Thank you for being a JUSA Referee. You are making a big difference in children’s lives. 
This weekend is the last regular season game for many teams. Let’s finish strong with confident calls!
Here are a few kind reminders:1) Check cards against rosters and players. Borrowing players from other teams and divisions is not allowed. All cards and players must be on the same team. 
2) Be early to games. Coaches and fellow Refs get nervous if you are not there 30 min before game time. I hear about late refs all the time. 
3) Be professional, wear the full referee kit. Introduce yourself to coaches. They appreciate it.
4) No Dogs! No Dogs! No Dogs!  Don’t start a game if a dog is on a school field. 

5) No noise makers. Cheering for kids is welcomed but not loud noisemakers that distract from play.

All: It looks to be a beautiful weekend to play soccer. Let’s keep it simple and go back to basics. 

1) Stay close to the ball and position yourself to see fouls.

2) Don’t be a center ref. Run with the play. 

3) Introduce yourself to both coaches

4) Call a handful more fouls in the game vs a handful less.

5) Be a professional and dress the part. Wear the full referee kit head to toe! 

6) Don’t start a game with Dogs near the field. No Dogs! 

All: the season is winding down. Thank you for all your efforts. 
Be aware that some coaches, teams and parents will be excited to win as they maneuver for a better spot in the standings. With that being said: 

Managing adults at a youth game can be difficult. Always be polite.

Here is the recommended procedure for handling irresponsible behavior.
1. Say “Please” 
2.  Say “Please” (videos of a ref saying “please” is easier to defend)
3. Coach, irresponsible behavior is not acceptable. (Warning)
4. Behavior continues, issue a Yellow Card (Caution) to the Coach.
5. Behavior continues, issue a Red Card (Send-off) to the Coach.  

If the spectators are acting irresponsibly, remind the coach that he has control of his sidelines. (remember your pregame)   Do not engage in any discussion with a parent.  If the behavior does not improve, go to the coach and follow the above steps. “please coach, as we discussed before the game, you are responsible for your sideline. It is hard to do my job right now.”If you are having trouble with a coach in the first half send a note at half time to fall@jusa.org and ask someone to come to the game to observe. 
If you send off a coach or parent, send me a note. 

NO DOGS ON ANY FIELD AT ANY TIME: PYLUSD POLICYDo not start a game if a dog is present on the sidelines. Ask the coach to remove the dog. 

Read this about giving warnings.  https://www.referee.com/correcting-bad-behavior-with-well-timed-warnings/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGJOflleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHW5X9WumVPp-fgyunQLq_WtALOOqaQjHbLoEkqzZchpvYtHhfN5Xkomx3w_aem_W-6SFApE7yGDq4nOBLz7sQ

A few reminders:

1) It is Placentia Heritage Festival Weekend. JUSA will have a booth at the fair; free giveaways and Spring season registration information. Review street closures if you’re headed to a game in Yorba Linda. 

2) We do not allow teams to borrow players at any time during the season.   It does not matter if the player is registered with JUSA.   It is not allowed. 

3) No Dogs on a school field. It is a School rule not a JUSA rule. 

4) Centers on CSL games have to report the match results using the CSL app. 

Super thanks for refereeing. JUSA appreciates it. Check the Schedule!

Reverse Weekend for Sign Ups. This weekend Level 1s get to sign up first for games! 

Some Reminders:
1) Be Kind and Patient with parents, coaches and players. Rec players may still be learning and having fun. 
2) Don’t be afraid to call a foul. Have confidence. You know the laws!
3) Be early to the game. Believe it or not, coaches love to see the yellow jersey at the game. 
4) U8 Refs: Quick Reminder: be lenient about the rules and help teach the game and always keep safety in mind.

1) No penalty kicks

2) Slide Tackles are not permitted. An indirect free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team. 

3) All offenses shall result in an indirect free kick being taken by the opposing team where the offense occurred.

4) A goal kick may be taken from anywhere within the goal area.

5) Second throw-in is allowed if there is an infraction on the first throw in. 

5) No Dogs. It is a school rule!

Have Fun! Have Fun! Have Fun!
Next Ref Meeting is Oct 22, Tuesday at 7 pm YLLC

Super thanks for being a JUSA referee this weekend. JUSA really appreciates it, and without you, 2000 children could not play soccer. 

With that being said, we are being paid well to be responsible, understand and apply the laws and keep the kids safe. 

Just a few reminders: 

1) if anyone asks for a hydration break, make sure you have one. Afternoon games might be warm. 

2) Each team pays half, collect from each coach/team manager.

3) Have a good pregame with each coach: confirm length of game, substitutions, sideline behavior and “I may have a different angle than what you see”

4) JUSA teams have player cards. Check them. 

5) Be professional. Wear the full referee kit. 

6) if you have a CSL game, accept the game in the app. Centers are responsible for reporting the match in the CSL app. 
7) Thank the coaches for coaching. They work hard and volunteer a lot of hours. 

A few reminders for the weekend:

1) Please be on time for games. Last weekend I received several calls from coaches and other referees about refs being late. You need to be at the game 30 min before the game time. 
2) Each team pays half. You should collect from both coaches. 
3) No dogs on school fields. It is a School rule not a JUSA rule. 
4) Strong Pre game with Coaches.

A) Confirm the length of the half (25 min, 30 min 35 min)
B) Substitutions: U8-U10 at quarters only, Other ages: free subs at half field
C) Sidelines: Coach you are in control of sideline. Only talk to Coach, do not talk to parents
D) Angles: “Coach I may have a different angle than you, so we play on”

5) If you have a CSL game, centers are required to use the app to send in the match results.

See what a parent wrote about a referee recently and understand her expectations from Referees. 
“Hi Rodney,
I’m sure you hear all of the negative, so today I wanted to share a positive with you. Last weekend my son played at Linda Vista ES (Kilbarger 2014). The ref that we had for that game was just fantastic. He was a young man that clearly knew and loved the game! He ran with the ball the entire game to make sure he never missed a play, and remained very fair throughout the game. Please let him know his hard work is appreciated:) “

Please remember to report any major injuries to me. 

It looks to be a beautiful weekend to play soccer. Lets keep it simple and go back to basics. 

1) Stay close to the ball and position yourself to see fouls.

2) Don’t be a center ref. Run with the play. 

3) Introduce yourself to both coaches

4) Call a handful more fouls in the game vs a handful less.

Above all, have some fun!

Let’s make this a “please” and ” thank you” weekend! 
If a coach is dissenting loudly, use the word “please” a lot. For example, “Please coach, control your sideline.””Please coach, stay in your technical area.””Please coach, stop yelling. I can hear you.””Please talk to the player before I caution him”
If I receive a video and the ref is politely asking the coach to calm down, it is easier to point out the aggressor., 

On the other hand, it is important to thank the coach for their work. “Coach, JUSA says thank you for coaching. We know you put in a lot of volunteer hours.””Just want to say Thanks Coach. I bet the parents and kids haven’t told you thank you in a while.””Thanks Coach. the kids appreciate you and how you help them.””Thanks Coach, you are making a difference in the kids lives”

Have a fun weekend!