If you’re a volunteer coach, the chances are you’re going to be asked to referee a youth soccer match at some point. This is a daunting task as refereeing at any level can be fraught with difficulties. These articles offer our tips and insights on how to deal with parents, coaches, players, the weather and all the other problems which make refereeing one of the hardest jobs in soccer.
in Blog, Refereeing
Refereeing has always been in the spotlight but the emergence of VAR has made even more controversy about the role of the ref. Yet we all see the professionals ranting and raving so what should a grassroots coach do when a decision goes against them? MORE
in Blog, Refereeing
I hate it when the opposition manager turns up and starts his preparations by telling the referee what he expects and what he will be looking for in the game, rather than just getting on with what he should be doing. MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
With a shortage of referees at grassroots levels, coaches will often have to officiate matches themselves. Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey offers advice for coaches taking on the role of match official. MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
It’s getting harder to get referees for junior matches. So what can we do about it and why is there a shortage? Problems off the pitch Hundreds of junior games are abandoned every year by the referee. Why? Well it isn’t due to the players. In my experience it isn’t on the pitch where the... MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
These soccer coaching tips are designed to help coaches and players understand the laws of the game. This article looks at Law 13, which deals with free kicks. Mini soccer All free kicks are direct and opponents must be 5 yards from the position the infringement took place. Junior soccer 7-a-side Free kicks are direct... MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
These soccer coaching tips are designed to help coaches and players understand the laws of the game. This article looks at Law 14, which deals with the penalty kick. These rules apply to: 11-a-side, 7-a-side and minis. A penalty kick is awarded against a team that commits one of the ten offences for which a... MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
These soccer coaching tips are designed to help coaches and players understand the laws of the game. This article looks at Law 15, which deals with throw-ins. These rules apply to: 11-a-side, 7-a-side and minis. A throw-in is a method of restarting play. A throw-in is awarded to the opponents of the player who last... MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
These soccer coaching tips are designed to help coaches and players understand the laws of the game. This article looks at Law 16, and covers the goal kick. These rules apply to: 11-a-side, 7-a-side and minis. A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only against the opposing team. A goal kick... MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
These soccer coaching tips are designed to help coaches and players understand the laws of the game. This article looks at Law 17, and covers the corner kick. A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick, but only against the opposing team. A corner kick is awarded when: The whole of the ball,... MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
This video clip from Sports Coach UK covers various sports but includes valuable advice for inexperienced youth soccer coaches on the importance of planning and organising your coaching sessions. Pete Sturgess, National Development Coach 5-11 for the Football Association (2.23 min), emphasises the importance of pre-planning your sessions but also talks about when to deviate... MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
These soccer coaching tips are designed to help coaches and players understand the laws of the game. This article looks at Law 10 and the method of scoring. This law applies to: 11-a-side, 7-a-side, minis. A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under... MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
These soccer coaching tips are designed to help coaches and players understand the laws of the game. This article looks at Law 12, which deals with fouls and misconducts. A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following seven offences: Kicks or attempts to kick an... MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
These soccer coaching tips are designed to help coaches and players understand the fundamental laws of the game. In this article, we look at Law 2 and the rules involving the ball. Law 2: The ball Applies to: 11-a-side, 7-a-side and minis. The ball is spherical and made of leather or other suitable material. If... MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
These soccer coaching tips are designed to help coaches and players understand the laws of the game. This article looks at Law 1, the rules associated with the field of play. The length of the touchline must be greater than the length of the goal line. Small-sided games – recommended pitch sizes: Under 6, 7... MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
These soccer coaching tips are designed to help coaches and players understand the fundamental laws of the game. This article gives a simple breakdown of Rule 3, the number of players. 11-a-side A match is played by two teams, each consisting of not more than eleven players, one of whom is the goalkeeper. A match... MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
These soccer coaching tips are designed to help coaches and players understand the laws of the game. This article looks at Law 4, the rules covering players’ equipment. Applies to: 11-a-side, 7-a-side, minis A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to themselves or other players, including jewellery. Basic equipment A... MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
These soccer coaching tips are designed to help coaches and players understand the laws of the game. This article looks at Law 5, the rules regarding the referee. 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 has... MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
These soccer coaching tips are designed to help coaches and players understand the laws of the game. This article looks at Law 6, the rules dealing with assistant referees. In youth soccer, assistant referees are usually a parent from each team to run the line stand by their own left back. They switch sides at... MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
These soccer coaching tips are designed to help coaches and players understand the laws of the game. This article looks at Law 7, which covers the duration of the game. The match lasts two equal periods. Times for the various age groups you may be coaching differ. Time changes must be mutually agreed between the... MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
These soccer coaching tips are designed to help coaches and players understand the laws of the game. This article looks at Law 8 and the rules regarding the start of play and re-starts. Applies to: 11-a-side, 7-a-side, minis. Who does what? A coin is tossed and the team that wins the toss decides which goal... MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
These soccer coaching tips are designed to help coaches and players understand the laws of the game. This article looks at Law 9 and the rules that cover when the ball is in play and when it is out of play. The whole of the ball must cross the line to be out of play... MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
These soccer coaching tips are designed to help coaches and players understand the laws of the game. Law 11 covers the offside law. Remember it is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position. A player is in an offside position if: He is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both... MORE
in Refereeing, Tips and advice
Use the following soccer coaching tips if you have to stand in at the last minute as a referee for young players. Helpers: Get a dad or mom from each team to run one side of the pitch as linesman. In that way any contentious throw-in calls are not by you, which takes some of... MORE
