February 7th OSA and District Update - POWERS and DUTIES

Instructor: Leslie Wong

Part One

This first part of this session dealt with updating members of OSA and District information and programs for 2012. The respect program launched in summer of 2011 by OSA requires all Districts and Clubs to adopt and make mandatory before start of this outdoor season. This program is World Wide. The need for eliminating violence in soccer is now critical to the survival of soccer. Handouts, provided on this subject, were taken from OSA website

Part Two:

Powers and Duties

Powers: Things that the referee has the authority to do, but does not have to do them. They are discretionary:

Duties: Things the referee must do, as specified in the laws

•      Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the laws of the game in connection with the match to which he or she has been appointed

•      Although powers and duties do not have the same glitter and excitement as law 11 and 12. It is the base core of refereeing, just imagine if a referee  does not know powers and duties what would happen on the soccer field, or imagine a soccer game without a referee

The laws of Soccer have many grey areas. It is sometimes very difficult to understand and arrive at the correct interpretation, even for senior referees, much less younger referees. In general referees must strive to become better referees. There are many tools you can use to become a better referee. Some tools are better suited for different personalities. Choose those which work best for you

Tool to Improve Your Refereeing:

Read the laws of the from cover to cover

Study the written rules often

Study a small section on a regular basis

Attend referee education clinics

Attend as many clinics as possible to learn the correct interpretation of the rules

Discuss the rules and their interpretation in great detail with different people whose opinions you respect

Feedback from officials you trust

These are just a few examples, there are many tools available, (one can also have their game videotaped and review as often as possible) 

Part two Powers and Duties were discussed in detail and involved class participation. New and young referees were encouraged to ask questions and senior referees were asked to share their experience on the list of 18 powers and duties listed in the laws of the game

The Referee

1) Enforces the laws of the game
2) Controls the match in co-operation with the assistant referees and where applicable, with the fourth official
3) Ensures that any ball used meets the requirements of Law 2
4) Ensures that the player's equipment meets the requirements of Law 4
5) Acts as timekeeper and keeps a record of the match
6) Stops, suspend or terminates the match, at his discretion, for any infringements of the Laws
7) Stops, suspends or terminates the match because of outside interference of any kind
8) Stops the match if, in his opinion, a player is seriously injured and ensures that he is removed from the field of play. An injured player may only return to the field of play after the match has restarted
9) Allows play to continue until the ball is out of play if a player is, in his opinion, only slightly injured
10) Ensures that any player bleeding from a wound leaves the field of play. The player may only return on receiving a signal from the referee, who must be satisfied that the bleeding has stopped
11) Allows play to continue when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefit from such an advantage and penalises the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time
12) Punishes the more serious offence when a player commits more than one offence at the same time
13) Takes disciplinary action against players guilty of cautionable and sending-off offences. He is not obliged to take this action immediately but must do so when the ball next goes out of play
14) Takes action against team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner and may, at his discretion, expel them from the field of play and its immediate surrounds
15) Acts on the advice of assistant referees regarding incidents that he has not seen
16) Ensures that no unauthorised persons enter the field of play
17) Indicates the restart of the match after it has been stopped
18) Provides the appropriate authorities with a match report, which includes information on any disciplinary action taken against players, and/or team officials any other incidents