Referee

Becoming a Referee

Becoming a referee can be a fun and enjoyable way to be involved in the beautiful game of soccer. Being a referee is a great way to suport the players in our community while making some extra money.

Certified Referees

Certified referees work with competitive teams to ensure that the games are fair, safe, and fun. Certification is offered throughout the year and requires an online portion and one in person training session. Certifications are good for one year. Recertification only requires a shorter online training.

Certified referees make more money depending on the age of the players in the game. There is a center ref, and 2 assistant refs (ARs) assigned for each competitive game.

Please visit the Idaho Soccer Referee website for more information on how to become a certified referee.

Learn more

YDP League Referees

Maybe you are interested in refereeing but aren't ready to become a certified referee. Our Youth Development league is a great way to get a feel for refereeing, make some money, and make it possible for younger players to be on the pitch.

Our YDP referees must be 12 years old, attend a pre-season training, and pass a short assessment about the rules of the game. Past playing experience is helpful, but not required. YDP referees make $15.00 per game and are paid out at the end of the season.

If you are interested in becoming a YDP referee, please call our office at 208-233-8883 or send us an email.

Returning Referee Recertification

There is now a required IN PERSON portion for returning referees in addition to online work.

FOLLOW THE STEPS ON THE WEBSITE:
IdahoReferee.org

1) Register for a Returning Referee Course.

2) After registering for a course complete the required online material before the in person class is scheduled. This should take a couple of hours to complete.

3) Attend an in-person class.

All or Nothing:
- If you do not complete the course work online before the class, you will not be able to attend the in person class.
- If you miss the class you registered for, find a different in-person class to attend, and contact your DRA.
- If you do not do the online coursework AND attend an in-person class, you will NOT be able to referee.
- If you do the online coursework but you do not attend an in-person class, you will not be able to referee and you will not be refunded your registration fee.

* Remember: Reffing High School soccer and rec soccer at NOP fields are totally different organizations.

REC REFEREE GAME PROCEDURE

Referees-

You will be provided with a ref shirt and a whistle. Wear your PVSC ref shirt, bring a watch to keep time and a whistle. You will get paid $10 per game at the end of the season.

Please be 15 minutes early to your scheduled game time. Check the teams in 10 minutes before the game starts.

Player Gear-

Mandatory: Shin guards, socks (covering shin guards), each player should bring a ball. Cleats are optional. Jersey/uniform is included.
NOT ALLOWED: Earrings (none), necklaces (except medical), bracelets (except medical), hairpieces (no hard plastic or metal clips, bobby pins, etc.), baseball or football cleats.

Game Procedures-

Substitutions: Substitutions will be allowed at any stoppage of play, when the ball is off the field. No foul substitutions, meaning that we cannot substitute when a foul is called, even if the ball is on the field. Players will enter and exit the field from the half line when substituting. This will make the game run as smoothly and quickly as possible. The referee on the field will call for substitutions when allowed. The referee should also instruct the players and coaches on policy for substitutions prior to the game.
Fouls: Fouls are to be called when appropriate and by the referee on the field. The idea of YDP is to referee based on instructional play, teach as we call the foul. Offside's will introduced at U9 and begin to be called at U10, with the emphasis on teaching the rule, rather than just calling the foul. Please help teach off sides by not cherry picking. ALL penalty kicks will be indirect, meaning another player must touch the ball first BEFORE it is counted as a goal. Goalies are not prepared to handle direct kicks at this age. Throw in's will be given a second try if done incorrectly.

NEW RULES STARTING 2017-

No intentional heading.

Kick offs can now be played backwards

Player #s & Game Length:

U4-U5 3v3 (2) 15 min halves, practice first followed by game, size 3 ball

U6 4v4 (2) 15 min halves, practice first followed by game, size 3 ball

U6-U7 4v4 (2) 20 min halves

U8 4v4 (2) 20 min halves

U9 7v7 (2) 25 min halves, build out rule applies

U10 7v7 (2) 25 min halves, build out rule applies

U11/12 9v9 (2) 25 min halves

Player/Parent/Spectator/Referee Etiquette:

The goal of YDP soccer is to be instructional and fun for all involved, this includes the players, parents, spectators and referees. The goal of this program is to teach soccer. Coaches should emphasize skill development rather than game result. We are asking that parents/spectators sit on the same side of the field as their team. Teams will sit on one side of the half line, parents/spectators will sit on the other side of the half line. This ensures the players are properly coached without interferenece from spectators. The location at the half line must be clear of spectators so that players waiting to be subsituted into the game are clearly seen by the referee.

Please make every effort possible to start and stop games on time. If all players are not ready to play at start time, please start with players available and ask other team to play with fewer players or borrow players from the other team. If the game starts late, please shorten the halves to ensure the game will finish on time.

Games that are cancelled due to weather will be done at game time. Everyone knows that Idaho weather is unpredictable, thus, making it very hard to cancel games in advance. Please show up to all games and the determination to cancel will be made by the YDP Directors, Field Marshall and Referee at the field. Safety is always the biggest concern.

U9/U10 Build Out Line Information

UPDATED SPRING 2023

Intent:

US Soccer introduced to promote playing the ball out of the back in a less pressured setting.

Rules During Play:

1. When the goalkeeper has the ball in his or her hands during play from the opponent, the opposing team must move behind the build out line until the ball is put into play.

2. Once the opposing team is behind the build out line, the goalkeeper can pass, throw, or roll the ball into play (punts and drop kicks are not allowed) or can dribble the ball with the feet. All such actions put the ball into play.

3. After the ball is put into play by the goalkeeper, the opposing team can cross the build out line and play resumes as normal.

4. If a goalkeeper picks up the ball after the goalkeeper has put the ball into play, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense.

5. If a goalkeeper punts or dropkicks the ball, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense.

6. If the punt or dropkick occurs within the goal area (not penalty area), the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred.

Rules During Goal Kick:

The opposing team must move behind the build out line during a goal kick until the ball is put into play.

Practical Considerations:

• Ideally, the goalkeeper will wait to put the ball into play once all opponents are beyond the build out line.

• The goalkeeper can put the ball into play sooner, but he or she does so accepting that the ball is in play with the positioning of the opponents at that time.

• To support the intent of the development rule, coaches and referees should be mindful of any intentional delays being caused by opponents not retreating in a timely manner or encroaching over the build out line prior to the ball being put into play.

• Coaches are responsible for addressing these types of issues with their players.

• Referees can manage the situation with misconduct if deemed appropriate. Referees can remind attacking players to move beyond the buildout line. The only tool a referee has for enforcement of the rule is to issue a misconduct (yellow card).

• Referees should be flexible when enforcing the 6-second rule and counting the time of possession should only begin when all opponents have moved behind the build out line.