The Referee Corner: Law 5 – The Referee and Disciplinary Actions … 



The Laws of the Game state that “each match is controlled by a Referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match”. The Powers and duties of the Referee include:

• Enforcing the Laws of the Game
• Controlling the match in cooperation with the other match officials
• Acts as a timekeeper, keeps a record of the match, and provides the appropriate authorities with a match report, including information on disciplinary action and any other incidents that occurred before, during or after the match
• Supervises and/or indicates the restart of play

This month we want to better understand the concept of Disciplinary Action. The Laws of the Game state the following under this heading:

• Punishes the more serious offense, in terms of sanction, restart, physical severity and tactical impact, when more than one offense occurs at the same time.
• Takes disciplinary action against players guilty of cautionable and sending-off offenses.
• Has the authority to take disciplinary actions from entering the field of play for the pre-match inspection until leaving the field of play after the match end (including kicks from the penalty mark). If, before entering the field of play at the start of the match, a player commits a send-off offense, the Referee has the authority to prevent the player taking part in the match
• Has the power to show yellow or red cards and, where competition rules permit, temporarily dismiss a player from entering the field of play at the start of the match until after the match has ended, including during the half-time interval, extra time, and kicks from the penalty mark.
• Takes action against team officials who fail to act in a responsible manner and warns or show a yellow card for a caution or a red card for a sending-off from the field of play and its immediate surrounds, include the technical area; if the offender cannot be identified, the senior coach present in the technical area will receive the sanction. A medical team official who commits a sending-off offense may remain if the team has no other medical person available, and act if a player needs medical attention
• Acts on the advice of other match officials regarding incidents that the Referee has not seen.

The Law shares what, how and when the Referee should deliver disciplinary actions. Understanding this helps us to be better players, coaches, and fans. 

Thank you. See you in the Fall.

The Referee Blog

 Getting Ready for the Fall seaason. Why you might want to consider becoming a certified Soccer Referee this Fall …

As I pen this article there are teams from Kansas competing in the USYS Midwest Regionals as a part of the National Championship Tournament. Other teams are preparing for the President’s Cup Nationals which will be in Wichita this year. The Adult season is in full swing. For the rest of you, you are contemplating the Fall season at Heartland.

You have heard us refer to soccer as a Community. It starts with the players (the reason we have the league). It includes the coaches (helping the players develop skills and character so they can achieve a higher level of performance), the fans (providing support and motivation for their players and paying the bills), and the behind the scenes administrators and those who take care of the fields and facilities. Another part of the soccer community is the Referees who make sure that matches are conducted in a fair and safe manner for the enjoyment of the soccer community.

Last month we talked about how sideline behavior, continuing Referee education and the mentoring program contribute to Referee retention and Referee development. This month we will give you some reasons to consider becoming a certified Referee. You might want to consider making this step for the reasons listed below. For more information on becoming a certified Referee please go to the Kansas Referee Development web page .

Personal Reasons for becoming a certified US Soccer Referee:

• Develop life skills: Referees are both doers and managers. Learning how to apply the Laws of the Game to dynamic match situations prepares you for being an even more effective member of the soccer community. Referee life skill development includes:
• Decision making: 
• Many of the Laws of the Game are binary (they are right or they are wrong). Goals must be anchored. The balls used are different sizes based on the age of the players. There is a finite number of players on the field at any one time and these players have certain required equipment. The ball is in play until the whole of the ball crosses over the whole of either the goal line or the touch line. Corner kicks are awarded when the ball goes over the goal line last touched by a defensive player. Goal kicks are awarded when the ball goes over the goal line last touched by an attacking player. A goal is awarded when the whole of the ball goes over the goal line between the goal posts and under the cross bar.
• Some of the Laws of the Game require judgements to be made by the Referee team. Learning the considerations that should be applied in dynamic play before an action is considered to be a foul requires applying multiple factors in real time to what is happening in front of you. Was it a fair challenge for the ball? Was it a deliberate handling of the ball? Was the foul committed in a careless or reckless manner, or did it endanger the safety of the opponent? Making decisions in dynamic situations will help you better make decisions in many areas as you get more responsibilities.
• Finally, you get to learn how to come back from making mistakes. We underplay the importance of being able to learn from our mistakes as a critical life skill. When you are able to manage the mental challenges of errors and continue to have the responsibilities for the next decision, it helps you become a much stronger person.
• People management:
• The Assistant Referees have assigned responsibilities, and they work in an environment that includes players and coaches and fans. The Referee also has assigned responsibilities and is in charge of the Assistant Referees. Getting the job done right while managing people is a critical life skill that many Referees reference as they move on to new roles in their adult lives.
• Responsibilities: 
• Referees are responsible for scheduling their time. When they accept an assignment they understand that there are many other people who will be counting on them to be there so the game can go on. You see this at work when the weather is bad and the Referees are there doing what they committed to do (when you know they want to be home where it is cool or warm or dry).
• Soccer benefits: When you understand what the Laws of the Game allow you to do, you can become an even better soccer player or fan. Referees need to be in the moment of the match, thinking like players and anticipating how the play will develop. There are specific moments in soccer that are keys (attacking to defending and defending to attacking). Thinking like a player expands your skill set and ability to perform.
• Physical Benefits: You have to be fit to be an effective Referee. Players are running to space to create opportunities. Referees are keeping up with the play so they can see the actions of the players. Assistant Referees are running with the attack all the way to the goal line. Yes, you will get tanned and will achieve many physical fitness benefits by becoming a Referee.
• Financial Benefits: Referees and Assistant Referees get paid for completing their assigned responsibilites. Being close to the game you love, getting better at the game, giving back to the soccer community, getting exercise AND getting paid. That is win-win-win-win-win.
• Giving back to the game we love: Everyone who takes the field as a player has goals for how far they want to go with soccer. When playing days are over, does this mean we are done with the game that we love? Not at all. Being a Referee allows you to continue to experience the thrill of competition for as long as you want after you hang up the playing cleats. 



As you can see, there are many benefits to consider becoming a certified soccer Referee. Review what benefits could be yours and we look forward to seeing you in a class to become a certified soccer Referee this Fall.