This weekend’s schedule is now finalized and, as of this moment, all refereeing spots have been filled.
Make sure you are EARLY to your assignments – 30 minutes at least. I start getting phone calls from nervous coaches at 8:45am when you aren’t already at the field.
If there are locked gate issues, locked equipment issues, etc., let me know by 8:40am since I am refereeing at 9am and will start checking teams in by 8:45.
You can solve most of these problems on your own with these important contacts from the JUSA Handbook:
Yorba Linda Area Director – Gary Farrell 818-262-0598
Placenta Area Director – James Harman 714-863-7056
The above can help with locked school gates or locked equipment (goals & lockers)
In addition, you can also try:
Director of Field Equipment – Dick Bednar – 714-345-6890
KEEP GAMES ON TIME – Games are stacked closer together than Recreational games in the fall. You only have 90 minutes between 60 & 70 minute games and that includes halftime and checking in the next set of teams.
Sunset is 5:54pm so at fields where there are 4:30 start times, the morning referees need to keep to the schedule so these last games can be played while it’s still light out.
Time Change this Weekend
Do not forget to set your clocks ahead 1 hour on Saturday night. No excuses for being an hour late to games on Sunday.
Player Cards
Player cards are not required for games this weekend. The coach should have signed Medical Releases (CalSouth Player Registration Forms) for all players. If not, make sure the parents are present at the game and plan to stay, just in case there is a severe injury.
Let the coach know they should have those forms with them at all times, including at practices.
Rule Differences
There are some important rule differences for JUSA spring soccer for all brackets (Recreational and Select):
- All age brackets allow free substitutions, at any stoppage, with permission of the referee, at all age levels.
- There are no quarter breaks like we usually have on the small-sided 8v8 games. Depending on weather, and with agreement of both coaches, you may stop the game for a brief “water break” if deemed necessary, but spring schedules are much tighter than fall so keep the games on time.
- Home team chooses which sideline they occupy. While this is not necessarily a refereeing issue, we are often asked to arbitrate such disagreements. Since spring games are played in many cities using many associations’ fields, the home team, per the schedule, is given the opportunity to choose which sideline they prefer.
- Guest players: With teams often having players involved with more than one spring sport, sometimes teams need to use guest players. However, no guest club players are allowed.
- In addition, uniforms in Spring might not always be….uniform. As long as the referees and players can tell which team is which, whatever they wear is okay even if they are different shades of a common color or the jerseys/T-shirts are different styles. There should be a number on the back even if it’s written on with marker or applied with tape so the referee can identify individual players. Mismatched shorts and sock colors don’t matter.In the event of matching colors, home team should be asked to change or wear pinnies. Speak with the coaches and have everyone be reasonable about working with you to make sure the game can be played.
Fees
Referee fees are mostly based on the Fall rates for Recreational games. A document outlining the fee schedule for spring is here:
JUSA Spring 2014 Referee Fees
It is everyone’s responsibility in the referee crew to bring small bills in order to split the fees correctly.
U10 Select 11v11
Teams playing in the U10 Select bracket will be playing 11v11 with full-sized goals as practice for moving to U11 in the Fall season. These games will be played at Y23 Woodsboro, P10 Wagner and on Sundays at Y36 Brush Canyon. Games will be 60 minutes in length and the fees will be the same as U11/U12: $72.
U10 games at Y5 Mabel Paine and CP1/2 Brookhaven will be small-sided, 8v8, with the small, 6’x18′ goals.
No-Show Teams
In the event that one team does not show up for some reason, DO NOT collect any fees from the team that DOES show up. Tell the team that does show up to record the score as a 1-0 win.
It has been decided this spring that if a team fails to show for a game, they are responsible for 100% of the referee fees. They will be required to submit the fees to the JUSA office by the following Wednesday or further sanctions such as additional forfeits, standings point deductions, or bans from post-season play may be incurred.
Please inform me if there is a no-show and let me know if the online schedule accurately reflects the referee crew that was present so that once payment is made I can pass it along to those affected.