The Referee Page

Do You Want To Be A Soccer Referee?

Markham Soccer Club (MSC) is getting ready for the Outdoor 2008 Soccer Season and we are in need of additional referees. You must be at least twelve (12) years old as of January 1, 2008 to be a referee. Adults and young adults are encouraged to apply as well.

You must have a Class 4 Referee Certification to referee for the Markham Soccer Club.

Click on the link for the current referee course information.  LINK

Click on the link for the referee registration form.  LINK

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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