Job Description of a Soccer Referee
As with many sports, soccer requires the presence of game time officials to ensure that all rules of the game are followed. In professional soccer, the referees are positioned throughout the field as well as on the sidelines. Referees enforce rules that players on the field and managers and players on the substitute benches must abide by. Soccer referees have a plethora of duties during a game, some of which may not be as well-known as others.
Other People Are Reading
-
Authority
-
Referees have a great deal of authority during a soccer game, most notably to ensure all the game actions---such as fouls, offsides, goals and other movements---are officially noted during game play. Referees also have the power to eject players from the game if they deem necessary. This also includes injured players, who may be asked to leave the field of play if they are delaying the game. In rare circumstances, according to International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), the referees have the power to "suspend the game" if there is any danger posed, such as fan interaction or inclement weather.
Responsibility
-
Soccer referees are the official time keepers of the match. Upon kickoff, the referee must keep track of the time played and any additional time that must be added to the end of the each half due to prolonged game stoppages. Referees are also required to ensure there are no ineligible players on the field.
-
Subsequent Actions
-
After every game, a soccer referee must submit a report of the match to the proper authority, who then publishes details of the event. Such details usually include goals, bookings, fouls and/or other infringements. According to FIFA, referees have also been known to note other arbitrary incidents, such as debris thrown at players from opposing fans or inappropriate chants from the stands. A referee's post game report may result in consequential punishments of players, teams or coaches, and is therefore crucial.
Fitness
-
Many spectators might not expect fitness to be a part of a referee's job description. Because running is such a fundamental part of soccer, though, officials must be able to keep up with world class athletes. FIFA has set guidelines in regards to what is expected of a professional referee. A potential referee's sprinting speed, as well as distance running with limited recovery time, is included in referee athletic tests. If someone cannot pass the fitness test, FIFA will not allow him to referee. The requirements for each category vary based on sex and rank. Men, women, assistant referees and main referees have various minimums they must meet.
Background
-
To be a soccer referee, individuals should have a firm grasp of the game and its rules and laws. FIFA, along with the International Football Association Board (IFAB) has set forth the laws of the game of soccer. Considered to be a somewhat conservative society, IFAB has been implementing the rules---and allowing conservative interpretation of them---since the 19th century. The board oversees all changes made to the rule books, and referees must keep up-to-date with such rules. Referees should be familiar with the rule book in regards to all match-related circumstances, including the most random and unanticipated.
-
References
- Photo Credit Referee"s Feet on the Field image by Scott Griessel from Fotolia.com
