LAW V - REFEREES

1.       Referee System

It is the Area's responsibility to decide the system of refereeing to be used within the Area.

2.       Number of Referees

At least one referee shall be assigned to officiate each game.

3.       Referee Authority

The authority and the exercise of the powers granted to referees by the Laws of the Game commence as soon as they enter the field of play.

A.      The power of penalizing shall extend to offenses committed when play has been temporarily suspended, or the ball is out of play.

The referee's decision on points of fact shall be final.

4.       Powers and Duties

The referee shall:

A.      Enforce the Laws

B.      Refrain from penalizing in cases where doing so would be giving an advantage to the offending team.

C.      Act as timekeeper

D.      Have the authority to stop the game for any infringement of the Laws and to suspend or terminate the game if weather conditions or actions of spectators or players indicate that a stoppage is necessary.  Such stoppages and the reasons therefore should be reported to the league administrator.

1.       A referee may refuse to start a game, or may stop it once play has started, if in the referee's judgment, the conditions of the ground is such as to endanger the players.

2.       In the event of a storm, play must be stopped and suspended until the danger has passed using the following minimum criteria:

a.        The sighting of lightning flash or the hearing of the sound of thunder shall be reason enough to stop and suspend a game, and

b.       Play shall not be resumed prior to 30-minutes after the last sighting of lightning or the last sound of thunder heard.

E.       Caution and show a yellow card to any player guilty of misconduct; and eject, and show a yellow card and then show a red card to the player who persists in misconduct.  Any ejection should be reported promptly to the league administrator.

F.       All no on other than the active players and assistant referees to enter the field without permission.

G.      Stop the game if a player is injured, but not during a drive on goal unless the injury appears to be serious.  (The nearest official is obliged to quickly check the condition of the injured player.)  The referee need only have reasons to believe that a player is seriously injured to stop the game, even if there is a drive on goal.  The referee will insure that any player bleeding from a wound leaves the field of play.

H.      Eject, and show red card to any player who is guilty of

0.       violent conduct,

1.       serious foul play, or

      the use of offensive, insulting or abusive language

I.         Signal for the restart of the game after any stoppage.

1.       A free kick may be taken as soon as the ball is properly placed, without a whistle.  However, the referee may delay such a "quick" free kick at his or her discretion.

2.       A signal with the whistle

a.        may be given after a substitution

b.       shall be given after an extended time out, or for the taking of a penalty kick, or for the taking of a kick-off.

J.        Restart the game appropriately, in accordance with Law VIII-7.,

0.       After an injury (no foul having been committed); or

1.       after unresolved referee decisions (such as when the referee blows his or her whistle by mistake); or

2.       after any stoppage of play due to the condition of the field, its equipment, or the elements, but only after such conditions are remedied or the danger passed to the satisfaction of the referee; or

3.       when the referee is uncertain which team last touched the ball prior to it going over the touch line or goal line (but not between the goal posts).

K.     Use appropriate hand signals

Approve any balls that is to be used in the game