BRCL Referee Liaison's "DEAR REFEREE" emails and Replies

BRCL Rules

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2006/November - BRCL Rules authority

Q: In my capacity as the Blue Ridge Classic League's volunteer Referee Liaison, I was asked to confirm with state officials whether or not the BRCL has the authority to include a rule requiring referees to "sub out" cautioned players who earn yellow cards in BRCL games.

A: According to State Referee Administrator Scott Meyer on 11/10/2006, the BRCL does have the authority to make rules modifications such as this one. (A directory of Virginia's state refereeing officials can be found at http://www.vadcsoccerref.com/directory/index_E.html.) Here's Mr. Meyer's reply: "Strictly speaking it is not permitted by FIFA, however, many other Law changes not permitted by FIFA are used by clubs and leagues. Currently there is no review and approval process at the VYSA [Virginia Youth Soccer Association] level. It is up to the clubs. Here is what we have told referees in the past: 'If you accept a contract to referee games with a league or tournament, you agree to abide by their rules of competition. If you don't think you can referee under those rules of competition, then don't accept the assignment.'"

2006/October-Extra players in the game

Q: "What policy does BRCL follow when a coach plays an extra player on the field? Can the referee show a yellow card to the coach for playing extra players? I am asking this because I have heard so many comments about extra players on the field this season."

A: The BRCL does not have a league rule relating to punishments for having extra players on the field during a game. I have also researched all U.S. Youth Soccer Association and Virginia Youth Soccer Association rules that I could find, and I did not see any rules about punishments for coaches that might do so deliberately.

In the FIFA Laws of the Game, Law 3 says that the referee can caution and show a yellow card to players who infringe any aspect of this Law about the number of players on the field. If, for example, there were only to be eight players on the field and the referee discovered a ninth player, he/she could caution and send one player off. [SPECIAL NOTE: Virginia's State Referee Administrator concurs. The extra player is cautioned, not the coach.] Since the referee is in charge of the game and the ultimate authority (as per FIFA Law 5), he/she would not necessarily have to determine which player was the extra player. The referee could just pick a player and send him/her off -- with or without a formal caution.

Also, under Law 5, if the referee determined that a coach played an extra player on purpose to gain an unfair advantage over the opposing team, the referee could eject the coach for failure to conduct him/herself "in a responsible manner." Under Law 12 dealing with fouls and misconduct, the referee could also consider cautioning and showing a yellow card to an extra player for "unsporting behavior" or for "entering the field of play without the referee's permission."

In my opinion, it is both the coaches' and referees' responsibility to know how many players are to be on the field for each team and to make sure this rule is not violated in the spirit of fair play.

2006/October-Stoppage time

Q: "I don't see letting play continue well past the allotted game time as a 'judgment' call for the referee to make when the home team is behind. If there is a general BRCL directive that no or limited stoppage time should be added, then I have to question the referee's motivation. If adding additional time during BRCL play is at the referee's pleasure, then I guess I will now learn to hold my breath until I hear the final whistle."

A: The BRCL uses FIFA's Laws of the Game in its matches. FIFA's Law 7 - The Duration of the Match states that "the allowance for time lost is at the discretion of the referee." As of 10/19/2006, there was no separate, published BRCL rule or policy regarding stoppage time. [Special note: the Center Referee for the game referred to in the above comment was not assigned by the "home" club's referee assignor, but rather by a referee assignor from another community.]

2006/October - Late referees

Q: We played two games this weekend and at neither game were the referees there in a timely manner, nor did we start on time. It is very frustrating to parents that travel -- and many arrive an hour before game time -- to sit at the field and not see any referees the closer it gets to game time. It always makes me nervous when I don't see any referees five minutes before game time. I would like to see referees arrive in a more timely manner.

A: I agree. The BRCL Policies and Procedures Manual requires referees to "arrive at the game site no later than fifteen (15) minutes prior to the scheduled start time for the game they are to officiate." The manual also states that games "are to begin on schedule." Referees have a lot to do before a game begins such as checking player passes, uniforms, and equipment and making sure the field is safe for play, etc.

2006/September-occupants of the technical area

Q: What happened to the BRCL rule that only "carded players and coaches" are to be on the team side of the field? Who's supposed to be in control of this?

A: You are correct. Only "carded" participants (personnel with VYSA passes) are to be on the team or bench side of the soccer field during BRCL games. In addition, all players and coaches are to stay inside their "technical area." All others attending the games are to be on the opposite side of the field. Here is the exact wording from the BRCL rules:

"Fields used by BRCL teams will have a spectator line two (2) to three (3) yards from the touchline and extending between the 18 yard line parallel to the touchline. Spectators must remain behind this line at all times during the game. On the team's side of the field, a technical area must be marked off three (3) yards off the touchline. Coaches, Players, and Team Officials must remain within the technical area. Only carded Coaches, Players, and Team Officials are to be on the teams' side of the field during the game. Each BRCL team is limited to four (4) carded officials (this includes coaches). All spectators must stay clear of the touchline between the corner of the 18-yard extension of the penalty box and clear of the goal line."

In answer to your second question, the referees are the authorities in charge at BRCL games. They must, in my opinion, know and enforce not only the FIFA Laws and their USSF modifications, but also any rules and procedures required by the BRCL. Referees need to assure that no more than four "carded" team officials are in each technical area and that all spectators remain on the opposite side of the field within their prescribed boundaries. This said, coaches, managers, club representatives, and BRCL players' family members should also know these rules and "self-enforce" them so that referees can concentrate on the action on the field rather than out-of-place staff and spectators off the soccer pitch.

2006/September-Verbal abuse of referees

Q: Why do referees continue to tolerate verbal abuse from coaches and spectators when the BRCL has rules against this kind of behavior?

A: I think most referees would just like to be able to referee the game on the field and enjoy their service to the players. Instead, in BRCL games, we are also asked to "police" abusive adults along both touchlines. Crowd control is intimidating for even veteran referees and downright scary for inexperienced or young referees who hear verbal abuse at times. Personally, I think in many cases it's smarter for referees to ignore many of the negative comments they hear from both sides of the field unless, in the referee's judgment, the remarks or actions are so excessively unsporting or abusive that they demand attention and/or action for the sake of the players, the good of the game and common civility. An effective approach to the issue of verbal abuse is for referees to submit a detailed post game report to a league's administration describing what was heard or seen and requesting that the League take whatever actions it thinks would be in the best interest of the players and the game of soccer itself. Of course, if referees ever feel threatened, they should do whatever they need to do for their own safety -- abandon the game or pick up a cell phone and call 9-1-1. In addition to promptly filing very detailed game reports and protecting oneself, I believe that referees also should be genuinely and continually interested in improving their personal officiating skills. This can be achieved through: (1) reading, (2) observing other referees, and (3) analyzing feedback about one's own refereeing.

2006/September-jersey colors

Q: As a referee, how should I handle two opposing coaches who will not cooperate on which team should wear which jersey color for their game?

A: The current (as of 9/7/2006) Blue Ridge Classic League Policies and Procedures Manual in Section 11.3 of Rules of Play for BRCL Games says: "If a uniform color conflict occurs, the home team must change colors, unless the visiting team voluntarily offers to do so." Referees working BRCL games are responsible for knowing and carrying out the League's policies, procedures, and rules to the best of their ability.

A June 5, 2006 United States Soccer Federation (USSF) "Ask A Ref" website answer about teams with nearly identical uniforms and obstinate coaches states that there is a "tradition" (undocumented) that the VISITING team changes jerseys if there is a color conflict. I see nothing else in USSF refereeing materials about how to resolve jersey color conflicts other than an admonition to consult and follow league or tournament rules and policies where they exist.

FIFA's 2006-07 Laws of the Game and Additional Instructions for Referees also says nothing about the referee making decisions on jersey color conflicts. Under Law 5 - The Referee, Decision 1 of Decisions of the International F.A. Board, there is a statement that says "a referee . . . is not held liable for . . . a decision to allow or not to allow a player to wear certain apparel . . . ." The Referee, also under Law 5, has full control and authority over the match and has the power to take "action against team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner. . . ."

Hypothetically, if I were the referee for a match where the two opposing coaches ABSOLUTELY refused to cooperate on whose team should wear which jersey color, I might consider doing the following in order to try to get a game played rather than ending up with a forfeit or even a double forfeit:

1. If both teams had two different jerseys with them at the game site, the winner of a coin toss could get the choice of jersey color and the other team would have to wear the one I chose as the most contrasting.
2. If only one team had two contrasting jerseys at the game site, I could tell that team which jersey they had to wear, choosing the one with the most contrast to the jersey of the other team. (Arbitrary, I know, but this would get a game played.)
3. If both teams only had one jersey at the game site and there were contrasting mesh vests available from either team, I could flip a coin and the loser would have to wear the mesh vests over their jerseys.
4. If both teams each had only one jersey at the game site and there were no contrasting mesh vests available, the teams could just wear what they brought, and I'd do the best job of refereeing I could despite the similar colors.

The objective is to play the game, as long as it can be played safely, despite unusual circumstances affecting either the game or the referee.

Finally, as the referee, I would definitely send a written, formal game report to the league or tournament officials describing (a) the conflict and policies/rules involved, (b) any lack of cooperation or irresponsibility by the coaches, and (c) the outcome of the matter and my role in it.

2006/March - Checking passes & equipment

Q: The referee for our game did not look at the players' passes nor did he check the cleats of players on either team. Aren't they required to do this when refereeing BRCL games?

A: Checking player passes is MANDATORY for referees who officiate Blue Ridge Classic League games.

Regarding equipment, BRCL Rules describe the kinds of equipment and safety items that players must have, but these rules say nothing about how referees check such items. Law 4 - "The Players' Equipment" in the FIFA Laws of the Game is also silent on how referees check equipment, including cleats, saying only that nothing can be used or worn that is "dangerous to himself[herself] or another player." Law 4 also lists the compulsory player equipment and provides some details about appropriate shinguards. Law 5 - "The Referee" adds that the referee "ensures that the players' equipment meets the requirements of Law 4." Some referees do formal equipment checks pre-game by lining up players; this approach is probably more obvious to spectators. Other referees sometimes do more informal equipment checks by walking around and just looking at players and talking to them during pre-game warm-ups. With this approach, it is possible that spectators may not recognize that referees have indeed checked player equipment before the game. Absent a BRCL-specific "rule" for how referees are to check player equipment, it is left up to the individual referee to adopt his/her own procedures.

2005/September - Newly pierced ears

Q: We have been accustomed to referees allowing young girls with newly pierced ears to cover their ear-studs with tape or band aids so that they can play in their soccer games during the six-week healing period for new piercing. In a recent U-11Girls game, however, the referee forbid one of our players from playing in the game unless she removed her posts. She did not want to remove them because her ears were still in their healing period, so she did not play. Is there a written BRCL policy on this? Is this a matter of referee discretion?

A: There is a written BRCL policy regarding jewelry. It can be found in Section 11 - Rules of Play for BRCL Games in the Policies and Procedures Manual which is on the League's website. In the section on player's equipment it states: "No jewelry of any kind may be worn during play." In addition, under Law 4 - "The Players' Equipment" from the FIFA Laws of the Game, "a player must not use equipment or wear anything which is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewelry)." The referee does have the discretion to decide what he/she considers dangerous and require its removal in order for a player to participate in a match. As in any sport, participants must know and be prepared to abide by the rules (Laws) of the game in which they are playing, regardless of past customs.

Some referees will allow the covering of newly-pierced ears and earrings with tape so that players can participate. Sometimes this is because the particular League allows this to be done. Where a particular League's rules are silent on the issue, regardless of players' ages or what has become "customary," different referees will decide to take different actions. Some will consider the covered earrings and newly pierced ears to not pose a danger and will allow them. Others will consider them dangerous and require them to be removed. The best advice I can provide is to be prepared for a referee who will require that earrings -- and any other jewelry -- be removed rather than just covered. Whatever the referee considers to be jewelry has to be removed if he/she says so because of its potential danger to either the player wearing it or other players.

Finally, I do have to admit that personally I have never seen an injury to any player caused by post earrings, new or old, covered or uncovered. One time as a coach, though, I did have a girl who was struck in the ear by the soccer ball during practice while she was wearing posts. There was no blood or injury, but it was certainly very, very painful for several minutes afterwards for this player.