AYSO REFEREE GUIDELINE Fundamental Information for All Referees American Youth Soccer Organization TEL (800) 872-2976 FAX: (310) 525-1155 www.AYSO.org and www.AYSOvolunteers.org All rights reserved. © 2021 American Youth Soccer Organization Reproduction in whole or in part is encouraged provided no changes are made to content and the AYSO Referee Guideline is referenced. CONTENT VERSION HISTORY ................................................................................................................................................. VI WELCOME TO THE TEAM! ...................................................................................................................................... 1 THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING! ............................................................................................................................ 1 AYSO ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2 AYSO VISION.............................................................................................................................................................. 2 AYSO MISSION ........................................................................................................................................................... 2 AYSO’S SIX PHILOSOPHIES ......................................................................................................................................... 3 OPEN REGISTRATION ........................................................................................................................................... 3 POSITIVE COACHING ............................................................................................................................................ 3 GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP ...................................................................................................................................... 3 PLAYER DEVELOPMENT ........................................................................................................................................ 3 STEWARDS OF THE GAME ...................................................................................................................................... 4 APPLICATION ON THE FIELD ...................................................................................................................................... 4 REFEREES .............................................................................................................................................................. 4 COACHES .............................................................................................................................................................. 4 PARENTS ............................................................................................................................................................... 4 KIDS ZONE ............................................................................................................................................................. 5 KEEP IT FRIENDLY ...................................................................................................................................................... 5 COACHING METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................................... 6 WHY REFEREES NEED TO KNOW COACHING METHODOLOGY .................................................................................. 6 DEVELOPMENT OVER WINNING ............................................................................................................................... 6 AGE APPROPRIATE UNDERSTANDING AND APPLICATION ........................................................................................ 7 AGE APPROPRIATE (PLAYER) DEVELOPMENT ......................................................................................................... 8 THE SCIENCE OF AGE APPROPRIATE TRAINING ......................................................................................................... 8 PLAYER DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES ......................................................................................................................... 9 SPIRIT OF THE GAME ............................................................................................................................................ 10 APPLICATION ........................................................................................................................................................... 10 SIMPLIFIED LAWS OF THE GAME .......................................................................................................................... 12 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. 12 LAW 1: THE FIELD OF PLAY ...................................................................................................................................... 12 SPIRIT OF THE LAW ............................................................................................................................................ 12 MEASUREMENTS ................................................................................................................................................ 12 SPECIAL ASPECTS OF THE FIELD OF PLAY IN AYSO ............................................................................................. 12 AYSO Referee Guideline 2021–2022 i CHECKING THE SOCCER FIELD TO ENSURE SAFETY ............................................................................................ 13 LAW 2: THE BALL ..................................................................................................................................................... 14 SPIRIT OF THE LAW ............................................................................................................................................ 14 CORRECT SIZE AND WEIGHT OF THE BALL ......................................................................................................... 14 LAW 3: THE PLAYERS............................................................................................................................................... 14 SPIRIT OF THE LAW ............................................................................................................................................ 14 LAW 4: THE PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT ......................................................................................................................... 14 SPIRIT OF THE LAW ............................................................................................................................................ 14 BASIC PLAYER UNIFORM .................................................................................................................................... 14 THINGS TO CHECK FOR INCLUDE: ...................................................................................................................... 14 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT ......................................................................................... 15 THE ROLES OF THE REFEREE AND ASSISTANT REFEREE ......................................................................................... 16 LAW 5: THE REFEREE............................................................................................................................................... 16 SPIRIT OF THE LAW ............................................................................................................................................ 16 LAW 6: THE OTHER MATCH OFFICIALS ................................................................................................................... 17 SPIRIT OF THE LAW ............................................................................................................................................ 17 REFEREE AND ASSISTANT REFEREE SIGNALS ...................................................................................................... 17 CLUB LINESPERSON ............................................................................................................................................ 17 REFEREE TEAM MECHANICS .............................................................................................................................. 18 ASSISTANT REFEREE SIGNALS ............................................................................................................................. 19 REFEREE SIGNALS ............................................................................................................................................... 20 REFEREE AND ASSISTANT REFEREE COMMUNICATIONS ................................................................................... 21 MANAGING THE GAME ........................................................................................................................................ 22 LAW 7: THE DURATION OF THE MATCH .................................................................................................................. 22 SPIRIT OF THE LAW ............................................................................................................................................ 22 MANAGING PLAYING TIME: ..............................................................................................................................