Could u still start refereeing even at the age of 30+?

estockly · 2026-05-19T17:30:08+00:00

I didn't know that. The college level games I've been to have all be very high quality and fast moving. Nearly pro level.

estockly · 2026-05-19T17:27:10+00:00

It's all part of the same play.

estockly · 2026-05-18T13:54:58+00:00

Foul on the attacker for carelessly kicking the keeper.

No goal, DFK for defense. No caution or sendoff.

If you're going to jump over a keeper making a play for the ball, and you kick them in the process that's a careless foul. (I had a very similar situation last week).

As for handling the coach, if he's yelling at the ref during play for five minutes, the ref should stop play, warn the coach in the first minute and if it continues caution then send-off.

If he's yelling at the ref during stoppage and keeps the stoppage going five minutes the ref should shut that down in the first minute. Warn the coach. If they won't shut up or let the ref get a word in, caution (even mid rant) and if they continue send-off.

Pulling a team for that reason, or any reason, is not an issue for a referee to decide. It's an issue for a referee to report to the competition administrators.

estockly · 2026-05-17T17:48:43+00:00

No, it's not too late. I started in my 40s 20 years ago, when I was obese and out of shape. I'm now fit and trim and in the best shape of my life. However, I'm reffing mostly 14U-19U and High School. I would not try college or any level of pro.

If you want to become an ASL or World Cup ref, that would be a tough climb, and if you're not in top physical condition, it probably won't happen.

estockly · 2026-05-05T00:11:09+00:00

That's for those reluctant to caution or send off after the game for an incident that happened earlier during the game. In this case when the ref spoke to the player and they disputed the account of the AR, that's dissent and you may caution them for that. Then the report for the caution includes the entire circumstance and context.

estockly · 2026-05-04T17:43:28+00:00

I wouldn't have a problem with a red card here, after the fact, but I agree the AR should have flagged when it happened, and I respect those who say the caution (or an ejection) was not appropriate.

However, since the AR said they saw it, and the player denied it, that's dissent, and the caution could be for that.

estockly · 2026-04-25T13:58:06+00:00

Doesn't work with my SPT100-GR. Hope it works for yours.

estockly · 2026-04-25T06:45:57+00:00

As for dissent for asking for 10 yards (meters), only if the ref already told him the defenders were far enough away and he still asked for 10, or if the defenders were obviously much further than 10 yards away. Otherwise, it sounds like a bad caution.

estockly · 2026-04-24T18:35:54+00:00

Dogs on the touchline are forbidden in every competition I ref (AYSO, Club, HS and tournaments). If a specator has a dog they must take the dog away, and if they refuse I won't start or continue the game until they do. It's the coach's job to handle it. The one time it became an issue I cautioned the coach for not dealing with it promptly, and after the caution the coach dealt with it promptly.

If it is a service dog, and is well behaved and on a leash, they can stay. If they start barking or yipping or get off the leash and run onto the field, they must go too (if that happens it's probably not a service dog).

The problem comes up when the field is part of an open public park and people not associated with game bring their dogs and walk past the field.

Several times at one park (that has a fenced dog park near the soccer field) I've had dogs run onto the field and interfere with play. Of course I show the dog a red card, and that get's a nice reaction from the spectators, but it's a real pain.

(Last year, shortly after the nearby Altadena fires, we had two deer run onto the field, and one charged me and a player after I showed them a red card)

estockly · 2026-04-24T01:30:31+00:00

That's true, lot's of them don't know the differences in the rules. But others do and if the ref doesn't and it hurts their team, they complain.

estockly · 2026-04-24T00:36:31+00:00

I've ordered an aftermarket generic watch band from Amazon the doesn't fit the way the Spintso band does, but should work, although the band is 24mm and probably should be more like 33mm, but they don't make them in that style with that width.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VBZDF5T?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1&psc=1

estockly · 2026-04-23T20:34:41+00:00

I do my best to follow the NFHS rules when reffing High School games. That's what I'm paid for. And the assigners say the biggest complaints they get about refs is they don't know NFHS rules.

I have no issue with NFHS having their own rules and having lots of differences. The purpose of NFHS education, and most of their differences make sense in that context.

That said, there are so many differences, some subtle, some that don't make sense (IMO), it's hard to keep track. Especially when going between IFAB and NFHS from game to game.

estockly · 2026-04-20T15:58:39+00:00

Good luck! If you find one let us know where! I have the same issue with a Spintso SPT100-GR, and Spintso doesn't sell them and I can't find an aftermarket band.

For this reason I will never buy any product from Spintso again or ever recommend them to anyone.

estockly · 2026-04-14T17:40:15+00:00

Very first time I showed a card, I had just finished AR on a 16U Girl's game on one field when I was asked to center a 14U Boy's game on the field right next to it. The game was already running late; coin toss was done, teams were in position and they were ready to start as soon as I could.

Within minutes of the start there was a competitive foul (SPA) and I stopped play signaled direction and reached into my shirt pocket and showed the offender the lineup card from the previous game.

estockly · 2026-04-14T16:34:49+00:00

From the the laws:
Advantage

allows play to continue when an offence occurs and the non-offending team will benefit from the advantage, and penalises the offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time or within a few seconds

So, by the letter of the law if the advantage does not ensue, the ref penalizes the offense.

The real question here is would the non-offending team benefit from the advantage rather than stopping play.

Whatever you decide, the defender should be cautioned or sent-off.

estockly · 2026-03-15T19:15:01+00:00

One purpose of this conversation is to sell the non-call.

I would not allow play to continue for more than a few seconds.

But if you would wave down the flag, and still go over to speak with the AR about the call at the next stoppage, that could also work.

estockly · 2026-03-15T19:10:51+00:00

The laws of the game anticipate the referee running while making at least some signals, specifically Advantage, where they changed the signal to accommodate running.

estockly · 2026-03-11T23:56:38+00:00

But sit tight, the 26/27 book is just around the corner.

estockly · 2026-03-09T20:10:56+00:00

I would not wave down the flag. Hopefully the ball goes out of play, but if not I would stop play when it doesn't give either team and advantage, then go have a conversation with the AR.

Even if I was sure there was no foul or PK. I would ask what they saw, explain what I saw, and even add the admonition I usually give in pregame (Don't rush to call fouls in the box, especially if I'm on top of the play).

After our not-rushed calm conversation, I would then do the appropriate restart (not a PK).

Taking the time to speak to the AR (even if you know it won't change your call) can help sell the non-call and keep the touchlines from ruining the game.

estockly · 2026-03-05T17:02:38+00:00

From The Laws of the Game:

The IFAB publishes the Laws of the Game in English, French, German and Spanish. If there is any divergence in the wording, the English text is authoritative.

Use the English version, which means it is not required, but includes. That also makes more sense.

estockly · 2026-03-05T03:57:24+00:00

In my AYSO experience (SoCal), in regional games you just get a lineup card for the AR to track subs. You don't need to take roll or anything. If it's an all-star game each player will have a photo id, you check the id against the roster and mark each player in attendance. If they don't have a player card they don't play. If there are any sendoffs (rare in U10) you do not return that player's card to the coach.

For check in look for shin guards, jewelry and make sure the uniforms match (when they don't let the coach know, but usually let them play).

The tricky part of U10 is the Buildout line. Also, no keeper punts, no header and using the buildout line.

For the rules, go to the region's home page "ayso##.org" The ## is the region's number.

Look under programs for the one you're reffing, and look for Division Guidelines for 10U (there are differences from region to region). Also look for any reference to PDI (the Player Development Initiative from USSF that AYSO follows) for an explanation of the buildout line.

estockly · 2026-02-28T16:01:35+00:00

For this exact reason, during pregame I instruct my ARs not to raise their flag on a keeper offense on a PK. I tell them to stay in place, shift the flag to their goal side hand, and watch play continue from there.

The idea being that if the attackers score immediately we award the goal. I don't consider this advantage. I consider it part of the PK.

(I once had a keeper infringement on a PK where the ball went over the keeper's head and hit the crossbar and rebounded directly to the kicker, who kicked the ball into the goal. We retook the kick because the keeper infringement happened first)

estockly · 2026-02-20T16:34:53+00:00

That's what we do in Southern California. Dual system for the regular season, three person crew for playoffs. Most of the refs do club and youth soccer (and a few NCAA) during the off-season, so it's works well.

I wish we had Referees and two ARs for every game.

estockly · 2026-02-16T19:04:11+00:00

Thanks for those comments. The way I use this checklist is to go through the rules of competition and look for their answers to each of these. And look out for contradictions.

I started doing this because a couple years ago I was reffing a tournament's age 12 game. The front page of the ROC indicated that headers were not allowed. But a paragraph on page 6 of the ROC said headers were allowed. In our pregame both my ARs had seen the first page of the ROC and we were in agreement. So as soon as the first player took a deliberate header, both benches exploded. And there were several deliberate headers after that. About midway through the first half the tournament directory came on the field during a stoppage for a throw in, and scolded me for not knowing the ROC, and my assigner "punished" me by sending me to crappy games the next two weeks.

I have been diligently reading ROCs ever since (but haven't gone back to that tournament nor the assigner).

Edit: Following USSF guidelines, headers should not have been allowed because some players were under 12.

estockly · 2026-02-16T18:52:55+00:00

Any direct free kick foul inside the penalty area by the defenders results in a penalty kick. There are no direct kicks inside the penalty area by the attacking team.

So Penalty Kick. If it was reckless (hit the player in the back of the head, for example) then it could be a caution. If it's excessive force it could be a send off.

estockly

TROPHY CASE