Information

Match Official missing

In all matches: If you are missing an AR (same applies if both ARs are missing), the centre referee goes ahead with the game. The centre referee may ask either club (or both is you’re down 2 ARs) to provide a “club linesperson” – their role is to tell you, i.e. the centre referee, when the ball goes out of play by crossing a touch or goal line. The centre referee may choose to take their advice on which way the throw is to go, but the decision is up to the referee. Likewise, the referee may allow the “club linesperson” to indicate an offside, however the decision is with the referee and anyone acting as a “club linesperson” must understand that the referee may or may not choose to respond to their offside calls.

In u11 – u14: If the centre referee is missing and no senior referee is present at the ground, one of the appointed ARs will need to fill the centre ref role. If you are an appointed AR, then you will be able to access the team sheet and, at the end of the game you need to note in the referee comments section of the team sheet who referee the game. Provided that the game started after the scheduled start time for the particular game, if the appointed centre referee arrives AFTER the game has started, he/she is to take up the spare AR role – they do NOT take over as centre referee.

In u15 and u16/17: If you are an appointed AR to a game and you have turned 14 or older, if the appointed referee is missing you may move to the centre as above. If neither AR is 14 or more, then the ground official will need to contact the SCCSA Match Controller (by phone) to determine what to do. If it is decided that the game will be played with coaches refereeing, the appointed ARs (who are both under 14) may continue as ARs in the game. In this situation the ARs will submit the team sheet/results at the end of the game.

In all senior men’s games: If you are an adult appointed AR to a game or if you regularly referee senior men’s games, and the appointed referee is missing you may move to the centre as above. If no AR meeting the above criteria has been appointed the teams will need to contact SCCSA to determine how to proceed. If it is decided that the game will be played with coaches refereeing, then the appointed junior ARs may continue as ARs in the game. In this situation the ARs will submit the team sheet/results at the end of the game.

In Senior Women’s games: If you are an appointed AR to a game and you have turned 16 or older, if the appointed referee is missing you may move to the centre as above. If neither AR is 16 or more, then the teams will need to contact SCCSA to determine what to do. If it is decided that the game will be played with coaches refereeing, the appointed ARs (who are both under 16) may continue as ARs in the game. In this situation the ARs will submit the team sheet/results at the end of the game.

Jewellery - Instructions from FIFA

Beaded hair

If a player is wearing hair beads the hair must be tied in a bun or covered by a hair net. Loose beaded hair should not be allowed.

Bracelets

All bracelets (including metal, rope, fabric, leather, etc.) must be removed. Medical alert bracelets may be worn. The bracelet must be covered by tape (with the exception of the medical information).

Body piercing

Piercing not visible to the referee is of no concern. Should the piercing become visible the referee will ensure the item is removed.

Earrings

No earrings are acceptable. The practice of taping earrings is not acceptable.

Facial ring

Any kind of jewellery on the face or around the eyes must be removed.

GPS units or heart rate monitors

This equipment is not permitted to be worn by players.

Metal clips / bobby pins

These are deemed to be dangerous items and must be removed. Elastic/rubber hair bands are permitted.

Necklaces

All necklaces must be removed. Medical alert necklaces may be worn provided they are taped securely to the chest. The medical information must not be covered by tape.

Rings

No rings may be worn. The taping of wedding rings is not permitted.

Tongue piercing

Rings/studs through the tongue are discouraged for the players’ own safety. Should the referee detect a tongue piercing, the referee will ensure it is removed.

Watches

Players (but not match officials) must remove all watches.

Grading the seriousness of the offence leading to a red card

From the start of the 2020 season in all SCCSA games, if a player receives a red card (sent off), the referee will be required to grade the seriousness of the offence on a scale of 1 (least serious) to 5 (extremely serious).

Remember, the grading relates to the seriousness of the offence, NOT how annoyed it made you or how much you dislike the player involved. You MUST keep personal feelings out of the equation and grade ONLY according to the offence.

The following schedule is a guide to determining the grading of various offences.

You will note that there is no grade 5 included. Please note that a grade 5 offence must be an extremely bad offence – remember the player will not receive an automatic suspension for a grade 5 offence but will be required to attend a judiciary hearing. The referee involved may also be required to attend to justify the grading – see further info at the end of these guidelines.

R1 (Serious Foul Play)

Grades 1 and 2 Example 1 : A tackle that demonstrates excessive force (e.g. a studs up tackle that strikes an opponent’s leg) but does not cause injury. Example 2: A player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent.

It is unlikely that many tackles such as the above would be graded as “1”, however in some extreme

examples of the above “3” may be appropriate.

Grades 3 to 4 Tackles that actually cause injury to an opponent should be generally graded 3 or 4. A more serious injury would generally suggest that there was more malice in the tackle than one that caused only minor injury and would thus gain a higher grading. A grading of 3 or 4 here indicates that it is a very serious offence.

R2 (Violent conduct)

By its very nature, violent conduct would rarely be graded 1. Most violent conduct is committed in the “heat of the moment” and should attract a grading of 2 or perhaps 3 if there are punches thrown. If physical violence is clearly pre-meditated (not heat of moment, e.g. running in to situation to throw punches) then a 3 (or 4 in extreme cases) is appropriate.
If a player strikes or attempts to strike you, or your ARs it is graded as 4 AND a full and detailed report is required as we will probably have the player charged with assault (if there is contact)

R3 (Spitting)

Spitting AT someone may be low level 1 or 2. If it is clear that the spitting was not intended to actually hit an opponent a 1 is sufficient, if unsure then grade it as 2
Spitting ON someone (i.e. actually making contact) is more serious. Grading would be 3 if spitting was on shirt, boot etc. If it is on the face then it is graded as 4
If a player spits AT or ON you or your ARs it is graded as 4

R4 (DOGSO handball)

Where it is an obvious reflex action grading is 1
Where hand ball is clearly intended grading is2

R5 (DOGSO general)

A DOGSO offence would generally be graded at 2 or 3 depending on the seriousness of the offence. If it warrants a grading of 4, then it is probably more likely to be SFP than DOGSO

R6 (OFFINABUS)

If you have chosen to send off a player who has used unacceptable language or gestures but has done so in frustration, grade it as 1.
If a player directs OFFINABUS at another person, grade it as 2 unless it is very high end language, in which case it becomes a 3
If a player directs OFFINABUS at you or your ARs grade it as 3 or, if it is high end language, grade it as 4
If a player threatens you and or your ARs, it is graded as 4

R7 (Second yellow)

A player receiving a second yellow card would normally be graded as 1. If both yellow cards were “high end” yellow cards, then grade as 2

I note again that none of the above guideline include any grade 5 offences. If you think that an incident warrants a grading of 5, you may indicate at the end of your report that you believe that a grading of is warranted. Members of the Executive will consider your report and may upgrade the grading to 5 if it is considered that such a grading is appropriate.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL REFEREES

The following instruction applies to ALL referees regarding injuries to players:

a) When refereeing in age group 11years or under, if a player goes to ground after being hit by the ball or after a tackle and

remains on the ground, play MUST be stopped and the injury assessed (i.e. it is to be treated as if it were a “serious” injury as per the

LOTG).

b) Where play is stopped for an injury to a player in ANY age group, referees are reminded that they must invite the coach to onto

the field to attend to an injured player if the injury appears potentially serious (you are not medical practitioners, so don’t try to

work out how serious the injury is. If the player is in significant pain, treat the injury as serious. In older age groups, you may ask

the injured player if he/she wants the coach to come on). If a coach enters the field before being invited to do so, the matter

needs to be reported on the match report. Whilst ideally, a coach who enters the FOP without permission should be told to leave,

younger referees may find it difficult to do – but a report should be written.

c) If a coach/manager attends to a player on the field, that player (other than a goalkeeper) MUST leave the field. The player can

return when given permission by the referee, but only after play has recommenced. The 2017 changes to the LOTG allow a

player to remain on the FOP for treatment if their injury is the result of an incident in which their opponent receives a red or

yellow card. You should use discretion as to the time taken to treat the player as in our competition we do NOT add time for

injury and we DO allow interchange, therefore neither the player nor the team is disadvantaged by the injured player being

removed from the FOP for treatment.

d) In matches other than 11 years and younger, where a player goes to ground after being hit by the ball or after a tackle and

remains there, the referee must make a judgment call as to whether the injury is serious or not and thus whether or not play

needs to be stopped in order to assess the injury. In making this judgment, the referee should take into account the age of the

player and the nature of the injury (e.g. if the player is obviously is significant pain). This is a judgment call on the part of the

referee and there does NOT need to be visible blood or evidence of broken limbs before play should be stopped. ANY head or

neck injury MUST be regarded as “serious” (i.e. play must be stopped). In matches 11 years and younger, all injuries may be

regarded as "serious" (i.e. requiring treatment)

e) Referees should also note that if a player falls to the ground WITHOUT apparent reason (i.e. they were not tackled or hit by the

ball or struck by another player), this should be treated as a serious incident, play SHOULD be stopped and the player attended

to, as the player may have a medical issue needing urgent attention (e.g. heart attack, diabetic attack, some form of “fit” etc)

The following instruction applies to ALL referees regarding Child Protection

All referees, especially referees who are 18 years and over, are reminded that child protection laws do not allow an adult to touch a minor (the law says “inappropriate” touching, but “inappropriate” seems hard to define – unrequested / unauthorised are probably better terms). So even a “pat on the back” is no longer an acceptable practice. Referees should therefore NOT touch a player or junior referee in any way. In certain circumstances, a breach of this instruction may result in a formal report having to be made to government authorities.