A critical item in a successful match is the a pregame conference with the referee team. Each member of the team needs to know what will happen in given situations to ensure that those situations are dealt with properly.

Below is a list of topics to consider during your pregame conference.  This is just the beginning of ideas. As you move forward, your preame should and will include more information based upon experiences.

ALWAYS INCLUDE:

Pre-game Inspections
Team Mechanics
Game Administration
Coverage of Boundaries
Coverage of Infractions
Coverage of Misconduct

MIGHT ALSO INCLUDE:

Special Rules of the Competition
Team Tactics/Playing Styles
Characteristics of Individual Players
Personality of the Coach
Pre-game Ceremonies

PREGAME INSPECTIONS

Field Surface Condition
Field Markings
Goals and Nets
Corner/Halfway Flags
Game Balls
Players: Equipment
Roster/Cards

REFEREE TEAM MECHANICS

Which Diagonal
AR Zones of Control
Mirror Flags
Pre-Game Entry To Field 
Checks At Start of Each Period
Positions and Signals For All Stoppages

GAME ADMINISTRATION

Timing Recording of Goals and Cards
Control of Substitutions
Duties of Fourth Official

COVERAGE OF BOUNDARIES

Touchlines
Goal Line
Missed Flags on Boundary Decisions

COVERAGE OF INFRACTIONS

Offside
Fouls in General
Fouls Near the Goal
Penalty Kicks Called by the Referee
Penalty Kicks Called by the AR
Missed Flags on Infractions

COVERAGE OF MISCONDUCT

Players on the Field
Substitutes/Coaches on the Bench
Crowd Control / Security

Rules of Competition

The Laws of the Game and Procedures

Research on the teams & Referee Team History and Experience

Paperwork

Game Report, Rosters, Player passes

Inspections

Goals/nets, Field, Lines, Balls, Players Equipment

Meetings

Partners (AR, 4^th, AAR, Mentor/Coach), Field Marshals, Coaches, Players, Captains

Empower Partners

Talking to players, Areas of coverage

Communications

E.G. Eye Contact every call and dead ball, talking to players, Keep time & book, non-verbal signals, mirroring

Conflicting Signals vs Undecided

Touchline, Goal line, AR Mirror, Foul

Goals

Look at Referee; run up field or stand at attention

Substitutions

Number, when, signal, when to allow on, AR presence

Touchline/Endline

Flag in the hand you think is correct; Look at Referee; Calls in Referee half

                AR side vs Referee side;

Offside

Err on the side of attack; Wait for participation interference

Missed flag: Hold till it doesn’t matter, AR mirror

Fouls

If AR has better view, Ref has not seen; Flagged action behind Referee must be mirrored.

Help with walls in AR area

PK

Goal/No-goal, Totally Disagree, Kick Responsibilities

Misconduct

In sight of Referee, support, opinion on sanction

Out of Referee’s view; Color, number, description of incident, restart

Clearly identify, Yellow (Front Pocket), Red (Back Pocket)

Mass Confrontation

E.G. Keep subs and staff off field, Take numbers, Separate the players

Technical Area/Benches/Spectators

Talking to bench staff, substitutes

When and how to call Referee over

Injuries

When to allow coach/trainer on, Recording injuries

Re-entries

Handle examinations and paperwork

Look to Referee for signal

Extra time & Kicks

Time, Coin toss(es)

Players on the Field only, Reduce to Equate

Before the Game

Walk out as a team

Bag all lose balls

Substitutes wear pennies

Halftime discussion

Stats, Missed flags, Problem areas

Post-game Responsibilities and Cool-down

Paperwork and supplemental

Jog, Stretching, Hot bath, Cold shower, Protein, Pedialyte

Don’t allow play to restart on an error