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Circle City Futbol Club

Referee Guide

Tips and Advice for New Referees�“Making a Good First Impression”

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• Be on Time!
• CCFC expects all referees to arrive no later than 15 mins prior to your scheduled match. (on the field, not in the parking lot)
• Allow time for pregame activities
• Walk the field and make sure it is safe to play
• Checking that players are properly equipped
• Coin Toss

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Tips and Advice for New Referees�Uniform

• Dress and act professional
• Wear the proper uniform:
• Official Shirt (USSF or an off brand is fine)
• Recommend Yellow and an alternate color
• Black Shorts (USSF or predominantly black shorts)
• Black Referee Socks
• USSF logo
• Black soccer socks with the 3 white stripes at the top
• All black soccer socks
• Certification patch if you have one
• Watch with stopwatch functions
• Yellow / Red Cards if doing U10 and older age groups

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Uniforms cont’d…

• AR Flags
• U12 and older
• Cold Weather Gear
• Dress in layers
• Cold weather gear should be worn under your uniform shirt.
• Misc.
• Water / Sunscreen / Snacks, etc.

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Here is an example of an appropriate, current uniform kit:

http://www.indianareferees.org/referee-program/referee-faqs/

You can order uniforms from Official Sports or Amazon.

You should have a current referee shirt (acceptable colors - yellow, green, red, black, blue), black shorts, black socks, a timer/stopwatch and a whistle.

https://officialsports.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Murray-Sporting-Goods-Soccer-Referee/dp/B07RGMCFLB?ref_=ast_sto_dp�

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Availability and Game Assignments

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• Scheduling is tracked to ensure to assign as equally as possible for the season.
• No one is guaranteed more than one game daily–but it happens frequently.
• Please only sign up once – signing up multiple times for the exact times or different times does not increase your chances of being scheduled for multiple games.
• If we have too many ref sign-ups for a game day, and you don’t get scheduled, every effort is made to ensure you are assigned an additional game on another game day.
• Flexibility is appreciated. Sometimes we need refs to cover games they may not prefer but are capable of refereeing.
• If you ref multiple games in one day, wait to be paid for all games at once.
• If your schedule changes after you submit availability, email referee@circlecityfc.com ASAP
• If your schedule changes after the schedule is posted, try to find a substitute and email referee@circlecityfc.com with your replacement. If you are unable to find a sub, email referee@circlecityfc.com ASAP
• The goal is to post the schedule here and email it to the referee group by Wednesday evenings before that weekend’s games. Delays may occur if sign-ups are light.
• Availability forms: https://circlecityfc.com/recreational-referees

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Pay Scale

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• Find a board member after you complete your games for the day. If assigned multiple games, wait till last game. Board members are available at the ref shed to pay you.

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Form Review-DON’T USE SCHOOL EMAIL

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Schedule Snapshot

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Released on Wednesday Evenings

Tournament and U8 All-Stars

• By invitation only
• Increase pay - $5 more to season rates
• Not guaranteed

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Resources

• YouTube!
• Support Documents: https://circlecityfc.com/recreational-referees

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SafeSport

• Under 18 - not required
• If you are 18 or older you must be SafeSport certified
• Done during ref certification
• If not, certified, you must get SafeSport certified and a background check
• Send me your legal name and current email address (not school)

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Laws of the Game

• Make sure you know the rules for the age group you will officiate.
• Ball size?
• Length of quarters or halves?
• How many players are allowed on the pitch?
• Build out arc (U6/U8) / Build out line (U10)
• Understand the restart if the ball is played within the “build out” restrictive area.

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CCFC Rec Rules: https://circlecityfc.com/ccfc-rec-rules

Code of Conduct: https://circlecityfc.com/players-code-of-conduct

https://circlecityfc.com/parents-spectators-code-of-conduct

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Game Reports

The referee report form is intended for use by Recreation (Rec) referees to document notable behavior observed during games. Referees should use this form to report instances of excellent sportsmanship, positive conduct, and exemplary behavior by players, coaches, or spectators, as well as any misconduct, including unsportsmanlike behavior, rule violations, or inappropriate sideline actions. The purpose of this report is to support a positive playing environment, ensure accountability, and help league administrators address concerns or recognize outstanding contributions to the game.

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GAME REPORT FORM

https://forms.gle/bLedH7Vjm4cELHUt6

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U8 Buildout Line=Midfield Line

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On ALL goal kicks, the defensive team will retreat to midfield.

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They are not permitted to advance past midfield until the ball is kicked.

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This is intended to give the offensive team an opportunity to play out from the back and give more opportunity to transition to the attacking phase of the game.

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All goal kicks take place anywhere in or on the box.

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U8 Box Rule Explained

No Plays Inside Box

Players must stay out of the box

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If a defender plays a ball in the box = offensive ball = corner kick

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If an offensive player plays the ball in the box = defensive ball = goal kick

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Treat it like is out of bounds at the end line.

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This player needs to push up the field and support their teammates, they can still take a defensive minded position on the field

Positioning Tips

• Avoid being “straight lined” with the ball and attacker.
• You should be able to see the attacker, the ball and the primary defender
• “Move to improve”
• If you get straight lined, move so you can improve your play calling accuracy
• Distance yourself from the play. We do not wear shin guards so let’s not get involved in the play
• Small Sided Matches: Recommend staying around 10-20 feet from the play
• Full Sided Matches: Recommend staying around 10 – 20 yards from the play
• Make sure you can close in on plays when needed.
• Have a strong whistle!
• Anticipate where the play is going (next pass, etc.)

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Handling the ball

For the purposes of determining handball offences, the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit. Not every touch of a player’s hand/arm with the ball is an offence.

It is an offence if a player:

• deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, for example moving the hand/arm towards the ball
• touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger. A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation. By having their hand/arm in such a position, the player takes a risk of their hand/arm being hit by the ball and being penalized

HANDBALL!!!!!!

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Or not? What?

Laws of the Game

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Want to learn more?

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Theifab.com

Follow on FB @ Laws of the Game (football) or get the app

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FB & Insta @refsneedlovetoo

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U10 and Above

U10 & up Substitutions

• When you are ready to substitute players, the player must walk over to midfield and wait for the official to call for the subs to enter the game.

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• Coaches do not determine when the player can enter the field.

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• Just because you sent a sub over, does not mean the official has to allow the substitution to occur.

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U10 Build out Line Explained

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On Goal kicks, players from the opposing team

must retreat beyond the buildout line to

allow the other team the chance to play

the ball out and advance up the field

In this example, yellow is taking the goal kick

And blue is appropriately behind the line

U10 Build out Line Explained

The build out line is the introduction of offsides

Players are only offsides if they are beyond the

Buildout line when the ball is played or

Passed to them and they are beyond the

Last defender.

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In This example, the ball passes the buildout line before the player and therefore the player is not offsides.

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U10 Build out Line Explained

In This example the player passes the buildout line before the ball and is in an offsides position

U10 Build out Line Explained

The build out line is the introduction of offsides

Players are only offsides if they are beyond the

Buildout line when the ball is played or

Passed to them and they are beyond the

Last defender.

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Reminders for U10

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NO Punting or Drop Kicks allowed.

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Reasoning for the change: To align with Indiana Soccer modified playing rules for U10

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In the case of an infraction, the referee reminds the keeper of the NO PUNT rule and restarts the game with the ball in the hands of the goalkeeper.

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When the goalkeeper has the ball in their hands, the opposing team, must move behind the buildout line or 8 yards, whichever is greater.

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Rationale: Develop the concept of building out from the back, understanding that the goalkeeper passes the ball to teammates.

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Fouls/Offenses inside the box on an offensive player will result in the ball being placed on the goal box line parallel to the goal line, closest to where the foul occurred.

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On all Indirect free kicks, the player must make their best effort to pass the ball, and the ball must leave its original spot (No “tapping” the ball).

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Clarifications for U10

Offsides

• U10 and above
• The law states that a player is in an offside position if any of their body parts, except the hands and arms, are in the opponents' half of the pitch, and closer to the opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent (the last opponent is usually, but not necessarily, the goalkeeper).

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Get Certified

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Instructions: https://indianareferees.org/become-a-referee/��Step 1 - Online�According to Step IV on the "How to Become a Referee" - View Courses button, you will find the below.��INDIANA - DISTRICT #11 - 2027 FIRST-TIME REFEREE CURRICULA - STEP #1 (searchable by using: “Indiana State Referee Association”�https://learning.ussoccer.com/referee/courses/available/10000006/list��Get signed up and work on the modules.  Indiana Soccer keeps track of students' progress.  Adults must complete a background check and SafeSport before attending on-field training.��Step 2 - Attend an on-field training experience. Once this step is completed, the referee will be certified.�

http://www.indianareferees.org/administration/district-referees-administrators/

If you have any questions, please get in touch with your DRA. It is more efficient that the �DRA responds to your question. You can find your DRA here: https://indianareferees.org/administration/#district-11

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Get Recertified

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Recertification (for current or expired certifications)

https://learning.ussoccer.com/referee/courses/available/10000007/course-info

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Here is a link with all the DRAs’ names and email addresses. The DRA will email each district with their mailing address. https://indianareferees.org/administration/

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If you have any questions, please get in touch with your DRA. It is more efficient that the DRA responds to your question.

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