New/Revised Guidelines for Referees

The decisions and instructions to referees contained herein conform to the Laws of the Game, the decisions of the International F.A. Board, and guidance from USSF through its Advice to Referees, Guide to Procedures, and various official memoranda. This document is therefore regarded as authoritative and may be quoted as such.

Decisions made during play depend entirely on the opinion of the referee, who makes a decision at the time of the incident. Coaches are requested to inform their players of the points specified below and to ensure that every game is played sportingly.

Julie Ilacqua Managing Director of Referee Programs

Alfred Kleinaitis Manager of Referee Development and Education

1. Serious Foul Play and Violent Conduct Soccer is a tough, combative sport. The contest to gain possession of the ball should nonetheless be fair and sporting. Any actions meeting these criteria, even when vigorous, must be allowed by the referee. Serious Foul Play and Violent Conduct are, however, strictly forbidden and the referee must react to them by stringently applying the Laws of the Game.

These two offenses can be defined as follows:
(a) It is serious foul play when a player uses excessive force, formerly defined as "disproportionate and unnecessary strength," when challenging for the ball on the field against an opponent. There can be no serious foul play against a teammate, the referee, an assistant referee, a spectator, etc.

(b) It is violent conduct when a player is guilty of aggression (excessive force or deliberate violence) towards an opponent when they are not competing for the ball. It is also violent conduct if the excessive force is used when the ball is not in play, if it is committed by a substitute or substituted player, or if it is directed at anyone other than an opponent (e. g., teammate, referee, assistant referee, coach, spectator, etc.). If the violent conduct is committed by a player against an opponent on the field during play, the restart is a direct free kick for the opposing team where the foul occurred (or a penalty kick if it was committed by a player inside the player's penalty area). If the violent conduct is by a player during play against anyone on the field other than an opponent, the restart is an indirect free kick where the misconduct occurred. If the violent conduct is committed during a stoppage of play, the restart is not changed. A dropped ball where the ball was when play is stopped is the correct restart if the violent conduct is committed during play either off the field or by a substitute or substituted player.

2. Tackling A tackle as such is not an infringement of the Laws of the Game. It becomes an infringement only if the tackler plays carelessly, recklessly, or with excessive force, or places the opponent in danger.

(a) A sliding tackle from the front or side, made with one or both legs, is permissible if, in the opinion of the referee, it is not dangerous. If, however, the player making the tackle trips the opponent before, during, or after making contact with the ball, the referee shall award a direct free kick to the opposing team. The referee must judge whether an illegal trip occurred or whether the opponent fell over the leg of the player making a legal tackle.
(b) Tackling with the foot lifted from the ground may be dangerous, whether contact is made with the ball or not. Lifting of the foot should be penalized if the referee considers the player is endangering an opponent by so doing. If the player deliberately plays over the ball and makes contact with the opponent's leg, this is serious foul play and must be sanctioned with a send- off (red card) and a direct free kick (or a penalty kick, if appropriate).
(c) Tackling with two feet together, studs up, if uncontrolled and from a distance, could be judged as at least reckless and possibly dangerous to the opponent. If controlled and from a short distance, there may be no danger.
(d) A tackle, regardless of direction, which endangers the safety of an opponent must be sanctioned as serious foul play. The player must be sent from the field (red card) and play restarted with a direct free kick (or a penalty kick if committed by a player inside the player's team's own penalty area).

3. Charging from behind Charging from behind is permissible only if the opponent is intentionally impeding while shielding the ball. The charge, however, must be made fairly and under no circumstances to the back (spinal area).

4. Reckless challenges Referees should take stringent measures against players moving their arms and elbows without due care, by applying the sanctions available to them under Law 12.

5. Offenses against goalkeepers It is an offense if a player:
(a) jumps at a goalkeeper under the pretext of heading the ball;
(b) moves or jumps about near a goalkeeper in order to distract or interfere with or prevent the goalkeeper from releasing the ball;
(c) who is standing in front of a goalkeeper when a corner kick is being taken, takes advantage of the position to impede the goalkeeper before the kick is taken and before the ball is in play;
(d) makes any play for the ball while the goalkeeper is still controlling it with the hands. Kicking or attempting to kick the ball held by the goalkeeper is considered to be dangerous play.

6. Impeding the progress of an opponent A player who has the ball under control within playing distance (i.e., the distance at which the player is covering the ball for tactical reasons in order to avoid its being played by an opponent, without using the arms) is not guilty of impeding the progress of the opponent. Any player who intentionally impedes the progress of an opponent by crossing directly in front of or running between the opponent and the ball or intervening so as to form an obstacle with the aim of delaying the opponent's advance, must be sanctioned with an indirect free kick in favor of the opposing team. However, any player who intentionally impedes the progress of an opponent by physical contact, whether using the hand, arm, leg, or any other part of the body, shall be penalized for holding by the award of a direct free kick to the opposing team, or by a penalty kick, if the offense was committed within the player's team's penalty area.

7. Scissors or bicycle kick Such a kick is permissible, provided that in the opinion of the referee it is not dangerous to an opponent.

8. Jumping at an opponent A player who jumps at an opponent under the pretext of heading the ball shall be penalized by the award of a direct free kick to the opposing team.

9. Prohibited use of body A player who holds off an opponent using the hand, arm, leg, or body (except through a legal charge) is guilty of an infringement of Law 12 and shall be punished by the award of a direct free kick to the opposing team. Holding or hindering when the ball is out of play in order to prevent the opponent from running into position is misconduct and shall be penalized by a caution for unsporting behavior.

10. Caution for handling the ball or holding an opponent A caution for unsporting behavior is appropriate if a player:
(a) holds an opponent to interfere with attacking play (e.g., prevents the opponent from getting to the ball or pulls an opponent away from possession of the ball),
(b) handles the ball to interfere with attacking play, or
(c) handles the ball in an attempt to score a goal.
(Note: if handling the ball or holding the opponent prevents a goal or interferes with a goalscoring opportunity, the offender must be shown the red card and sent off the field.)

11. Free kicks A player who delays the restart of play or fails to respect the required distance when play is being restarted must be cautioned.

12. Use of advantage If the referee applies the advantage and the advantage which was anticipated does not develop after a short time, i.e., 2-3 seconds, and the ball remains in play, the referee should immediately stop the game and penalize the original offense.

13. Denying a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity
(a) If, in the opinion of the referee, a player who is moving towards the opponent's goal, with an obvious opportunity to score a goal, is denied that goalscoring opportunity by an offense punishable by a free kick or penalty kick, the offending player shall be shown the red card and sent off the field of play.
(b) If, in the opinion of the referee, a player, other than the goalkeeper within the goalkeeper's own penalty area, deliberately handles the ball to prevent it from entering the goal and thus denies the opposing side a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity, the player shall be shown the red card and sent off the field of play. There need not be an opponent nearby with an opportunity to play the ball.

14. Penalty kick
(a) Positioning of ball and players during a penalty kick During a penalty kick, the goalkeeper shall stand on the goal line. Apart from the goalkeeper and the player taking the kick, all the players shall take up a position on the field of play behind the penalty mark and outside the penalty area at least 10 yards (9.15 m) from the penalty mark and stay there until the ball is in play (kicked and moved forward).
(b) Penalty kick at the end of a half or at the end of the match If play is prolonged before half-time or at the end of the match to allow for a penalty kick to be taken or for one to be retaken, a goal shall be allowed if, before going into the goal, the ball touches any combination of the goalposts, crossbar, goalkeeper, or ground (providing no other infringement has been committed).
(c) Unless the ball has entered the goal (in which case the kick is retaken), infringements of Law 14 by the kicking team must be punished with an indirect free kick from the place where the infringement occurred.

15. Player in offside position
(a) It is not an offense in itself to be in an offside position.
(b) A player shall be penalized for being offside if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of that player's teammates, the player is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in the active play by
1. interfering with play or with an opponent, or
2. gaining an advantage by being in that position.
(c) A player shall not be penalized for offside by the referee
1. merely because the player is in an offside position, or
2. if the player receives the ball directly from a goal kick, a corner kick, or a throw-in.
An assistant referee must not signal merely because a player is in an offside position. Furthermore, if an assistant referee is in any doubt as to whether a player is offside (active position) or not, the referee should decide in favor of the attacker; in other words, refrain from signaling offside.

16. Goalkeeper restrictions An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside the goalkeeper's own penalty area,
takes more than six seconds from the moment of establishing control with the hands until the ball is released into play
touches the ball again with the hands after it has been released from the goalkeeper's possession and has not touched any other player outside the penalty area or has touched only a teammate inside the penalty area
touches the ball with the hands after it has been deliberately kicked to the goalkeeper by a teammate
touches the ball with the hands after receiving it directly from a throw-in taken by a teammate

17. Persistent infringements Any player who repeatedly infringes the Laws of the Game by committing multiple fouls or by participating in a pattern of fouls directed at an opponent shall be cautioned and shown the yellow card.

18. Substitution When a substitution is to take place, the substitute shall report to the fourth official (or assistant referee) and surrender the substitution card (if applicable), properly completed, at the halfway line. A player who is going to be replaced may not leave the field of play without the referee's permission and then only when the ball is out of play. The substitute may then enter the field at the halfway line after receiving a signal to do so from the referee.
The substitute must be fully ready to play before reporting to the appropriate official. Referees should not delay the timely restart of play to allow substitutes to correct their equipment or uniforms before entering the field nor shall the referee prevent a team from restarting play if the substitute has not reported to the appropriate official prior to play being stopped. There is no requirement that the player leaving the field must do so at the halfway line.

19. Injury of a player If a player is bleeding, that player must leave the field immediately to have the bleeding stopped and the skin and uniform cleaned as thoroughly as possible. When the player is ready to return to the game, the player's injuries and the uniform must be inspected by an official. This can be the referee or, if delegated by the referee in the pregame conference, the fourth official or, if there is no fourth official, an assistant referee. Only then will the referee give permission for the player to re-enter the game; the game need not be stopped in this situation. Only the referee may permit the return to the field of play of a player who was instructed to leave the field for treatment of an injury. This is not a substitution. The player who left the field for treatment of an injury may return during play with the permission of the referee, but only from the touch line. If the ball is out of play, the player may return with the permission of the referee across any boundary line. Up to two team officials are permitted to enter the field of play with the referee's permission solely for the purpose of assessing an injury--not to treat it-and to arrange for the player's removal. The referee must exercise care before allowing removal of a seriously injured player from the field. In all cases where an injury was the sole reason for the stoppage of play, the injured player is required to leave the field and cannot be permitted to return until the referee gives permission after play has restarted

20. Attitude towards referees Any player who protests at an official's decision may be cautioned. Any player who assaults or insults an official shall be sent off. The captain of a team, although responsible for the team's behavior, has no special rights.

21. Throw-in A throw-in may not be taken from a distance of more than one yard (one meter) outside the touch line. Players who stand in front of the thrower in such a way as to harass the thrower or to interfere with the throw-in must be cautioned for unsporting behavior and shown the yellow card. Opponents must remain at least two meters/yards from the point where the throw-in is taken. If they do not, they must be cautioned and shown the yellow card for failing to respect the required distance.

22. Delaying the restart of play Any player who delays the restart by wasting time shall be cautioned. The following actions are examples of this behavior:
- takes a free kick from a wrong position with the sole intention of forcing the referee to demand a retake;
- appears to prepare for a throw-in but suddenly leaves it to a teammate to perform the throw-in;
- performs any restart in such a way that the ball is not properly put into play, thus forcing a repetition of the restart;
- kicks the ball away or carries it away with the hands after the referee has stopped play for any reason;
- stands in front of the ball when a free kick has been awarded to the opposing team in order to give the team time to organize the defensive wall;
- excessively delays taking any restart;
- delays leaving the field when being substituted;
- provoking a confrontation by deliberately touching the ball after the referee has stopped play

23. Celebration of goal
(a) After a goal has been scored, the player who has scored it is allowed to share the joy with teammates. However, the referee must not allow them to spend an excessive amount of time in their opponents' half of the field. Neither shall the referee allow players to taunt their opponents. In any of these cases, the referee will caution the offending player for unsporting behavior. Referees must look beyond the behavior of players celebrating goals and consider as misconduct only those actions which are provocative, obscene or insulting, or which unnecessarily delay the restart of play.
(b) If a player removes the shirt to celebrate a goal, the player must be cautioned for unsporting behavior and shown the yellow card.
A player must be cautioned when he or she:
in the opinion of the referee, makes gestures which are provocative, derisory or inflammatory
climbs on to a perimeter fence to celebrate a goal being scored
removes the shirt over the head or covers his/her head with the shirt

Leaving the field to celebrate a goal is not a cautionable offence in itself but it is essential that players return to the field as soon as possible. Referees are expected to act in a preventive mode and to exercise common sense in dealing with the celebration of a goal.

24. Liquid refreshments during the match Players shall be entitled to take liquid refreshments during a stoppage in the match but only on the touchline. Players may not leave the field during play to take liquids. It is forbidden to throw plastic water bags or any other water containers onto or from the field.

25. Players' equipment
(a) The referee shall ensure that each player wears the uniform properly and check that anything worn by the player conforms with the requirements of Law 4. Players shall be made aware that their jersey remains tucked inside their shorts and that their socks remain pulled up. The referee shall also make sure that each player is wearing shinguards and that none of them is wearing potentially dangerous objects (such as watches or other jewelry of any nature).
(b) Players are permitted to wear visible undergarments such as thermopants. They must, however, be the same color as the shorts of the team of the player wearing them and not extend beyond the top of the knee. If a team wears multicolored shorts, the undergarment must be the same color as the predominant color.
(c) The referee, assisted as needed by the assistant referees, shall ensure that player equipment and uniforms comply with Law 4 and will pay particular attention to any items (e.g., braces) worn by a player which are not included in the standard uniform.
d) All items of jewelry are considered potentially dangerous. Jewelry may not be worn. Taping jewellery is not adequate protection. Rings, earrings, leather or rubber bands are not necessary to play and the only thing they can bring about is injury.

26. The Role of the Fourth Official The Fourth Official will assist the referee at all times. The fourth official must indicate to the referee if the wrong player is cautioned or when a player who has been given a second caution is not sent off or when violent conduct occurs out of the view of the referee and assistant referees. The referee, however, retains the authority to decide on all points connected with play.

27. Trickery (cf. Law 12 IFAB Decision 3) A player using a deliberate trick to circumvent the text and spirit of Law 12 regarding deliberate passes to the goalkeeper shall be cautioned for unsporting behavior and shown a yellow card.

28. Technical area Team officials may convey tactical instructions to players during the game. However, team officials must remain within the confines of the technical area while doing so and must conduct themselves, at all times, in a responsible manner. Only one person at a time may be standing in the technical area, giving instructions to the team. The technical area may be defined as an area covering the length of the substitutes' bench plus one yard on either side and extending from the front of the bench up to a distance of one yard (one meter) away from the touchline. It is recommended that markings be used to define this area, but the absence of such markings does not relieve team officials from the obligation to behave responsibly. The referee may sketch out a technical area if one is not marked and if, in the opinion of the referee, this is needed to assist in the control of sideline behavior.

29. Simulation (Law 12, IFAB Decision 5) Any simulating action anywhere on the field, which is intended to deceive the referee, must be sanctioned as unsporting behavior. A number of specific actions may be considered cautionable as unsporting behavior. These include faking an injury or exaggerating the seriousness of an injury and faking a foul (diving) or exaggerating the severity of a foul.

30. Misconduct by substitutes or substituted players
(a) Referees must caution and show the yellow card for unsporting behavior, dissent, or delay of restarts by substitutes or substituted players.
(b) Substitutes or substituted players who are sent off and shown the red card must leave the vicinity of the field of play and the technical area. If their offense involved the use of violence or excessive force, the referee must report the reason as violent conduct.

31. Dealing with injured players Referees must follow the instructions below when dealing with injured players:
play is allowed to continue until the ball is out of play if a player is, in the referee's opinion, only slightly injured
play is stopped if, in his opinion, a player is seriously injured
after questioning the injured player, the referee authorizes one, or at most two doctors, to enter the field to ascertain the type of injury and to arrange the player's safe and swift removal from the field
the stretcher-bearers should enter the field with a stretcher at the same time as the doctors to allow the player to be removed as soon as possible
the referee ensures an injured player is safely removed from the field of play
a player is not allowed to be treated on the field
any player bleeding from a wound must leave the field of play. The player may not return until the referee is satisfied that the bleeding has stopped. A player cannot wear clothing with blood on it
as soon as the referee has authorized the doctors to enter the field, the player must leave the field, either on the stretcher or on foot. A player who does not comply is cautioned for unsporting behavior
an injured player may only return to the field of play after the match has restarted
an injured player may only reenter the field from the touch line when the ball is in play. When the ball is out of play, the injured player may reenter from any of the boundary lines
the referee alone is authorized to allow an injured player to reenter the field whether the ball is in play or not
if play has not otherwise been stopped for another reason, or if an injury suffered by a player is not the result of a breach of the Laws of the Game, the referee restarts play with a dropped ball
the referee allows for the full amount of time lost through injury to be played at the end of each period of play.

Tournaments

Best Youth Tournaments By Paul Kennedy Managing Editor, Soccer America Magazine

Teams wishing to travel have hundreds of youth soccer tournaments to choose from, but which tournaments are the best?
Soccer America Magazine surveyed leading youth coaches across the country and asked them to name the best tournaments, taking into account everything they consider important: competition, organization, facilities, showcase, destination. Soccer America also asked coaches to name the best tournaments by category.

Boys Top 10
1. DISNEY'S SOCCER SHOWCASE. Its timing (between Christmas and New Year's, i.e. between high school seasons), location (at the Disney's Wide World of Sports complex outside Orlando, Fla.) and full-time event staff allow it to attract top youth teams. Last year's four U-16 regional champions all attended. The tournament features three divisions - Showcase, Copa and Predator - for boys and girls as well as a U-17 Super Group for boys, featuring ODP teams and foreign teams.
2. SAN DIEGO SURF CUP. Timing (late summer) and location (San Diego) made the Surf Cup one of the first youth tournaments to take on a national scope. It's now played over two weekends in late July and early August at the 18-field San Diego Polo Club complex in Del Mar.

3. DALLAS CUP. The most famous international youth tournament played in the United States. Past participants included David Beckham. Dallas Cup XXVI will be held for the first time at the Frisco soccer complex, the new home of FC Dallas.

4. NOMADS THANKSGIVING TOURNAMENT. The boys-only tournament attracts more than 320 teams to the San Diego area over Thanksgiving. Tournament headquarters are at UC San Diego in La Jolla.

5. ADIDAS POTOMAC MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT. The suburban Maryland tournament is held over Memorial Day weekend, attracting top Region I teams, among others, seeking competition before regional play.

6. SCORE AT THE SHORE. The U.S. Club Soccer tournament went big-time in 2003, attracting many top-ranked teams in late summer. The 2005 boys tournament was moved from Long Island to Florida to be held again in conjunction with U.S. Club Soccer's National Cup.

7. PRESIDENT'S CUP. SC del Sol runs this Phoenix area tournament that attracted two national champions and three runners-up in 2005. It's a popular mid-winter tournament for teams in Regions I and II seeking to flee the cold.

8. CASL SHOOTOUT. Top-flight winners in 2004 included Sockers FC of Chicago, Pateadores of Southern California and the Michigan Wolves, reflecting the Raleigh, N.C., area tournament's national reach. The older boys will play Dec. 9-11 in conjunction with the 2005 Men's College Cup.

9. ADIDAS BLUE CHIP SHOWCASE. The boys edition enters its 14th year, having emerged as a major showcase event for U-16 and U-17 teams. Cincinnati's Classics Hammer FC hosts the tournament at suburban Kopling Park.

10. SCHWAN'S USA CUP. Out-of-state visitors to the mid-July tournament pump an estimated $15 million into the Minnesota economy. Launched by the Sons of Norway in 1985, it attracted 982 teams in 2005.

Girls Top 10
1. DISNEY'S SOCCER SHOWCASE. The boys and girls competitions are staggered - the girls tournament finishes New Year's weekend - to give more teams the chance to compete at the Disney's Wide World of Sports. The 2004 girls tournament had three champions go on to win 2005 regional titles.

2. WAGS TOURNAMENT. Long before girls soccer was the hot sport it is today, WAGS was operating in the Washington, D.C., area. Now in its 30th year, WAGS (Washington Area Girls Soccer) attracts many nationally ranked teams each October.

3. SAN DIEGO SURF CUP. Teams from all parts of the country jump at the chance to face teams from Southern California, the girls soccer hotbed. The host San Diego Surf won national girls titles in 2000, 2002 and 2003. The boys and girls summer tournament is now in its 25th year. A separate Thanksgiving tournament for girls is in its 12th year.

4. CASL SHOOTOUT. The girls competition at the Raleigh, N.C., tournament is split over two weekends in November. The U-16 and U-17 girls play a showcase format; the girls U-15 feature championship play.

5. PDA GIRLS SOCCER SHOWCASE. The Memorial Day weekend tournament, hosted by New Jersey club PDA, was rated highly by girls coaches. PDA teams swept the U- 15, U-16 and U-17 Cup divisions and then won Region I titles five weeks later.

6. TEXAS SHOOTOUT. Hosted by the Houston area Challenge Soccer Club in early June, the Texas Shootout averages approximately 240 teams and more than 300 college coaches. It's held in conjunction with the adidas Cup, featuring U.S. and foreign national youth teams.

7. SCORE AT THE SHORE. The girls competition, held in early August, remains on Long Island, while the boys tournament moved to Florida in 2005. Soccer at the Shore South was added in 2005, featuring boys and girls divisions played in Jacksonville, Fla., over President's Day weekend.

8. LAS VEGAS COLLEGE SHOWCASE. Held in mid- March, the tournament is organized by the Neusport-Tabagators Soccer Club. In the 2005 girls competitions, such national powers as PDA of New Jersey, Sereno of Arizona and Slammers, Eclipse and San Diego Surf of Cal South entered teams. Games are held at the Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex in northwest Las Vegas. (Editor's note: The tournament was previously misidentified as another Las Vegas tournament.)

9. ORANGE CLASSIC. Started as the Junior Orange Bowl Soccer Tournament in 1980 with 16 teams, the Orange Classic had more than 350 boys and girls teams in 2004. Based in Broward County, north of Miami, it's another popular post- Christmas tournament.

10. TEXAS CUP. The Dallas Sting, a pioneering club in girls soccer, has operated the Texas Cup for 15 years. The tournament is held over Thanksgiving weekend at sites in Dallas and the surrounding suburbs.

BOYS CATEGORIES
Best Tournament-Competition
1. Disney's Soccer Showcase 2. Dallas Cup 3. San Diego Surf Cup 4. Nomads Thanksgiving Tournament 5. adidas Potomac Memorial Tournament

Best Tournament-Organization
1. Disney's Soccer Showcase 2. Dallas Cup 3. San Diego Surf Cup 4. Nomads Thanksgiving Tournament 5. adidas Potomac Memorial Tournament

Best Tournament-Facilities
1. Disney's Soccer Showcase 2. San Diego Surf Cup 3. adidas Potomac Memorial Tournament 4. Nomads Thanksgiving Tournament 5. Schwan's USA Cup

Best Tournament-Showcase
1. Disney's Soccer Showcase 2. Dallas Cup 3. San Diego Surf Cup 4, Nomads College Showcase 5. adidas Potomac Memorial Tournament

Best Tournament-Destination
1. Disney's Soccer Showcase 2. San Diego Surf Cup 3. Nomads Thanksgiving Tournament 4. Schwan's USA Cup 5. Las Vegas College Showcase

GIRLS CATEGORIES
Best Tournament-Competition
1. Disney's Soccer Showcase 2. WAGS Tournament 3. PDA Girls Soccer Showcase 4. San Diego Surf Cup 5. CASL Shootout

Best Tournament-Organization
1. Disney's Soccer Showcase 2. San Diego Surf Cup 3. WAGS Tournament 4. PDA Girls Soccer Showcase 5. CASL Shootout

Best Tournament-Facilities
1. Disney's Soccer Showcase 2. San Diego Surf Cup 3. WAGS Tournament 4. PDA Girls Soccer Showcase 5. CASL Shootout

Best Tournament-Showcase
1. Disney's Soccer Showcase 2. PDA Girls Soccer Showcase 3. CASL Shootout 4. Texas Shootout 5. WAGS Tournament

Best Tournament-Destination
1. Disney's Soccer Showcase 2. San Diego Surf Cup 3. Orange Classic 4. Las Vegas College Showcase 5. CASL Shootout

(This article originally appeared in the August 22, 2005 issue of Soccer America Magazine.)