(In-Town Fall Instructional
League)
Dartmouth Youth Soccer Association offers an
introductory referee clinic for children who are
interested in refereeing in-town soccer games.
The clinic covers basic information about soccer's
laws and MYSA variations from those laws and how to
deal with Players, Coaches and Parents.
Requirements:***
• Over the age of 14
• Capable of making decisions
• Reliable
• Recommended by soccer coach
• Good basic knowledge of game
• Capable of working with YOUNG children
Conduct Toward Referees:
There is a critical shortage of qualified youth
soccer referees. Why? Referees cite repeatedly that
they quit refereeing because of the abuse they take
from parents, coaches and players. Many teenagers
quickly discontinue refereeing youth soccer games
because it is not worth what they are paid to be
yelled at, insulted, belittled and threatened. It
does not matter whether you are a coach, a parent,
aplayer or a disinterested fam: don't tolerate a
climate that allows yelling at or abusing the
referee.
Some Guidelines
Support Referees:
Support the referee's decisions. Refereeing soccer,
like playing soccer, looks easier from the sidelines
then it is on the field. The field is large, there
are a number of players moving both with and away
from the ball, and the referee cannot see everything
from all angles.
Understand the laws of the game:
FIFA Rules give soccer referees a great deal of
discretion. They are not required to call every
single breach of soccer's laws. Reasonable humans
often disagree whether conduct resulted in a breach
(depending, of course on whether the breach helps or
harms their team). Under FIFA rules only the
referee's opinion counts; if the referee didn't call
it, it is not a foul.
Inquire About calls respectfully:
In if coaches do not understand or disagree with a
call they should discuss it one-on-one, quietly and
rationally, with the referee at half-time or after
the game. If parents disagree with a call they
should ask the coach to explain it. Parents should
not question referees directly under any
circumstances.
That referee is your neighbor's child:
Quite often youth soccer referees are teenagers.
Treat them whether or not you agree with their
calls, as you would want other adults to treat your
child should he or she be in the same position.
Treat them as you would want to be treated if you
were performing a difficult job in a fluid,
fast-paced game. Look at the big picture. Soccer is
a GAME. Most of our youth soccer players will stop
playing before high school. Keep the games in
perspective. If you cannot watch the game without
losing control, stay home. |
