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Referee Information

Referees are essential to the success of Saturday Soccer.  All interested candidates ages 13 years or older are welcome to apply. Ref's are paid each game and can potentially ref up to three games on a given Saturday morning.  Attendance at our inhouse initial referee training is required for all 1st time referees.

Please fill out the referee registration form. Referee and Concussion Training are required to be completed and certificates sent to the referee coordinator prior to the start of the season.  Concussion training can be done for free here.

Contact our Referee Coordinator at referee@lakewood-soccer.com with any questions.

Referee Expectations

LSA Saturday Soccer Referee Expectations: 

  • Know the FIFA Laws of the Game and the LSA adaptations
  • Meet at Concessions Stand 30 minutes prior to your first game in order to check in
  • Notify our Referee Coordinator at referee@lakewood-soccer.com if you cannot attend your scheduled games
  • Arrive prepared with your referee t-shirt, cleats, whistle, watch or stopwatch, pen
  • Be Loud: Use your whistle with authority 
  • Be Active: Keep up with play and do not stand watching the game
  • Keep score on your game card and turn in at the end of your shift in order to be paid
  • If you have the last game on a field, please help us out by reminding coaches to return  goals/corner flags to the equipment trailer

Protect the Goalkeeper when he/she has possession 

You are in charge of the game; act accordingly, and respect all players and adults.

  • Be decisive when you make a call. Explain your call, if necessary. 
  • At the younger ages feel free to coach players when they make a mistake
  • LSA always has board members at Saturday Soccer. If you have a problem with any adult acting in an inappropriate manner, come to the concession stand and report it. Do so immediately, if necessary.

LSA follows the FIFA Laws of the Game.  These laws were created with exceptions in mind for youth players.  

LSA Adaptations

 

U4*-U6*

U7*

U8-U9

U10-11

U12-14

Ball

3

4

4

4

5

Player

3v3/4v4

5v5 or 6v6

6v6 or 7v7

8v8 or 9v9

8v8 or 9v9

Goalkeeper

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Coaches

On field

Sideline

Sideline

Sideline

Sideline

Game Duration

2, 15 min

2, 25 min

2, 25 min

2, 25 min

2, 25 min

Offside

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Free Kicks

None

Indirect only

Indirect only

IFK & DFK

IFK & DFK

Distance

5 yards

5 yards

10 yards

10 yards

10 yards

Penalty Kicks

None

No

No

Yes

Yes

Throw In         

None

Yes, per FIFA Guidelines

Goal Kick

None

Yes, per FIFA Guidelines

Corner Kick

None

Yes, per FIFA Guidelines

*2 fields; small sided games

There is offside for U10+ only.  Referees will take an "instructive" approach in awarding a penalty, using this as a teaching moment.

Heading is only allowed in the U12-U14 age group.  Deliberate Heading in the rest of the age groups will result in an Indirect Free Kick to the opposing team at the spot of the infraction.  If the heading occurs within the penalty area, the referee shall move the ball outside the penalty area and award an indirect free kick to the opposing team.

Referee Weekly Sign Up Form

Sign up forms should be completed between Sunday and Tuesday to referee the Saturday of that week.