2014 Advice to Referees

An updated and revamped version of U.S. Soccer's Advice to Referees is now available for download. 

This file provides U.S. Soccer's official interpretations of the FIFA Laws of the Game. All affiliated competitions and registered officials are expected to adhere to and implement this information to the fullest extent possible.

Please note that while this information can be helpful to officials working at all levels of competition, the content is most relevant for those referees officiating competitive youth games and above. This updated version is available here.

Cautionable and Sending-Off Offenses (New)

U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program

Report Codes for Cautionable and Sending-Off Offenses

Updated September 2012

7 Cautionable Offenses
 
Cautionable offenses require that a player, substitute or substituted player be shown a yellow card.

A player is cautioned for committing any of the following seven offenses:

 

1. Unsporting behavior (UB)

• Commits a direct free kick foul in a reckless manner (charging, pushing, tripping)

• Commits a direct free kick foul in a reckless manner while tackling for the ball from any direction

• Commits a tactical foul designed to interfere with or impede an opposing team’s attacking play (pushing an opponent, blatantly holding an opponent or an opponent's uniform, handling the ball deliberately)

• Handles the ball deliberately to score a goal

• Commits an act which, in the opinion of the referee, shows a lack of respect for the game (aggressive attitude, inflammatory behavior, or taunting)

• Fakes an injury or exaggerates the seriousness of an injury

• Fakes a foul (dives) or exaggerates the severity of a foul

• Interferes with or prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from the hands into play

• Verbally distracts an opponent during play or at a restart

• Unfairly distracts or impedes an opponent performing a throw-in

• Changes jerseys with the goalkeeper during play or without the referee's permission (both players must be cautioned)

• Engages in trickery to circumvent the goalkeeper's limitation on handling the ball played from a teammate's foot (the defender who initiates the "trickery" is cautioned, the decision does not require that the goalkeeper actually handles the ball, and the misconduct can occur during dynamic play or at a restart)

• Makes unauthorized marks on the field

• Removes the jersey or covers the face with a mask or similar device after scoring a goal

• Uses an artificial aid to unfairly assist play (leaning on the shoulders of a teammate, using

an article of clothing to avoid direct contact with the ball, moving or removing a corner flag,

hanging on a crossbar)

• Uses tobacco or tobacco products in any form in the area of the field

• At a penalty kick, feints to kick the ball once the run-up to the ball has been completed

• (New) Participates in an orchestrated pattern of fouls directed at one or more opponents 

2. Dissent by word or action (DT)
• Verbally or through action disputes or shows contempt for an official’s decision

• If playing as a goalkeeper, leaves the penalty area (not beckoned by the referee) to engage an official in debate regarding a decision

3. Persistent infringement of the Laws of the Game (PI)

• Repeatedly commits fouls
• Violates Law 14 again, having previously been warned

• If playing as goalkeeper, wastes time, having previously been warned or penalized for this behavior

4. Delaying the restart of play (DR)

• Kicks or throws the ball away or holds the ball to prevent a free kick restart by an opponent

• Kicks or throws the ball away or holds the ball to prevent a throw-in or corner kick by an opponent

• Fails to restart play after being instructed to do so by the referee or hinders the restart of play

• Excessively celebrates a goal

• Fails to return to the field upon conclusion of the midgame break, fails to perform a kick-off when signaled to do so by the referee, or fails to be in a correct position for a kick-off

• Provokes a confrontation by deliberately taking possession of a ball which is to be put back into play by the opposing team

5. Failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, free kick or throw-in (FRD)

• Does not retire at least ten yards away from an opponent’s free kick

• Does not retire at least ten yards away from an opponent’s corner kick

• Does not retire at least two yards away from an opponent's throw-in

6. Entering or re-entering the field of play without the referee’s permission (E)

• After having previously been instructed to leave the field to correct equipment

• After having previously been given permission by the referee to leave the field due to an injury

• After having previously been instructed to leave the field due to bleeding or blood on the uniform
 

7. Deliberately leaving the field of play without the referee’s permission (L)

• To place an opponent in an apparent offside position

• Other than through the normal course of play

A substitute or substituted player is cautioned for committing any of the following three offences: 
1. Unsporting behavior (UB)

2. Dissent by word or action (DT)

3. Delaying the restart of play (DR)

 

Only a player can be cautioned for illegally entering the field (E) so if a substitute or substituted player enters the field without the permission of the referee, the caution should be issued for unsporting behavior (UB).

7 Sending-Off Offenses
Sending-off offenses require that a player, substitute or substituted player be shown a red card.
A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off for committing any of the following seven

offenses:  

1. Serious foul play (SFP)

2. Violent conduct (VC) 

3. Spitting at an opponent or any other person (S)
4. Denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to the goalkeeper within his or her  own penalty area)(DGH)
5. Denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offense punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick (DGF)
6. Using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures (AL)
7. Receiving a second caution in the same match (2CT)

Although the Laws of the Game state that all seven sending-off offenses may be committed by a substitute or substituted player, U.S. Soccer recommends that any violent act committed by a substitute or substituted player be categorized as violent conduct (VC) in the match report.

USSF Official Paper click here.

Requirements for Injured Players 2012

Law 5 establishes the basic principle that, if the referee stops play solely because a player had been judged to be seriously injured, that player is required to leave the field for treatment and may not return to the field (assuming the player is not substituted) until after play has been restarted and only with the permission of the referee. USSF guidance on this matter, based on interpretations provided by the International Board, establishes the following additional information:
• The goalkeeper is exempt from this requirement.
• A player who is injured may still be required to leave the field if the referee
beckons medical assistance onto the field at a stoppage called for some other
purpose.
• A player who leaves the field, with the permission of the referee, for treatment of an injury without having assistance beckoned on or for whose injury play has not been stopped, may return before play is restarted, provided the player receives the permission of the referee.

The goalkeeper exemption from the requirement to leave and not return until after play has resumed was extended to include any field player (from either team) who may have been injured with the goalkeeper in a common collision. This exemption was extended in 2010 to include any two (or more) players injured in a common collision if they are from the same team.
Questions have been raised regarding different variations of these basic scenarios. The purpose of this paper is to resolve these issues in a clear, understandable way by providing a chart of the possible variations and the correct referee response to each. Before doing so, however, one significant point must be emphasized. When the International Board stated the “common collision” exemptions, it was assuming (without stating it explicitly) that all persons involved in the collision were seriously injured. Unless there was a serious injury, there would have been no requirement to leave the field in the first place and thus there would not be any
need for an exception.
The scenarios in the chart below are based on two persons only. Extending the chart to include collisions involving more than two would have complicated the chart unnecessarily because there is no fundamental difference in the proper action to take for collisions involving three or more players than for collisions involving just two players. In all cases below, the referee has stopped play solely for at least one injury which has been deemed serious.

Correct Actions To Take In Regard To Player Injuries

Players Involved	Injury Status	Correct Accion
Goalkeeper + Field Player	Both Seriously	Both permitted to receive treatment on the field and to remain on the field.
Goalkeeper + Field Player	Only Goalkeeper Seriously	Goalkeeper permitted to receive treatment on the field and to remain on the field. Field player remains on the field.
Goalkeeper + Field Player	Only Field Player Seriously	Field player required to leave the field to receive treatment, cannot return until after play resumes and only with the permission of the referee.
Two Field Players Same Team	Both Seriously	Both permitted to receive treatment on the field and to remain on the field.
Two Field Players Same Team	Both permitted to receive treatment on the field and to remain on the field.	The seriously injured field player is required to leave the field to receive treatment, cannot return until after play resumes and only with the permission of the referee. The other field player not seriously injured remains on the field.

NOTE 1: Any field player or goalkeeper who is not required to leave the field may still do so
with the permission of the referee and is allowed to return prior to the restart of play with the
permission of the referee. Where a goalkeeper requests permission to leave, play may not be
resumed without another goalkeeper either substituted or identified from among the field players.
NOTE 2: Any player whose injury is deemed “severe” may receive emergency treatment on the
field, but it is expected that the severity of the injury would require the player eventually to leave
the field with no likelihood of returning for the balance of the match.
NOTE 3: Any player other than a goalkeeper who has been seriously injured, whether required to
leave the field or not as described above, will nevertheless be required to leave the field if
bloodied and/or bleeding (regardless of whether the blood or bleeding is the result of an injury).
Such a player may not return to the field until and unless an inspection of the condition is
conducted by the referee, or by another official designated by the referee, to determine that the
situation has been corrected. If the blood or bleeding is not the result of a serious injury, the
player may return to the field before play resumes; otherwise, the player must wait for play to
resume and then request the permission of the referee to return. A seriously injured and bleeding
goalkeeper may have both conditions treated on the field.

The following examples illustrate the above chart:
• Blue #13 and Blue #5 collide and the referee stops play based on the determination that both players are seriously injured. Both players may remain on the field while treatment is provided and neither is required to leave. Blue #5, however, requests permission to leave the field to change a uniform item torn in the collision. Blue #5 can leave the field and, with the referee’s permission, can return to the field before the restart of play.

• The Red goalkeeper and Blue #11 collide and the referee stops play based on the determination that the goalkeeper is seriously injured. The goalkeeper is bleeding as a result of the injury. The goalkeeper is allowed to stay on the field and have both the injury and the bleeding attended to (but the bleeding condition must still be inspected by an official to confirm that the problem has been corrected). Blue #11 is not required to leave the field.

• Red #44 and Red #51 collide and the referee stops play after determining that only Red #44 is seriously injured. Red #44 is required to leave the field and may not return, except with the referee’s permission and not until after play has been restarted. Red #51 remains on the field.

• Red #44 and Red #51 collide and the referee stops play after determining that only Red #44 is seriously injured. However, after stopping play, the referee decides that Red #51 needs medical attention and beckons the team’s trainer onto the field. Since this action normally triggers the requirement to leave the field, both Red #44 and Red #51 are now allowed to remain on the field and receive treatment.

• Red #55 collides with the Blue goalkeeper and the referee determines that only Red #55 was seriously injured. Red #55 is required to leave the field and may not return, except with the referee’s permission and not until after play has been restarted.

• Blue #34, Blue #51, and Red #17 collide and the referee stops play based on the determination that Blue #51 and Red #17 are seriously injured while Blue #34 is only slightly injured. Blue #51 and Red #17 are each required to leave the field and neither may return, except with the permission of the referee and not until after play is restarted.

• The Blue goalkeeper collides with a teammate, Blue #46, and the referee stops play after determining that both players are seriously injured. Additionally, Blue #46 is bleeding at the forehead from the contact. Both players are allowed to be treated on the field for their injuries but Blue #46 must leave the field to correct the bleeding problem (and may also receive treatment for the injury off the field): Blue #46 may be allowed to return to the field, with the permission of the referee, before the restart of play, provided the bloodied
jersey problem has been corrected and inspected.

• Red #15 collides with Blue #39 and the referee stops play after determining that both players are seriously injured. Accordingly, both would normally be required to leave the field for treatment but the referee, on closer inspection, decides that the injury of Blue #39 is severe. Red #15 is still required to leave the field but Blue #39 may receive treatment while still on the field. However, Blue #39 is removed from the field after
emergency first aid is given and an ambulance arrives to transport the player to the hospital. Red #15 must wait for the resumption of play before requesting the referee’s permission to re-enter the field.

Referees are reminded that the correct actions described above are based on the Laws of the Game and existing official guidelines and interpretations. They are not dependent on the age of the players or the competitive level of the match. However, decisions as to whether an injury is serious or severe are and must be highly influenced by such factors and, in any questionable case, the referee should decide in favor of protecting the safety of the players.

By Richard Rodriguez

For the Clinic PPT and Lesson Plan Click here.

Law 4 and Hair Control Devices

Position Paper

Date: June 8, 2009

Law 4 (The Players’ Equipment) requires that nothing be used or worn which is dangerous, with certain limited exceptions (religious or medical items). It is the responsibility of all members of the officiating team to ensure that this requirement is enforced, not only at the start of play but throughout the entire match.

Although ultimately it is the responsibility of the referee to decide if an item of equipment or clothing presents a danger, an increasing number of hair control devices are being seen which should not be allowed on the field. Referees should take note of the following guidelines when evaluating such devices:

• Hair control devices which are elastic, flexible, and soft should be allowed.
• Devices which are made of hard, sharp, edged, or breakable materials are not safe and may not be worn.
• Beads or other similar decorative devices woven into or affixed on the hair are inherently dangerous and are not allowed.

Referees are strongly urged to be diligent in enforcing these guidelines in the interest of player safety.

The Field of Play (Equipment and Devices)

Position Paper

Date: March 29, 2005

Various questions have been raised recently regarding the status of cameras and other devices which may be found around, near, or even on the field of play. The fundamental principle is that the referee has authority under Law 5 to make final decisions regarding both the compliance of the field with the requirements of Law 1 and the overall safety of the field.

If a field has a physical object located directly above the field (e.g., a clock or moveable camera -- popularly called a "skycam"), play must be stopped if the ball makes contact with the object and then restarted with a dropped ball.

Any device or equipment intended to enhance communications, to assist in the management of the event, or to facilitate broadcasting the match and which is located on or around the field must be brought to the attention of the referee and made available for inspection prior to the commencement of the match. The referee will work with local facility managers to resolve any issues related to the presence or operation of such devices but the final decision regarding safety remains with the referee. At all times, such equipment must be operated so as not to interfere with or disrupt play.

Unusual equipment and devices which do not endanger the safety of players and which have been allowed by the referee must nevertheless be reported in the Competition Incident Report.

Abandoning a Match Due to Insufficient Number of Players

Position Paper

Date: November 22, 2002

Each national association is given authority to set the minimum number of players in a match.
The United States Soccer Federation has established this number at seven, one of whom must be identified as a goalkeeper. (Law 3 -- IFAB Decision 1).

Accordingly, the referee must abandon a match if a team either cannot or will not field at least
seven players. This could occur as a result of a team having any combination of five or more
players who:

• had been sent off the field for misconduct,
• failed to appear for the match despite being listed on the roster,
• were unable to play due to injury,
• had departed from the area of the field, or
• were unwilling to enter the field despite being present.

However, a match may continue if a team drops below seven players on the field as a result of a player requesting and receiving permission from the referee to leave the field temporarily (for
treatment of an injury, for example) or a player being instructed to leave the field to correct
equipment or for bleeding from a wound. In such cases, the referee should be satisfied that the
team will be able to field the minimum number within a reasonable period of time as a result of
the return of such players.

If a match has been officially started but must be abandoned due to a team not being able to field the minimum number of players (for whatever combination of reasons), the referee must provide a full report to the competition authority which includes information regarding the circumstances under which this occurred, what efforts were made to determine if qualified players or substitutes were available, and the score existing at the time the match was terminated. Before declaring the match terminated, the referee must determine if the rules of the competition provide for any alternative action.

In the absence of any rules from the competition authority requiring a different result, the team
which was able to field the minimum number of players is declared the winner of the match,
regardless of the score at the time the match had to be terminated.