Referees

RULES

The Yukon Soccer Association provides training and certification for soccer officials in the Yukon. Large numbers of referees are needed especially for the Whitehorse Minor outdoor season which now involves more than 100 teams, each playing two games a week. YSA meets the demand partly through training youth referees. These young people are usually experienced soccer players with a strong interest in the game. They take part in league play themselves, and officiate for divisions younger than their own. They do not officiate in their own division.
Youth Referees Clinics in April, 1999

Adult Referees Urgently Needed
For older divisions playing with Whitehorse Minor, adult referees are used. The current pool of adult referees is barely sufficient to meet demand. The demand will increase rapidly in the next few years as the large numbers of youth in younger divisions reach the age where adult referees are required. Adult referees can also officiate adult games and at various indoor and outdoor tournaments throughout the year.

Yukon Soccer Referee Clinics
Clinics for training referees are regularly provided by the Yukon Soccer Association. In April, Brian Gillen, Yukon's own Referee Instructor, will be holding a Youth Recreational, a Youth Competitive, and an adult Class III clinic. For more information contact the soccer office, 667-2445, soccer@polarcom.com.

Rules of Soccer in Whitehorse
The basis of the rules for all forms of soccer in Whitehorse are the Laws of the Game as published by FIFA, the international governing body. These can be viewed at the FIFA website. But each organization may recognize additional or alternate rules. For instance, the Men's, Women's and now the Minor league all have a special rule for play at F. H. Collins: a player who deliberately propels the ball onto Lewes Boulevard receives a yellow card. The Masters play without slide tackles or shoulder-to-shoulder contact.

Minor soccer has some special rules. Beginning with the 1998-99 indoor season teams could take advantage of the five goal rule. As soon as a team is losing by five or more goals it is entitled to field an extra player for the duration of the game. This has helped to reduce blowouts and improve competitiveness.

The following documents for the WMSA outdooor game have been prepared or endorsed by head referee Brian Gillen. Besides the rules for each division, there are helpful Points and Instructions documents for full field and cross field play.

Full Field Play
Points and Instructions
Official Field Dimensions
Rules (FIFA website)

Cross Field Play
Points and Instructions
Rules for 11 and Under
Rules for 6 and Under

Indoor Soccer
WMSA uses the Arctic Winter Games Indoor Soccer rules. The revised rules, approved by the International Committee, December 17, 1998, are posted here for the first time anywhere in web format. A PDF version is available on the AWG web site. There have been significant revisions. On the kick-off the ball may go backwards. Goalies will have an easier time putting the ball into play. The throw is still underhand but no longer requires a rolling motion..