Purpose of the FTSC Referee Program
· To ensure the Franklin Township Soccer Club receives the best officiating possible.
· To provide an added dimension for the youth of the Franklin Township Soccer Club by allowing them to experience the responsibilities of a referee.
· To provide a written accountability standard for referees required for each divisional game and costs associated for budgetary purposes.
· To ensure the safety of all referees during each game by enforcing one standard set of rules as adopted and published by the Franklin Township Soccer Club.
Referee Training Requirements
Purpose: To establish the minimum set of standards of training for each level of competition.
A) Pee-Wee Referee
A Pee-Wee referee shall be required to pass a certified USSF referee course and/or attend and pass successfully the Franklin Township Soccer Club Pee Wee Referee Training Program. A Pee Wee Referee is qualified to referee all Nipper and Pee-Wee games, Pee-Wee and Asst. Ref. Standby positions.
The minimum requirements to become a Pee-Wee Referee are;
1. A responsible and mature individual able to make decisions based on the requirements set forth within the Laws of the Game and Local Rule Exceptions.
2. Be in 5th grade or above and meet the standards of the above stated requirement.
3. Be willing to commit to the training required to become a referee and to maintain their level of proficiency.
4. Complete the Franklin Township Soccer Club “Request to Become a Referee Form” and submit it to a representative located at the Referee Table, or email it to [email protected].
a) Once your form has been submitted and received your child will be placed onto the Referee Waiting List. You will be contacted when your child is next to attend the referee class.
b) This program is very popular. It is not unusual for your child to be on the waiting list for 3 – 4 seasons before being called. Please advise your child of this so they do not think they will be immediately trained.
B) Junior Referee
A Junior Referee shall be required to pass a certified USSF referee course and attend and pass successfully the Franklin Township Soccer Club Referee Training Program. The referee must show proficiency in foul recognition, maintain management of the match, demonstrate common sense, be physically fit to maintain position with the ball in play, and be under the age of 18. Junior referees are qualified to referee all Pee-Wee and Junior 1 and 2 division games as long as the game being refereed is at least one divisional level below the level of play for that referee. Example: A Junior 5 or 6 player may referee all games up to and including Junior 3 – 4 .
C) Senior Referee
A Senior Referee shall be required to pass a certified USSF referee course and/or attend and pass successfully the Franklin Township Soccer Club Referee Training Program. The referee must show proficiency in foul recognition, maintain management of the match, demonstrate common sense, be physically fit to maintain position with the ball in play, and be under the age of 18. Senior referees are qualified to referee all games except the Senior Division game as long as the game being refereed is at least one divisional level below the level of play for that referee. Example: A Senior player may referee all games up to and including Junior 5 – 6.
D) Assistant Referee (Linesmen)/Fourth Official
An Assistant Referee/Fourth Official must meet the following standards and attend the Franklin Township Assistant Referee/Fourth Official Course.
The minimum requirements to become an Assistant Referee/Fourth Official are;
1. A responsible and mature individual able to make decisions based on the requirements set forth within the Laws of the Game and Local Rule Exceptions.
2. Be in 5th grade or above and meet the standards of the above stated requirement.
3. Be willing to commit to the training required to become a referee and to maintain their level of proficiency.
4. Complete the Franklin Township Soccer Club "Request to Become an Assistant Referee Form" and submit it to a representative located at the Referee Table, or email it to [email protected].
a. Once your form has been submitted and received your child will be placed onto the Referee Waiting List. You will be contacted when your child is next to attend the referee class.
b. This program is very popular. It is not unusual for your child to be on the waiting list for 1 – 2 seasons before being called. Please advise your child of this so they do not think they will be immediately trained.
E) Adult Referee
An Adult referee must be a registered United States Soccer Federation Referee and understand the Franklin Township Soccer Club Local Rule Exceptions. Show proficiency in foul recognition, maintain management of the match, demonstrate common sense, and be physically fit to maintain position with the ball in play, not be a player within the Franklin Township Soccer Club and 18 years old or older.
F) Adult Referee Assistant
An Adult Referee Assistant is not a licensed referee and will not perform referee responsibilities. All Adult Referee Assistants must understand the FIFA Laws of the Game and the Franklin Township Soccer Club Local Rule Exceptions. Adult Referee Assistants will help the Head Referee with the administrative functions of the referee division within the soccer club. They cannot be a player within the Franklin Township Soccer Club and must be 18 years old or older. This position can be utilized towards work bond refunds.
Update Training: Laws of the Games/Local Exceptions and Safety
All referees will attend pre-season update training to the Laws of the Game, Local Rule Exceptions, and a safety briefing. Failure to attend one of the scheduled update training sessions will exclude the referee from being allowed to referee during that season. The Head Referee has the discretion to excuse any referee from missing these meetings. This referee may not officiate a game until they have received the update training. A make-up date will be provided for only those that are excused. After two seasons of missed update training, the referee must attend and successfully pass the complete training program, the same as if he or she were a new referee.
Referee Program Assessment
During the course of the season the referee program will be assessed (when allowable) on its performance. The Head Referee and/or his designated representative will conduct this assessment. During the season the Head Referee will conduct training session(s). These training session(s) will be held to discuss referee performance, corrections and overall concerns. Some areas that are assessed are; foul recognition, proper position for keeping up with play, control of the match, and explanation of fouls. This tool will be utilized in a positive manner to assist all referees in identification of areas that we are strong in and identification of areas needing improvement.
Individual assessments results will not be conducted unless requested by the parent of the referee assessed and approved by the head referee.
Head Referee Discretionary Authority
The Head Referee has the discretionary authority to amend, approve, or change all items within this document for exigent circumstances that may arise. Although any change made must be forwarded to the Club President(s) verbally or in writing stating the reason for that change.
Referee Application Forms
Request to Become a Referee
· Click here for a downloadable application in Word format (you will need to have Word installed)
· Click here for a downloadable application in PDF format (you will need to have an Adobe pdf reader installed)
Entry-Level USSF Referee License Course
The Entry-Level Referee course is a 16-hour course, which will take place over two weekend days followed by a test night. Students are required to attend all sessions in order to be eligible to take the written examination.The minimum age to take this course is 14 years old. Candidates younger than 14 are urged to take the recreation referee course.
At the conclusion of the instructional classes, a written examination will be given to all whom have completed the course. The examination is 100 questions and students must get 75% correct in order to pass the test. Students who fail the exam may take the exam again at any of the Entry-Level Referee Schools held in New Jersey at no extra charge.
For those students that pass the exam, they will be given a registration form in order that they may register with the USSF as a USSF Referee. There is an additional fee to register as a USSF Referee that must be paid yearly to maintain your registration status.
This course is open to and recommended for all players, parents, head and assistant coaches wishing to learn the correct interpretation of the laws of the game. More details are available at www.njrefs.com.
Offside Explained
Below is a video clip explaining the offside rules.