Tips for Refs, Coaches & Spectators
(In no particular order of importance)

3. The coach of each team should provide the Referee game fees to the referee(s) before the start of the game.

4. The Referee shall stop the game if a player is injured, but not during a drive on goal unless the injury appears to be serious. The nearest official is obliged to quickly check the condition of the injured player. The referee need only have reason to believe that a player is seriously injured to stop the game, even if there is a drive on goal. The referee will insure that any player bleeding from a wound leaves the field of play."

5. Spectators or coaches are not allowed on the field of play, during play, unless signaled by the Referee.

6. "During the course of the game, all coaches may coach their players from the touch-line, subject to the following:

• Coaching shall be limited to verbal communication with the players of the coach's team by the coaches of that team.
• No coaching or comments shall be directed to the players or coaches of the opposing team.
• All coaches must remain on the side of the field where the team's substitutes are situated, between the halfway line and the 18-yard line.

7. Upon a play restart, after a stoppage due to an injury, the team in "clear possession" of ball at moment the stoppage occurs starts play with an Indirect Free Kick at the location of the ball at the moment that the stoppage occurred. This restart applies to Goalkeeper possession as well (the Goalkeeper will not "clear" the ball with a throw or punt). If the referee can not make a determination of clear possession, play will start with a Drop Ball. In no case will the ball be dropped within the Goal area.

8. Players and coaches are not permitted to question a referee's decision during play. This may be deemed Unsporting Behavior or Interfering with Play.

9. If a spectator "interferes with game play" through verbal or physical means, the Referees have been instructed to stop play at an appropriate time and ask the coaches to remedy the problem. The Referee shall not restart the game until the situation is corrected.

10. Any coach who receives an Ejection (Red Card) must retire from the field of play. This means retiring to the nearest parking lot or area outside of the immediate area at such a distance as to terminate that participant's further influence on the game. If a player is ejected, that player must leave the field of play and may not re-enter the game. The referee shall report all Ejections, in writing, to the CUSA Ethics Committee immediately after the game.

11. Referees are instructed to terminate play immediately if thunder is heard in the immediate area or lighting is observed anywhere. All participants shall retreat to safety, off of the field of play. The Referee will wait 20 minutes or until danger has passed before starting or restarting the game. If, at the end of 20 minutes, danger conditions still exist, the referee shall terminate the game. If the game is not restarted, and one-half of the game has been played, it will be considered a "completed game." If one-half of the game has not been completed, the Referee will send a Game Report to the Board for a decision as to whether or not to reschedule the game.

12. "Prior to any game the referee shall inspect the player's equipment and prevent any player whose equipment does not conform to the requirements ....from playing until such time as it does comply."

• A player shall not wear anything that is dangerous to another player or to himself or herself.
• Shinguards must be covered entirely by socks.
• Gym shoes, running shoes, etc. are legal, however on wet or muddy fields the referee may consider such footwear as too dangerous for conditions.

  Following are examples of illegal or dangerous equipment, but they are not all-inclusive. The referee may determine other equipment or conditions to be illegal.

• shinguards with exposed sharp edges
• jewelry or watches (ear "posts", unless padded with cotton and covered with Band-Aids)
• face or spectacle guards
• helmets of hard material
• any type of cast or splint - CUSA does not allow casts of any type
• knee braces, unless wrapped and covered with soft padding and approved by the referee
• metal cleats or cleats with sharp edges
• foreign objects in the mouth, other than internal orthodontic devices

  Following are examples of Legal Equipment:

• soft headwear such as knit caps
• goalkeepers may wear gloves and soft-billed caps
• hearing aids
• eyeglasses, with or without strap
• contact lenses
• warm-up suits, hooded sweatshirts, sweat pants and similar soft apparel, but only if worn under the player's uniform
• medical ID bracelets or necklaces, if covered and taped down appropriately to prevent entanglement with another player

  The player's team may play short (providing they have the minimum number of players to start) until the player corrects the unsafe condition. The player does not have to "sub" to get in the game. He/she may enter the field of play, after having been motioned onto the field by the Referee, during a stoppage of the game. At that time, the player will be re-inspected and if all is okay, they may begin or resume play.

13. If opposing teams have a jersey color conflict, it is the home team's responsibility to "change colors". Also, Goalkeepers must wear jerseys that are not in conflict with either team.

14. Foul language (that not directed to another) by coaches, players or spectators is not permitted. Taunting directed to an opposing player or team is not permitted. These offenses, at the discretion of the Referee, may be judged Unsporting Behavior resulting in a Caution. Abusive language (that directed to another player or team), or spitting at another player, will result in an Ejection. A player directing foul language at himself or herself (as a result of disappointment with themselves) may receive either a verbal reprimand from the referee, or a Caution. A repeat offense may result in either a Caution or Ejection.

15. Slide tackling from outside a player's peripheral vision is not permitted, even if no contact is made with the ball or the player, or if contact is first made with the ball. Based on a "advantage", the Referee may allow play to continue even if contact was made with the player. In this case the Referee will give the offending player a verbal reprimand. If contact was not made with the player, the Referee may decide to stop play and award an Indirect Free Kick to the opposing team, after a verbal reprimand. Passers and Shooters are not allowed to slide tackle from any angle.

16. Coaches must remain behind the Touchline and between the halfway line and the top of the penalty line (18-yd. line). Coaches must remain at a reasonable distance behind the Touchline so as not to interfere with play.

17. Only two CUSA-recognized coaches are permitted on the coaching sideline at any one time.

18. At least one adult must be on the coaching sideline at all times.

19. Spectators are not allowed to coach players.

20. Spectators are not permitted near the goal posts during play.

21. Spectators should remain at a reasonable distance from the Touchline so as not to interfere with play.

22. Spectators must be located on the opposite side of the field from the teams and coaches.

23. Spectators who volunteer to "run the sidelines" (Club Referees) are permitted only to signal when a ball is out-of-bounds. They may not signal for offside or other fouls, or which team takes the throw-in.

24. At scheduled game-time, if both teams have the required minimum number of players the game will not be delayed to wait for other players to arrive even fi both coaches agree to the delay.

25. We encourage the coaches to report significant "game quality" issues to the Head Referee ( referee "late shows" or "no shows", poor field conditions, etc.).