2019 OFFICIAL INSIGHT 

Before reading on, please understand that we fully support the officials and at no time is it ever in anyone's best interest to yell, or talk back to an official. Lets remember two very important facts:
1. They are human, and they make mistakes, as do you.
2. We must remember that you represent your son, your family and the district.  Teach the players on the field how to be better people by understanding the right way to conduct yourself and lead by example. 

RULE CHANGES -

Any kicks that originated in the box must exit the box before being played.  If it doesn't it's a rekick.

Five minutes or less clock will be stopped for all subs.

Improper equipped players: Shin Straps are busted, socks are messed up or torn, CAN BE SUBBED to make a correction (last year they could not be subbed).  

Play is stopped for an injury on the field.  There is now a DROP BALL... NO LONGER an indirect kick.  Even if a goalie has the ball it is a drop ball from the location of the spot when the official blows the whistle.  Lets think about sportsmanship in this moment and allow the goalie to take the ball on that drop.
 
The one exception is if the goalie has the ball in his/her hands and is in the Goal Area, then the restart is an Indirect Free Kick for the goalie’s team.  Emphasis is Goal Area!  Penalty Area possession is a drop ball restart as explained above.

When officials issue a yellow or red card they MUST notify the coaches to the reason for the card.

Uniform Colors: Home is dark and dark socks. Visitors must wear solid white shirts and socks. 
Shorts color is up to the coach and the color does not matter.  ALL TAPE MUST MATCH SOCK COLOR.  

Goalies can't wear the same color socks as any opponent.

Half time is 10 minutes, Can ONLY be adjusted by coaches.  There is a 5 minute minimum.

Teams are entitled to 20 minute warm up, but it is recommended that if a team might have an issue getting to the game on time, that they change the game time prior to the event.  

All goals MUST BE ANCHORED properly or any game can be suspended until it is corrected. 

Player face mask must be approved before any player can participate. 

Curses are AUTOMATIC RED CARDS at the discretion of the official.  If the player directs a curse towards another player or official it will be a definite Red Card.  Red Cards are two game suspensions.  Yellow / Yellow Red Cards are not. 

Officials hear or see lightning or thunder they will call the game, no excuses.  That call will be a 30 minute run off NO MATTER WHAT. Officials have the only say in this matter (this includes a school that has a detection system). 

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Officials -


In an attempt to cover a few different play rulings to hopefully bring consistency in our calls, PLEASE review these additional situations:


- Referee makes foul call against Team A at midfield but mistakenly points in the direction in which Team A is attacking.  As the players on both sides react to the referee’s signal, the referee realizes that he/she has pointed in the wrong direction.  REFEREE SHOULD CORRECT THE CALL AND ALLOW BOTH TEAMS TO RESET THEMSELVES BEFORE BLOWING THE WHISTLE TO PUT THE BALL INTO PLAY – SLOW DOWN THE GAME RESTART IN THIS SITUATION.


- Referee makes a direct free kick call for the attacking Team near the penalty area and immediately runs in to the spot and motions for the defensive Team to move back 10 yards without being asked by the attacking Team.  The attacking Team puts ball into play while this is going on and scores.  The defensive Team now complains that the referee was moving us back so we thought a second whistle would be needed.  WHILE GOOD TO BE PROACTIVE TELLING PLAYERS TO “GET AWAY”, THE REFEREE SHOULD NOT GET INVOLVED IN THIS SITUATION UNTIL ASKED FOR 10 YARDS BY THE ATTACKING TEAM AS THE ATTACKING TEAM MAY WANT TO TAKE A QUICK FREE KICK.  REMEMBER - DON’T MANAGE A FREE KICK UNLESS ASKED.  IF IT’S A BLATANT VIOLATION OF NOT GIVING 10 YARDS AND YOU MUST GET INVOLVED, THE REFEREE MUST MAKE THE ATTACKING TEAM WAIT FOR A WHISTLE.  A VERBAL WARNING OR YELLOW CARD FOR ENCROACHMENT TO THE DEFENDING TEAM “MAY” BE APPLICABLE IN THIS SITUATION.


- As the ball crosses the touchline and goes out of bounds, the Referee in a 2-person system never signals direction for the throw-in.  REFEREE SHOULD ALWAYS POINT DIRECTION SO ALL INVOLVED (PLAYERS, COACHES, SPECTATORS, PARTNER) UNDERSTAND THE DIRECTION OF THE RE-START – BETTER TO OVER SIGNAL THAN UNDER SIGNAL.


- Defensive Team has made a push forward and is standing just on their defensive side of midfield.  A long ball is played forward down the wing towards an attacking player who is in front of the defensive Team and is in an offside position.  The referee waits until this offside player touches the ball near the penalty area before blowing the whistle for offside and gives the defensive Team an indirect free kick at the 18 yard line.  REFEREE MUST DETERMINE WHEN THIS ATTACKING PLAYER BECOMES INVOLVED IN THE ACTIVE PLAY.  IF YOU DETERMINE THIS PLAYER IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN PLAY THE BALL, THEN THAT IS WHEN THE PLAYER BECAME INVOLVED AND THE WHISTLE SHOULD BE BLOWN WITH THE INDIRECT FREE KICK FROM THAT SPOT – MAYBE AT THE 40/35 YARD LINE.


- Ball is in possession by the goalkeeper in his/her penalty area when the referee notices there is an injured player on the field.  Referee believes the injury is not serious and waits until the goalkeeper distributes the ball up field or plays the ball out of bounds before blowing the whistle to stop the game or encourages the keeper to do so to avoid the drop ball in the penalty area.  GOOD GAME MANAGEMENT AND THE DESIRED OUTCOME IS TO HAVE THE OPPOSING TEAM DISPLAY GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP AND PLAY THE BALL (DROP BALL OR THROW IN) BACK TO THE GOALKEEPER’S TEAM BUT REMEMBER, THE REFEREE CANNOT TELL THE OPPOSING TEAM TO DO THIS AND CAN ONLY ENCOURAGE GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP IN THESE SITUATIONS.


- Ball is in possession by the goalkeeper in his/her penalty area when the referee notices there is an injured player on the field and immediately blows the whistle to stop play.  THE DESIRED OUTCOME IS TO HAVE AN UNCONTESTED DROP BALL BACK TO THE GOALKEEPER SO HE/SHE CAN RETAKE POSSESSION AS IF NO INJURY STOPPAGE OCCURRED.  IF THE DROP BALL IS CONTESTED; STAND CLOSER TO THE GOALKEEPER, BLOW THE WHISTLE AND DROP THE BALL TOWARDS THE GOALKEEPER.  REMEMBER – THE REFEREE CANNOT DECIDE WHO PARTICIPATES IN A DROP BALL SITUATION, WE CAN ONLY ENCOURAGE GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP IN THESE SITUATIONS.


- Ball is at the goalkeeper’s feet in his/her goal area or possibly just outside the goal area when the referee notices there is an injured player on the field.  Referee quietly advises the goalkeeper to pick the ball up and remain in or step back in the goal area as the whistle is then blown to stop play for the injury.  GOOD GAME MANAGEMENT AND THE RE-START IS AN INDIRECT FREE KICK FOR THE GOALKEEPER’S TEAM.


​Play is stopped for an injury on the field.  There is now a DROP BALL... NO LONGER an indirect kick.  Even if a goalie has the ball it is a drop ball from the location of the spot when the official blows the whistle.  Lets think about sportsmanship in this moment and allow the goalie to take the ball on that drop.
 
The one exception is if the goalie has the ball in his/her hands and is in the Goal Area, then the restart is an Indirect Free Kick for the goalie’s team.  Emphasis is Goal Area!  Penalty Area possession is a drop ball restart as explained above