Instruction
Educate yourself to become a better referee
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Offside Academy
Every grassroot soccer referee, you now have A MENTOR!
Produced by an unconventional USSF Regional/Collegiate National & Certified USSF Mentor!
Purchase Offside Academy (Enter code "MONTANA" for discount.)
Effective Use of the Comm.
Eventually, you may officiate with a referee that personally owns a Communication System or Comm's for short. This guide on the Effective Use of the Communication System can help you prepare for using them. (Note: US Soccer has released a position paper banning the use of Comm's by any Grassroots referee unless the local competition allows for them. In 2021, MYSA approved of their use for all matches. If you attend an event outside of Montana you should inquire about their use.)
PRO AR Offside Test
Grab a piece of paper and open the video in full screen. In real time, without pausing or rewinding, watch these 25 clips and if you would call offside, write an X, if you think it's onside, an O. The results are at the end and you can see how you did.
U.S. Soccer Referee Department Position Papers
The U.S. Soccer Referee department periodically releases position papers to clarify confusion on the Laws of the Game.
Date: November 1, 2023 Subject: Law 4, The Players' Equipment (Jewlery)
Date: November 1, 2023 Subject: Law 4, The Players’ Equipment, (Medical Alert Jewelry)
Date: July, 2022 Subject: Clarification of the guidelines to distinguish between 'deliberate play' and deflection' (for offside.)
Date: May 28, 2021 Subject: Denying a goal or obvious goal scoring opportunity.
Date: September 30, 2020 Subject: Using offensive, insulting, or abusive language or gestures.
Date: August 1, 2020 Subject: "I Got the Ball"
Date: June 1, 2020 Subject: Fourth Officials, Standing or Sitting?
US Soccer Referee Department Position Papers and Directives Archive
Date: 1998-2012 Archive of Position Papers Sorted by Date
Date: 1998-2012 Archive of Position Papers Sorted by Law Number then Date
All the 2009-Directives except for the Directive on Handling (which is out of date):
Game Disrepute and Mass Confrontation