PROFILE OF THE REGIONAL REFEREE U.S. SOCCER | 1801 S. PRAIRIE AVE. | CHICAGO, IL 60616 GENERAL INFORMATION CONTEXT OF THE PERFORMANCE ENVIRONMENT • Officiates and maintains control of the game THE REGIONAL REFEREE: • Works together with other match officials in a referee team • Officiates games (youth and adult competitions) in 11v11 outdoor fields • Final decision-making authority on matters that apply to the Laws of the Game • Works primarily with Grassroots Referees and Regional • Accountable to the competition authority (youth or adult Referees (new or experienced), may include National Referees league, U.S. Soccer) • Facilitates games for grassroots players (youth and adult) TASKS AND PROCESSES OF THE REGIONAL REFEREE • Works in regional and national adult competitions, including PREPARING FOR A GAME NPSL, USL-2, & Lamar Hunt Open Cup • Navigate the game assignment process • Collaborates with coaches with diverse backgrounds (new and • Understand the game experienced coaches, volunteers, etc.) to ensure player safety and responsible spectator behavior • Maintain physical aptitude PURPOSE OF THE JOB • Perform pre-game activities THE REGIONAL REFEREE: • Facilitates a fair and safe game for the players by enforcing/ OFFICIATING A GAME applying the Laws of the Game • Understand the dynamics of the modern game • Clearly communicates decisions based on perception and • Make decisions that impact the game interpretation of player’s actions • Use personality to control the game and manage players • Facilitates understanding and application of the Laws of the • Demonstrate physical aptitude Game for players, coaches, and spectators • Communicate decisions clearly and confidently • Keeps an accurate record of the game (goals scored, misconduct, injuries, etc.) • Lead the referee team RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLES THE REGIONAL REFEREE: MANAGING POST-GAME ACTIVITIES • Prepares prior to the game, manages post-game • Conclude the game responsibilities, and reflects on the performance after the • Complete the game report(s) game • Demonstrates leadership characteristics before, during, and REFLECTING ON THE PERFORMANCE after the game • Reflect on and evaluate key moments and decisions in the match • Assumes ownership of self-development through on-line, in- person, and field session opportunities offered by U.S. Soccer • Accepts or declines games in a timely manner and maintains updated availability calendar • Ensures that the field conditions are safe for play U.S. SOCCER | 1801 S. PRAIRIE AVE. | CHICAGO, IL 60616 P 2 PREPARING FOR A GAME The Regional Referee is able to prepare for a game and is competent in the below. NAVIGATING THE GAME ASSIGNMENT PROCESS THE REGIONAL REFEREE IS ABLE TO: OUTCOMES: • Honor all accepted assignments • Professional look with appropriate attire & equipment • Invest in technical equipment (uniform, whistle, cards, flags, • Game opportunities to apply knowledge about preparation for etc.) games in various competitions • Connect with assignor(s) • Line of communication with assignor(s) and referee colleagues • Use assigning platforms/applications • Availability of the referee to accept appropriate level games • Communicate availability to work games • Resource for advice about game assignments • Gain knowledge about the game assignment process • Positive good impression that typically earns respect from • Accept or decline games within 72 hours players & coaches • Connect with referee team • Connect with referee coach(es)/mentor(s) UNDERSTANDING THE GAME THE REGIONAL REFEREE IS ABLE TO: OUTCOMES: • Gain knowledge about team tactics that teams may use during • Game plan that addresses: the game • the expectations from players and coaches • Understand the FIFA Laws of the Game and Rules of Competition • positioning and movement adjusted to team tactics • Understand the level of match management involved in various • signals, mechanics, and decision making grassroots, adult, regional, and national competitions • attacking to defending • Understand performance environment applicable to a team(s) or • defending to attacking club(s), or league (safe, development, winning at all cost, etc.) • increasing football understanding • Preparing for decision making to promote a fair and safe environment • Preparing for decision making to maintain control of the game • Understanding the meaning of reading the game MAINTAINING PHYSICAL APTITUDE THE REGIONAL REFEREE IS ABLE TO: OUTCOMES: • Enhance their knowledge about optimal physical fitness • A training plan to reach personal goals related to optimal fitness • Understand the physical demands of the game • Understanding of fitness for the performance environments in • Successfully pass fitness test grassroots and adult, regional, and national competitions • Integrate information about nutrition, rest, and recovery, and • Performing a warmup and cool down routine before and after the their relation to fitness game, respectively • Integrate information about warm up & cool down drills before • Self-comfort and self-confidence to lead the accepted game at and after the game current level of fitness • Attend referee field sessions in their local area and/or • Use of injury prevention approaches to prepare for the competitions (youth & adult, US Soccer, etc.) performance environment • Evaluate the environmental considerations (weather) surrounding outdoor training sessions (hydration, equipment, etc.) and adjust as needed U.S. SOCCER | 1801 S. PRAIRIE AVE. | CHICAGO, IL 60616 P 3 PREPARING FOR A GAME PERFORMING PRE-GAME ACTIVITIES THE REGIONAL REFEREE IS ABLE TO: OUTCOMES: • Actively lead the referee team in a pre-game conference and in • Ensured safety prior to the game in collaboration with players & conducting pre-game inspections (the field of play, the game coaches ball, and the player’s equipment) • Creating an environment of cooperation prior to the game to • Actively participate with the referee team in checking the promote positive sporting behavior rosters and checking-in players and coaches • Minimizing risk of injury during a game for the referee team • Connect with coaches & players via check-in, pre-game • Promoting positive relationship with referee team during conference, and/or coin toss pre-game activities and preparing to work as a team during • Actively participate with the referee team in a group and the game individual warmup prior to the game U.S. SOCCER | 1801 S. PRAIRIE AVE. | CHICAGO, IL 60616 P 4 OFFICIATING A GAME The Regional Referee is able to officiate games and is competent in the below. MAKING DECISIONS THAT IMPACT THE GAME THE REGIONAL REFEREE IS ABLE TO: OUTCOMES: • Perceive, interpret, and make decisions on the field of play • Application of decision-making process for the match official (including fouls) • Consistency of decisions during a match • Make split-second decisions based on the collected information • Optimal position to witness the action (1st step of decision- • Scan & use position of players and movement of players as cues making process) for taking optimal position • Increased consistency and accuracy of decision on the field • Use the Laws of the Game to interpret players’ actions • Clear and confident communication with players, coaches, (challenges, handball, penalty area incidents, tactical fouls, and others in the field offside offenses) • Teamwork • Collaborate with the referee team to make decisions during the • Application of the FIFA Laws of the Game game • Accurate decisions • Make decisions based on the current & relevant Laws of the • Safety and control of the game Game and Rules of Competition • Safe and fair environment UNDERSTANDING THE GAME THE REGIONAL REFEREE IS ABLE TO: OUTCOMES: • Understand team tactics • Adapting decision-making to fit the game and players’ needs for • Read the game by recognizing each team’s fair and safe environment • general style of play • Optimal positioning and movement to witness the action (1st • Recognize key players (by technical skill, position, speed, step of making decision) behavior, etc.) • Facilitation of a safe and fair environment for players • Recognize potential conflicts • Positively managing game for players, coaches, spectators, & • Apply the Laws of the Game based on observed players’ actions referee team and FIFA Considerations for interpretation • Improved management of coaches and technical area, where • Apply knowledge about advantage, offside, fouls & misconduct, appropriate restarts, etc. • Building relationships that help manage players’ behavior, • Understand the role of the coach & team officials and recognize emotions, etc. responsible & irresponsible behavior • Recognizing and anticipating actions to prevent escalation between opponents • Clear and confident communication with players and coaches • Recognizing and anticipating where to move for the next phase of play DEMONSTRATING PHYSICAL APTITUDE THE REGIONAL REFEREE IS ABLE TO: OUTCOMES: • Keep up with the pace of the game • Improved positioning and movement to optimize vision • Apply various speeds (jog/run/sprint) and directional changes of players based on level of play and teams’ tactics • Proximity and angle of view to active play • Proximity to manage players’ emotions, when needed U.S. SOCCER | 1801 S. PRAIRIE AVE. | CHICAGO, IL 60616 P 5 OFFICIATING A GAME COMMUNICATING CLEARLY AND CONFIDENTLY THE REGIONAL REFEREE IS ABLE TO: OUTCOMES: • Demonstrate calm, confident body language when • Display of confidence in decision and clarity of the decision communicating public decisions • Display of