Treat the referee with respect - no lip. Accept the decisions. They may not always make the perfect call!!! This is "recreational" play so please keep that in mind throughout the season! Play continues until the referee signals. A signal may be a whistle or a hand gesture. Coach's are held accountable to support our referees regardless of the call.

Hand signals a referee might use:

Players:

Play the game. Have FUN, and stop if the referee signals.

Coaches:

Coach the game. Have FUN, arrange for substitutions, control the spectators and provide encouragement to the players

Parents:

Watch the game. Have FUN; encourage the players of both teams.

Where do the players play and what do they do?

Offense:

Sets up scoring opportunities like give-and-go or wall pass; has accurate, powerful feet for shots.

Midfield:

Controls midfield; starts and supports attacks on goal.

Defense:

Stays between ball and goal; controls or marks attackers; clears ball from defensive area to a more forward player.

Goalie:

Stops goals; helps direct the defense; starts attacks by throwing or kicking ball; sets up players for defensive walls and corner kicks.

How should the ball be played?

Kickoffs:

Player moves ball over center line; rolls forward; second player must touch ball before first player may retouch; may then pass back to midfield for support or start attack.

In-bounds:

A ball is in-bounds until it completely crosses over either the touchline or the goal line. If any part of the ball is over any part of the line, the ball is in play.

Throw-in:

Ball crosses touchline (sideline); throw-in is awarded to other team. Both feet must be touching ground, on or behind touchline. Both hands start behind the head. Throw-in is one continuous motion over the head with both hands.

Goal Kick:

Ball crosses goal line, last touched by offense; ball is kicked by defending team from within goal area. Ball must exit penalty area before being touched by another player.

Corner Kick:

Ball crosses goal line, last touched by defense; ball is kicked by the offensive team from inside corner marking.

Drop Ball:

Restarts game, usually after an injury. Between one player from each team. The referee drops the ball. The ball is in play when it hits the ground.

How are free kicks and when are they awarded?

Indirect Free Kick:

Off-sides, dangerous play, obstruction, prevents goalkeeper from releasing ball from hands, too many steps by goalkeeper, goalkeeper touching ball with hands when deliberately kicked to him by a teammate or directly from a throw-in from a teammate, goalkeeper time wasting. On the kick to restart, the ball must touch another player before scoring a goal. The kick is taken at point of the violation (except if committed in goal area), and the defense must be at least 10 yards away.

Direct Free Kick:

Intentionally kicks or attempts to kick, trips or attempts to trip, strikes or
attempts to strike, jumps at, charges, pushes an opponent, tackles an opponent making contact with the opponent before touching the ball, holds, spits at an opponent, or handles (using any part of the arm from the shoulder to the fingertips) the ball deliberately. The kick to restart can go directly into the goal without touching another player. It is taken at the point of violation with the defense at least 10 yards away. The defense may set up a wall if the kick is within striking range of the goal but the referee does not have to hold up the game while the defense sets up the wall.

Penalty Kick:

A direct free kick infraction (a foul) committed in the penalty area. The
goalie is positioned on goal line; the ball on penalty spot. The goalie may not move off the goal line until the ball is kicked and all other players, except the goalie and kicker, are outside the penalty area (in 6v6 play, all players must be beyond mid-field).

What are yellow and red cards and when are cards given?

Yellow Card:

Caution issued for unsporting behavior, dissent (by word or action), persistent repeated infringements of the laws of the game, delay of restart, failure to respect required distance with a corner kick or free kick, entering or re- entering the field of play without permission, leaving the field of play without permission.

Red Card:

Ejection from game (send-off) for serious foul play, violent conduct, spitting at an opponent or any other person, denying an opponent a goal or goal scoring opportunity by handling the ball, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving toward the goal by an offense punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick, using offensive, insulting, or abusive language, or receiving a second caution in the same match.

What is off-sides? ( Enforced in U10 & U12 Divisions )