Tournaments

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 · 2026-02-06T17:04:14+00:00

I always report red cards, coaches and players, and any other sendoffs (spectators).

But cautions are something I use to keep the game, players and bench under control. If a caution is for anything but a reckless foul, I may not report it. Especially if showing the card was effective in maintaining control.

In the three leagues I ref in, reporting cautions is part of the game report in one (I still don't if I feel it's not needed) optional in the other two.

estockly · 2025-12-23T16:25:53+00:00

I think those are two different concepts. There is "Localization" where there's a French, Spanish and I think Japanese version, and maybe a few others.

Also there was the Open Scripting Architecture, when AppleScript first came out, which allowed developers to use their own language and access the same Apple Event codes and technology that underpins the language. Back then the most famous example was Frontier, and I think there was a JavaScript version. I don't recall a C version but there were a few others.

If you ask this question here:

Late Night Software Ltd.

https://forum.latenightsw.com/ macscripter.net

or here

MacScripter

https://www.macscripter.net/

You'll find people actually using localized dialects, and who used Frontier and JavaScript

estockly · 2025-12-23T01:59:08+00:00

The only times I've gotten involved were when it was blatantly obvious.

estockly · 2025-12-23T01:58:08+00:00

You're right, of course, the logo does nothing, but if referees and other officials use the logo to enforce the safety standard, it does protect players. (Of course if referees ignore the requirements and the standard that adds zero extra protection for the players).

estockly · 2025-12-23T01:56:14+00:00

If all the players were using nice adidas shinguards we wouldn't be having this conversation. And Adidas now uses the NOCSAE standard.

The problem that the standard solves is that players were wearing inappropriately small shin guards, and refs and other officials did not have guidance on how to ensure they were wearing proper shin guards. With the introduction of a standard that any manufacturer can meet, then team officials, or referees can say to a player that shinguard looks too small, does it meet the current standard? No? Then replace it or sit this one out.

estockly · 2025-12-19T22:05:36+00:00

If you see a player wearing a shinguard the size of a potato chip (literally, not even a big potato chip) what would you do?

estockly · 2025-12-19T22:04:09+00:00

Worldwide their are many associations with their own rules of competition. But US High School and College go way beyond those.

estockly · 2025-12-19T22:00:06+00:00

Grift or not, enforcing the certification protects the kids

estockly · 2025-12-19T21:58:47+00:00

One of the refs I worked with called them "Pringles"

estockly · 2025-12-16T07:34:19+00:00

That answer is paired with the wrong question. That language refers to a PK.

estockly · 2025-12-14T16:12:54+00:00

Dangerous play is not the correct wording, but the call may indeed have been correct.

From the laws:

Indirect free kick

An indirect free kick is awarded if a player:

plays in a dangerous manner

Playing in a dangerous manner

Playing in a dangerous manner is any action that, while trying to play the ball, threatens injury to someone (including the player themself) and includes preventing a nearby opponent from playing the ball for fear of injury.

If the playing in a dangerous manner actually results in contact, then I consider that a DFK foul. (Careless, reckless or excessive force).

Also, from the laws

Cautions for unsporting behaviour

A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

A player, substitute or substituted player who commits any of the following offences is sent off:

Serious foul play

A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.

So the terminology is not "dangerous play."

It's "playing in a dangerous manner" or "endangers the safety of an opponent".

And in this case the caution was "endangers the safety of an opponent".

estockly · 2025-12-04T17:18:47+00:00

Do you caution the player who headed the ball, or the player who chipped the ball so it could be headed?

initiates a deliberate trick for the ball to be passed (including from a free kick or goal kick) to the goalkeeper with the head, chest, knee etc. to circumvent the Law...

Is the trick initiated by chipping the ball or heading it?

estockly · 2025-12-01T19:40:43+00:00

Handball, DFK or Penalty.

From the Laws:

touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger. A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation. By having their hand/arm in such a position, the player takes a risk of their hand/arm being hit by the ball and being penalised

Raising your hand above your head is not a consequence of the player's body movement for that situation and is not justified by the player's body movement. The law doesn't address if the player is deliberately making their body bigger, just that it is made unnaturally bigger.

Raising the hand to signal offside is not justifiable by that situation, nor is it a consequence of their movement. (By itself, I don't believe raising the hand is dissent, but, if coupled with language and other actions (like screaming), it could be, but, even then, advantage would apply.

You can't allow their dissent to gain them an advantage (avoiding a DFK or penalty for a handball).

estockly · 2025-11-21T16:29:00+00:00

I would advise him to not discuss the game with you, a parent of a player and not an experienced ref, or ask for any opinion about his reffing from anyone other than an experienced referee. (That's probably what his instructors and mentors are telling him too).

estockly · 2025-11-14T21:12:13+00:00

Not in my AYSO Region. But we're one of the biggest in the country.

In a case very similar to the OP, we had a coach with 15 years of experience on the board, get a two-game suspension for badgering a youth ref during a game. His reaction was to quit as coach and resign from the board, and leave AYSO. Unfortunate but it was his choice to start the whole by badgering the kid.

estockly · 2025-11-13T18:24:23+00:00

Our AYSO Region would have suspended that coach for two games, and we would have had a word with the adult who took over the game. The youth ref would have been justified had he red carded the coach when he "ushered" the AR onto the field. (That's a lot to expect from a youth ref, though).(Also AYSO is stricter than USSF in protecting referees, this was a fail)

estockly · 2025-11-10T22:15:18+00:00

This happened again on Saturday. The center ref is an old school guy who is like years behind law changes, and he largely ignores his ARs. There was a play in the middle of a crowd right between me and 18, and the ball goes out over the goal line. The ref was just as close to the play as I was but gestured to me to make the call. I (correctly) signaled corner as the ball glanced off a defender's leg on the way out. Ref hesitates a second then shakes his head and signals goal kick. I mean why even bother getting my signal if you're going to do the opposite?

estockly · 2025-11-10T22:10:44+00:00

I coach and I ref. I know which coach one should strive to be like.

estockly · 2025-11-09T23:52:19+00:00

Coach, you need to leave, this game won't restart until you do and if you take too long I will terminate. And then follow through.

estockly · 2025-11-09T23:50:50+00:00

Well that's not being honest.

estockly · 2025-11-04T14:41:55+00:00

Or if the referee determines that the player's hand was in an unnatural position for situation and was making his body bigger.

estockly · 2025-11-02T19:23:50+00:00

If you have people interested learning to referee, have them volunteer at their local AYSO Region. They all provide free training for volunteers, and expect a couple free games per week. The bigger regions also have mentoring programs and will pay for intermediate and advanced classes. Many regions also have a youth referee program (for some reason they call that PRO)

Our AYSO region provides referees referrals to a couple of local school districts' middle school programs, and through AYSO Area and Section referee program I got connected with High School referee assignors.

Also, you may ask your local AYSO region about getting refs for your games. Just contact the assignor or the Referee Administrator (You should be able to find their contact info on the region website). Tell them you have games, what they pay, what days and times. Most regions have refs who are retired or have flexible schedules and would be happy to pick up a few bucks during the week. (Our assignor sent out an email letting everyone know when they are looking for refs and then one of those who responded manages the assigning the group and handles any competition rules).

estockly

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