Question Number: 33979

Other 8/27/2020

RE: Youth Rec Under 13

Dave Kumlin of LUNENBURG, MA US asks...

Covid & Unaffiliated Games Question...
My small town has decided not to participate in league play this fall. Opting instead, to have all their age groups play in-town games against each other. If our teams are playing these in-town games scheduled by our town soccer association... does this make them USSoccer affiliated games? Would they be games in which our referees are covered by their USSoccer member insurance or are these really just scrimmages/ informal games that referees should stay away from? Bottom line, what makes a game be USSoccer affiliated? And if referees are asked to work games, how can they find out or know that they are, in fact, USSoccer affiliated?
Thanks,
Dave Kumlin

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dave
We live in challenging times.
As a general rule games that are not affiliated to a particular League are not recognised by the governing body. In essence they are scrimmage / training games.
In this part of the world we ask that referees only referee games that are sanctioned by a League and those do include sanctioned pre season friendlies. There are games and competitions that take place outside of that and referees do those at their own risk relying on their own personal insurance and insurance of the field that the games are being played on.
For instance some clubs run non affiliated tournaments as fund raisers. Those are not covered by the Governing body’s insurance or protection yet simply private events at a local level. Parks and clubs need to ensure that any insurance that they have offers protection for non affiliated games. Perhaps they can be designated *training games* which many use them for that purpose.
Now I know many referees take the risk of officiating these non affiliated games and thankfully that has never caused any problems for them. They are there though as just private citizen in the same way as any privately organised scrimmage or kick about Game. Any issues in those games cannot be directed to a League or a governing body and must rest with the organisers as a private matter. Referees have no governing body protection in such games. If someone is happy to use a whistle in such situations then that is a personal matter for them.

Answer provided by Referee MrRef

Hi Dave,
I suggest inquiring with your local USSF or AYSO state officials.
https://www.massref.net/
they have extensive contact and advisory circulars.
from our pitch to your pitch in the spirit of fair play