Do’s and Do Not’s of High School Soccer Officiating

After seeing information emails sent out by various assignors concerning what is expected of their high school soccer officials, I decided to deviate from my monthly “Soccer by the Rules” articles and to provide what will hopefully, be a very helpful article on what assignors are expecting of their high school soccer officials:

The Do’s

Know the rules – if possible go over the rules book prior to every game.
Know your state rules modifications.
Get in shape and stay in shape – be able to handle the physical requirements of soccer officiating – speed and endurance. Good training and diet habits are a must.
Know and practice good officiating mechanics – watch other officials especially those at a higher level and learn from them.
Accept games that your schedule will permit you to be at the field at least 30 minutes prior to game time.
Look sharp – Your uniform should be neat and clean, and your shoes should be clean and shined.
Have the phone number of the school’s coach and/or athletic director plus the phone number of the other officials in your crew for all games that you work so that you can call and make them aware of any delays on your part or get needed information.
Get to the game site at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the game.
Have a pre-game conference with the other officials that prepare you fully for all occurrences.
Do informally check the equipment of all players, the game balls, team areas, goals, and field markings, and let the coach know of any problems that you notice.
Provide instructions to the scorers, timers and ball holders prior to the start of the game. Thank them for the job that they do.
Make certain each team’s roster has been turned in prior to starting the contest. Do not be concerned with player eligibility – that is up to the schools to work out.
Cover all ground rules, pre-start instructions, and overtime procedures that are in effect in the meeting with the coaches and captains.
Start the game on time.
Hustle and be consistent throughout the game.
Work together as a team with your fellow officials.
Know how to handle dissent.
Do strictly follow NFHS and your state high school rules.
Report any disqualifications or problems to your state office immediately or as soon as possible but within 12 hours after the game has ended to the state association.
Make your game report factual.

The Do Not’s

Do not socialize with players, coaches or spectators before or after the game.
Do not take your officials bag onto the field – you should leave the field immediately after game ends and should not be held up retrieving your bag.
Do not drink alcoholic beverages before the game or after the game while still in uniform.
Do not smoke of chew tobacco at the game site.
Stay calm and do not lose your temper when officiating.
Do not brag to others about cautions or disqualifications that you gave to players, coaches, administrators or parents.
When attending games as a spectator do not criticize or talk about other officials.
Do not blow your whistle until you are absolutely sure that it is to be blown. Inadvertently stopping a possible scoring opportunity by blowing the whistle makes for very upset players and coaches.
Do not complain to coaches and players about the differences between high school rules and the rules of other rules-making bodies.
Do not hesitate to give a caution because it is the second caution that the player has earned and he will now be disqualified.
Do not talk to the media about a game that you worked.
Do not lose your temper to players, coaches or spectators.
Do not focus on the ball, but concentrate on the area of play.
Do not officiate to prevent from being scratched by a team – call the game as you see it, not as the coach wants you to see it.
Do not hesitate to correct and apologize for an error.
Do not forget to let your assignor know of any problems that may have occurred.

Do not tell people that you have done anything to a coach, player, administrator, or parent.

If you go to watch a game, just watch the game. DO NOT criticize your fellow referees to other people around you as they know that you are a referee. DO NOT comment if a referee misses a call as you are not on the field and do not have the same view. This is professionalism. There is someone that is doing this and if I find out who it is I will take actions against you. Come to a meeting and ask the referee or use a general question to get what happen or would to do in the situation. DO NOT Talk about referees while in the stands. Tell the people that your are not on the field and you don’t have the referees view.

If you have any questions or comments about the above or have a question about a high school soccer rule, please contact me at [email protected]

Joe Manjone

3. Do not tell people that you have done anything to a coach, player, administrator, or parent.

4. If you go to watch a game, just watch the game. DO NOT critize your fellow referees to other people around you as they know that you are a referee. DO NOT commment if a referee misses a call as you are not on the field and do not have the same view. This is professionalism. There is someone that is doing this and if I find out who it is I will take actions against you. Come to a meetinig and ask the referee or use a general question to get what happen or would to do in the situation.

DO NOT Talk about referees while in the stands. Tell the people that your are not on the field and you don’t have the referees view.