THJSL and Westside SC Referee Information

(*Updated Spring 2021)

If you are looking to become a referee

  • Sign up for and complete the Introductory Level (Grade 8) Referee class
  • Sign up for an account on OregonSoccerCentral website
  • When the account is activated, sign up to work for THJSL
    • Log on to your OrSocCtrl account
    • Click on "Orgs that may need Referees"
    • Click on THJSL
    • Click "Please ADD ME to the THJSL User List"
  • Read through all the information in the remaining sections
    • If you are an existing referee but have not worked for THJSL before
    • If you are a returning THJSL referee
    • Points of Emphasis - Must Reading for All Referees
    • Rules for Self-Assign
    • How Referee Ranks Work
    • Updated Newz Yew Kin Yewz
    • Summary of IFAB Law Changes for 2019-2020

If you are an existing referee but have not worked for THJSL/WSC before

  • THJSL conducts recreational soccer games for players from Second Grade ("G2") up through and including High School ("HS Rec").
    • These games are played in the Fall
  • Westside SC conducts a league for 2nd Grade through 8th Grade
    • These games are played in the Spring
  • Most teams are either "Girls" or "Boys" but girls are allowed to play on a boys' team
  • HS Rec teams are Coed - both men and women play on the same team
  • The RoC contains a section specific for the HS Rec games that includes the differences for Coed play
    • * You can find the Rules of competition here
    • *Pay particular attention to the rules regarding COVID
  • Games are played on fields in the Tualatin Hill Parks and Recreation District ("THPRD"), the boundaries of which are essentially the same as the Beaverton School District
    • *For spring League, games are also played on  fields in Tigard
  • Games are played under the IFAB Laws of the Game ("LotG") with modifications (Rules of Competition or "RoC") allowed for youth play
  • Almost all referee assignments are done using the Self-Assign feature on OregonSoccerCentral
  • There are specific rules about the self-assign process (see separate section, below)
  • MAKE SURE YOU READ THE Points of Emphasis SECTION (below)!!!

If you are a returning THJSL/WSC referee

  • The  Rules of Competition ("RoC") are available here
    • *Pay particular attention to the rules regarding COVID
    • This document covers all age levels of play, 2nd Grade through HS Rec
    • These rules modifications also apply to the Westside SC Spring League.
    • Download and print them out
    • Read, memorize and carry with you in your referee bag
  • Note that the HS Rec Coed games have specific section in the RoC that address Coed play
  • MAKE SURE YOU READ THE Points of Emphasis SECTION (below)!!!

Points of Emphasis - Must Reading for All Referees
Restrictions on Goalkeepers, Jewelry, New FIFA Laws, THJSL Rules of Competition for HS Rec,
Who May Intentionally Head the Ball & Who May Not

  • We are enforcing rules at the G2, G3 and G4 levels dealing with Goalkeeper kicks and Build Out Lines.
  • A summary is included in the Newz Yew Kin Yewz section, below
    • If these terms or concepts are new to you then you must ...
      • (even if you are familiar with them you'd still better...)
    • ...get the current Rules of Competition from here
    • *Pay particular attention to the rules regarding COVID
      • Download them
      • Print them out
      • Read them
      • Memorize them
  • No Jewelry Rule
    • The RoC are very specific that no player is permitted to wear jewelry of any kind
    • When parents get their player's schedule they must agree to the terms of this prohibition to obtain the schedule
      • So there should be no argument about this at your games
      • If you have a problem then have the complainer call Keith Ericson (503-734-8932) discuss it with him
  • New IFAB Laws (2019/2020) are in effect for the Fall (THJSL) and Spring (Westside SC) season
    • You can find the full PDF - 200+ pages - here
    • A summary of the changes, including reasons for the changes, is here
      • It's also included at the bottom of this page
  • Note that the RoC contains a section specific to HS Rec Coed games
    • The RoC can be found here - it covers all age groups
    • All the THJSL RoC apply, with differences for HS Rec listed on Page 3
  • In games for G6 (aka "U12") and younger, players are not allowed to intentionally head the ball
    • An infraction is treated like, and the restart is the same, as Dangerous Play - an Indirect Free Kick
  • Players in G7, G8 and HS Rec games are allowed to intentionally head the ball

Rules for Self-Assign

The Rules* for Self-Assigning

The idea is that you NEVER leave a single game out there

that no one else will likely want to take.

 

On any given day, a field may have 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 games on it

1. Two games on the field – you take both of them    

2. If the field has 3 games on it, you take all three

3. If the field has 4 games on it you have three choices:

          a. Take all four

          b. Take the FIRST two

          c. Take the LAST two

4. If the field has 5 games then...

          a. Take the first three or the last three

          b. Take the first two or the last two

          c. Take all 5 ("Iron Man" award!)

5. If there are 6 or 7 games then take as many as you want but don't leave the first (early) game nor the last (late) game and don’t leave a "game in the middle" either.

 

Remember, the idea is that you NEVER leave a single game out there

that no one else will likely want to take.

 

*These rules all “disappear” the evening before any still-open game(s).

At that point, take whatever you want...

How Referee Ranks Work
And how it applies to self-assign

Every game is assigned a rank which is a measure of the level of difficulty for that game. G2 (U8) game is easier to do than a High School Rec game. So the G2 game has a lower rank than does the HS Rec game.

Similarly all referees have a rank (actually, two ranks - we'll get to that) which defines the assignor's perceived level of game that the referee is capable of working. Referees have two ranks - one for the level of games that s/he can work as the Center (or Solo) Referee and another for the level of games s/he can work as an Assistant Referee.

New youth referees - with no game history - are assigned the easiest games to work.
      For THJSL and Westside SC these are as the Center (Solo) for the G2 (2nd Grade) games and as an Assistant Referee ("AR") for Grade 5 and Grade 6 games.

As the referee works more games and gains both experience and confidence the assignor will raise the referee's rank(s) so they can work higher level games.

When you log on to OregonSoccerCentral you will find some games with green plus-sign icons and some with little emall icons. Those with the green plus signs are the ones you can self-assign: your rank is equal to or greater than the rank of that assignment. Click on the plus sign and go through the short self-assign process.

The assignments with the email icon are ranked higher than your rank for that assignment. Clicking on the icon lets you send a request to the assignor for the game. NOW - THIS IS IMPORTANT: you need to provide some good reason you think you can do the game. The assignor has your rank set too low - so you need to explain why you think it is too low. (If all you add to the note is "I want to do this game" I'll just hit the "Delete" button on your email.)

Turning Back Games
If you sign up for games and then turn them back you are NOT released from those games until the Referee Assignor takes you off those games. That means you can't take some other games - you are still locked into the first ones. So be careful if you're turning back one set of games in hopes of taking a different set. By the time the Referee Assignor gets you released from the first set, the new set might be already taken by another referee. If that happens, then you might be out of luck because someone else will have taken your original games!

Updated Newz Yew Kin Yewz
(Updated Fall 2019)
G2 Goalkeepers
Restrictions on G3 and G4 Goalkeeper Distribution of the Ball
Substitution Procedure

G2 Goalkeepers

  • This is real simple - there are NO GOALKEEPERS at the G2 level.
  • ALL four players from each team are to be near the active area of play, with none "hanging out" just in front of his/her goal while play is going on fairly far upfield.
  • This does not, preclude, however, one of the players dropping back to a defensive position when his/her teams loses possession.
    • But not right in front to the goal...!
  • As a side note, all goal kicks at G2 are taken from the endline.
    • If you have a goal area (mistakenly) marked on the field, IGNORE IT.

Restrictions on G3 and G4 GoalKeepers Distribution of the Ball

There are restrictions on Goalkeeper kicks at the G3 and G4 levels
  • At G3 and G4 both the Goal Areas and Penalty Areas marked.
    • The goalkeeper is allowed to pick up the ball whenever it is in the Penalty Area or Goal Area.
  • When putting the ball back into play the G3/G4 goalkeeper is not permitted to punt or dropkick the ball.
    • When the 'keeper takes possession of the ball (e.g., saving an attempt on goal) s/he can do one of two things:
                    1.  Either
                            First...
                                 Place the ball anywhere inside the Penalty Area
                           Then:
                                Pass the ball out to a team-mate by foot
                    2. Or
                               Throw the ball out by hand
    • On a goal kick, the ball will be placed anywhere in the Goal Area.
      • The ball will be distributed by passing (place-kicking) it to a team-mate
  • In both situations the kicker's/thrower's opponents will retreat - quickly - out beyond the Build Out Line
  • Once the ball is distributed (place-kicked or thrown) it is in not in play until...
    • ...Either it is touched by a team-mate of the kicker/thrower
    • ...Or it passes directly beyond the Build Out Line
  • Not until the ball is in play - as described above - are the 'keeper's opponents allowed to challenge for the ball
  • Just as in the situation of a quick free kick, the 'keeper may choose to make a "quick play" and distribute the ball before the opponents have retreated beyond the Build Out Line
  • If the 'keeper should punt or drop-kick the ball, the restart is an indirect kick for the 'keeper's opponents at the point of the infraction
    • Remember that if the infraction occurs in the Goal Area then the ball is placed on the Goal Area line parallel to the goal at a spot nearest the point of infraction..
      • In this case the 'keeper's team-mates are allowed to stand on the goal-line, between the cones (G2) or goalposts (G3/G4) to block the shot on goal.
    • Note that for the first few weeks of the season it is recommended that on the first infraction of this rule the referee should stop play, remind the 'keeper - and the coach - of this rule and give the 'keeper a "do-over" to properly distribute the ball.

Substitution Procedure

  • All substitutes enter ONLY at midline
    • No players jumping up from the bench to come in when the ball goes out of play
    • Coaches must have the discipline to get their substitutes to midline prior to the stoppage
  • Referees are not allowed to deny any substitution request
  • In contrast to the updated Laws of of the Game 2019-2020, outgoing player(s) shall not exit the field at the nearest boundary line.
    • Instead the outgoing player(s) must exit at midline on the team side.

Summary of IFAB Law Changes for 2019-2020

The following summarises the main Law changes for 2019/20 with an explanation for the changes (in alphabetical order).

Dropped ball - Laws 8 & 9

Changes

  • If play is stopped inside the penalty area, the ball will be dropped for the goalkeeper
  • If play is stopped outside the penalty area, the ball will be dropped for one player of the team that last touched the ball at the point of the last touch
  • In all cases, all the other players (of both teams) must be at least 4m (4.5yds) away
  • If the ball touches the referee (or another match official) and goes into the goal, team possession changes or a promising attack starts, a dropped ball is awarded
    • For example, if the ball glances off the referee and goes into touch for a throw-in, this would normally result in a change of team possession: White kicked it, Blue would get a throw-in. Consequently, the referee will conduct a dropped ball for a player of the team that kicked the ball (White, in this case), at the pont where it was last touced by a player (again, White in this case).

 

Explanation

  • The current dropped ball procedure often leads to a ‘manufactured’ restart which is ‘exploited’ unfairly (e.g. kicking the ball out for a throw-in deep in the opponents’ half) or an aggressive confrontation. Returning the ball to the team that last played it restores what was ‘lost’ when play was stopped, except in the penalty area where it is simpler to return the ball to the goalkeeper. To prevent that team gaining an unfair advantage, all players of both teams, except the player receiving the ball, must be at least 4m (4.5 yds) away.
  • It can be very unfair if a team gains an advantage or scores a goal because the ball has hit a match official, especially the referee.

 

Free Kicks - Law 13

Changes

  • When there is a ‘wall’ of three or more defenders, the attackers are not allowed within 1m (1 yard) of the wall; an attacker less than 1m (1yd) from the ‘wall’ when the kick is taken will be penalised with an indirect free kick
  • When the defending team takes a free kick in their own penalty area, the ball is in play once the kick is taken; it does not have to leave the penalty area before it can be played


Explanation

  • Attackers standing very close to, or in, the defensive ‘wall’ at a free kick often cause management problems and waste time. There is no legitimate tactical justification for attackers to be in the ‘wall’ and their presence is against the ‘spirit of the game’•and often damages the image of the game.
  • The experiment where, at a defending team free kick in the penalty area, the ball is in play once it is kicked and does not have to leave the penalty area, has produced a faster and more constructive restart. Opponents must remain outside the penalty area and at least 9.15m away until the ball is in play. The same change has been made to the goal kick (see Law 16).

 

Goal Celebrations - Law 12

Changes

  • A YC for an ‘illegal’ celebration (e.g. removing the shirt) remains even if the goal is disallowed


Explanation

  • Cautions for inappropriate goal celebrations apply even if the goal is disallowed as the impact (safety, image of the game etc.) is the same as if the goal was awarded.

 

Goal Kick - Law 16

Changes

  • The ball is in play once the kick is taken; it can be played before leaving the penalty area


Explanation
The experiment that at a goal kick the ball is in play once it is kicked, and does not have to leave the penalty area, has created a faster and more dynamic/constructive restart to the game. It has reduced the time ‘lost/wasted’ including stopping the tactic of ‘wasting’ time when a defender deliberately plays the ball before it leaves the penalty area knowing that all that will happen is the goal kick will be retaken. Opponents must remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play

Handball - Law 12

Changes

  • Deliberate handball remains an offence
  • The following ‘handball’ situations, even if accidental, will be a free kick:
    • The ball goes into the goal after touching an attacking player’s hand/arm
    • A player gains control/possession of the ball after it has touches their hand/arm and then scores, or creates a goal-scoring opportunity
    • The ball touches a player’s hand/arm which has made their body unnaturally bigger
    • The ball touches a player’s hand/arm when it is above their shoulder (unless the player has deliberately played the ball which then touches their hand/arm)

 

  • The following will not usually be a free kick, unless they are one of the above situations:
    • The ball touches a player’s hand/arm directly from their own head/body/foot or the head/body/foot of another player who is close/near
    • The ball touches a player’s hand/arm which is close to their body and has not made their body unnaturally bigger
    • If a player is falling and the ball touches their hand/arm when it is between their body and the ground to support the body (but not extended to make the body bigger)
    • If the goalkeeper attempts to ‘clear’ (release into play) a throw-in or deliberate kick from a team-mate but the ‘clearance’ fails, the goalkeeper can then handle the ball


Explanation
Greater clarity is needed for handball, especially on those occasions when ‘non- deliberate’ handball is an offence. The re-wording follows a number of principles:

  • Football does not accept a goal being scored by a hand/arm (even if accidental)
  • Football expects a player to be penalised for handball if they gain possession/control of the ball from their hand/arm and gain a major advantage e.g. score or create a goal-scoring opportunity
  • It is natural for a player to put their arm between their body and the ground for support when falling.
  • Having the hand/arm above shoulder height is rarely a ‘natural’ position and a player is ‘taking a risk’ by having the hand/arm in that position, including when sliding
  • If the ball comes off the player’s body, or off another player (of either team) who is close by, onto the hands/arms it is often impossible to avoid contact with the ball
  • When the GK clearly kicks or tries to kick the ball into play, this shows no intention to handle the ball so, if the ‘clearance’ attempt is unsuccessful, the goalkeeper can then handle the ball without committing an offence

 

Kick-Off - Law 8

Changes

  • The team that wins the toss can now choose to take the kick-off or which goal to attack (previously they only had the choice of which goal to attack)


Explanation

  • Recent Law changes have made the kick-off more dynamic (e.g. a goal can be scored directly from the kick-off) so captains winning the toss often ask to take the kick-off. 

 

Medical Breaks - Law 7

Changes

  • Difference between ‘cooling’ breaks (90 secs – 3 mins) and ‘drinks’ breaks (max 1 min)


Explanation

  • In the interests of player safety, competition rules may allow, in certain weather conditions (e.g. high humidity and temperatures), ‘cooling’ breaks (from ninety seconds to three minutes) to allow the body’s temperature to fall; they are different from ‘drinks’ breaks (maximum one minute) which are for rehydration. 

 

Penalty Kick - Law 14

Changes

  • The team’s penalty taker can have (quick) treatment/assessment and then take the kick
  • The goalkeeper must not be touching the goalposts/crossbar/nets; they must not be moving 
  • The goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot on/in line with the goal line when the kick is taken; cannot stand behind the line


Explanation

  • It is unfair if the kicker needs assessment/treatment and then has to leave the field and cannot take the penalty kick.
  • The referee must not signal for the penalty kick to be taken if the goalkeeper is touching the goalposts, crossbar or net, or if they are moving e.g. the goalkeeper has kicked/shaken them
  • Goalkeepers are not permitted to stand in front of or behind the line. Allowing the goalkeeper to have only one foot touching the goal line (or, if jumping, in line with the goal line) when the penalty kick is taken is a more practical approach as it is easier to identify if both feet are not on the line. As the kicker can ‘stutter’ in the run, it is reasonable that the goalkeeper can take one step in anticipation of the kick.

 

Players' Equipment - Law 4

Changes

  • Multi-coloured/patterned undershirts are allowed if they are the same as the sleeve of the main shirt


Explanation

  • Manufacturers now make patterned undershirts whose sleeves are the same as the main shirt sleeve; these should be allowed as they help match officials’ decision-making. 

 

Quick free kick and YC/RC - Law 12

Changes

  • If the referee is about to issue a YC/RC but the non-offending team takes the free kick quickly and creates a goal-scoring opportunity, the referee can delay the YC/RC until the next stoppage if the offending team was not distracted by the referee


Explanation

  • Occasionally, an attack is stopped by a cautionable (YC) or sending-off (RC) offence and the attacking team takes a quick free kick which restores the ‘lost’ attack; it is clearly ‘unfair’ if this ‘new’ attack is stopped to issue the YC/RC. However, if the referee has distracted the offending team by starting the YC/RC procedure, the quick free kick is not allowed. For a DOGSO offence, the player will be cautioned (YC) and not sent-off (RC) because the attack was re-started (as when advantage is applied for a DOGSO offence). 

Substitutes - Law 3

Changes

  • A player who is being substituted must leave the field by the nearest point on the touchline/goal line (unless the referee indicates the player can leave quickly/immediately at the halfway line or a different point because of safety, injury etc.)
  • NOTE - instead of complying with this rule, THJSL will operate in compliance with OYSA's substitution procedure:
    • Outgoing players must exit at midline on the team side of the field.


Explanation

  • To stop a player who is being substituted ‘wasting’ time by leaving slowly at the halfway line (which is not a Law requirement) the player must leave at the nearest point (as with an injury) unless the referee indicates otherwise, e.g. if the player can leave quickly at the halfway line, there is a safety/security issue or the player leaves on a stretcher. The player must go immediately to the technical area or dressing room to avoid problems with substitutes, spectators, or the match officials.  A player who infringes the spirit of this Law should be sanctioned for unsporting behaviour i.e. delaying the restart of play. 

 

Team Officials - Laws 5 & 12

Changes

  • A team official guilty of misconduct will be shown a YC (caution) or RC (sending-off)*; if the offender cannot be identified, the senior coach who is in the technical area at the time will receive the YC/RC * Law 12 will have a list of YC/RC offences


Explanation

  • The experiment with YC/RC for misconduct by team officials has been successful and has revealed many benefits at all levels, including for young referees dealing with ‘difficult’ adult coaches.  If the offender cannot be identified, the senior team official (usually the main coach) in the technical area will receive the YC/RC (as the person responsible for the other team officials). 

 

THJSL/WSC Referee Information