To Serve The Game

Most Frequently asked questions:

From time to time we are asked why can’t you accept referee reports online, or use copies of those submitted on assigning sites.

Often, this is accompanied by: “like the OYSA” or some other soccer organization.

OASA requires the referee report (which can come from one of the assignment sites as long as it provides us the information we need) and ROSTERS for each team.

The reason we need the rosters and other soccer organizations do not, has to do with the way OASA registers players – most soccer organizations, including OYSA, link a player to a team, thus TOM SMITH is registered to, and can only play for TEAM A.

So, on any given day TEAM A consists of the (usually 18 or less) players register to that team, and TOM SMITH can only play for TEAM A. For legal and insurance purposes you can assume that if TOM SMITH played on that date he played for TEAM A.

For reasons we won’t go into here, OASA does not register players to teams, we have over 6,000 registered players and any one of them could (given age, gender and certain other criteria) play on any one of our over 400 teams on any given day. OASA also does not limit the number of players on a roster (although some leagues do).

The only way we can determine who played on a given team on a given day is to have the teams provide rosters to the referee and to have the referee provide those rosters along with the game report to OASA. We need them to come in together so we can match them up. It is very important that players who were present are identified.

We continue to explore ideas to allow online referee reports, but the stumbling block is the need for rosters. We are not interested in changing our player registration system, but if you have other ideas about how OASA could allow online referee reports (and get the information we need, including a list of who played in a game) please contact our office.

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Why do I have to submit a W-9 form for Leagues or Tournaments:

The government has clamped down on reporting requirements for subcontractors of businesses and no-profit organizations. There are fines issued for non-compliance with the reporting requirements. As a consequence, the Leagues and Tournaments you referee for require you to submit an IRS form W-9 before they will pay you for your services.

For your convenience, I have posted a PDF file of an IRS form W-9 on the website.

It is your responsibility to make sure each league has a current IRS form W-9 for you.

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Why can’t I get games when I request them:

In an attempt to help you to understand why you might or might not get as many games as you would like, I have provided you with the six criteria that I use to make these weekly decisions.

1) Ability –– Are you capable of handling a match at a given level? Your experience will quite often be a key factor here.

2) Availability –– I give priority for weekday shifts to those people who are available on weekends.

3) Reliability –– What is your track record? Are you always on time? Do you ever forget to show up? If I cannot count on you then don’t expect too many assignments.

4) Loyalty –– I understand that most referees work various leagues throughout the year, but if indoor is a low priority for you, then you will be a lower priority to me.

5) Acceptability - How both the players and facility management perceive your ability must be a consideration here. Do you have a good rapport with the players? Are you aware that each facility’s management, for any of a number of reasons, has asked me not to schedule certain referees? This makes it more difficult to give you games as a result.

6) Seniority - How long have you been refereeing Indoor, certain referees have been doing games in certain facilities

for many years, experience goes a long way.

The bottom line is this –– there are many factors that go into assigning games each week. I suggest you think about why you might not be getting the number of assignments you might like before bothering me with your complaints. The answer probably lays somewhere in those six factors listed above.

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What happens if I fail to show up to my assigned games.

Effective immediately, the following policies will be implemented. This is being done to ensure that all soccer matches have referees and that there is no miscommunication between you and your assignor.

If you are assigned to a game, you cannot cancel or change your assignment less than 5 day's prior to kickoff for an outdoor game, and not less than 5 day's for an indoor game.

You will be notified by your assignor via phone and email of any changes in your assignments less than 24 hours prior to kickoff of your outdoor games and less than 24 hours prior to your indoor games. Any changes made to your schedule prior to that time frame is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. In other words, check the web site regularly to ensure that your schedule is what you think it is, If you check the web site on the day of your game there should be NO confusion at all has to what time and place you are assigned too.

If you fail to referee any of your games for which you are assigned, you will be fined an amount equal to that which you would have been paid for the games you should have worked. In addition, you can expect to be suspended from receiving game assignments.

Unfortunately, these strict measures are necessary to ensure that each one of you understand the responsibility you have accepted by your affiliation with GPSD, NUWS, Northwest Indoor Soccer facilities, and any other league for which I assign games. Several of you have recently been negligent in this regard and this irresponsibility must come to an end.

And if for any reason a game for which you have been scheduled is not played and you have not been given proper notice, you can expect to receive full compensation for your outdoor games and at least $10/game to be provided by the indoor facility at which you were scheduled unless it is the last game of your assigned block in this case simply go home.

Bad Weather Conditions:

If the weather becomes bad i.e. Snow or Icy conditions, I will post all Facility cancellations on the web site the day of the closures so once again LOOK AT THE WEB SITE on the day of your assigned games

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How do I deal with angry players

One of the most difficult things for beginning referees (and for any referee, for that matter) is learning how to handle criticism and angry players, and just how much of it to “take.”

There are always going to be players who disagree with a call you make, or don’t make. Sometimes, they’ll voice a quick opinion, or vent for a moment, and you should be able to handle an objection, even if it’s strenuously made, even if it might include a bit of profanity, as long as it’s brief. However, there are some players who will continue to yell/scream/object with you, and will continue to berate you. You should not let these players continue to harp at you. It’s your responsibility to yourself, the other players, and the playing environment of the game to stop these actions and objections from continuing.

In most cases, a simple, quick, and direct statement like (“That’s enough”; “I don’t want to hear any more from you”; “We’re done”, etc), or use body language that make it clear that you’re not inviting a conversation because at this point you’re beyond that, As soon as you’re done, try to move physically away from the player and make it very clear that he/she is not to follow this should be sufficient to take care of the situation. Don’t make your statement a threat to the player; i.e. “If you don’t shut up, I’m going to card you”, because now you’re issuing a challenge. Most players are experienced enough (and sane enough human beings) that they’ll get the picture, and get back to playing.

That being said, there are some who still lack the maturity to restrain themselves, or else they’ll blow up immediately and go WAY over the line with regard to how they conduct themselves. Be proactive here, and issue those players an administrative blue card. When you do so, don’t confront the player, don’t say anything to them (such as “I warned you if....:”), and keep your composure so that you don’t appear to be vindictive. Blow your whistle, and calmly show the player the blue card from a reasonable distance, not in the player’s face. Be businesslike, but at the same time almost nonchalant, so that the air you silently and non-verbally reflect to the other players is that of “You know, I don’t want to do this, but he/she wouldn’t drop it, and left me no other choice.” Don’t let your face show anger toward the player, but that of resignation that someone was immature enough to cause the awarding of the blue card to happen.

Be sure to remind the carded player’s teammates that the administrative blue is a full two-minute penalty for the player in question, once a goal is scored the power play is over, but the player who was carded cannot return until the full two minutes has passed. Peer pressure can be a wonderful ally for you in this situation. You’ll be surprised how often the out-of-control player’s teammates can’t stand his or her behavior either, and will support your actions. They don’t want out-of-control people” spoiling their playing experience, either. One blue card should take care of the player who can’t control himself--but be prepared to take further action if needed, and most of all, keep your cool.