The International Football Association Board, or FIFA, provides detailed guidelines for referees in its official rulebook, referred to as the "Laws of the Game." These guidelines provide instructions for the primary and assistant referees. Learning these rules will help you understand referees' calls and actions during soccer matches.
Whistle
The referee should only use the whistle for the specific purposes described in the FIFA guidelines. The referee should blow whistle to indicate the start of the first and second halves of the match, to indicate that a team has scored a goal, to stop play for a free kick or penalty kick, to suspend the match, to signal the end of time for a half or to restart play after a yellow card, red card, injury or substitution.
Hand Signals
The referee makes certain specific hand signals to indicate rulings. To signal advantage to one team, she extends both arms toward that team. To indicate a direct free kick, he extends one slightly raised arm toward the team earning the kick. To indicate an indirect free kick, she raises one arm vertically toward the team earning the kick. To indicate a yellow or red card, he holds the card in the air.
Position
The referee and lead assistant referee should position themselves on the field so that the play takes place between them. The referees must stay close enough to the play to see it clearly without interfering with the players. During events, such as a kick-off, goal kick, corner kick, free kick or penalty kick, the primary referee should stand in the best position to see the play clearly. In general, the referee should adopt a position diagonally adjacent to the action.
Assistant Referee Duties
If a primary referee gets injured, the assistant referees can take over until the ball goes out of play. Assistant referees must also complete a range of duties before and during the game, including inspecting the field and equipment, monitoring substitutions and keeping secondary time and goal records. Assistant referees cannot make official hand signals, but they do use flag signals to indicate substitutions, throw-ins, goal kicks, corner kicks and offside and foul rulings.
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