Eastern Suburbs Churches Soccer Association
VICTORIAN CHURCHES SOCCER ASSOCIATION INC
GUIDELINES for MATCH OFFICIALS, TEAM OFFICIALS, and PLAYERS
in the interpretation of the Laws of Association Football
REVISED NOVEMBER 2002
T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
REFEREE'S GUIDELINES
THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME
Law 1: The Field of Play
Law 2: The Ball
Law 3 : Number of Players
Law 4 : Players' Equipment
Law 5 : Referees
Players injured during Play
Allowing "Advantage"
Law 6 : Assistant Referees
Law 7 : Duration of the Game
Law 8 : The Start of Play
Law 9 : Ball In and Out of Play
Law 10 : Method of Scoring
Law 11 : Off-side
Law 12 : Fouls and Misconduct
Foul Tackle
Dangerous Play
Charging Fairly
Obstruction
Charging the Goalkeeper
Six Second Rule
Wasting Time
Cautioning a Player
Unsporting Behaviour
Serious Foul Play
Players' use of Foul Language or Dissent
Sending a Player "off"
Suspension from Play
Law 13 : Free-Kick
Law 14 : Penalty-Kick
Law 15 : Throw-in
Law 16 : Goal-Kick
Law 17 : Corner-Kick
(Where masculine gender is used, the feminine gender is to be inferred as being included.)
(Guidelines should be read in conjunction with the Match Rules.)
(The Match Rules will be followed if any differences occur between these Guigelines and the Match Rules.)
Referee's Guidelines: (to be read in conjunction with the Match Rules)
These guidelines are intended to be read as an adjunct to the Soccer Rules as published by Soccer Australia, taking-in any revisions made annually by the International Football Association Board, and published by FIFA in the book entitled "Laws of the Game and Universal Guide for Referees".
THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME
These Referees' guidelines have been developed over a number of years' experience in the Churches' Soccer Association, to assist Referees towards more consistent and uniform interpretation of the Laws of the Game, while observing particular emphases the Association has agreed upon. The Guidelines incorporate comments and explanations made in Referees' instructional courses, seminars, and similar meetings, in addition to decisions at Association meetings seeking to exemplify the spirit in which the game should be played.
The International Football Association Board stated in 1968 that the spirit in which the game is played is of paramount importance and that changes in the laws to improve the game as a spectacle are of little value if "fair play" is not universally observed. In 1957 the International Board agreed that for Football to exist as a world game it became essential to move towards a common interpretation of such practices as deliberate obstruction, handling the ball to prevent a vital movement of play, time-wasting tactics, dissent, and other acts which provoked different reactions according to national traditions and temperaments.
The Board stated "The laws of the game and the rulings of the International Board and FIFA cannot of themselves bring about the exemplary code of behaviour which is so often referred to as 'the spirit of the game'. If Football is to continue to be one of the great and most popular games in the world then those who take part in it must keep up its great tradition. Everyone wishes to win, but true sportsmen can find little satisfaction in a victory won by unfair means. The spirit of the law must be observed as well as the letter of the law
In the book "Association Football Match Control" (1978 -- by Stanley Lover) it is stated that "in the course of a referee's career, situations will occur which have not been provided for in written form. He will have to weigh up the problem and resolve it quite simply by asking himself "What is the fair solution?", or "What is the answer in terms of the spirit of the game?" The quality of his decision will be determined by his comprehension of the spirit of the game.
This latter point is nicely summed up in "The Book of Football" (1906) "We have referees who are temperamentally unable to disregard the printed word - others (all too few) who read between the lines and recognise that the first object should be to ensure the game is being played honestly, fairly, and in a truly sporting spirit".
It is often said, "When in doubt, apply Law 18 - Common Sense". Perhaps this would be better put, "When in doubt, apply Law 0 - The Spirit of the Game".
Law 1: The Field of Play
The Referee should aim to arrive at the assigned ground about thirty minutes ahead of the scheduled kick-off time, meet the Team Managers or Coaches, advise them the Match Cards will be required at least ten minutes before kick-off time, and ask each Team to supply a Linesman.
The Referee should inspect the ground markings, ensure the nets are securely fitted and properly pegged down, and check that the corner flags are in place and standing at least five feet high. That section of the goal-line between the goalposts should be the same width as the width of the goalposts as they cross the goal-line. Any problems should be reported to the Home Team manager. Such problems should be corrected to conform with Law 1 before the game is started.The Half-way Flags, if provided, should be at least five feet high, and must be placed at least a yard (metre) clear of the touchline. Spectators must stand clear of the side-line, in line with the half-way flag and the clearance markings, to allow the Assistant Referee and Players to move freely along the sideline without obstruction.
The Assistant Referees (or Club Linesmen) should be instructed in their duties, stressing any particular assistance required. The Referee should hand the Assistant Referees the flags supplied for their use, and ask that they return them at the end of the match. Club Linesmen should not change places with other Club representatives during the Match without the Referee's agreement at the time.
Law 2: The Ball
The Referee should obtain the Match Card and the Match Ball and check that both meet the Association's requirements. The ball should meet the specifications of Law 2 at all times, otherwise play should be stopped and a replacement ball "dropped" into play.
Law 3 : Number of Players
It has been agreed at Association Meetings that Player Interchange will be used. After gaining the Referee's permission, a Player being interchanged may leave the field, at a break in play, and may rejoin the team later in a similar Interchange. Interchange Players must join play from the half-way line, only during a stoppage in play, and only after receiving the Referee's signal to do so.
Penalty for infringement: Caution offender, restart game with an indirect free kick from where the ball was when play was stopped. Interchange Players on the sidelines should be requested to cover team shirts if worn, thereby avoiding confusion. The Referee's authority extends to control of prospective interchange Players; the Referee should ensure they do not use unsporting tactics to distract opponents. A named reserve Player may be given a yellow or red card without even getting onto the ground to play.
The Referee should count the number of players in each team before the start of play in each half. Should there be too many players on the field after play has first started, but less than ten minutes of play gone, the game should be re-started, ensuring there are only eleven in each team. If more than ten minutes have been played, the Referee should correct the numbers, but continue without re-starting the game. However, in this case, should any goals have been scored with more than eleven in either team, the game should be abandoned, and the Match Card used in completing a report of the circumstances.
A player ordered off before play begins may be replaced, but only by one of the named interchange players. The game shall not be delayed for such replacement to be made. The Interchange player may be allowed to join the game only at a break in play.
Varying the number of players in a match.
In Senior Teams up to three interchange Players can be used, this can be increased to five interchange Players only if both Team Representatives and the Referee agree.
No obligation is imposed by the Association for such variation, and there is no obligation on any Team to agree to such a request.
In Junior and Ladies Teams up to three interchange Players can be used. When both Teams have more than three "spare" Players, or Managers are prepared to "share" Players to enable more to play on the day, more than three Players for each Team can take part in Interchange, provided there is agreement between the Team Managers and the Referee before commencement of the Match. The Association encourages some agreement between Team Managers and Referee before the commencement of a Juniors or Ladies Match in the circumstances in which one of the two full-strength teams has a surplus of players and wishes to give as many as possible of the prospective players the opportunity to play.
The "forfeit" rule enables a "friendly" match to be played in the circumstance where insufficient team members arrive to bring one of the sides up to the minimum number of players as per point 5 of the match rules. A forfeit score of 3-0 will be awarded to the team with sufficient players.
Match Cards :
Before starting play, the Referee should ensure the Match Card contains without exception all the names of the players and substitutes who may take part in the match. To be consistent with policy, only players whose names are on the Match Card at the start of Play are allowed to participate in the Match. No names may be added during the game or at half-time. All Referees are required to observe this rule strictly, by established precedents.
A team playing an unregistered or ineligible player will be penalised refer to addendum B of the Match Rules.
A player registered in a younger division team may play in an older division team. Refer to match rules for specific guidelines.
A player may gain an exemption to play in a younger age group, these players are to have (EX) after there name on the match card. A (EX) player is not elligable for best and fairest votes. A Referee should inform the Association if an (EX) player is a good player in their present team.(their exemption will be reviewed.)
A Junior Player may play in Senior games, they are to have (JNR) after their name on the Match Card and have a passport. ref to match rules for specific guidelines.
The Match Secretary is to check whether or not a player whose name was recorded by the Referee for reference was actually registered.
Law 4 : Players' Equipment (see Match Rules)
Only team strips approved by the VCSA are to be worn.
If there is a clash of playing strip, and both team strips have been approved by the VCSA, the Home Team is not required to change in the event of difficulty in distinguishing teams. It has been agreed that in such instances the away team changes.
The Referee should not allow one or more players to play without footwear when all the others are wearing boots, although for this purpose jogger's shoes are satisfactory. A Player who loses a boot during play must leave the field to readjust his footwear.
A light-weight supporting cast may be worn, at a player's own risk, but must be well padded, to muffle any contact. Should the player wearing a supportive lightweight cast play in such a manner as to intimidate or accidentally strike other players with the cast, he shall be sent off, but allowed to return, during a stoppage in play, after gaining the Referee's permission to re-join his team, if the cast is removed.
Law 5 : Referees
No Referee - No Game! When a substitute Referee is selected under the provisions of the Match Rules, he shall be acknowledged to have the full authority and responsibilities of the position, including powers to Caution and Send-off Players for infringement of the Laws of the Game. The Referee should not allow himself to be distracted from an overall awareness and control of the game as a whole during stoppages, e.g. while an injured player is being assisted at the Referee's request.Referees and Clubs are reminded that people involved in our Competition may have other commitments after our Games. It is important therefore that Games start on time and finish on time. When, for some reason, a game is started later than the programmed time, the Referee must make a quick and reasonably correct calculation and deduct sufficient time from each Half to enable the delayed game to finish on time.
The Referee's authority commences as he enters the field of play to start the game, and he may report any relevant incidents that occur before, during, or after the match. The Report will be dealt with by the Match Secretary or the Executive Committee. The Referee shall, from the time he enters the field of play, caution and show a Yellow Card to any player guilty of misconduct or ungentlemanly behaviour. The Referee shall send off the field of play and show a Red Card to any player who, in his opinion, is guilty of violent conduct, serious foul play, the use of foul or abusive language, or who persists in misconduct after having received a Caution.
The Referee's task is to enforce the Laws, keeping in mind the Spirit of the Law, e.g. should there be a foul on an attacker near the penalty area, and a stoppage would give an advantage to the offender's team, such as setting-up a wall ten yards from a free kick, the Referee should call clearly "play on" and warn or caution the offender at the next break in play.
The Referee should stop play in heavy rain or hail, or in electrical storms and encourage the Players to seek cover. Should conditions improve sufficiently that play could be continued and the game completed before the next match is scheduled to start, or before the Referee has to leave to fulfil another match appointment, the Referee should inspect the pitch to ensure it is safe for play and have line markings renewed if necessary for efficient match control. Otherwise the match should be abandoned.
As stated in International Board Decision 8 of Law 5, the game should be allowed to flow with as little interruption as possible, with the Referee penalising only what he considers to be deliberate breaches of the law. In most cases, when the Referee is "up with play" control is maintained by "eye contact" or by hand signals. Hence the signal for recommencement of play after stoppages is not necessarily by whistle. The less whistling the better.
Constant whistling for trifling and doubtful breaches produces bad feeling and a sense of frustration in some players, and spoils the pleasure of spectators. As stated in "Association Match Control" - an example of a trifling breach would be a player lifting one foot one centimetre from the ground when taking a throw-in. To stop play and award a throw-in to the opposite side would be correct in the strict application of the written law but against the intention of the laws to provide an enjoyable game of football. In using the whistle the Referee should not use "double blows"; one short or long blast covers most situations, while a blast of five short blows in succession can be used for quickly gaining attention.
The Referee should memorise for ready recall the general statements of the justification for cautioning or sending-off players. When a player is sent-off, in addition to noting the action on the Match Card, the Referee should forward to the Association Secretary a one-page report of the incident.
Referees are requested to follow the Association's Match Rules and Guidelines, and impose the required disciplines when Players use blasphemy or other forms of foul language. Further, players should be appropriately disciplined when they express dissent from Referees' or Assistant Referees' decisions, as required by the Laws of the Game. Administrative weaknesses in the imposition of match disciplines are not in the best interests of the majority of players, other Referees, and the Association. All Referees are requested to adhere firmly and fairly to the Association's Match Control guidelines.
Players Injured during Play:
In the event that a player receives an injury which causes a flow of blood, eg, an abrasion, a laceration, or a bleeding nose, the Referee must be notified immediately, and the player must leave the field of play for First Aid attention. Clubs should ensure that adequate First Aid equipment is available at each game. Clubs are requested to observe the Association's policy towards the treatment of players who are seen to be bleeding after suffering some injury in the run of Play. In the event that a player receives an injury which causes a flow of blood, eg, an abrasion, a laceration, or a bleeding nose, the Referee must be notified immediately, and the player must leave the field of play for First Aid attention.