Welcome to the Seattle Soccer Referee Association. We provide USSF Referees to matches throughout the greater Seattle region. If you'd like a little more background information about us, check out the Information segment of our Site.
February LOTG Points of Emphasis - Addressing Coaches Behavior 
Practice Advice for Referees: It's important to make a connection with coaches prior to kickoff. Use your personality as it fits and show yourself as a human being - smile, be happy, festive and approachable - show your human side.
- Talk prior to player check-in - something simple that could open up a conversation
- How was your drive into Seattle?
- How has the season been so far?
---
Match Officials must take action against coaches and team officials who fail to act in a responsible manner. That could be a verbal warning(s), caution or a sending-off.
---
Know that Referees and Assistant Referees can issue verbal warnings addressing coaches behavior for something that doesn't require a caution.
We can politely but firmly issue a warning without the need to show a card. This verbal warning can be a great tool to defuse potential conflict:
- Minor/low level disagreement by word or action with a decision
- Failing to cooperate with a match official's instruction/request
- Entering the field of play in a respectful non-confrontational way
If you are a new referee, or are new to Seattle, Register Here.
Are you interested in becoming a referee? Start here with the Washington State Referee Committee
The Laws of the Game and the US Soccer Referee Program are helpful resources for Referees, Coaches, Players and Spectators.
Finally, please see FIFA for general information about the game in its international context.
| | What's New? |
| New(er) Referees & Parents - Sunday Night LIVE: 645p |  | Sunday Night LIVE: 645p New(er) Referees and Parents of Referees
We designed this session focused on the needs of our new(er) referees and parents - come find out how to get m... |
| Referee Coaching/Mentoring Opportunities | | Seattle Coaching/Mentoring - if you are interested in partnering with us developing referees at each level (new, intermediate, advanced) there is a place for you. Reach out to our Referee Dev... |
| TONIGHT: Referee Training Wednesday 3.8 | | TONIGHT -- 3.8 (Wednesday) is our next Training Session of the year! We’ll be talking about DOGSO and SPA :)
Location: Greenwood Library with dinner at 5:45 and the training goes ... |
| Referees - Profile Photo needed to Self Assign | | New(er) Referees Profile Photos Needed
Profile photos are now required to utilize Self Assigning. This will help your peers recognize you at the field and will help our Leadership ... |
| Dealing With Problem Parents, Coaches and Players |  | We have had an unusual number of unpleasant incidents with coaches and sidelines lately. Your assignors goal is to reduce these problems and make refereeing more enjoyable. In order to do that we need your help in two ways;
1) dealing with the problems when they happen and
2) reporting incidents to the proper people as soon as possible.
The more information we have, and the quicker we get it, the more effective we can be.
Specifically, I'm talking about coaches and parents/fans. If the problem is with the coach deal with it. If the problem is with the sidelines, direct the coach to deal with it.
DEALING WITH PROBLEMS WHEN THEY HAPPEN: When you fail to give a caution or send off when it is warranted, you set up future referees for problems. Manage what you can without cards, but don't let that stop you from issuing yellows and reds when deserved. It is so much easier for the disciplinary committee to deal with things when cards are issued. If the problem is with the sidelines, direct the coach to deal with it.
DISSENT: What is dissent? Generally dissent is any action and/or word that conveys disagreement with the referees decision.
Should we caution all dissent? No. It's not realistic or fair to expect everyone to agree with all of our calls. Sports are emotional. People will get frustrated. Sometimes we are even the cause of the frustration. Only dissent that affects the game in a negative way needs to be dealt with. Quick emotional outbursts will happen.
When is dissent a problem? Dissent is a problem with it has a negative impact on the referee's ability to keep the game fair, safe and enjoyable. Here are several questions to ask yourself when deciding if the dissent matters.
-Is it a couple of quick words or does the coach keep complaining?
-Is it small and quiet or is it big, loud and obvious?
-Is it about the play or is it a personal attack?
-Is it respectful or is it likely to provoke others to behave badly?
-Could the coach be right or is she clearly wrong?
These are just a few examples of factors you should be weighing.
Remember abusive language goes beyond dissent and the bad actor should be sent off.
As you gain experience you will get a better idea of what dissent needs to be dealt with, which can be managed and what can be ignored. I think the most important rule for youth soccer games is, if it is to the point you are not having fun anymore, deal with it.
REPORTING: There are three types of ways to report incidents with teams
1) Misconduct reports: If you give a player or coach a card, you are REQUIRED to fill out a misconduct report online. This must be done within 24 hours. It doesn't matter if it's a simple tactical foul or violent conduct. ALL misconducts require reporting.
2) Supplemental reports: If you have problems with fans. If you should have given a card but didn't. If behavior of any of the participants needs correcting. You should fill out a supplemental report.
3) Contact your assignor: If teams or coaches have behavior problems, please contact one of your assignors. Again, refereeing is more fun when everyone just concentrates on the game. We have worked a lot with our local select clubs to educate their teams on proper sideline behavior. They have done a tremendous job. If you have problems with any of their teams they will support us. Where we are seeing a majority of the coach/sideline problems is with visiting teams. We need to know who is causing the problems.
BOTTOM LINE: When in doubt, email, text or call your assignor. |
| Follow Us On Instagram | | Follow us on Instagram @seattlerefs ⚽ Weekly and Daily Giveaways 🎁🎈🎇 |
| New Rules RCL U12s - please review Player Development Initiatives | | New rules for RCL U12 age group - they have updated their playing rules for the U12 age group to be included within the US Soccer Player Development Initiatives Policy. Please review the att... |
| Text Messaging From SeattleRefs | | Receiving Text Messages from SeatleRefs
Did you know that you can set up an email to text message directly to your cell phone? You can be alerted about games being posted right away.
... |
|
