Now we have a few weeks of Fall soccer under our belts, there are some common themes we are seeing and we would like to have everyone on the same page.  Having explicit consistency is better for everyone: referees know what to do, and all the participants know what to expect.  Here are the key points so far:

 

SUBSTITUTION RULES

All referees MUST know and implement the rules specific to the competition of the match they are officiating.  One of the areas where we see a significant amount of variance is substitutions.  So please adhere to the substitution rules for the match you are doing:

 

Substitutions: League, Cup, Super Rec

Unlimited substitutions

 

Substitutions: NPL - No Re-entry 1st Half, One Re-entry 2nd Half

In the first half, once a player has been substituted out, they may not play again in the first half.  At half time, all player substitution activity resets.  In the second half, once a player has been substituted out the first time, they may reenter (be substituted back in) one more time.  After they have been substituted out a second time in the second half, they may not play again in the second half.  (See the NPL handbook for injured goalkeeper and head injury substitution caveats!)  There is a statement of the substitution rules on the Game Card, so it should be easy to remember and follow!

 

Example: Player #7 starts in the first half and is substituted out in the 22nd minute.  She may now not reenter in the first half.  (Halftime - substitutions now reset!)  In the second half she is substituted in in the 50th minute, out in the 52nd minute, back in again in the 64th minute and substituted out in the 76th minute.  She may now not reenter in the second half.

 

Substitutions: ECNL-RL - No Re-entry 1st Half, No Re-entry 2nd Half

In the first half, once a player has been substituted out, they may not play again in the first half.  At half time, all player substitution activity resets.  In the second half, once a player has been substituted out, they may not play again in the second half.  There are a maximum of seven (7) substitutions for each team in each half.  (See the ECNL-RL handbook for head injury substitution caveats!)

 

Example: Player #9 in the first half, is substituted into the match in the 19th minute and substituted out in the 39th minute.  She may now not reenter in the first half.  (Halftime - substitutions now reset!)  In the second half she is substituted in in the 48th minute, and substituted out in the 72nd minute.  She may now not reenter in the second half.

 

As always, refer to the appropriate handbook on the NorCal website for definitive rules of competition information.

 

CHECK-IN

We are still receiving reports of teams/players/coaches not being checked in.  Please ensure that all team participants (anyone who is going to be on the field or in the technical area) are checked in using passes verified against the game card.

 

PLAYER AND COACH/MANAGER PASSES

All forms of passes are acceptable, physical (i.e. printed on paper or card, laminated or unlaminated) and virtual/electronic/online, for both players and coaches/managers.  If you are shown a virtual/electronic/online pass it should be from within the GotSport system (if you “go back” on the phone it should be to a GotSport roster, and if you swipe it should take you to the next/previous player/coach/manager.)

 

NPL INFORMATION RECORDING

NPL requires that all misconduct (send offs, and cautions) are recorded on the game card, with the minute of the offense.  NPL requires that all goals are individually recorded, with both the goal scorer’s number and the minute of the goal, in the appropriate areas.  This is good practice for all referees to be doing, for all levels of matches, but NPL requires it.

 

ECNL-RL INFORMATION RECORDING

For those of you officiating ECNL-RL matches, more information about the pre- and post-match procedures can be found here.  It should be noted that detailed information regarding each and every send off should be supplied in the incident report area at the end of the online form.

 

SEND OFFS AND INCIDENT REPORTS

We’re very glad to see that almost everyone seems to have received the message that we have a new way to report send offs and incidents:

Referees are NOT to use the QR code, or the URL and related Event information found on game cards to record scores and misconduct.  All information is to be reported in writing on the game card, and then incidents and send offs reported using the URLs above.  

 

(Applies to all competitions except ECNL-RL - see above!)

 

SUMMARY

We have had a great start to the season, so let’s all do our best to ensure that the correct procedures and rules of competition are being followed and adhered to.

 

Thank you all for helping NorCal to enable tens of thousands of players to enjoy soccer every weekend.  We couldn’t do it without you!

 

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact your assignor, or email me.

 

Thank you all again,

 

Aidon

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Aidon Jennery: ajennery@norcalpremier.com

State Referee Coordinator | NorCal Referee Program

www.norcalpremier.com