The document discusses the authority and duties of referees according to Law 5 of soccer. It states that referees have the full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game and have certain powers like stopping, suspending or terminating matches. Their main duties include enforcing the Laws to ensure safety, fairness, and that play is restarted correctly. Referees must also manage players, coaches, spectators and deal with issues like injuries or weather according to the best interests of safety.

1. Session D – Law 5 – The Referee

2. Authority
• Law 5 gives referees the full authority to
enforce the Laws of the Game
• This authority is separated into
• powers
• duties

3. Powers and Duties
• Powers are things referees have the
authority to do when they think they are
needed
• Duties are things referees are required to do
according to the Laws of the Game

4. Powers
• Stop, suspend or terminate the match for any
infringements of the Laws of the Game
• if a player commits a foul the referee has the
authority to stop the match
• Take disciplinary action
• use yellow and red cards
• Deal with coaches or any other team official
who behaves in an irresponsible manner

5. Powers
• Stop, suspend or terminate the game due to
outside interference if interferes with play or
dangerous
• foreign presence on field
• animal, child, parent
• severe weather (lightning – see it, flee it)
• equipment issue
• ball bursts
• goals become unsafe
• sprinklers pop up and/or come on
• spectator, coach or substitute misconduct

6. Powers
• Player injury
• suspect any kind of injury – stop play immediately
• call coach onto the field to deal with player
• always err on the side of safety and stop
whenever a player appears to be hurt
• Injured players may be substituted
• Adding time allowed, but not required
• discretion of the referee
• local rules
• tightly schedule fields may prohibit adding time

7. Duties
• Enforce the Laws of the Game
• ensuring player safety
• fair and enjoyable
• When the referee stops the game
• must restart play in accordance with the reason it
was stopped
• required to indicate and use the correct restart to
resume play

8. Duties
• Keep time
• Record all relevant information
• score
• players, coaches cautioned or sent-off
• serious injury
• Referee is the official keeper of both the time
and the facts associated with the game

9. Duties
• Safety being the priority
• any player that is bleeding or has blood on their
uniform, must leave the field
• make sure bleeding has been stopped and that no
blood is on the player’s uniform before the player
is allowed to re-enter the game

10. Duties
• Allow only authorized persons to enter the
field
• Unless called onto the field by the referee
• coaches, substitutes and parents/spectators
cannot enter the field

11. Duties
• The referee has total responsibility for the
game so he must ensure these duties are
carried out

12. Weather
• Remember that player safety is the primary
concern for the referee so the game should
be stopped if the weather conditions make
the game unsafe for play
• If you
• see it (lightning)
• hear it (thunder)
• stop it (the game) and take shelter

13. Weather
• A league official should be around to tell you
when it’s time to
• stop for bad weather
• restart after bad weather
• Don’t restart until it is SAFE to do

14. Referee Signals

15. Whistle
• Referees must also use their whistle to
communicate
• Require a whistle to stop play
• for a free kick
• when a period of play has ended
• to suspended or abandon the game

16. Whistle
• Require a whistle to start play
• before every kick-off
• free kicks where the referee has delayed the
restart
• after a yellow card or red card
• after an injury
• after a substitution

17. Whistle
• Whistle is not needed to start play for a
• throw-in
• goal kick
• corner kick
• dropped ball
• Except where required, whistling should be
held to a minimum so that, when it is truly
needed it is more likely to have the desired
impact

18. Whistle
• It may be necessary to use the whistle when
the ball crosses a boundary line until the
players learn the game
• Blow the whistle loudly and with authority
to stop play and the yells from the touchline
• Whistling too softly gives everyone the
impression the referee is weak

19. Positioning
• You should
• maintain an appropriate distance from play
• surround the “herd” but avoid the stampede

20. Positioning
• Keep an appropriate distance that balances
the need to make a decision and not
interfering with play
• Proper positioning is something that can
take time to develop

21. Local Rules
• It is important to know the local rules before
play begins

22. Player Management

23. Player Management
• Whenever dealing with players
• keep proper distance - closer is better
• get down to their level
• explain what you want or don’t want
• use a lowered voice

24. Coach & Spectator Management

25. Coach & Spectator Management
• Referees are encouraged to deal with any
issues right away to make sure the proper
expectations are being set and enforced
• Whenever dealing with coaches
• keep proper distance – at least several steps away
• use proper body language
• remember to be professional
• use a respectful tone regardless of how a team
official is behaving

26. Coach Management
• Use the ask, tell, dismiss approach to
manage coach behavior
• Ask the coach to stop
• Tell the coach to stop, if the behavior
continues
• Dismiss the coach from the game, if the
coach still continues to behave irresponsibly

27. Ask, Tell, Dismiss

28. Coach Management
• Cards can only be shown to players and
substitutes
• Cards are NOT shown to coaches, team
officials, or spectators
• If play is stopped for the purpose of dealing
with a coach who is acting irresponsibly
• play is resumed with a dropped ball
• where the ball was when play was stopped

29. Parent/Spectator Management
• Parents/spectators are expected to have a
good time and support their team
• Not expected or allowed to abuse the referee
or players

30. Parent/Spectator Management
• If there are issues with parents/spectators,
ask the appropriate coach to speak with the
offending spectators
• If parent/spectator refuses to change their
behavior, request that the coach have the
spectator leave the area

31. Parent/Spectator Management
• If parent/spectator doesn’t leave, the game
should be ended
• The reason for having to terminate the game
should be reported to the local association

32. Decisions

33. Decisions
• Referees are required to make many
decisions during the course of a game
• Referees, just like players and coaches, are
not perfect and mistakes will be made

34. What if I make a mistake?
• If mistake in stopping play
• admit error and restart with dropped ball
• If mistake in type of restart indicated and not
yet restarted
• correct the restart
• If ball given to wrong team for restart
• stop play and correct

35. What if I make a mistake?
• We all make mistakes
• Don’t let the touch line call the game
• Learn from mistakes and move on

36. Uniform / Equipment
• Black shorts
• Black socks with three white stripes
• Yellow shirt with black stripes
• Mostly black shoes
• Whistle(s)
• Watch
• Yellow & red cards
• Flipping coin
• Pen & paper
• No caps or sunglasses

37. What Else to Bring
• Schedule
• Water
• Chair
• Pump
• Sunscreen
• Laws of the Game

38. Review Question
• Do the Laws of the Game provide referees
with certain powers and duties?
a) Yes
b) No

39. Review Question
• Should the referee stop play if the weather
conditions make the game unsafe?
a) Yes
b) No

40. Review Question
• Can the referee stop the game if a player is
injured?
a) Yes
b) No

41. Review Question
• What should the referee do if a player is
seriously injured?
a) Allow the game to continue
b) Stop the game immediately so the player
can get medical attention

42. Review Question
• Do referees have the authority to deal with
coaches and other team officials who behave
in an irresponsible manner?
a) Yes
b) No

43. Review Question
• When managing the team areas and dealing
with coaches who are behaving
irresponsibly, referees should use the Ask,
Tell, ______ approach.
a) Dismiss
b) Remove

44. Review Question
• Do referees have the authority to stop,
suspend or terminate a game because of
infringements of the Laws of the Game?
a) Yes
b) No

45. Review Question
• What position should the referee work to
maintain during the game?
a) One that will allow him to make the correct
decision
b) One that always keeps him in front of the
play

46. Review Question
• What is the referee’s primary responsibility?
a) Making sure the game is safe for the
players
b) Making sure the players have fun

47. Introduction
Session A
Session D
Session B
Session C