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The AYSO Vision Statement

To provide world class youth soccer programs that enrich children’s lives.

The AYSO Mission Statement

To develop and deliver quality youth soccer programs which promote a fun, family environment based on our Six Philosophies.

More info: mdsoccer.org/ayso/ayso-philosophies/

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AYSO’S SIX PHILOSOPHIES

EVERYONE PLAYS®

BALANCED TEAMS

OPEN REGISTRATION

GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

POSITIVE COACHING

More info: mdsoccer.org/ayso/ayso-philosophies/

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REFEREE PHILOSOPHY

SAFE

FAIR

FUN

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AGE GROUP DIFFERENCES

AGE GROUP	PLAYERS ON FIELD	GAME LENGTH	EXTRA DETAILS
7U	4	16 min halves	No goalkeepers, offsides, or “positions”, no headers - certified referees not required
8U	5	20 min halves
10U	7	25 min halves	Build out line (for Goal Kick / GK possession), no heading, no GK punting
12U	9	30 min halves	No heading
14U	9v9+	35 min halves	Free substitutes
16/19U	11v11	40 min halves	Free substitutes, Coed Balance Rule

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MDSA World Cup Referee Points (2024)

Required to sustain our all volunteer league each year and over time
10u / 12u team referees have to earn points to quality for World Cup (14/19 not required) by refereeing matches
Referee point amounts have been lowered 25% due to Interleague play (12 pts total)
Earn 2 pts for Center Referee, 1 for Assistant Referee
Need Team Referees can cover own games / Neutral Referees for World Cup
No away match reporting or new referee bonuses
Unlimited point gifting
Easier admin - report will be auto updated

Do 20 matches = your choice of swag at end of season!

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Allocating Referee Points

Inleague Referee Menu / Allocate Points
Allocate points you have earned to your team (or others) - your choice!
Reporting will be shared in a few weeks
Can only allocate points from a higher level match to a lower one or same level

Can allocate a 14u match to a 10u team
Can not allocate a 10u match to a 14u team

Allocate Points soon!

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Interleague Play / Advice

Home region responsible for ref schedule signups - bring your gear to away matches
New Incident form - to highlight cards / incidents for area staff
Uniforms - wear them properly!
Recommend Teams on opposite sidelines (home team chooses)
Slide Tackling - legal but unlikely to be done safely at 10u and below
Silent Saturdays - 9/21 and 10/12

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Upgrades / Upcoming Training

Intermediate Class (12u):

10/09/2024 Wed 6:30-9:30pm Intermediate Referee Class - Session 1
10/13/2024 Sun 9:30:00 AM-4:30PM Intermediate Referee Class - Session 2
Golden Gate Camp - Summer

Advanced Class (14u):

Golden Gate Camp - Summer

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2024 LOTG Changes

Law 4 – The Players’ Equipment

Shin guards must be made of a suitable material and be of an appropriate size to provide reasonable protection and be covered by the player’s socks. Players are responsible for the size and suitability of their shin guards (not the referee)
Requirement for the team captain to wear an identifying armband – Not required in youth games

Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct - Clarifications on “non-deliberate handball” resulting in a PK - no send off / caution

Law 14 – Penalty Kick - Encroachment on a penalty kick much have impact to be considered for re-take. If no impact then no retake

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Handball Offense Reminder

Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct

The boundary between the shoulder and the arm is defined as the bottom of the armpit
Not every contact of the hand/ball is an offense

Handball offense (DFK / Penalty Kick restart):

Deliberately touches the ball (ball to hand vs hand to ball)
Touches the ball when hand/arm has made body unnaturally bigger / unnatural position. Normal body movement not an infraction.
Consider proximity and pace when protecting face / body
Scores in an opponent’s goal (AR can signal as well):
with their hand/arm, even if accidental
Immediately after ball has touched hand/arm, even if accidental

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PreGame Meetings

Make Sure you have a Pre Game discussion with ARs before the match

Match rules (age groups, etc)
Experience of referees
Responsibilities delegated to ARs - checking goals, counting players, tracking subs, etc
Discuss calling fouls, help with PKs, working as a team, offside reminders, signals
Get game cards from coaches and remind they are resp for their own and spectator behavior

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Revised Zero Tolerance Policy for MDSA

Specifically, the No Tolerance Policy provides that:

It is inappropriate for anyone to verbally contest a referee’s decision and all concerns should be voiced in a civil fashion at an appropriate time
It is the coach’s responsibility to control all spectators associated with his/her team and failure to do so will result in the coach and/or spectator(s) being warned and possibly sent away from the field of play.

It is the Center Referee’s job to enforce this during a match.

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What is Abuse?

Level 1 Abuse (A warning / caution may be warranted):

Reactive comments that are loud enough to be heard by any of the referee crew and that negatively impacts their performance. This includes comments that dictate actions the spectator, coach or players believe the referee should take or should not take such as: “that’s a foul!”, “handball!”, “offside!”.

Level 2 Abuse: (Immediate ejection of offending party):

Offending, insulting or abusive language or gestures
Words or actions that imply the referee is biased towards or against a player, coach, or team. Comments such as: “Call it both ways!”, “You have got to be kidding me ref!”, “Who’s paying you?!”.
Language or actions that reference the race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation of the referees/players/coaches.
Any acts that make the referees/players/coaches feel unsafe in the environment.

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How do we enforce?

Warning, Caution, Send Off approach (formerly Ask, Tell, Remove)

Warning them to refrain from the irresponsible behavior “This is a warning - Your Behavior is Irresponsible - please stop”
Cautioning for another occurrence “Your Behavior is Irresponsible - next time you will be asked to leave - do you understand?” (w Yellow Card)
Send Off - for continued occurrence “Coach, You are dismissed” (w Red Card) ask them to leave the area around the field - give 3 mins - abandon the match if not complying

You must address coach and spectator misbehavior immediately. Coaches responsible for spectator behavior (never engage with spectators directly - only through head coach). All cautions / sendoffs require an incident report.

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