This document lists the required equipment a referee must have to be assigned games for SYA soccer.
USSF UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR SOUTHWESTERN YOUTH ASSOCIATION (SYA) REFEREES - Updated: March 8th, 2010
ATTITUDE AND PROFESSIONALISM:
We work very hard, both in SYA and the Cardinal Cup Tournament, to present the best foot forward on behalf of the referees. The referee’s job is difficult enough without having to overcome suspicion, mistrust, and a lack of confidence from players, team officials, and spectators when someone appears who, though carrying a whistle looks as though he/she may have been drafted into the match at the last minute, unprepared, possibly ill-trained, and inexperienced. Players, coaches, and others KNOW what a referee is supposed to look like and, when the person with the whistle (or flag) doesn’t look like that, the official runs the risk of not being treated like a referee.
Some deviations in uniform and equipment are more serious than others, but all deviations reflect your attitude and that, in turn, will affect how players, coaches, and spectators RESPECT your decisions.
Some examples of lack of correct USSF uniform and equipment – i.e. incorrect color of your shoes, incorrect socks, shorts, wrong color of referee shirt, incorrect color of visible clothing underneath your referee uniform, no watch or a non-working watch with stop watch features, no flags, no whistle, no flipping coin, wearing out-of-date badge, no badge, no pen and score cards, no red/yellow cards, etc. …).
These following detailed information about your work requirements regarding your Official United States Soccer Federation (USSF) Soccer Uniform, Equipment, and Appearance that is required for receiving soccer referee assignments for Southwestern Youth Association (SYA) Recreation and Travel Games, as well as working for other USSF sanctioned games. All USSF sanctioned games follow the same requirements for all USSF Referees that are currently certified for working game assignments.
1. A Referee, Assistant Referee, or 4th Official shall be correctly and appropriately dressed in your Official USSF Referee Uniform when you are assigned as a member of the official referee crew for the soccer game. Fines and sanctions will be imposed for violations.
a. Official USSF shirt of gold, black, or red, either short or long sleeve to match the referee crew’s official referee shirt for the respective game assignments.
Update: when wearing any undershirt under these Official USSF referee shirts, the under shirt shall be solid black – no designs, no logos, no writings, and no decorations. Updated: September 21st, 2006).
Update: when wearing compression shorts under your Official USSF Referee Shorts, these compression shorts shall be both solid black and at the same length as your Official USSF Referee Shorts. Updated: March 16th, 2007
Primary Color of Official USSF Referee Shirts for SYA Referees is gold/black striped. The first alternate color is black/grey striped, second alternate color is red, and third alternate color is blue. ALL referees that work for SYA recreational games of U9 through U14 are required to have both the primary gold/black striped and 1st alternate black/grey striped referee shirts. The red-black striped shirt is highly recommended for U14 recreational games, and is a requirement for referee crews working for Suburban Friendship League Games and all travel games.
NOTE 1: All referees that work travel and tournament games are required to the 3 referee shirts: gold/black, black/grey, and red/black striped referee shirts. The blue-black and green-striped referee shirt, which are the third and fourth alternate shirts, are required for State Cup and other higher-levels of competitive games and tournaments.
NOTE 2: Referees are required to have the required colors Referee Shirts so that all members of the referee crew can be dressed in the same color for resolving color conflicts when one team’s jersey color conflicts with the referee’s shirt color and with matching short or long-sleeve lengths ( NOTE: Referees always wear the referee shirts in this order: gold, black, red, and blue as required by USSF. Referees do not wear player’s shirt pennies over their USSF Official Uniforms.
b. Solid Black USSF Referee Shorts are required – NO OTHER STYLES OF BLACK SHORTS - NO DESIGNS OR WRITINGS! NO EXCEPTIONS – ANY AND ALL FASHION STATEMENTS ARE PROHIBITED, AND FINES WILL BE IMPOSED FOR VIOLATIONS.
c. Official Referee Socks are solid black with 3 white stripes at the top. It is recommended that each Referee have an extra pair of Official Referee Socks with them in case of inclement weather. Referees may find it more comfortable to wear an extra pair of socks under the referee socks to promote additional foot padding.
d. You shall be certified with the appropriate year’s USSF Referee Badge, and it must be attached to your Official USSF Referee Shirt. The Badge can be attached with the Velcro referee disc, which is available from stores selling USSF uniforms, equipment, and accessories. The badge is to be attached by Velcro, sown, or pinned provided no safety pins are visible, as well as no sewing stitches are visible.
e. Solid Black Referee Shoes – acceptable shoes are referee shoes, tennis shoes, or soccer cleats (no metal, aluminum, or steel), or solid black tennis shoes. (Note: Shoes need to be 99.9% black with a non-prominent colored stripe or design. This means that brightly colored shoes with just a black sole do not fit the requirement of black shoes. Also, please remember that shoes need to be clean, in good condition, and free from debris. (NOTE: Please remember soccer cleats are not comfortable when wearing them for working several games).
f. For cold soccer days of refereeing, referees may wear solid black nylon wind pants, solid black turtleneck or solid black sweatshirt underneath your Official Referee Shirt, solid black gloves, and solid black hat for SYA Recreational Soccer Games. (NOTE: Any tee shirt or other clothing worn underneath the Official USSF Referee Uniform shall be SOLID BLACK with no logos, no designs, no writings, and no decorations). (Updated: September 21st, 2006).
Everyone’s cooperation is requested for wearing the long-sleeved Official USSF Referee Shirts beginning their second season when the weather is cooler and not a black long-sleeve shirt. The long-sleeved Official USSF Referee Shirts are excellent gift items for referees as they keep their uniforms up-to-date. All referee items are tax deductible as explained in the information booklet entitled “The Soccer Referee and Your Tax Return” that is provided to you in February of each calendar year.
g. You and your Official USSF Soccer Referee Uniform shall be visible at all times and you must look professional with your referee uniform at all times. (Wearing different colored jackets and pants with your referee uniform will prevent you from being clearly distinguishable as an Assistant Referee, will create an unfavorable impression for you as you will not look like a referee, and will hinder the Center Referee from clearly seeing your flag’s signals). Fines and penalties will be imposed for these violations.
h. If you need to wear a hat during hot or cold weather for medical reasons, it shall be solid black, baseball-style cap with no writings or logo—and shall be worn with the brim facing forward.
2. USSF Soccer Referee Starter Kits Information shows the Official USSF Referee Uniform and Equipment. SPECIAL NOTES: The required black wrist watch with stopwatch features, flipping coin, and black shoes ARE NOT INCLUDED in any of these USSF Official Referee Starter Kits BUT ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE REQUIRED UNIFORM and EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS.
A detailed SYA Referee Uniform and Equipment brochure is listed as a separate item, and can be purchased through your choice of local or online soccer vendors for Official United States Soccer Federation (USSF) uniform and equipments for both the beginning and continuing soccer referee for their required officiating uniforms and equipment work requirements.
