Referees:

 a. Please arrive 15 minutes early. 30 minutes is ideal for reviewing the field and to go over pregame.
b. Have Match Reports ready
 c. All team players should wear team uniform jersey; matching socks and shorts are preferred as well.  Players not wearing uniform may wear a scrimmage vest (pinnie) or team may change to alternate (road colors) at referee discretion.
 d. Captains can use captain arm bands, but it is not required.
 e. Shin guards must be worn under the uniform sock and must be provide adequate protection (micro guards are being used by some players and may not provide protection) 
 f. For substitutions, players should wait for player coming off to exit field before entering the field. Referees, please remind coaches and players and be patient with them as they learn and improve in their compliance. See substitution tab for more specifics.
g. Player photo roster should be available for inspection prior to each game, or the coach may choose to pull up the team roster on sports connect on their mobile device.
h. Each team must have a minimum of players in order to not constitute a forfeit: 
- 12U minimum 6 players
- 10U minimum 5 players
- Each team is to have one goalkeeper with different colors to identify him or her from the other team members.
- Coaches must provide prior notice to referee before changing keepers
i. Time: 
- 12U – 2x30 minute halves with a minimum 5-minute half time break
- 10U – 2x25 minute halves with a minimum 5-minute half time break 
- Due to short time between games, games must start and end on time
- Please end games at least 5 minutes before start of next game
- Games may be reduced at discretion of Referee to ensure following match begins on time. Referees should make every effort to start on time in order to not shorten play time. Shorten halftime breaks if needed.

Refer to Area Ref Admin for any questions [email protected]

Ties / Penalty Shoot-Outs:

● In the event of a tie at the end of regulation time, teams will proceed to penalty kicks
● Only players on the field at the end of play are eligible to participate. Players should not leave the field at the end of the last period of play, and substitutes should not enter the field of play.
● Each team will choose 3 players from players on the field at the end of the game. These three players for each team will stand on the half line. All other players must remain behind the half line in the back half of the center circle and closest to their team bench. Any players that were substitutes at the end of regulation time and any players who will not participate must remain at their team bench with their coach.
● Each coach will present the referee with their list of kickers in order. The player in position of goalkeeper will be that team's goalkeeper for the penalty kicks. Goalkeepers can also be on the list of kickers.
● The referee chooses the goal to be used (unless a separate off-the-field goal has been designated to be used so the next game can start) giving first consideration to the goalkeepers (i.e. position of the sun; condition of the goal area).
● The referee conducts a coin toss — the team that wins the coin toss chooses whether to kick 1st or 2nd.
● Each team will alternate turns kicking in the order provided to the referee. The team with the most goals will win. If a tie still remains, each side will choose one additional player to kick per the rules above until one side misses and the other side makes a goal. (Each side will have equal opportunity to shoot and score).

Notes:
● A player who has left the field of play to be treated for an injury and has not been substituted for remains eligible to participate in Penalties if the player has recovered and is able to do so. (If such a player remains too injured to participate, no substitute is allowed — see “reduce to equate” below.)
● Note for Assistant Referees: Be sure that you have accurate records of who is in the game when it ends. Be sure to note any injury substitutions that occur in the last period of play.
● Prior to the first kick being taken, each team must have the same number of players participating in Penalties. If one team does not have a full complement of players, the other team must “reduce to equate.” This means that the coach or captain will tell the referee which eligible player(s) will not participate in the Penalties.
● No further reductions take place after the first kick occurs.
● The referee takes a position even with the ball, on the side of the goal opposite from the assistant referee, so that he can observe the kicker and the goal and see the assistant referee. The referee keeps the official record of which players have taken kicks and which kicks have been successful.
● One assistant referee remains in or next to the center circle with the players and is responsible for watching the players in the center, tracking the order of eligible
players, and maintaining a backup count of goals. 
● The other assistant referee (typically the referee designated as the senior assistant referee during the pregame) takes up a position on the goal line at the intersection of the goal area and is responsible for monitoring whether the whole ball crosses the whole line and monitoring goalkeeper violations.

Misconducts:

No protests will be allowed for misconducts.

● Any yellow cards given during match will not continue into Penalty Kicks.
● Any red cards given will suspend the player or team official that receives a red card from any following game the team may qualify for in the tournament.
● An incident report should be prepared and sent to the Area Referee Admin who will in turn share with the Area Director and Area EXTRA Coordinator.