Laws of the Game and Laws of the Game and SABR RefereesSABR Referees

Presented to SABR CoachesPresented to SABR Coaches

Saturday, October 11, 2008Saturday, October 11, 2008

Seventeen (17) Laws of the Seventeen (17) Laws of the GameGame

• Field of Play*Field of Play*

• Ball*Ball*

• Number of Players* Number of Players* (Substitutions)(Substitutions)

• Players EquipmentPlayers Equipment

• RefereeReferee

• Assistant RefereeAssistant Referee

• Duration of the Match*Duration of the Match*

• Start and Restart of Start and Restart of PlayPlay

• Ball in and Out of PlayBall in and Out of Play

• Method ScoringMethod Scoring

• Offside*Offside*

• Fouls & Misconduct*Fouls & Misconduct*

• Free KicksFree Kicks

• Penalty KickPenalty Kick

• Throw-In*Throw-In*

• Goal KickGoal Kick

• Corner KickCorner Kick

*May be modified for SABR youth games

Commonly Misunderstood Commonly Misunderstood Laws of the GameLaws of the Game

• Field of PlayField of Play

• BallBall

• Number of Players Number of Players (Substitutions)(Substitutions)

• Players EquipmentPlayers Equipment

• RefereeReferee

• Assistant RefereeAssistant Referee

• Duration of the MatchDuration of the Match

• Start and Restart of Start and Restart of PlayPlay

• Ball in and Out of PlayBall in and Out of Play

• Method ScoringMethod Scoring

• OffsideOffside

• Fouls & MisconductFouls & Misconduct

• Free KicksFree Kicks

• Penalty KickPenalty Kick

• Throw-InThrow-In

• Goal KickGoal Kick

• Corner KickCorner Kick

Law 3 - Number of PlayersLaw 3 - Number of Players

Age GroupAge Group MaximumMaximum MinimumMinimum

U9 & U10U9 & U10 66 55

U11 & U12U11 & U12 88 66

U14, U16, & U14, U16, & U18U18

1111 77

All teams must have a goalie regardless of the number of players

ForfeitForfeit

• If one or both teams does not have the If one or both teams does not have the minimum number of playersminimum number of players, then they , then they have to forfeithave to forfeit

• If the If the coaches want to play short-handedcoaches want to play short-handed, , the referee will stay and referee the game the referee will stay and referee the game (they are getting paid and we need to be (they are getting paid and we need to be there for purposes of safety)there for purposes of safety)

• If a If a team’s coach does not show upteam’s coach does not show up, then , then they are not permitted to play – period!they are not permitted to play – period!

Law 3 – Number of Players Law 3 – Number of Players (Substitutions)(Substitutions)• Allowed:Allowed:

– On YOUR OWN team’s throw inOn YOUR OWN team’s throw in– On either team's goal kick On either team's goal kick – After a goal After a goal – After a water break or half After a water break or half – After the regular time of the game has expired if an After the regular time of the game has expired if an

overtime period is providedovertime period is provided– After an injury stoppage of play by refereeAfter an injury stoppage of play by referee

• NOT Allowed:NOT Allowed:– On a corner kick On a corner kick – During an opponent’s throw in  During an opponent’s throw in  – Other stoppage of play by referee not mentioned aboveOther stoppage of play by referee not mentioned above

Law 10 - Method of ScoringLaw 10 - Method of Scoring

• Ball must:Ball must: – Pass Pass ENTIRELYENTIRELY over the goal line, over the goal line, – In between the goalposts, In between the goalposts, – Under the crossbars, andUnder the crossbars, and– On the ground or in the airOn the ground or in the air

• Not a goal if:Not a goal if:– There is an infringement of the Laws of the Game by the There is an infringement of the Laws of the Game by the

team scoring the goalteam scoring the goal– Ball is kicked into your own goal on a free kick – corner Ball is kicked into your own goal on a free kick – corner

kick is awarded to opponentkick is awarded to opponent

• Goal MAY be scored directly from a Kickoff or a Goal MAY be scored directly from a Kickoff or a Goal Kick (but only against the opposing team)Goal Kick (but only against the opposing team)

Law 11 - OffsideLaw 11 - Offside

• Only applicable for Only applicable for U11 and olderU11 and older• Offside PositionOffside Position is when a player is is when a player is

nearer to opponent’s goal line than nearer to opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second to last both the ball and the second to last opponentopponent

• Offside OffenseOffside Offense occurs if the player in occurs if the player in the offside position is, in the opinion the offside position is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play of the referee, involved in active play when the ball is kickedwhen the ball is kicked

Law 11 – OffsideLaw 11 – Offside

• Player in Player in offside positionoffside position is considered is considered involved in active playinvolved in active play by: by:– Playing or touching the ball passed or touched Playing or touching the ball passed or touched

by a teammateby a teammate– Preventing an opponent from playing or being Preventing an opponent from playing or being

able to play the ball by obstructing the able to play the ball by obstructing the opponent’s line of vision or movement opponent’s line of vision or movement

– Gaining an advantage by being in an offside Gaining an advantage by being in an offside position and then playing a ball that rebounds position and then playing a ball that rebounds to the playerto the player

Law 11 – OffsideLaw 11 – Offside

•There is There is NO offside offenseNO offside offense if the if the player receives the ball directly from:player receives the ball directly from:– A goal kickA goal kick– A throw inA throw in– A corner kickA corner kick

•For an offside offense an For an offside offense an Indirect Kick Indirect Kick is awardedis awarded to the opposing team to the opposing team

Law 12 – Fouls & Law 12 – Fouls & MisconductMisconduct• Direct Free KickDirect Free Kick is awarded when a player is awarded when a player

commits any of the following six offenses commits any of the following six offenses against an opponent in a manner against an opponent in a manner considered by the referee to be considered by the referee to be carelesscareless, , recklessreckless or or using excessive forceusing excessive force::– Kicks or attempts to kickKicks or attempts to kick– Trips or attempts to tripTrips or attempts to trip– Jumps Jumps – ChargesCharges– Strikes or attempts to strikeStrikes or attempts to strike– Pushes Pushes

Law 12 – Fouls & Law 12 – Fouls & MisconductMisconduct• Direct Free KickDirect Free Kick is also awarded when a player is also awarded when a player

commits any of the following four offenses:commits any of the following four offenses:– Tackles making contact with opponent before Tackles making contact with opponent before

touching the balltouching the ball– Holds Holds – SpitsSpits– Handles the ball deliberately (except the Handles the ball deliberately (except the

goalkeeper)goalkeeper)

• Penalty KickPenalty Kick is awarded if any of the above is awarded if any of the above ten offenses is committed by a player inside ten offenses is committed by a player inside his own penalty areahis own penalty area

Law 12 – Fouls & Law 12 – Fouls & MisconductMisconduct• Handling the Ball DeliberatelyHandling the Ball Deliberately generally generally

means using your hand or arm to deflect a means using your hand or arm to deflect a ball and as a result you gain an advantageball and as a result you gain an advantage

• A foul will generally not be calledA foul will generally not be called if, in the if, in the opinion of the referee, the player:opinion of the referee, the player:– Inadvertently touches the ball with their hand Inadvertently touches the ball with their hand

or arm and does not gain an advantageor arm and does not gain an advantage– Gets hit in the hand or arm as they are trying Gets hit in the hand or arm as they are trying

to protect themselvesto protect themselves

Law 12 – Fouls & Law 12 – Fouls & MisconductMisconduct• Indirect Free KickIndirect Free Kick is awarded when a is awarded when a

goalkeeper, inside his/her own penalty goalkeeper, inside his/her own penalty area, commits any of the four offenses:area, commits any of the four offenses:– Takes more than 6 seconds to release the ball Takes more than 6 seconds to release the ball

from his/her possessionfrom his/her possession– Touches the ball again after he/she releases Touches the ball again after he/she releases

the ball, but before another player touchesthe ball, but before another player touches– Touches the ball with his/her hands after it has Touches the ball with his/her hands after it has

been deliberately kick to him by a teammatebeen deliberately kick to him by a teammate– Touches the ball with his/her hands after he Touches the ball with his/her hands after he

has received it directly from a throw in by a has received it directly from a throw in by a teammateteammate

Law 12 – Fouls & Law 12 – Fouls & MisconductMisconduct• Indirect Free KickIndirect Free Kick is also awarded when in is also awarded when in

the opinion of the referee a player:the opinion of the referee a player:– Plays in a dangerous mannerPlays in a dangerous manner– Impedes the progress of the opponentImpedes the progress of the opponent– Prevents goalkeeper from the releasing the ball Prevents goalkeeper from the releasing the ball

from his handsfrom his hands– Player commits an Offside offense (NOT a foul Player commits an Offside offense (NOT a foul

or misconduct)or misconduct)– Commits any other offense not previously Commits any other offense not previously

mentioned for which play stopped to caution mentioned for which play stopped to caution ((Yellow CardYellow Card) or dismiss a player () or dismiss a player (Red CardRed Card))

Law 12 – Fouls & Law 12 – Fouls & MisconductMisconduct• Yellow CardYellow Card

– Player is Player is CautionedCautioned– Must be removed from the game and Must be removed from the game and

substituted as a “cool down” period until the substituted as a “cool down” period until the next opportunity for a substitutionnext opportunity for a substitution

• Red CardRed Card – Player is Player is DismissedDismissed– Must leave the vicinity of the field Must leave the vicinity of the field – The player MAY NOT be substitutedThe player MAY NOT be substituted

• Although not shown a Although not shown a Red CardRed Card, coaches , coaches or spectators may also be asked to leave or spectators may also be asked to leave the field for misconductthe field for misconduct

Law 13 – Free KicksLaw 13 – Free Kicks

• Direct Free Kick Direct Free Kick – Can be directly shot on the goal and scored without Can be directly shot on the goal and scored without

another player touching the ballanother player touching the ball– Signaled by referee with a whistle and arm raised at an Signaled by referee with a whistle and arm raised at an

angle pointing in the direction of the free kick to be angle pointing in the direction of the free kick to be takentaken

• Indirect Free KickIndirect Free Kick– Must be touched by another player on either team Must be touched by another player on either team

before it can be scored as a goalbefore it can be scored as a goal– Signaled by referee with a whistle and arm raised Signaled by referee with a whistle and arm raised

straight up and is not lowered until after another player straight up and is not lowered until after another player touches the ball or it goes out of playtouches the ball or it goes out of play

• Be sure to teach your players the difference in Be sure to teach your players the difference in these signals by the refereethese signals by the referee

Other ConsiderationsOther Considerations

• Coaches need to stay within their Coaches need to stay within their Technical AreaTechnical Area during the game during the game– ~10 yards on either side of the centerline~10 yards on either side of the centerline– ~ 2 yards behind the touch line~ 2 yards behind the touch line

• Players must stay Players must stay on the field during on the field during water breakswater breaks and no coaching is and no coaching is permittedpermitted

• JewelryJewelry is NOT allowed,is NOT allowed, period period – must – must be removed, and cannot be tapedbe removed, and cannot be taped

SABR RefereesSABR Referees

• Certified by USSF to enforce the “Laws of Certified by USSF to enforce the “Laws of the Game”the Game”

• Ages range from 13 and olderAges range from 13 and older• Referees are assigned by experience levelReferees are assigned by experience level• Referees are never assigned to referee Referees are never assigned to referee

their own age group or oldertheir own age group or older• Never talk to or approach a referee during Never talk to or approach a referee during

a game – this includes team spectatorsa game – this includes team spectators• If you need clarification on a call, wait until If you need clarification on a call, wait until

after the game to discuss with themafter the game to discuss with them

Two Basic Rules for Soccer Two Basic Rules for Soccer RefereesReferees

Rule #1: Rule #1: Soccer referees are always right!Soccer referees are always right!

Rule #2: Rule #2: When in doubt, refer to Rule #1!When in doubt, refer to Rule #1!

• If you have any issues with a referee notify:If you have any issues with a referee notify:– Brian Behrman/SABR Game Assignor at Brian Behrman/SABR Game Assignor at briansabr@aol.combriansabr@aol.com – Tim Sharp/SABR Director Referees at Tim Sharp/SABR Director Referees at

sharp1958@bellsouth.netsharp1958@bellsouth.net

Lightning PolicyLightning Policy

See attachedSee attached

Coaches Coaches

Lead by Example and Thanks Lead by Example and Thanks for All You Do For Our Kids!for All You Do For Our Kids!

Your SABR RefereesYour SABR Referees

Questions?Questions?