Updated 10/19/07. If you know of any publications or online references that would be good to include here, please feel free to send your suggestions to:
sysa_refcorner@verizon.net. --Mitch
ONLINE RESOURCES
Ask a Referee: Is there a question about the Laws of the Game that you just can’t get an answer to? Or, would you like the challenge of taking the ultimate referee quiz? Either way, here’s where to go. Hosted by ussoccer.com, Ask a Referee has been answering LOTG puzzlers since 2003 -- and has a complete archive. Go to Ask a Referee.
AskTheRef.Com: This website was founded by a soccer enthusiast, and "is designed to provide fun and UNOFFICIAL advice" to the coaches, players and the player’s parents -- although refs will find it a fun resource as well. A great resource for new refs who find USSF’s definitive "Ask a Referee" too rigid and... snooty. What I like about this site is that it gives a lot of practical advice and guidance for many common situations in which you, the ref, will likely find yourself. So go check out AskTheRef.Com.
My Referee: "My Referee" is a feature of TheArbiter.net, providing back issue content from Referee Magazine. According to their website, "MyReferee... gives sports officials the chance to access content customized to their needs, courtesy of two officiating industry leaders — Referee magazine and TheArbiter.net. Along with relevant articles selected by sport, MyReferee includes a searchable database containing Referee magazine articles." Best of all, IT’S FREE! Register through the Referee Magazine website. (As always, refs under 18 should first check with their parents before providing their name and email information over the web.)
BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game: For those of us who find the slim FIFA Laws of the Game lacking (and perhaps a little vague), this USSF publication is a must. It fills in many of the gaps left unexplored by the FIFA book, clarifies a lot of gray areas, and contains a ton of great advice. You can download it from the US Soccer web site FOR FREE (click here for the PDF), or you can purchase the more portable hard copy version online at the US Soccer Store.
Referee Magazine: This monthly magazine covers officiating for a number of sports. Although the soccer section may be only a few pages long, it covers a lot of ground with caseplays, quick tips, quizes, etc. It also addresses high school and NCAA variants to the FIFA laws. The subscription is a bit pricey however. If you don’t mind the additional cost, you can upgrade to NASO (National Association of Sports Officials) membership which includes additional benefits. Their website will give you a good idea of what the magazine is like, as well as what other products and publications they offer.
Check out Referee.com here. (Back issue content is available through My Referee, described above.)
For the Good of the Game by Robert Evans and Edward Bellion. This is my favorite book about the art of refereeing. The authors referee’d in the old NASL (remember the NY Cosmos?) The combination of practical, common-sense advice with loads of entertaining anecdotes makes this a fun read. You’ll walk away inspired and with a new perspective on game management. I can’t say enough about this book. It’s a bit hard to find though; you won’t find it new on Amazon. Search the web for the following:
"For the good of the game" soccer and you’ll find some stores that carry it. (You can also try
www.reedswain.com.)
