Change to Procedures

Effective immediately the following changes have been made to the Guide and Procedures for Referees, Assistant Referees and Fourth Officials.  US Soccer is suggesting the changes be implemented immediately.  I would suggest that you discuss the following points in your pregame so that the entire crew is on the same page.  Don't worry the changes are miminal and should be very easy for you to incorporate into your game! 

From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center:

A new and slightly revised edition of the long-standing USSF publication, Guide to Procedures for Referees, Assistant Referees and 4th Officials, will become available this month.  Only two changes will be found in the 2009-2010 edition:

• Page 37 (Penalty Kick, Indicated By The Assistant Referee).  The fourth bullet point has been modified as follows: “If referee stops game, assistant referee first indicates penalty kick by holding flag across the lower body and then begins walking toward the corner flag
• Page 40 (Substitutions, Referee procedure).  The first bullet point has been modified to be consistent with International Board guidelines mandating the use of the whistle to restart play after the referee has delayed the restart for a substitution.  The revised bullet item now makes it clear that a whistle is required in all such cases.
  

Until the new edition of the Guide becomes more widely distributed, you are asked to begin immediately in your respective capacities to pass the above procedure changes along to other referees, instructors, and assessors so that they may begin implementing these modifications as quickly as possible.

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