Announcements

Training Session - Assistant Referees:

There will be an opportunity for those interested in learning to Assistant Referee.  An AR training session will be conducted during a real game - an 8v8 Makeup game scheduled for this Thu., 4/17, at the MHS field. 

Any Gr9/Gr8 referee interested in participating in this training should contact Mr Ed Wolf via email as soon as possible.

Attention!! Newly Certified Referees:

If you are a newly certified USSF Referee, please contact Mr. Wolf as soon as you complete your class. This will get you on the available referee lists and provide you the latest information concerning referee news for Milford-Hopedale Youth Soccer. 

You can then be scheduled with other referees.  To start, your first assignments will likely be with a referee team, to help you get experience, especially as an AR.  Please remember that the pay is higher for travel games, and we usually have more assignments available.

Any questions, please contact me, Edward Wolf Parenttaxi@msn.com, as soon as possible.

General Information

Spring 2008 Reminders for Referees

(section to be updated)

For all our returning Referees, welcome back to another season with MHYSA.  And for our new Referees, welcome.

• The season will be getting underway on Sat., Apr 12th, weather permitting of course. 

• If you are a new Grade 8 referee, or recently certified, please contact Mr. Ed Wolf to make sure you have been added to his database and you can get some game assignments.

• If you are a new Grade 9 referee, please make sure you contact Mr. Ralph Salamone so that he can add you to the In-Town Referee database so that you can get game assignments.

• For the Spring season, there are new procedures for Travel referees.  These were reviewed at the meeting held on 4/1.  If you have questions, see Travel Referee section below or contact Mr. Wolf directly.

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Wolf.

Appropriate Referee Uniforms Required

Correct uniform attire is required to be worn for each assignment. This goes for officiating 6v6 travel and intown games, Referee and Assistant Referees (AR) for 8v8 and 11v11. Please note that improperly attired ARs run the risk of being dismissed from the game by the Referee.  

Remember that uniform includes: the gold shirt (long or short sleeved), badge, black shorts, and black socks with 3 white stripes. Appearance does reflect on all of us.

Changes and Reminders Intown/Travel Games

Games should START AT ASSIGNED TIMES. Please try to keep to assigned start times for games. Late starts effect the schedule for the rest of the day. Referees control the game clock, try be aware and keep the game to within the timeslot assigned.

Field Inspections

A reminder to all referees that part of our job is to inspect the field prior to the start of each game. This can be done while players are warming up. Please pay particular attention to the nets and make sure they are anchored down securely. If they aren't, inform the coaches that they need to take care of this before the game can start. This is an important safety issue for all players on the field.

Player Inspections

NO JEWELRY of any kind is to allowed on any field players and substitutes. Taping of pierced ear is not allowable, the danger is still present. Medic Alert bracelets can be taped over.

CASTS - NO PLAYER WEARING A HARD CAST WILL BE ALLOWED TO PLAY. Players with braces that have exposed metal parts will also not be allowed to play. Soft padded splints and other braces may be allowed provided there is sufficient covering and padding to protect other players.

Final decision is up to the Referee to allow.

Folks, these are important player safety issues and need to be enforced.

Game Times and Ball Size

Times:

• U-8 Intown games are played in 4 quarters, each quarter being 10 minutes long. After 2 quarters, a 5 minute halftime is allowed. Total time: 45 minutes.

• U-10 Intown games are played in 2 halves, each half being 20 minutes long. A 5 minute halftime is allowed. Total time: 45 minutes.

• U-10, U11, U12 Travel games are played in 2 halves, each half being 30 minutes with a 5 minute halftime.

• U-14 Travel games are played in 2 halves, each half being 35 minutes with a 5 minute halftime.

Ball:

• U-10 through U-12 use a #4 Soccer ball, home team responsible for providing, inspect for condition and proper inflation.

• U-14 and above use a #5 Soccer ball, home team responsible for providing, inspect for condition and proper inflation.

Player Substitutions

Player substitutions can be made by both teams on either side's Goal Kick. Player substitutions can also be done on either side's Throw-in as long as the Throw-in team makes a substitution and players are ready. If the Throw-in team does not make a substitution, then the other team cannot. As per the Laws Of The Game, allowing a substitution is at the discretion of the Referee.

Halfway Kicks

For all small-sided games (6 v 6), the Goalkeeper cannot place the ball over halfway line of the field in the air from a Goal kicks, Throw, Punt. or Drop kicks. If the ball goes over halfway under these circumstances, play is stopped and re-started with the ball place at halfway with an Indirect Freekick for the opposing team.

Coaching Behind The Goals

This is not allowed by anyone, team coaches or parents. Noone should be standing behind the goals, teams, coaches, parents and spectators should be on the sidelines. If you notice someone behind the goal, you should gently remind them that they do not belong there. If this does not resolve the situation, stop the game (but keep the clock running) and bring it to the attention of the appropriate coach for them to resolve. You have the ability to keep stopping the game until this is resolved. Keep the game clock running as the game should run in its assigned timeslot. Coaches have been informed of this situation.

Become a Referee

Interested in becoming a certified soccer referee?  We are always looking for new referees to join the ranks.  And, its not just for young people. 

If interested, please check out the MassRef website (see our links page), or contact our Referee Assignor, Ed Wolf.

Travel Referees

Non-Availability Sheets

If you not already done so, please make sure you complete and return your "Non-Availability" sheets and return to Wr. Wolf as soon as possible.

BAYS Referee Registration

There is the ability to load 2 e-mail addresses in the BAYS registration page.  Please note that 2 e-mail addresses are required for all referees under the age of 18 (my understanding is that 1 will be for the youth, 1 for the parent, but you could put 2 parent's email addresses if you like). Initially there was only room for 1 e-mail address, and they made this change so parent's could receive information also.

If you do not get a response from Bays within 48 hours of applying to Milford-Hopedale a referee, contact me and we'll work on the problem.

Pay Procedures - Spring

The pay procedures still being worked on.  As soon as the information about pay procedures becomes available, you will be sent an email as well as it will be posted here. 

Mailbox

There is referee mailbox at Mr Wolf's home at 6 University Dr, Milford, and will be up by the weekend of 4/5.  Note: this is a white mailbox on the railing by the front door, not the US Postal Service mailbox at the street.

Intown Referees

Referee Mentorship - Referees

(section to be updated)

Ed Wolf

Certified Referee Assignor

Certified Referee

MHYSA

7v7 Play, Intown Only

Some Intown teams have a lot of players. It is always an option to allow coaches to decide if they wish to play 7v7 (6 field players and a goal keeper) instead of the traditional 6v6 (5 field players and a goal keeper).

This is a decision that both coaches need to agree with before the game starts. This is not a referee decision. 6v6 match rules apply.

Zero Tolerance

Report Problems:

Remember, you are the Referee. You make the calls. Our leagues, MHYSA and BAYS, promote and support the Zero Tolerance Policy.  This policy means you should not take any abuse.  If anyone if unfamiliar with this policy, please check out the Zero Tolerance Policy link at the top of this page.

If something happens during the game, be it from a player, a coach or a parent, you should report this to your Referee Assignor and also please contact Paul Braza, MHYSA President.  Please be specific.