Refereeing question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like they would start with little kids rec or travel games before moving up to older players rec (SFL) or travel games.

Do not start by centering. Start with being AR. Unfortunately, most don't have ARs at the youngest ages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My 14 year old son just stared reffing, and he's had offers to AR at almost every level short of MLS Next.
The assigners are really deperate.


Same for my 13 year old.

I am going to guess it varies by location. My son asked to AR an NCSL game and his assignor said no. He has played travel soccer since he was 9 years old (he is now 15), so I think he would have been fine, but it is what it is.

NCSL games are assigned by only one person. I'd be shocked that she said no to your son's request to AR. Unless you asked to do a game for players older than your son.

[Anonymous]

How do you get on MD distribution/assignor list? (My daughter is on VA but we live in DC so would like to see MD opportunities as well)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you get on MD distribution/assignor list? (My daughter is on VA but we live in DC so would like to see MD opportunities as well)

What games would you daughter like to do? Bethesda? OBGC? Figure that out and then contact that club and ask who assigns games for them. Maybe it's on their website as well. Also, when you are at games in MD, have your daughter ask the referees she sees who assigns the games and get the assignor info after the game.

[Anonymous]

I am going to guess it varies by location. My son asked to AR an NCSL game and his assignor said no. He has played travel soccer since he was 9 years old (he is now 15), so I think he would have been fine, but it is what it is.


NCSL games are assigned by only one person. I'd be shocked that she said no to your son's request to AR. Unless you asked to do a game for players older than your son.

Girls game, same age. You can be shocked, but it occurred. It will be fine, we will find a way for him to do a few Saturday rec games. Another assignor seems to have rec games that are on the later side on Saturdays in a reasonably close location, and offered to find him a mentor for one or two of them, so we will work with him to get some experience.

[Anonymous]

I am going to guess it varies by location. My son asked to AR an NCSL game and his assignor said no. He has played travel soccer since he was 9 years old (he is now 15), so I think he would have been fine, but it is what it is.


NCSL games are assigned by only one person. I'd be shocked that she said no to your son's request to AR. Unless you asked to do a game for players older than your son.


Girls game, same age. You can be shocked, but it occurred. It will be fine, we will find a way for him to do a few Saturday rec games. Another assignor seems to have rec games that are on the later side on Saturdays in a reasonably close location, and offered to find him a mentor for one or two of them, so we will work with him to get some experience.

Actually, sorry, not that it is super important but it is a girls game one year younger - I was thinking of the U level he was last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you get on MD distribution/assignor list? (My daughter is on VA but we live in DC so would like to see MD opportunities as well)

My son got a list at the inperson training. When he gets back from school, I’ll post the info of the contacts that got back to him so check back later tonight.

[Anonymous]

Anyone have a small handbook of rules of the game they recommend? Kid would like a quick/easy reference to peruse/give a once over before starting to ref.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have a small handbook of rules of the game they recommend? Kid would like a quick/easy reference to peruse/give a once over before starting to ref.

Look up USSF Laws of the Game and make sure you have the latest version (there are minor changes each year).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have a small handbook of rules of the game they recommend? Kid would like a quick/easy reference to peruse/give a once over before starting to ref.

It's actually IFAB Laws of the Game. USSF follows IFAB Laws. So there really is no handbook or cheat sheet. The Laws aren't really that big compared to other sports. There are 17 Laws and some are only a few paragraphs. The largest has to be Law 12 (Fouls and Misconduct). I read that Law 11 and Law 12 every week. Law 11 is Offside. Law 11 is only like a page long. A 5 minute read. There really isn't much fluff in any of the Laws. But some don't need to be reread very often such as the Field of Play, The Ball, Duration of Match., etc. There is an app as well that I recommend downloading. For me, the details of Law 12 are tough to keep track of for what's a yellow card? What's a straight red? When is a red downgraded to a yellow? When is a yellow ignored? Is is DOGSO or just SPA? Etc etc. Offside is only a page but feels like it takes a lifetime to know and apply every detail. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

He can do the line for more competitive games that have 3 refs.

There are Friday night games.