These Policies and Guidelines outline the principles, standards, and procedures governing the professional practices, assignment processes, and conduct of officials within the South Coast Referee Association (SCRA).

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1. MATCH CONDUCT

a. All matches assigned by this Association shall be conducted using the diagonal

system of control.

 

b. In case a member assigned as the referee does not show up in time for his/her match,

the following procedures shall be followed:

i. If neither assigned Assistant Referee is qualified as defined by USSF to referee

the match, the match shall NOT be conducted.

ii. If one of the assigned Assistant Referees is rated to referee the same match

level, they will assume the responsibilities of the referee and conduct the match,

utilizing a club linesman on the other line when appropriate, thereby adhering

to the diagonal system.

iii. The absent referee may face a fine of up to but not exceeding the total match

fee. If the members who attended were not compensated on the field or paid

for the game in another manner, the fine will be allocated to pay those

members. Otherwise, the proceeds will be directed into the Association’s

treasury.

iv. Assistant Referees are to allow the same 15-minute grace period for tardy

officials that they are required to do for tardy teams. This can be overridden by

the assigner for the game.

c. In case a member assigned as an Assistant Referee does not show up in time for

his match, the following procedures are to be followed:

i. The referee will conduct the match utilizing a club linesman when appropriate

in the place of the absent member.

ii. Referees are encouraged to allow the 15-minute grace period for tardiness

before starting the match.

iii. The referee shall receive 60% and the single Assistant Referee shall receive

40% of the fee collected based on the published fee schedule.

d. Referees need to be at the field at least 30 minutes before match time unless

instructed otherwise. Referees who arrive late may be subject to fines and

penalties as determined by the Board of Directors.

 

2. FEE COLLECTION

The following are SCRA procedures for the collection of officiating fees:

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a. League fees received for matches shall be paid in cash and collected before the start of the match. It is your responsibility to review and understand each league guideline for how payments are to be collected.

b. For a three-person Referee team, non-tournament match fees are distributed with

the referee getting 40% and the assistant referees dividing the balance in half. A

fee schedule will be distributed yearly with specific pay rates for the 3-person, 2-

person, and 1-person Referee assignments based on match length/player age.

c. Tournament fees received for matches shall be paid following the agreed-upon

contract price negotiated between the Association and the Tournament being

supported.

d. If the match is canceled due to weather before the start of the second half, the

fees collected shall be returned to the teams. In all other cases resulting in a

cancellation, no fee, or part of a fee shall be returned.

e. In cases where matches are not played because a team or teams did not show up,

Field(s) are not available for scheduled matches, Each shall notify the Assignor and

the Treasurer within seven (7) days of the scheduled match. These claims will be

discussed at the next regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting and approved

payments will be made within seven (7) days from that meeting.

f. A schedule of fees from the leagues serviced by this Association will be published.

 

3. REFEREE MATCH ASSIGNMENT POLICY

a. It is the practice of SCRA to provide quality referees to all requesting organizations

utilizing the best-qualified officials for the match assigned. All matches will be

assigned with a team of officials selected based on ability, availability, and

perceived match difficulty.

b. SCRA intends to assign officials at a level commensurate with their proven abilities.

It is suggested that assignments to higher-level matches will only occur after a

referee has demonstrated match control and appropriate fouls and misconduct

recognition at a lower level.

c. Assignment of officials will be rotated from field to field, week to week based upon

availability and demonstrated skill level.

i. Officials will not be assigned to the same team on a routine basis. All attempts

will be made to avoid assignments that give the perception of favoritism or

where there have been significant referee/coach/team interactions.

ii. All referees who accept assignments from Associations other than SCRA shall

notify the Director of the Assignment or the Assignor as soon as possible to

preclude assignment conflicts and degradation of performance.

d. Officials should not be assigned to officiate a match when a member of their

immediate family is playing in that gaming circuit.

e. In tournament matches, referee game assignments for the quarter-final, semifinal,

and final games should go, wherever possible, to those referees who have worked

the tournament and whose performance has been acceptable.

f. Assignments shall be made within ten (10) days of receipt of the match schedule,

but not less than 72 hours before the match whenever possible.

g. It shall be the responsibility of the official to notify the Director of the Assignment

or the Assignor if a game assignment cannot be made. If a conflict occurs within

twenty-four (24) hours of kick-off time and the Director of Assignment cannot be

reached, the referee should make every attempt to find a qualified replacement in

addition to notifying the Director of Assignment.

h. The Director of Assignment shall use current USSF ratings in making appropriate

game assignments.

i. Upon direction from the Board of Directors, the Director of Assignment shall not

assign a referee if there has been a breach of the Referee Code of Ethics.

j. Referee assignment complaints should be made in writing to the Secretary. Written

complaints shall be presented to the Board of Directors for appropriate response

and action. Verbal complaints may be presented to the Board of Directors by any

member referee at any regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting.

k. The Director of Assignment shall coordinate with the Director of Referee

Development in assigning the appropriate level of games to those referees desiring

a field evaluation or assessment for upgrade purposes.

 

 

4. FIELD PLAYABILITY

a. The referee has sole responsibility for the playability of the field.

b. If a referee cancels a game because, in his opinion, the field is not playable, that

decision pertains only to that specific game. Referees assigned to any subsequent

games on that field have the responsibility of making that determination at the

scheduled game time.

c. It is the responsibility of the Assistant Referee to be available as scheduled for any

subsequent games unless the referee has excused them.

 

 

5. TOURNAMENT ACCEPTANCE RULES

a. A written request for tournament officials is to be submitted to the SCRA Board of

Directors at least sixty (60) days before the first playing date. This request, at a

minimum, should contain the following information:

i. Name and dates of the tournament

ii. Number of games by age category for each date

iii. Playing minutes per half for each age category

iv. Rules of competition to be used.

b. The fees for the officials will be based upon the fee schedule in effect on the dates of

the tournament or as agreed upon by the SCRA Board of Directors.

c. In addition to the fees for the officials, SCRA will charge a fee to cover administration

expenses. This fee shall be negotiated, but it shall not be less than the actual cost to

the Association.d. A minimum deposit of 75% of the officials’ fees and the total administrative fee is to be

submitted, by certified check, or money order, to the SCRA Treasurer at least fourteen

(14) calendar days before the first game date of the tournament.

e. The balance of the fees are to be submitted by the end of the last playing date of the

tournament.

f. The game assignment schedule (field/age categories/playing time) is to be submitted

to the SCRA Director of Assignment at least fourteen (14) calendar days before the first

game date of the tournament.

 

 

6. Dress

The official dress for SCRA members while officiating matches shall be as specified by USSF.

Pants or sweatpants are not permitted for referees or assistant referees while officiating a USSF match.

No exceptions will be allowed.

 

 

7. General Rules for Referees

a. To be in good standing a member shall:

i. Pay all money due to the Association in accordance with the requirements to maintain

voting member status as defined in Article 1, Section A herein. Failure to comply with

this provision shall be sufficient cause to remove the member’s name from the active

rolls and suspend said individual’s rights of membership in this Association until such

time as the individual makes restitution to the Association, including all reinstatement

fees. The Board of Directors shall be authorized to require a performance deposit from

any member who has been delinquent more than once.

ii. Respect and obey any and all decisions made by the Association.

iii. Attend all meetings for which they received notice.

iv. Participate in the affairs of the Association.

b. For a member to be declared not in good standing, a hearing shall be conducted following

By Law Article 9, Section A.

c. Any investigations shall be handled by the Investigation and Disciplinary Committee as

outlined in the Inquiry & Disciplinary Committee manual, which will be made available to

the membership.

d. No member shall be allowed to change his assignment. Realignment of responsibilities as a

result of one or more officials not appearing for a match or becoming incapacitated during a

match shall not be considered an assignment for purposes of this paragraph, provided it be

under the SCRA Board of Directors procedures.

e. No member shall be allowed to request or accept any assignments to any game or games

in which he has a conflict of interest.

f. No member, except the Director of Assignment, shall assign himself. No member shall

interfere with official assignments approved by the State or this Association.

g. As a matter of courtesy, members shall provide copies of any correspondence addressed to

the governing bodies of soccer (local, state, federal, or international) or any other soccer

organization that may reflect upon or affect the reputation or business of this Association.

h. A member officiating in a game wherein a player has been cautioned or ejected for

misconduct shall make his report by the rules of that league. In addition, when a player has

been ordered from the field for misconduct, a copy of the report shall be delivered to the

President and Assignor of this Association within forty-eight (48) hours. In addition, when a

referee has been assaulted, a telephone call or other immediate form of communication shall

be made to the President of this Association, and a copy of the report shall be mailed to the

appropriate Association within the stipulated time.

i. A member, when assigned to a game, shall be on the playing field before the official game

time for the start of the game by a time determined by the governing Association.

j. Any member who is unable to fulfill his assignment shall notify the Director of Assignment or

Assignor for the match as soon as possible and may be subject to penalty if no notification

is given.

k. To be eligible for USSF game assignments, members must be currently registered with

USSF.

l. Availability for game assignments shall be maintained at all times. If games are assigned in

compliance with the Referee’s latest stated availability, but the Referee declines the

assignments, the Referee may be subject to fines and penalties.

 

 

8. CRITERIA TO BE USED IN THE ASSIGNMENT OF REFEREES (IN ORDER OF

IMPORTANCE)

a. Availability and dependability

b. Proven proficiency in Officiating (e.g., USSF Badge level, experience & fitness)

c. Provides complete and timely game reports

d. Attendance at meetings

e. Professional conduct (Refer to SCRA Referee Code of Conduct & USSF Referee Code of Ethics)