Junior Football Referee Guide

Role: Football Referee
Commitment: Refereeing half or full games, making fair decisions, and applying the rules.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Officiating the Game
   • Referee the Game: Typically, you’ll referee one half of the game, but sometimes you may do the full game.
   • Know the Rules: Be familiar with the rules for the grade you’re refereeing, as they may vary.
   • Make Quick Decisions: You have 5 seconds to make a decision. If you need to change it, do so quickly and confidently.
2. Fitness
   • For 10th grade and older, you should be fit enough to keep up with the game.
3. Pre-Game
   • Introduce Yourself: Meet the opposition coach before the game and confirm the rules (throw-ins, offside, substitutions).
4. Help Players Understand the Rules
   • If players repeat mistakes, give brief explanations so they understand what they’re doing wrong.
   • Not all players know all the rules, so be ready to explain when needed.
5. Fair Play
   • Your job is to ensure a fair game. Refereeing can be challenging but is also a rewarding experience.

Time Commitment:

• Game Duration: Referee for one half of the game (or sometimes the full game).
• Total: About 1 hour per game.

Additional Info:

• The club will provide the necessary support to help you succeed – referees courses are available through WaiBOP and the club will pay fees contributing to this. Please contact us to discuss prior to booking: glenviewsoccernz@gmail.com