North Shore Youth Soccer Association

North Shore Youth Soccer Association

Referee-in-Chief

Phone # 604 - 817-1650; Fax - 926-6258

To all North Shore Youth Soccer Association Referees and Assistant Referees:

Christmas and New Year are upon us and all of you deserve a well-earned break, especially after the last couple of stormy weekends. Enclosed your second cheque covering November & December. More than one assignor assigns some of you and sometimes the cheque may not accurately reflect all the games you have officiated. In such a case please e-mail Bernice or me so that we may correct this; our aim is to pay everyone fully! Again be well informed about possible grass field closures and proceed to the correct alternate pitch. The N.V. City & District field line is 983-6444 local #503 and West Van’s field status is via 926-6863 and/or check our Websites: www.northshoredistrictsoccer.com or westvancouver.ca/fields .

Complaints are still coming in about games ending too late and delaying the commencement of the games following for the rest of the day. This impacts on other sports as well such as Field Hockey. I have asked all Club Presidents to command their coaches to START ON TIME, especially the first games of the day. If you find coaches delaying the start because players are still arriving start the game with the minimum players required ~> 7 !. Or with the 8:oo a.m. games end on time – 9:oo a.m. – even if the 2^nd half has not completed. This especially pertains to the u-11 & u-12 competitions.

Our Referee Committee has also received a number of negative reports about coaching behaviour especially to younger officials. Some u-11, u-12 & u-13 coaches/managers voice continuous complaints and very unpleasant behaviour to some of our 14-, 15- & 16-year old referees. If - after firmly asking them to stop - they keep persisting in this objectionable conduct: take action. Do NOT hesitate to CAUTION such a coach for “Unsporting Behaviour”, “Continued Dissent”. We are getting too many reports of this carrying on till the end of the match and having a very pessimistic impact on the referee and also the players and spectators who seem to think: “This is O.K.” It is NOT !!! It is also much easier for our Discipline Committee to deal with cautioned or ejected coaches.

There have also been questions raised about throw-ins. Do we allow retakes to the same team? NO ! Once players get to the divisional level (u-11 and up) they surely should know the required throw-in techniques. Only when the ball has not landed within the field of play – and, remember, if it lands on the line it is IN – do we allow a retake as the match has not restarted. Also enforce the 10-yard rule when it has been requested. Too many of our players when defending a free kick will run in prematurely and by the time the ball is actually kicked are only a few yards (meters) away. This is really annoying, takes away any advantage and such players can certainly be cautioned ! The other item of contention is once again: Abusive / Foul Language. In my pre-game talk with the teams (incl. the coaches) I remind everyone that the FIFA rules talk about “Gentlemanly Conduct” not “IDIOT” conduct and that I will absolutely not tolerate the infamous “F…” word. Re-enforce that early in the game and you shall have far fewer problems throughout the match and parents on the sidelines will thank you afterwards – honest !

See you all in January . . . …..

Eric R. Keller, Referee-in-Chief December 17, 2007.