4400 REFEREE RULES

 

4401. GENERAL

All Referees used in games played under the jurisdiction of the NJSA shall be registered, through the NJ SRC, with the USSF and shall abide to all rules dictated by the USSF Referee Committee, in addition to the following rules of the NJSA.

All Referees used in games of this Association MUST be knowledgeable of the different Leagues and Competitions policies. This shall be accomplished by being required to pass a NJSA Referee quiz before being allowed to officiate in NJ.

4402. CHAIRMAN OF ADULT REFEREE COMMITTEE

The chairperson of the Referee Adult Committee (also called the State Adult Referee Administrator) shall control, direct and supervise all the following functions involving referees.

1. Adult Referee Administration

2. Adult Game Assignments

3. Education of Laws of the Game

4. Assessments of Referees

5. Discipline of Referee

6. Investigation of Complaints

7. Licensing of Officials

8. Referees’ Schools

The Adult Ref Committee Chairperson shall be appointed annually by the Vice President of Administrative Operations, with the approval of the Board of Directors.

4403. GAMES’ PROTECTION FOR REFEREES

The home team shall be responsible for the protection of the referees and assistant referees any action of players and spectators before, during and after the game, independently from the ownership of the field play.

This rule does not exempt the visiting teams, players, directors and spectators, of their responsibilities towards the game officials.

4404. ASSIGNMENTS

1. Solicitations

Referees soliciting selected assignments, shall be dealt with, by the NJ Adult Referee Committee.

2. Refusal

Referees refusing an assignment for another game with more remuneration or for a game of a non-affiliated League or Team shall be reported to the NJ Adult Referee Committee for disciplinary action.

3. Availability

Referees must be available at all times during regular soccer season, unless sufficient advance notification was made, in writing, to the NJSA Referee Assignor.

4. Number of Assignments

Referees must officiate at least sixteen (16) adult amateur official (90 minutes) games during a calendar year in order to be eligible for re-registration re-certification for the same grade for the following year.

5. Failure to Appear

A referee who fails to appear or that appears late to a scheduled adult game without proven excuse, shall be fined by the NJSA and shall be reported to the NJ Adult Referee Committee for disciplinary action.

6. Reports

All reports for each assigned game must be done ONLINE using the NJSA Assignment system.

In certain cases, referee may be required to make a WRITTEN report, in addition to the ONLINE report.

Making a referee report, includes the reporting of the players and the Team officers that participated in the game.

Referees are REQUIRED to hold copies of the two teams Game Line-ups, for up to 15 days from the game date.

A referee who fails to make the proper report to the League or to the proper authorities within 24 hours of the scheduled game, shall be fined and shall be reported to the NJ Adult Referee Committee for disciplinary action.

Copies of the referee reports will be available online for all games.

4405. REFEREE RESPONSIBILITIES

All Referees used by this State Association must abide by all policies of the USSF and be in possession of their current identification card issued by the USSF.

Referee fees are fixed by the New Jersey Soccer Association on an annual basis and shall be publicized on the NJSA Referee Assignment Website.

All Referee fees (including Assistant Referees fees if any) shall be divided equally

between the two participating teams for all games, including State and National Cup games.

If a Referees duly reporting for a game, finds the ground in non-playable conditions, they shall be entitled to a travelling fee as set by the NJSA to be paid by both teams, provided the game had not been officially called off in sufficient time.

In case that one only one team shows up to game where a duly assigned referee(s) properly reports, such referee(s) shall be entitled to receive half of the referee fee for that game. After investigation of the reason why the team did not show up for the game, if it is determined that the game is considered a forfeit, the referee shall receive the other half of the fee.

In case that no teams show up for a game where a duly assigned referee(s) properly reports, the NJSA shall make an investigation of the reason why the teams did not show up for the game. Depending on the reason, there may be some compensation for the referee.

Referees MUST request a Game Line-up from each participating team BEFORE the start of any game. A referee shall NOT start a game until the game-line-up is received.

Referees must examine all participating player passes before the players take part in the game. Any team is allowed to field a maximum of 18 players at each game. If a team’s Game Line-up has more than 18 players listed, the referee shall force that team to cross off the name of the extra players from the Game Line-up, and he shall not start the game until when the team declares the 18 players eligible to play in that game.

Team Managers are allowed to be present during the verification of an opposing team’s Player Passes.

The Referees MUST check the validity of the passes (current season and team name) and MUST also properly identify the players as described on the game line-up.

In case that a Referee, in his opinion, finds a player pass picture not matching the player’s figure, he shall attempt to establish the identity of the player by asking for his/her date of Birth and match the answer against the Date of Birth as written on the player pass.

In case of discrepancy in the answer, he shall report his findings to the Opposing team Manager and WILL REPORT HIS FINDINGS in the game report.

Referees are required to file to the proper League or Competition, not later than 24 hours after the game, an official Game Report containing the following information:

1. The final score of the game.

2. The scorers’ names or their shirt numbers. (Space is provided

on the line-up form to indicate this).

3. Report any protest, question or doubt about the validity of a player

pass.

4. Any player cautioned during the game.

5. Any player ordered off the field, in which case the player’s pass

must accompany the report.

6. The markings of the field.

7. The presence of goal nets or corner posts.

8. The use of captain’s arm band.

9. The lateness of any team.

10. Any accident or injury to the players, before, during or after the game.

11. Any other matter relevant to the proper completion of the game.

A referee filing late a Game Report, shall be fined and shall be reported to the NJ Adult Referee Committee for disciplinary action.

4406. REFEREE ASSAULT AND ABUSE

4406.1 Referee Assault

a) Referee Assault is an intentional act of physical violence upon a Game Official.

b) Assault includes, but is not limited to the following acts: Hitting; Punching; Kicking: Choking; Spitting at or on; Grabbing; Bodily running into a referee; Head Butting; The act of kicking or throwing any object at a referee that could inflict injury; Damaging the referee uniform or personal property (i.e. Car, Equipment, etc…).

c) Referee Assaults are to be reported directly to the State Association under whose jurisdiction the game took place.

d) Referee Assaults are to be evaluated in its seriousness by the NJSA Discipline Committee of such State Association, during a hearing set up to review all facts of the assault. This hearing must take place within 30 days from the date of the incident.

e) Within 7 days from the hearing, a decision will be taken by the Arbitration committee. This decision must be communicated to the interested parties within 30 days from the date of the hearing.

f) The Arbitration committee, if it finds the accused as guilty, has the power to suspend such assailant, for a SPECIFIC period of time with a MINIMUM OF ONE YEAR.

4406.2 Referee Abuse

a) Referee Abuse is a verbal statement or physical act not resulting in bodily contact, which implies or threatens physical harm to a referee or the referee’s property.

b) Abuse includes, but is not limited to the following acts: Verbally threatening a referee (remarks such as “I’ll get you after the game” “You won’t get out of here in one piece”, “I’ll wait for you in the parking lot”, etc…; Spewing any beverage on a referee’s personal property; Using foul, or indecent, or offending language directed to the referee.

c) Referee Abuse cases (except in cases of use of abusive, foul, indecent or offending language), shall be reported to the State Association under whose jurisdiction the game took place.

1. These type of Referee Abuse cases are to be evaluated in its seriousness by an Discipline committee of such State Association, following a hearing set up to review all facts of the assault. This hearing must take place within 30 days from the date of the incident.

2. Within 7 days from the hearing, a decision will be taken by the Arbitration committee. This decision must be communicated to the interested parties within 30 days from the date of the hearing.

3. The Discipline committee, if it finds the abuser as guilty, has the power to suspend such person, for a SPECIFIC period of time with a MINIMUM OF SIX MONTHS.

d) Referee Abuse cases limited to the use of abusive, foul, indecent or offending language shall be reported directly to the League or Competition under whose jurisdiction the game took place.

1. These type of Referee Abuse cases are to be evaluated by such League’s or Competition’s appointed Arbitration body who shall have the power to issue a suspension for a specific period of time with a MINIMUM of 2 GAMES.