A referee needs to be dress appropriately and have all the equipment necessary to perform the job. A referee needs a shirt, shorts, socks, shoes, whistle, watch, and paper and pencil at a minimum. They should also carry red and yellow cards and possibly a coin. If the center referee is expecting assistant referees, then the center referee also needs flags for the assistant referees.
Shirt - You need a Black or Yellow tee-shirt as a minimum. (Since Lake Hills colors are Yellow and Blue, if you plan to referee Lake Hill's games, you should have a Black tee-shirt.) It would be nice if you had a Yellow or Black referee shirt, but it's not required. It is required that you tuck your shirt into your shorts or sweatpants. You may wear Under Armour-type shirts under your referee shirt.
Shorts - You need either black shorts or black sweatpants.
Shoes - You need shoes that are safe to run on grass. Black soccer cleats are preferred.
Socks - If you are wearing shorts, you must wear black soccer socks. Sweatpants will cover your socks, so there are no requirements if you are wearing sweatpants.
Watch - You are required to have a watch (not a kitchen timer or cell phone or iPod, etc). The watch needs to have a timer that can be started and reset.
Whistle, paper and pencil are self-explanatory and required.
Red and yellow cards are needed for U10+ games to help you control the game. For U08 and U09, you should be able to use your whistle and talk to the kids and/or coaches without the need for cards.
Coin is optional. If you don't have a coin to decide who receives the kick-off, then use your fingers. Put either 1 or 2 fingers behind your back and show the home team. Let the visitors choose between 1 and 2. If the guess right, they get to receive and choose the end to attack, otherwise they kick off.
The requirements are higher for games outside of U08-U12 recreational games.
Shirt - You are required to have at least a Yellow referee shirt. It would be nice if you had a Black shirt as well. (Since Lake Hills colors are Yellow and Blue, if you plan to referee Lake Hill's games, you should have a Black referee shirt.) It is required that you tuck your shirt into your shorts. You may wear Under Armour-type shirts under your referee shirt.
Shorts - You are required to have black shorts. On cold days the center referee may allow the referee crew to put sweatpants over their shorts.Shoes - You are required to have black soccer cleats (or turf shoes).
Socks - You are required to have black referee socks. Referee socks have 3 white lines at the top.
Watch - If you are a center referee, you are required to have a watch (not a kitchen timer or cell phone or iPod, etc). The watch needs to have a timer that can be started and reset. Assistant referees should have a watch, but it's not required.
Whistle - If you are a center referee, you are required to have a whistle.
Paper and pencil - You are required to have paper and pencil.
Flags - If you are a center referee who is expecting assistant referees at your game, you are required to have 2 referee flags for the assistant referees.
Red and Yellow Cards - If you are a center referee, you are required to have a Red and a Yellow card.
Coin is optional. If you don't have a coin to decide who receives the kick-off, then use your fingers. Put either 1 or 2 fingers behind your back and show the home team. Let the visitors choose between 1 and 2. If the guess right, they get to receive, otherwise they get to choose the end to attack.
Last Updated March 9, 2014