with your whistle.
• Approximately ½ way through the second half, follow the procedure for subs
• When time is up - blow your whistle three times to signal the end of the game.

Thank the players and coaches -

and….YOU DID IT. Well done.  

Make sure you get credit for your game. Also please explicitly note - on a game report or to the Division Director - any behavior issues from the touchline by the coach(es) or the spectators.