IMPORTANT: The International Football Association Board (IFBA) Makes Changes to Laws of the Game

The International Football Association Board (the group that writes the laws of the game) announced several changes  to the laws of the game that go into effect for leagues starting play after July 1, 2012.   Of concern to Presidio League are the following:

1. Tape on socks.   Law 4 now provides that if tape or similar material is applied to the outside of the sock, the tape must be the same color as the part of the sock it covers.   If the sock is black, then any tape on the outside of the sock must also be black.  If the sock is black with a  white stripe and the tape is applied over the white stripe, the tape must be the same color as the white stripe.    (The purpose of the rule is to prevent the use of tape which so changes the appearance of the sock as to make team identification difficult in close situations where quick decisions must be made about which team last touched the ball – such as goal kick, corner kick or throw ins..)

2. Goals scored directly after  a dropped ball.  The laws now provide that when the ball is kicked directly into a goal after a dropped ball, the restart will be a goalkick or corner kick (depending on who kicked the ball).  Note:  the US Soccer Federation has advised that “directly” means on the first touch.  Thus, a goal may be validly scored on a dropped ball by a player dribbling and then shooting or after  taking two  touches on the ball.  Thus, the new provision will have limited effect on play.

3. Caution for deliberate handling.      The International Board made a editorial change in an interpretation regarding when a player should be cautioned for illegally handling the ball to prevent an opponent from gaining possession.   It deleted the language that the handling must be blatant for a caution.

Presidio Soccer League develops gaming rules and regulations with the primary goal of ensuring organizational consistency and fairness.

These rules are made available and distributed to the approved Referee Associations so that our overall gaming experiences will be fair and positive.

click here to download the 2012 Referee Responsibilities and Duties...

Presidio Soccer League
Referee Responsibilities and Duties
Gaming Rules

Referee Responsibilities and Duties

A. Prior to assignment:

1. Referee must be on Cal South’s Current Registered Officials List, must be marked APPROVED under RM Status and have a Presidio Referee ID Card to referee any youth game in the Presidio Soccer League.

2. Referee must register online at http://ref.presidio.affinitysoccer.com in order to:
   1. Obtain login information to complete the game/match report, and
   2. Obtain their Presidio Referee ID Card which should be put into their referee bag or kit

IMPORTANT: When registering online, the referee must use the same name that was used for their USSF registration. What happens if I forget my card?

If the center referee forgets his Presidio ID Card, Presidio has instituted the following procedure before the start of the game:

1. One of teams should call either of the individuals below for verification of the referee’s status: Bob Turner – Presidio President at 619-864-2008 or Jack Dobransky – Presidio Vice President at 619-733-8071, The Presidio ID Card List will be checked and if verification is received the game is played. If not the game is able to be rescheduled and home field advantage is lost. Home team is still responsible to pay the referees if the game is rescheduled.
2. Referee who forgets his card more than twice should no longer be assigned to Presidio Games unless he has agreed to bring his card with him to the field. Next occurrence the referee is suspended from doing Presidio Games.

3. Center referee must be qualified for the age group being assigned to referee. It is suggested that the center referee be older than the age of the teams playing. Especially for ages under U18.

B. After assigned to game and pre-game responsibilities:

1. Referees should be ready to officiate at least fifteen minutes prior to the game.

2. Referees shall before, during and immediately after the game wear the appropriate uniform, USSF badge and have their Presidio ID Card with them. The Presidio ID Cards for the referee team are shown before the game by the referee(s) who receives the player cards from each team’ administrator.

3. Referees will check player’s equipment (FIFA Law 4): cleats, shin guards, and other uniform requirements. Illegal equipment, NO PLAY, SAFETY FIRST. Safety of all players is the paramount concern in Presidio Soccer League games.

4. Referees will check that the Presidio Official Match/Roster Game Reports are filled out completely and verify by either coach or manager SIGNING before the game. Do not accept if not complete and signed.

5. Referees will check that each player on the lineup sheet has a valid Cal South player pass/card and that:

   1. All Player Card have the same team number,
   2. The coach is affiliated with the club,
   3. Player’s jersey numbers and names are listed on the lineup sheet, and
   4. Players being checked-in must match the pictures on cards
   5. Handwritten player are legal as long as they have a proper CalSouth Player Card matched to the team ID.

6. Referees will check that each team has a coach with a valid Cal South coaching pass. A minimum of an "E" License is mandatory for all competitive coaches. Any team that does not have a licensed coach affiliated with that club shall forfeit the game.

7. Referees shall be familiar with and understand all Presidio Soccer League, Cal South and USSF Rules and Regulations. Referees shall know the length of the game, halftime and ball size, which is also shown on game roster. Presidio Soccer League expects referees to be neutral and impartial.

8. Referees are required to legibly print their name and sign the Presidio Official Match/Roster Game Report and/or the cash on the field form provided by the club/league. All Player Cards are returned to the team at the conclusion of the game, except for assault on a referee.

C. After game responsibilities:

1. Referees must submit Match/Game Report to Presidio Soccer League within 48 hours and is part of the referee’s duties under FIFA Law 5. All game reports must be input on line, and either be faxed, emailed or regular mail to the Presidio representative at the bottom right of the game sheet.

The URL LINK FOR GAME REPORTING: http://presidio.affinitysoccer.com/tour/public/info/tournamentlist.asp?sessionguid=&section=gaming

If the game report is not submitted promptly, the referee’s associations will be contacted and they will take the appropriate action. A report indicating online reporting will be supplied weekly to each referee association.

2. Cautioned and ejected players shall have their names and numbers recorded by the referee on the game roster sheet. In addition, referees shall use the proper infraction codes and designated by USSF. All YELLOW CARDS must be reported on the online system. For any Player RED CARD, ADMINISTRATOR DISMISSAL OR REFEREE ASSAULT, the referee shall report the red card on the online system and submit a supplemental report clearly written to the designated Presidio Soccer League Director within 48 hours. The report can be placed in the comments section online but must also be sent to the Presidio Director within 48 hours. This would include any specific details of a red card infraction of USSF, Presidio Soccer League or Cal South rules. Report must also be sent to your referee’s association President and/or assignor.

3. The Referee agrees that by refereeing a Presidio Soccer League game, when requested, to appear before Trial Board Hearing. Failure to do so will result in said Referee being relieved of all Presidio Soccer League referee duties until the matter has been resolved.

4. The Referee when reporting scores should also indicate in the comment section any player that sat out a game for a red card suspension.

Presidio Soccer League Gaming Rules and Regulations

1. The length of break at halftime is 5 minutes. Added time is at the referee’s discretion and is not mandatory. Referees should attempt to keep all games on time.

2. SUBSTITUTIONS: Player Substitutions are according to FIFA with the exception that the number of substitutions is unlimited. Substitutions in Presidio uses the following guidelines:

   1. All substitutions may be made by either team, with the consent of the referee, at any stoppage of play,
   2. When a player injured on the field requires attention, they must be substituted off the field of play, except for the two players of the same team and goalkeeper. Only coach or trainer may attend to injured player unless approved by the referee.
   3. Substitutions shall be made at midfield line. The substitute player shall not enter the field of play until the player substituted has left the field of play,
   4. Excessive substitutions resulting in delay of game is unsporting and is discouraged. The referee has the power through the laws of the game to manage this type of behavior.

3. GAMES: The referee may abandon a match if there is an insufficient number of players to meet the requirements of the Law or the competition, if a team does not appear or if the field or any of its equipment do not meet the requirement of the Laws or are otherwise unsafe,. An abandoned match will be treated as protested games which may be ruled complete, ordered re-played or continued from the point of stoppage.
1. Games stopped due to the elements are SUSPENDED GAMES and if terminated before the commencement of the second half will be re-played in their entirety. Suspended games terminated during the second half will be considered complete.
2. he referee may terminate a match for reasons of safety (bad weather or darkness), for any serious infringement of the Laws, or because of interference by spectators. Only the competition authority, not the referee, has the authority to declare a winner, a forfeit, or a replay of the match in its entirety. The referee must report fully on the events. Abandoned or terminated games may be ruled a forfeit, when the actions of that team’s players, coaches or spectators causing the abandonment or termination.

4. FIELDS: Fields shall conform to FIFA (Law 1). The home league is responsible for marking and setup of the field. All fields MUST have standing corner flags, and goals MUST be anchored down. No corner flags or anchored goals, NO GAME and the home team shall forfeit the game. The suitability of corner flags, goals safely anchored and playability of the field are the sole and final discretion of the Referee under the laws of the game.

5. ADMINISTRATOR RED CARDS/FORFEITS: If there is not a properly licensed coach affiliated with the club present during the entire game, that team will forfeit the game. All coaches must be currently licensed by Cal South. Any coach from the team’s club may continue the game if the coach has a valid coach’s card with that club. If the coach is sent off and no other coach affiliated with the club is available to continue as coach, the referee will terminate the match. Abandoned or terminated games may be ruled a forfeit, when the actions of that team’s players, coaches or spectators causing the abandonment or termination. Any coach sent off must be out of sight and sound prior to, during and after the game.

6. LOAN PLAYERS: No loan players are allowed.

7. ILLEGAL PLAYER / FALSIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS: A team shall forfeit each and every game of the team in which:

   1. An unregistered player was with the team at the game in a (team) uniform; or
   2. Player was improperly entered on the team’s roster. Falsification of records, documents, player identification passes, or in any other matters or manner, shall be grounds for immediate suspension from further participation in Presidio Soccer League with any team or club and in addition can be subject to a Trial Board hearing.

8. PENALTY FOR COACH’S EXPULSION AND/OR FALSIFYING DOCUMENTS: Coach to sit out a minimum of the next five (5) Presidio Soccer League games.* Appeal of this suspension will result in the recommendation to the Trial Board Hearing Committee of a ONE (1) YEAR suspension from date of incident.

*Games – In the case of a coach being expelled, the term games shall be considered as a game day. A coach shall not participate in any other Presidio League games during the game day or days noted in the class penalties described above.

Example: The coach is expelled at a 9:00 a.m. game. In the event the infraction warrants a one game sit-out, the coach may not coach in any other Presidio Soccer League game or games until the game(s) involving the team in which the coach was expelled, (requiring the coach’s sit-out), has been completed. Specifically, a coach serving a sit-out may not work with another Presidio Soccer League team until the sit-out time has been served.

Note: If there are no more League games remaining for person(s) expelled, the penalty assessed shall apply to games in the following season. Failure to comply may result in further Trial Board action.

The Coach must be out of sight and sound prior to, during and after the game. Any Coach that is found guilty of coaching while on suspension will be subject to Trial Board, possible fine and additional period of suspension.

9. SIDELINE BEHAVIOR: Coaches are responsible for their sideline and all actions thereon. Coaches are expected to coach their teams in a positive and respectful manner. Presidio Soccer League encourages referees to discipline any coach for irresponsible behavior if the coach, player, parent or spectator uses derogatory words or actions aimed at their players, the opposing team’s players, coach, sideline or any of the referees.

10. REFEREE FORGETS HIS PRESIDIO ID CARD: If the center referee forgets his Presidio ID Card, Presidio has instituted the following procedure before the start of the game:

    1. One of teams should call either of the individuals below for verification of the referee’s status:

       Bob Turner – Presidio President at 619-864-2008 orJack Dobransky – Presidio Vice President at 619-733-8071,

    The Presidio ID Card List will be checked and if verification is received the game is played. If not the game is able to be rescheduled and home field advantage is lost. Home team is still responsible to pay the referees if the game is rescheduled.

    2. Referee who forgets his card more than twice should no longer be assigned to Presidio Games unless he has agreed to bring his card with him to the field. Next occurrence the referee is suspended from doing Presidio Games.

11. PROTESTS: All protests shall be written and mailed to the respective Presidio Soccer League Director within 48 hours of the incident with a $50 fee (certified or league check only). The fee is refunded if the protest is upheld. Only protests based on violation of the Presidio Soccer League or Cal South By-laws, the misapplication of a playing rule by a Referee or the use of an ineligible player will be considered. No protest will be considered involving a Referee’s judgment.

12. REFEREE AND TRIAL BOARDS: The Referee agrees that by refereeing a Presidio Soccer League game, when requested, to appear before Trial Board Hearing. Failure to do so will result in said Referee being relieved of all Presidio Soccer League referee duties until the matter has been resolved.

13. GAMES UNDER “THE 10 TO 4 RULE”: Games that cross over the line established by Presidio Soccer League, shall not be scheduled before 10:00am or after 4:00pm with the following exceptions: (10am to 4pm Rule):

    1. The following leagues are not subject to the 10 am to 4 pm rule. These leagues can schedule and be scheduled for games at anytime:
       1. Escondido Soccer League/FC Heat
       2. North San Diego Futbol Club
       3. Soccer Club of Oceanside
       4. Valley Center Youth Soccer
       5. Vista Soccer Club
       6. Tiffiny’s
       7. San Marcos Matrix
       8. San Marcos Youth Soccer
    2. The following leagues are subject to the 10 am to 4 pm rule, except when playing any of the 5 leagues listed above:
       1. Elsinore Valley
       2. Fallbrook
       3. Menifee - Westfield
       4. Murrietta
       5. Ramona
       6. Temecula Valley
       7. Temecula United
       8. Arsenal
       9. Imperial Valley
       10. Hemet
    3. Any mutual agreement between clubs / teams with approval of the Assistant Director for your circuit.