Question Number: 23049

Law 5 - The Referee 4/1/2010

RE: Adult

RAUL of Seattle, WA USA asks...

Where, I can find information about the referee Uniforms mean the properly way to dress up for a game?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Raul
The advice can be viewed here

http://www.ussoccer.com/Referees/Referee-Development/Instructional-Materials.aspx

Click to download on "Referee Administrative Handbook, 2009-10 Edition"
Page 37
I came across this on the USSG website
" The uniform sold by Official Sports International (OSI) is the official uniform for referees affiliated with the U. S. Soccer Federation. The standards for that uniform were established by the USSF Board of Directors and may not be changed by anyone else. The design sold by OSI must be worn to all games and tournaments affiliated with the Federation. If referees find another uniform that meets the same design standard, they may wear that uniform for their lower-level games. Unless the Adidas uniform meets those standards, it may not be worn for any affiliated games.

See the USSF Referee Administrative Handbook for a description and pictures of the only approved uniforms:
Standards of Dress and Appearance
Official U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Uniform
Official Sports International (OSI) is the official supplier of referee uniforms to U.S. Soccer.
GOLD SHIRT: with black pinstripes (long or short sleeve)
ONE BADGE ONLY: U.S. SOCCER FEDERATION - WITH CURRENT YEAR (Securely fastened to shirt over left chest. The badge should be for the highest grade for which the referee is currently qualified)
BLACK COLLAR
BLACK CUFF: (on long sleeve shirt only) (no cuffs on short sleeves)
BLACK SHORTS: Bottom edge of shorts not less than 3 nor more than 7 inches above the top of the knee- cap.
BLACK SOCKS: with Federation referee crest
BLACK SHOES: (may have white manufacturers design) with black laces
Alternate Referee Uniforms
The following four shirts have been approved by the Federation as alternates that can be worn in case of color conflict. There is no order of preference among the alternate jerseys. The other parts of the referee uniform (shorts, socks, shoes) do not change if the referee wears an alternate shirt.
BLACK SHIRT with, BLACK COLLAR, and BLACK CUFFS (on long sleeve shirts only). RED SHIRT with, BLACK COLLAR, and BLACK CUFFS (on long sleeve shirts only). BLUE SHIRT with, BLACK COLLAR, and BLACK CUFFS (on long sleeve shirts only). GREEN SHIRT with, BLACK COLLAR, and BLACK CUFFS (on long sleeve shirts only).
Logos, Emblems and Badges: Only manufacturer's logos and U.S. Soccer approved badges and/or emblems may be visible on the referee uniform.

Note: Older versions of the OSI uniform may be worn until they need to be replaced. ""

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

USSF also has produced a document 'Information For New Referees' that discusses the issue:

'Dress and Act Professional:
? If you expect to command respect (one element of game control) on the field, then you must look and act like a professional.
? Approach the game in a way that shows you are looking forward to being there and being a part of the game.
? Dress for success ‐ wear the proper USSF uniform with your referee jersey tucked in and your socks pulled up. Wear the uniform properly any time you can still be seen by the players, coaches, and spectators.

Take Charge:
? Taking charge does not mean yelling and acting like a dictator. This only encourages people to yell back at you.
? Greet each coach with a firm handshake, a smile and look each coach in the eyes.
? Use common courtesy‐ "Thank you", "Please", "Sir", "Ma'am" will do wonders to get respect
? Issue firm, simple instructions to the players so they know you are capable of managing the game.
? Start the game on time.

What You Need to Have:

? An approved USSF referee uniform. The gold shirt is the most often
used referee shirt jersey color for referees so it should be the one jersey you purchase right away. If you are only getting one jersey, then (depending on your climate) you should probably buy the short sleeved one. You can add the long sleeve jersey later after. Once you have more game experience, you should add one of the alternate color jerseys. You do not need to buy all the different colored jerseys right away. However, if you advance as a referee, then you will need to add the alternate colors over the next few years.

? Solid black referee shorts or black shorts with the USSF Referee logo on the leg.

? Black socks with either three white stripes or the USSF logo at the top. Socks should always be pulled up to your knees. Pulling the

? Solid black shoes ? a brand logo is OK, preferably only white, but no other colors or decorations ? you will be spending a lot of time in your referee shoes so make sure they are very comfortable (and keep them cleaned as much as possible).

? Your current year USSF badge on the left shirt pocket of your jersey.

o A watch with stopwatch functions ? two watches are preferred, one for starting and stopping and one for keeping a running time in case you forget to start or restart the first one . '

o Pens/pencils
o Notebook
o Red and yellow cards
o Tossing coins
o Whistles ? always have an extra in your bag
o Flags for the Assistant Referees or Club Linesmen (if you are working alone)
o Cold weather gear when the time of year makes it necessary
o Street shoes and dry socks
o A large plastic trash bag (to put your ref bag inside in case of rain)
o Sunscreen
o Snacks (energy bars are great!) if you are going to be doing more than one game

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

From Advice to Referees from USSF:

5.1 REFEREE UNIFORM
Referees may wear only the gold primary jersey or the black, blue, red, or green alternate jerseys, and
may wear only the approved socks. (The term 'primary jersey' means only that this is the color all
referees must have. It does not mean that the gold jersey must be worn in preference to other colors.)
No other colors will be worn without express permission of the USSF. If the uniform colors worn by a
goalkeeper and the referee or by a team (or both teams) and the referee are similar enough to invite
confusion, the goalkeeper or the team(s) must change to different colors. Only if there is no way to
resolve the color similarity must the referee (and the assistant referees) wear the colors that conflict
least with the players. Referees and assistant referees must wear the same color jerseys and the same
style of socks, and all should wear the same length sleeves. The referee uniform does not include a hat,
cap, or other head covering, with the sole exception of required religious head covering. Referees must
wear the badge of the current registration year.
Referees should select their shoes with an eye for both utility and appearance. Referees have to run on
the field with at least as much speed and agility as do the players, so the shoes should enable them to do
this under all field conditions. Players, team officials, and spectators often make initial judgments
about the skills and knowledge of the referee based on appearance, and shoes can contribute
significantly toward building that reserve of confidence. It is also occasionally important that players,
who are frequently looking down at the ground, be able to identify the referee quickly by differences in
the shoes. Accordingly, the referee's shoes should be predominantly black, clean, polished, and neatly
tied.
Under normal circumstances, it is not acceptable for a game official to wear headgear, and it would
never be seen on a high-level regional, national or international competition. However, there may be
rare circumstances in local competitions where head protection or sun visors might sensibly be tolerated
for the good of the game, e. g., early morning or late afternoon games with sun in the officials' line of
sight causing vision difficulties; understaffed situations where an official with sensitive skin might be
pressed into service for multiple games under strong sunlight, or a referee who wears glasses needing
shielding from rain. Sunglasses would be subject to the same considerations. In addition, we ask
referees to remember that sunglasses have the unfortunate side effect of suggesting that the referee or
assistant referee is severely visually impaired and should not be working the game. They also limit
communication between the officials and the players by providing a barrier against eye-to-eye contact.
Sunglasses, if worn, should be removed prior to any verbal communication with players.