The Referee Page

Become A Soccer Referee
The Markham Soccer Club (MSC) is getting ready for the Outdoor 2009 Soccer Season and we are in need of additional referees. The Club provides a training program that includes a preparation course and the Ontario Soccer Association referee certification course. All referees who officiate in MSC games must have successfully completed both components. You must be at least twelve (12) years old as of March 31st, 2009 to be accepted into the program. We need new male and female referees at all ages. Adults and young adults are particularly encouraged to sign up. Registration for the program will be limited.

There are two referee categories (with separate training programs):

• Mini Soccer Referees (12 and 13 years old)
  Must be at least 12 years old and less than 14 years old as of Mar 31, 2009. They will be given referee assignments in the U8 - U10 age groups as well as Assistant Referee Assignments. The 4 week preparation program starts Wed Mar 4 . Click for Detailed Information and the Registration Form.
   
• Class 4 Soccer Referees (14 years old and up)
  Those who are at least 14 years old as of Mar 31, 2009 will become certified as Class 4 Referees. In the first year, they will be given referee assignments in the U9 - U12 age groups as well as assignments as Assistant Referees. The 6 week training course starts Wed Jan 28. Click for Detailed Information and the Registration Form.

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Laws 4 & 11

Law 4 - Players' Equipment

1. OSA's guidelines (Nov. 2004): http://www.soccer.on.ca/OSN.nsf/773fb79c924593a58525681c007d7e12/fd317fd54121b96185256b89005ccc05?OpenDocument

2. CSA Policy on Law 4 (2005): http://www.yrsra.ca/articles/Law%204%20CSA%202005.PDF

3. OSA: Law 4: Application of CSA Guidelines in Ontario (March 2006): http://www.yrsra.ca/articles/Law_4_memo.doc

4. OSA clarification memo: http://www.yrsra.ca/articles/Law%204.doc

5. OSA Update on head wear & knee braces (June 2006): http://www.yrsra.ca/articles/LAW_4_UPDATE.pdf

Law 11 - Offside

1. An article describing the new interpretations of Law 11, as published in the July 2005 FIFA Laws of the Game: http://www.fifa.com/en/news/feature/0,1451,107252,00.html. The key change is the definition of "interfering with play", which is one of the three components that define whether a player is actively involved in the play: "Interfering with play means playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team-mate." "In essence, what it means is that if an attacking player is in an offside position, but not interfering with an opponent, the referee must wait until he touches the ball before penalising him for being offside." This article has several animations that illustrate the offside rule.

2. A clarification letter issued in August 2005 modifies the definition of "interfering with play" that was published in the July 2005 FIFA Laws of the Game: http://www.yrsra.ca/articles/IFAB%20advice%20on%20the%20application%20of%20Law%2011.doc. The key point in this letter is: "A player in an offside position may be penalised before playing or touching the ball if, in the opinion of the referee, no other team-mate in an onside position has the opportunity to play the ball."

This explains why we see offsides being called in World Cup play even though the offside player hasn't touched the ball. The referee is using the new interpretation of the offside rule, but he has determined that no other team-mate in an onside position had the opportunity to play the ball. The only time a referee has to wait until the offside player touches the ball is if an onside team-mate has an opportunity to touch the ball -- then the referee has to wait to see who touches it first.

Referee Resources

2008 Referee Registration
click here

Referee Courses and Events (York Region Soccer Referees Assoc)
click here