The Rules of Officiating SoccerThe Rules of Officiating SoccerNortheastern University 2007Northeastern University 2007

The Role of the OfficialThe decisions of thereferee regarding factsconnected with play arefinalfinal.

Those facts includewhether a goal hasbeen scored or not andthe result of the match.

General Rules• 15 min

halves• 1 time out

per half• 6 players • 1 must be

the keeper• 4 minimum

to play

Scoring a Goal• All of the ball must cross

all of the line• The Lead official or the

Referee will declare a valid goal

• There must have been no violations by the offense

• Keepers may not score• Goals cannot be scored

on an indirect kick

Kickoffs• Start of game and after each goal• Start of second half

– By team that did not kick-off in first half (teams switch sides)

• Start of each overtime period•• A goal may be scored directly from the A goal may be scored directly from the

kickoffkickoff• Head official makes sure:

– Goalies on both sides are ready– The other officials are ready– The time keeper is ready

• The Lead official will blow the whistle to commence play

The Goal Area• The keepers may use

their hands in the semi-circle around the goal

• No offensive player may be in this area before the ball

• Fouls inside this area by the defense result in a penalty kick

• Goal kicks & in the Box violations come from here

Goalie Rules• Goalies may not punt the ball

or throw the ball past mid-field in the air.

• They may use their hands in the Goal Area.

• Keepers may slide with their hands, but not with their feet (Yellow card)

• Keepers may not cross midfield, or score a goal.

Teammates may pass the ball back to the keeper

Players and Equipment

• No Jewelry or Dangerous Equipment

• Proper athletic attire

• Goalie must have a different color jersey from either team

Teams must wear contrasting jerseys

Basic Positioning• The officials should

remain in the form of a wide triangle

• The officials should try and keep all the players within the triangle

• Any official can call any foul they clearly see, but the nearest official to the play should usually make the call

Transition Positioning• Keep all players

within the triangle

• Far official stays with the ball as it moves up the field

• Lead official can never be beaten to the goal line

Transitioning • Anticipate the play• Always be fighting

for the best angle• The 2 table side

officials should never get beat to the endline

• Hustle to the proper position but don’t rush

Proper Positioning

• When the ball is established in one half of the field all 3 officials should be focused on the play.

• The farthest official providing off the ball coverage.

Line Responsibilities

Closest curtain to midfield and the whole endline.

Whole sideline to each endline.

Other curtain and whole endline.

Calling Out Of Bounds

• Every time the ball goes out of bounds the closest official will sharply blow their whistle and signal the direction of possession

• The Far official is responsible for their whole line

• The Referee and Lead Official will take their half of the field and their endline

• The curtain is out of boundsDirectional Signal

All of the Ball Must Cross all of the Line

The official whois responsible forthe line must beon the line tomake the call.

Which one of these balls

is out of bounds?

Corner Kicks: Official’s Positions• All 3 officials should be

on the ball side of the field

• The official farthest away from the ball should watch for fouls on a crossed ball

• Once the ball is played the officials should return to their normal positions

Corner Kick Administration• Lead official will be out of

bounds off the endline till the ball is played

• Back players off to 3 yards

• Administer the 5 count• Make sure the ball is

stopped and in the proper position

• Regulate the action closest to you when the kick is taken

BAD

O.K.

Regulating Contact• Officials must be

proactive in calling and regulating contact before it leads to problems.

• Players must play the ball and not the player.

• Anytime a player moves their arms to ward off an opponent the official may call a foul.

Be vocal and preventative

Direct Kicks• Goals may be scored

directly from a Direct Free Kick

• Must fouls are Direct Kicks(the “-ing” cheat)

• The official will point the direction of the kick and the spot of the foul

• Direct kicks in the box equal a penalty kick

Indirect Kicks• Goals may not be

scored from an Indirect Kick

• All kick-ins are indirect• Dangerous kicks, over-

half, hitting the ceiling structures, and handling the ball.

• The official will leave his hand in the air till the ball touches another player.

All officials will raise their arm to signal that a goal cannot be scored till it is

touched by another player

Dangerous Kicks• Players may not

endanger other players• A player cannot raise

their foot towards a players head

• A player cannot lower their head towards a players foot

• Dangerous Kicks are indirect foulsThe safety of our players is

the #1 job of an official.

Bicycle Kicks

• Bicycle kicks are allowed provided the kick is not dangerous to other players.

• This means that no one can be in the area when the attempt is made.

• If the kick is dangerous; a yellow card or red should be considered. As depicted this would

be a safe kick.

Encroachment• The defenders

may not “play the ball” during a quick restart.

• If the ball is “played to” the defender no violation.

• Don’t interfere unless you have to …BUT make your presence felt.

Lots of issues can arise after a foul call. Make sure you are loud, clear and in position to officiate the free kick.

3 yardsin all

directionsFailure

to respectthe requireddistance is

a cautionableoffense

FailureFailureto respectto respect

the requiredthe requireddistance isdistance is

a a cautionablecautionableoffenseoffense

ENCROACHMENT

Walls• Walls will only be

“created” by the official when the offense requests intervention

• The official will stop play and set up the wall

• March off 3 yards• Return to a proper

position to officiate the action

• Blow the whistle

When creating a wall never turn your back on

the players.

Sliding There is no sliding !!!There is no sliding !!!

• This is the #1 cause for yellow cards.

• Our officials must be ruthless in our enforcement

• The penalty is a direct free kick and a yellow card

• Award a penalty kick for slides in the Box

The Penalty for Sliding

==AUTOMATIC EVERY SINGLE TIME!!

RED and YELLOW CARDSRED and YELLOW CARDS

Yellow and Red Cards

YELLOW CARDS:

• 2-5 min Penalty –power play

• Player may return after a Goal

• 2 yellows equal an ejection

RED CARDS:

• Automatic Ejection

• Team plays shorthanded

• Player must leave the facility and will be suspended at least one game

Yellow Cards

Yellow cards are used to regulate unsporting conduct, sliding,

and dissent, among other issues. Yellow cards are a way

that an official cautions a player that their behavior is unacceptable. Yellow cards

carry an automatic two minute penalty. The carded team must

play a man down till the 2-5 mins expires or until a goal is

scored.

Cautionary Yellow Card

• Unsporting Behavior• Dissent by word or action• Persistently infringes the laws• Tactical Foul • Delays a restart• Encroaches on a restart• Enters the field without Official’s permission• Sliding

YELLOW CARDS CARRY A TWO MINUTE PENALTY

Red CardsRed cards are a tool that officials

have to regulate a match. Red cards automatically signal the ejection of the carded player. Further, the carded team will

play down a man for the remainder of the match. The

player will be ejected from the facility and serve at least an

automatic one game suspension.

Misconduct and Sending Off• Severe foul• Violent Conduct• Spitting at …• Handling the ball to stop a

goal• Fouling to stop a goal• Abusive language or acts• 2nd Caution

RED CARDS CARRY AN AUTOMATIC EJECTION & THE TEAM WILL PLAY DOWN A MAN

Penalty Kicks• Non-kickers must remain

behind the orange line

• The keeper must have their toes on the line till the ball is kicked

• The ball is live after it is kicked

• The kicker must wait for the whistle

Penalty kicks are given for defensive fouls in the box, and to decide games tied at the end of regulation.

If Tackler makes contact with the ball first

and then the player trips it

is Not a Foul!Not a Foul!

Captain’s Pre-Game Meeting

Inform captains that:– Only the captains may talk to the officials (they may ask

questions of the rules not the judgment of the refs)– Captains are responsible for the conduct of their

players– Players must keep their arms down (Low/no contact)– Game ends on officials whistle not when the clock

reaches 0:00– Make sure they know the goalie rules– Make sure they know what constitutes the boundaries– Make sure there are no other questions about the rules

• Coin toss (winner chooses ball or side to defend)

Call one captain over from each team and give armband:

AdvantageAllows play to continuewhen the team against

which an offense has beencommitted will benefit from

such an advantage and penalizes the original

offense if the anticipated advantage did

not ensue at that time.

Recognizing Advantage• Once an Advantage call is determined, the

official will declare, “Play On!” and give the advantage signal.

• If the advantage materializes, the foul will “go away”

• If not, the foul will be called and a restart will be granted.

• Play deserving of a card never “goes away”, but must be granted after the conclusion of the situation.