WORDS OF WISDOM FROM THE 2nd VP
- Read the “Ethics” document on our site
- Under no circumstances is a referee to contact UIL or TASO without first talking to your assignor, then to the 1st VP, then to the President, and lastly to the District Representative; if whatever the problem is can’t be solved by any of these people, then proceed as you deem appropriate
- DO NOT EVER GRANT AN INTERVIEW OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS TO ANY SORT OF MEDIA; REFER THEM TO EITHER THE 1ST VP, THE PRESIDENT, OR THE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE
- Because the web site is not updated daily, changes are to be done by phone; but, unless you have heard from the assignor to the contrary about changes to your schedule, the web site is correct
- Cancellations or changes – these are to be done by phone, and not on or through the web site
- When dealing with the assignors on a day to day basis, the phone is preferred; email is acceptable so long as you receive a confirming email from the assignor, and you are not dealing with schedule changes
- If your schedule shows that there should be 3 people, but someone does not show up, you need to notify your assignor at your earliest convenience
- If you start a game as a dual, and after the game has started the 3rdperson arrives:
- At the next stoppage of play, not a restart for a foul, switch to a 3 person crew; let both coaches know what is going on
- If within the 1st 10 minutes of the 1st half, the person assigned as the CR shall take the middle, and the other 2 shall become AR’s; let both coaches know what is going on
- If after the 10th minute of the 1st half, the senior referee of the 2 doing the dual shall take the middle, unless that person is scheduled for the center on the next game, then if the other person who had been doing the dual is qualified to be a CR, he/she shall take the center, and the late person will become the double AR; let the coaches know what is going on
- Problems with this – take a minute to call your assignor or the 1st VP and sort it out – better to delay a little than to be wrong
- If you are the only referee, then you are entitled to the full $75 for that game
- UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IS A FIRST YEAR HS REFEREE EVER TO BE ON THE FIELD, AS A CR OR PART OF A DUAL, ON A VARSITY GAME
- If there are only 2 of you at a varsity game, and 1 of you is a 1st year referee, the senior referee shall be the CR, and have only 1 AR; may add a club linesman if desired
- If you are the only person at a JV game, do the game, either by yourself or with 2 club linesmen
- If you are the only person at a Varsity game, if the teams will approve, in writing on your game report, do the game, either by yourself or with 2 club linesmen; UNLESS YOU ARE A 1ST YEAR OFFICIAL; in that case, there will not be a game, even if the coaches tell you it’s okay
- If you have problems with an assignor, and cannot work the problems out, contact the 1st V P, and only the 1st VP – AND LIST HIS NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL ADDRESS
- As soon as you arrive at the stadium, locate the stadium administrator, in your book write down his/her name, position, school or district, and ask him/her where they will be sitting. If there is no administrator, be sure to make a note of this on any paperwork the school gives you, and let the 1st VP know the next day
- Most stadiums will have paperwork for you to fill out before the game; but if they do not, create your own and give to the administrator; your name, complete address, phone number, your social security number, your vendor number if appropriate, the date, the time of the game(s), the stadium, what you are doing (dual, cr/ar, whatever), the schools, girls or boys, soph – jv – var; it is from this information that you are going to be paid; if you have to create your own, make a note of this and let the 1st VP know the next day
- You are responsible for keeping your own records, especially as it might relate to your not having received a check from a school. If you believe that you should have been paid, and have not, your first call is to the athletic department of the school, then you should try the accounting/payroll department (or whoever writes the checks), and you better have your records in order. Then, and only then, if you cannot obtain a satisfactory answer from the school, contact the 1st VP.
- INCIDENT REPORT: Notify your assignor immediately after the game about the incident
- WHAT IS AN INCIDENT
- The ejection of a coach, manager, trainer, spectator
- The abandonment, termination, suspension of a game, for any reason, including weather
- Highly unusual circumstances – if you have a question, call the 1st V P
- FILL IT OUT AND SEND IT – BUT ONLY AFTER DISCUSSING THE INCIDENT WITH THE 1ST VP AND RECEIVING HIS APPROVAL TO SEND
- The report form is on the web site, it is an online form that you submit online
- Fill out all blanks as required
- If a dual, both officials are required to fill out a report
- If a 3 person, if the CR believes it is necessary, all 3 fill out a report; however, the CR must fill out a report
- Construct an email that contains the same information that is requested in the online form and send the email to your Assignor, to the President and to the 1st V P within 48 hours of the incident
- If not sent within 48 hours, you will be removed from all future games until the report is provided
- WHAT IS AN INCIDENT
- Never declare the winner of a suspended, abandoned, or terminated game; the decision of a winner is not up to the referee
- If the game is a tie the school district has already decided what to do, and can only do the following
- A tie is a tie
- 2 ten minute overtime periods, not golden goal, and if still a tie, the tie stands
- 2 ten minute overtime periods, not golden goal, and if still a tie, then kicks from the mark
- Kicks from the mark
- Do not accept assignments for a varsity game in the district in which you have a child attending school; doesn’t matter the grade, doesn’t matter if your child plays soccer or not
- Do not accept assignments for a varsity game that involves the high school that your child attended until 5 years have passed from the child’s graduation
- If you, your spouse, or anyone in your immediate family is a school district employee, in any capacity, you are not to accept any assignment for a varsity game in that district
- NOTE: EXCEPTIONS: YOU MAY ACCEPT ASSIGNMENTS IN ANY DISTRICT, ANY LEVEL, FOR TOURNAMENT GAMES, EXCEPT FOR THE SCHOOL THAT YOUR CHILD ATTENDS – BUT LET’S USE A LITTLE COMMON SENSE ON THIS, PLEASE
- The uniforms for high schools are the same as for USSF; and you may wear appropriate clothing for the weather
- COMMON SENSE
- The assignors make every effort to not assign a referee to more than 2 times in the middle of the same varsity team during the season; if you find that you are being assigned more than that, discuss with the assignor
- There are some schools that can’t afford matching “everything”; deal with it and play the game; just be sure that every person has a number front and rear as required
- Religious headgear may be worn, as long as not a danger to anyone
- Some schools may not have corner flags; they may have pylons, or some other method of marking the corners; deal with it and play the game
- If both schools want to reduce the time of a half/both halves, don’t do it.
- If the home team does not provide you with 3 good balls, or does not have 2 ball handlers, deal with it and play the game, but do let the 1st V P know the next day
- Sound advice – before the game, find the time keeper and be sure that he/she knows to only stop the clock on your signal, period, not when he/she determines it should be done
- A coach may your only ally, believe it or not; make every man management effort to keep coaches and bench personnel in the game
- Don’t demand that you be provided food or water or anything else
TRY USING COMMON SENSE FIRST FOR ANY UNFORESEEN SITUATIONS, AND THEN CALL YOUR ASSIGNOR OR THE 1ST VP IF YOU NEED TO