Referee Roles and Responsibilities

A two-man system will be used for all games, regardless of age. The authority and exercise of the powers granted to referees by the official rule book commence when they enter the field of play. The referees are responsible for the record of the game and the control of timekeeping.

The referees’ power of penalizing extends to offenses committed when play has been temporarily suspended or when the ball is out of play. These decisions shall be final, as far as the game is concerned. The referee has the following responsibilities:

1. Enforce the rules of the game.
2. Advantage: Refrain from penalizing a team in cases where the referee is satisfied that, by administering a penalty, they would give and advantage to the offending team.
3. Discretionary Power: The referee has the discretionary power to suspend the game for any serious infringement of the rules, interference by spectators or other causes.
4. Illegal Entry: Allow no person, other than players, coaches, assistant referee, and medical trainer (if necessary) to enter the field of play or team benches without permission.
5. Injury Stoppage: Stop the game if a player has been injured, have the player removed from the field as safely and quickly as possible, and resume the game. Ball possession returns to the team in possession at the time of the stoppage.
6. Non-Player Discipline: Administer appropriate penalties to coaches or non-playing team personnel if necessary.
7. Oversee the goal totals and report the game results to Headquarters.