PREPARE, PERFORM, REFLECT
A Referee’s responsibility
We as referees have three elements of our game. Prepare, perform and reflect. How well we do each one of those, amplifies our ability as a referee.
PREPARE:
Assignments:
A requirement of being a soccer official is to accept or decline your assignments as soon as possible after you receive them. Our assignors work tirelessly, and at times thanklessly, to assign the appropriately experienced official to a particular match. It is imperative that you do your job by responding accordingly.
Please make sure that your availability calendar is updated in RefInsight. The tutorial on how to do that is located in the “HVSRA Member Area” of this website. Most of the leagues that this region serves are assigned through RefInsigth. If there are unforeseen events that preclude you from turning a game back, it is your responsibility to contact the lead assignor of that match. It is best to communicate through a phone call. Do not rely on email or text messaging services.
Failure to not take action on an assignment, may eliminate your from your future assignments, so please take your responsibility seriously.
Youth matches are generally assigned by the Thursday prior to scheduled game (and most games are on weekends). The lead assignor for District 4 is Brian Baer (hv.soccer.assignor@gmail.com).
Adult matches are also assigned through RefInsight, and the assignor is Galo Trujillo (gallotru45@aol.com)
Contacting the Home Team’s Coach:
It is strongly recommended [not a requirement] that you contact the home team’s coach not less than 24 hours prior to the match. You may find the team official’s contact information listed in the HVSRA Member’s Area of our website. [Note: You must be a paid member of HVSRA to access this portion of the site].
Here is a sample of what you will send to the home coach:
Coach Jones,
I have been assigned as the Match Referee for your game this Sunday at 1:00pm at Podunk Park.
If there are any changes here is my contact info. should you need to reach me:
914-123-4567 (home)
845-123-4567 (cell)
Thanks,
Tom Thumb
Contacting the Referee Team:
Equally important is communicating with your team if you are the center referee working a 3-man system. It is required that you communicate with your team via email (best) or text message (better), not less than 48 hours prior to the match. Pick a central place where you’ll meet and walk onto the field together as a team. You can speak to your pre-game during the “walk of pride”. Using the text message thread is good, especially if you all are coming from different games to a new location. It gives everyone the expectation that you’re all in good communication with each other.
Before you arrive at the field: >Check your gear; >Eat and drink properly; >Contact the coach and confirm the game details; >Contact your crew [if you have one]; >Plan your trip, know how long it’s going to take you to get there.
At the field: >Meet your crew and walk in together; > Greet the coaches; >Inspect the field conditions; >Inspect the goals and confirm they are anchored [Do NOT start the game until they are]; >Check the balls for proper inflation; >Check the teams in [no jewelry, no metal cleats]; >Coin toss; >Remember to breathe and have fun!
After the game ends: >Observe the handshake between the two teams; >Confirm the final score and misconducts [if any] with the coaches; >Debrief with your crew and/or referee mentor; >Write your match report!!!
Issues involving referee abuse or referee assault on an official must be communicated to the President via a phone call (646.500.3065) IMMEDIATELY.