REFEREE'S DUTIES (Law 5) AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which she/he has been appointed.

Each referee is expected to request some assignments over the course of the outdoor season. To be eligible for upgrading, taking more assignments is beneficial. It is expected that all assignments to games will be honoured. The home team coach, club Head Referee, or another club Executive member should be notified in the event that a referee cannot attend a game. Cancellations should be made a minimum of 48 hours before kickoff time. Cancellations should be for appropriate reasons, such as illness or unexpected family crises, not for convenience.

1. Conduct yourself in an orderly and respectful manner, including showing up 20 minutes (House League Games) and 30 minutes (Competitive Games) in advance of the game in full uniform (shirt tucked in, no hat or sunglasses, and all necessary equipment to officiate the game);

2. Ensure that the playing field is safe for play and does not have any dangerous materials on it (i.e. large rocks, pieces of glass);

3. Make sure that corner flags/pylons are placed properly (for Micro soccer, ensure that the goal crease is properly marked);

4. Ensure that all players are wearing shin-guards and do not have any jewellery that could be dangerous (Law 4);

5. Introduce yourself to the Coaches; for house league games, get each team to supply a linesman;

6. Do the coin toss with the captains. Winner chooses the end to defend and the loser kicks off;

7. Start the game on time and add on injury time if required;

8. Submit game sheets within 48 hours.

POWERS AND DUTIES (Law 5)

The Referee:

1. enforces the Laws of the Game

2. controls the match in co-operation with the assistant referees and, where applicable, with the fourth official

3. ensures that any ball used meets the requirements of Law 2

4. ensures that the players' equipment meets the requirements of Law 4

5. acts as timekeeper and keeps a record of the match

6. stops, suspends or terminates the match, at his discretion, for any infringements of the Laws

7. stops, suspends or terminates the match because of outside interference of any kind

8. stops the match if, in his opinion, a player is seriously injured and ensures that he is removed from the field of play

9. allows play to continue until the ball is out of play if a player is, in his opinion, only slightly injured

10. ensures that any player bleeding from a wound leaves the field of play. The player may only return on receiving a signal from the referee, who must be satisfied that the bleeding has stopped

11. allows play to continue when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefit from such an advantage and penalises the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time

12. punishes the more serious offence when a player commits more than one offence at the same time

13. takes disciplinary action against players guilty of cautionable and sending-off offences. He is not obliged to take this action immediately but must do so when the ball next goes out of play

14. takes action against team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner and may at his discretion, expel them from the field of play and its immediate surrounds

15. acts on the advice of assistant referees regarding incidents which he has not seen

16. ensures that no unauthorised persons enter the field of play

17. restarts the match after it has been stopped

18. provides the appropriate authorities with a match report which includes information on any disciplinary action taken against players, and/or team officials and any other incidents which occurred before, during or after the match