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Referee Info

ASA is Accepting Referees

Andover Soccer is accepting applications for referees for Spring 2013 intown games. ASA referees must be at least 13 years old and/or attending 7th grade. To submit your online application, please click the registration tab to connect you to Korrio, ASA's registration portal.  Parents of referees 17 years old and younger must register their child for the "ASA 2013 Spr Referees 17 and Under" program. If you are 18 years of age or older you will have to register yourself through the same portal and complete a CORI. Deadline to register is April 1.

Please contact ctorres5j@verizon.net with questions.

 

 

Forms Back to topTOP

Click here for the registration form.

Click here for referee payment form.

 

 

Rules of the Game Back to topTOP

Click here for MYSA rules.

Click here for ASA Rules for U7-U12.

 

 

Referee Responsibilities Back to topTOP

  • ASA Referees need to be 13 years old / 7th graders. Information about refereeing in Massachusetts can be found at www.massref.net.
  • Arrive at least 5 minutes before game’s start
  • Bring a stopwatch, whistle, pen or pencil, and ref payment form (available on www.andoversoccer.org web site)
  • Wear the navy blue Referee T-shirt

If you cannot make your scheduled day, please find a replacement and report the change to the Referee Coordinator via email (ctorres5j@verizon.net)

 

 

Before the game:

  • Introduce yourself to the coaches and have them fill out and sign your Referee Payment form.
  • Check field for properly secured goals (sandbags, etc.) debris or hazards. Point out hazards (puddles, ruts) to coaches, and do not allow play on fields without secure goals.
  • Confirm with coach: duration of quarters; substitution plan; approx start time (recommend no later than 10 minutes after scheduled start).
  • Line up players and check for shin pads, rubber cleats, no jewelry.
  • If you see any children hanging from goal crossbars at any time, politely ask them to stop.

 

 

During the game:

 

  • You control start and stop of play, substitutions, and enforcement of U10/U12 rules.
  • Enforce the rules. If you don’t, players won’t learn them.
  • Communicate your calls clearly using hand signals and words.
  • Use your whistle to initiate kickoffs and stop play. Blow it loudly enough for all to hear.
  • Protect the goalie. Whistle play dead as soon as he/she has control of the ball.
  • If a player is injured, stop play and have all players stand back. Summon coach. Restart play with dropped ball.
  • For U10s, allow one repeat of illegal throw. Change possession on first U12 infraction. Instruct player of their mistake: ball must start from directly behind head, and both feet must be on ground when ball is released.
  • Kickoff must go forward first. If it doesn’t, repeat until it does.
  • Watch for dangerous plays like a player attempting to kick ball while laying on ground near others, or a high kick near other players. Slide tackling is not allowed. If an opponent is tripped by a slide tackle, legal or not, stop play and warn offender and coach that no further slide tackling is allowed.
  • Goalie can have 6 seconds before clearing ball. If time is excessive, inform goalie of the rule.
  • Call hand balls only when player moves arm/hand/shoulder to ball (except in self defense); not when ball contacts hand/arm/shoulder accidentally.
  • Coaches are entitled to ask you to repeat your call, but not to question the call’s correctness. If a coach has any problems with calls, tell him/her to contact the Referee Coordinator after the game.
  • If you want to reverse a decision, simply say “my mistake” and reverse the call.
  • Parents should not question your calls. If this becomes a problem during the game, ask the coach to intervene and report any problems to the Referee Coordinator.
  • Any scorekeeping is unofficial. You do not keep score.

 

Relax! Smile and chat with coaches, players and parents. Have fun!

 

 

Payment Per Game:

$18 for solo refereeing; $16 for co-refereeing.   Refs that are licensed and/or have 3 seasons previous in-town ref experience will be paid $18 per game. Payment will be made at the end of the season upon receipt of all correctly and completely filled-out Referee Payment forms. Mail Referee Payment Forms to the Referee Coordinator within one week of the end of the season. Save a photocopy before you mail them. The address is: Cathy Torres, 2 Prides Circle, Andover, MA 01810.

 

 

Yellow Card Procedure Back to topTOP

The Andover Soccer board has decided to allow referees to utilize yellow cards, if needed, at in-town U10 and U12 games. When a yellow card is shown to a player, the player will be asked to sit out of the game for 5 minutes. In essence, this is giving the player a "time out" to calm down. The yellow card will allow the referee to maintain proper control of the game in those situations where player(s) are getting out of control. In genera, there will be serveral steps that the Referee will take before showing a player a Yellow Card. Upon the player's first offense, the referee will give the player a warning. If the player commits the same offense a second time, the Referee will warn the player again and also speak to the player's coach about the situation. If there is a third offense, then the player will be shown a Yellow Card and will be asked to sit out of the game for 5 minutes (or longer, at the discretion of the coach, if needed for the player to calm down). Another player will sub in for the player that has been shown the yellow card (the team does NOT play man down). Misconduct/violations that can result in showing the player a Yellow Card AFTER giving the proper warning steps are:

  • Unsporting behaviour: for example, name calling, teasing, etc.
  • Dissent: showing disagreement with the Referee's decision by words or actions; for example a player is arguing with the Referee regarding their calls.
  • Persistent Infringement: committing many foulds; for instance, continually slide tackling, pushing or dangerous play.

If a player commits a serous offense (one that would be so serioius as to warrant a Red Card), the Referee can show the player a Yellow CArd immediately, with no warning first. The player will be asked to sit out of the game for 5 minutes (or longer, at the discretion of the coach, if needed for the player to calm down). Another player will sub in for the player that has been shown the yellow card (the team does NOT play man down). So, although we will not be issuing Red Cards, a serious offense will result in an immediate Yellow Card.

 

 

Training for Referees Back to topTOP

 

Beginning at the U10 level, we train and deploy students as referees. It provides a great way for kids to get more exposure to the game, build their leadership skills and provide a more enriching game for the players.

 

We require that all referees take an introductory training class prior to refereeing their first game. Training schedules are posted on the ASA Calendar, including registration information.

 

Please see the note below fromthe Essex County Youth Soccer Association regarding Referee Training opportunities:

 

ECYSA needs your help. We have been pressuring the Mass. State Referee Committee (MSRC) that organizes and schedules referee courses across the state to provide more course opportunities in our area. Having received a number of courses in the schedule, we now need to fill them or face cancellation. Once cancellations happen, it will be very difficult to obtain the same number of courses again. Below is a message from our new Area Referee Administrator (ARA) fred Corey from Methuen with a description of the available courses. You can helpus by distributing this email to your membership and encouraging candidates to either take the Grade 8 course or current Grade 9 referees to upgrade to Grade 8. We appreciate all you can do to promote the courses and help us increase the number of referees working in our league.