GRASSROOTS REFEREE CORE EXAM SET 2026/2027
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔A player is running with the ball near the touchline and sees an opponent
approaching. The player kicks the ball through the opponent and makes a run outside
the field of play to get around the opponent. The opponent then grabs (holding) the
player outside the field of play to prevent them from continuing their run. The referee
restarts play by - ✔✔(i think) yc dfk. Cautioning the opponent for unsporting behavior.
free kick from where holding occured or on touchline nearest too(if it happened outside
the lines)
✔✔At the taking of a throw-in, an opponent unfairly distracts or impedes the thrower
(including moving closer than 2 yards to the place where the throw-in is to be taken).
What is the correct decision? yc, dfk, retake thorw in or no action/retake - ✔✔yc for ub,
yellow card hopefully before the throw in but does it matter blow the whistle give yc and
retake the throw
✔✔I am more confident and comfortable making an offside decision. I understand when
an offense occurs and when to raise my flag straight up to alert the referee that an
attacking player on the opponent's half of the field was...":
In an offside position 'at the moment' the ball was last played/touched by a teammate,"
shared a referee
Involved in active play by interfering with play, interfering with an opponent, or gaining
an advantage," shared a referee.
Both above options are correct - ✔✔Both
✔✔Applying 'advantage' means ...
Allows play to continue when an offense occurs, and the non-offending team will benefit
from the 'advantage' and penalizes the offense if the anticipated advantage does not
ensue at the time or within a few seconds
The player who commits the offense benefits from the action
Play continues if the team the offense was committed against remains in possession of
the ball
None of the answers are correct - ✔✔Allows play to continue when an offense occurs,
and the non-offending team will benefit from the 'advantage' and penalizes the offense if
the anticipated advantage does not ensue at the time or within a few seconds
✔✔The attacking team correctly takes a throw-in, and the defending goalkeeper tries to
catch the ball. The goalkeeper does not touch the ball, and a team-mate of the
goalkeeper uses their hands to redirect the ball over the crossbar, stopping a promising
attack. What decision should the referee make?
The referee awards a penalty kick, displays a red card, and sends off the player for
preventing a goal with his hand
The referee awards a penalty kick, displays a yellow card, and cautions the team-mate
for unsporting behavior
, The referee awards a penalty kick and warns the player
The referee orders the throw-in to be retaken - ✔✔if u think option d u might as well be
a var. They say its spa but like infront of the goal, how the _ is it not stopping a goal...
well bc its a pk it is usally just a yellow and we agree in this case,
award pk and yc for UB
✔✔A corner kick is taken, and the ball deflects off the referee and into the goal. What
decision should the referee make?
The referee awards a goal
The referee stops play and a dropped ball is awarded
The referee stops play and awards an indirect free kick
The referee stops play and has the corner kick retaken - ✔✔I would love to see this bc
of how high on(ur drug of choice) this ref is...
dropped ball
✔✔During my online experience in the U.S. Soccer Referee training there was
something about reflection after the game. In addition to increasing knowledge and
understanding of the game, I am working on...":
Finding errors in other referees to tell them about it
Exchanging (offering and receiving) honest feedback: 1) what I/we did well, 2) what
I'd/we'd like to improve, and 3) how I/we would do something differently to improve
my/our performance in the next game(s)
Asking the team coaches 'what they liked' and 'what they did not' - ✔✔DO NOt ask for
feedback from coaches(unless its ur dad and u wont the belt and a yelling),
but option b
exchange honest and good feedback
✔✔A goal kick is taken by the goalkeeper and before it has been touched or played by
another player, the goalkeeper deliberately picks the ball up with their hand. What
decision should the referee make? - ✔✔you need to know this for young ages, ifk all
day from where they touched it(minimum 6 yards away from goal or the small box in the
goalie box)
✔✔An obvious goal-scoring opportunity is denied by a player who deliberately kicks the
opponent. Is the deliberate kick considered a serious foul play
Yes, always
No, never
Yes, if the offense is committed using excessive force while challenging for the ball
Only if it prevents an obvious goal-scoring opportunity - ✔✔Yes, if the offense is
committed using excessive force while challenging for the ball
✔✔ got a few wrong and started this late but apparently i still only have to anwer 50
correct, - ✔✔come here to laugh
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔A player is running with the ball near the touchline and sees an opponent
approaching. The player kicks the ball through the opponent and makes a run outside
the field of play to get around the opponent. The opponent then grabs (holding) the
player outside the field of play to prevent them from continuing their run. The referee
restarts play by - ✔✔(i think) yc dfk. Cautioning the opponent for unsporting behavior.
free kick from where holding occured or on touchline nearest too(if it happened outside
the lines)
✔✔At the taking of a throw-in, an opponent unfairly distracts or impedes the thrower
(including moving closer than 2 yards to the place where the throw-in is to be taken).
What is the correct decision? yc, dfk, retake thorw in or no action/retake - ✔✔yc for ub,
yellow card hopefully before the throw in but does it matter blow the whistle give yc and
retake the throw
✔✔I am more confident and comfortable making an offside decision. I understand when
an offense occurs and when to raise my flag straight up to alert the referee that an
attacking player on the opponent's half of the field was...":
In an offside position 'at the moment' the ball was last played/touched by a teammate,"
shared a referee
Involved in active play by interfering with play, interfering with an opponent, or gaining
an advantage," shared a referee.
Both above options are correct - ✔✔Both
✔✔Applying 'advantage' means ...
Allows play to continue when an offense occurs, and the non-offending team will benefit
from the 'advantage' and penalizes the offense if the anticipated advantage does not
ensue at the time or within a few seconds
The player who commits the offense benefits from the action
Play continues if the team the offense was committed against remains in possession of
the ball
None of the answers are correct - ✔✔Allows play to continue when an offense occurs,
and the non-offending team will benefit from the 'advantage' and penalizes the offense if
the anticipated advantage does not ensue at the time or within a few seconds
✔✔The attacking team correctly takes a throw-in, and the defending goalkeeper tries to
catch the ball. The goalkeeper does not touch the ball, and a team-mate of the
goalkeeper uses their hands to redirect the ball over the crossbar, stopping a promising
attack. What decision should the referee make?
The referee awards a penalty kick, displays a red card, and sends off the player for
preventing a goal with his hand
The referee awards a penalty kick, displays a yellow card, and cautions the team-mate
for unsporting behavior
, The referee awards a penalty kick and warns the player
The referee orders the throw-in to be retaken - ✔✔if u think option d u might as well be
a var. They say its spa but like infront of the goal, how the _ is it not stopping a goal...
well bc its a pk it is usally just a yellow and we agree in this case,
award pk and yc for UB
✔✔A corner kick is taken, and the ball deflects off the referee and into the goal. What
decision should the referee make?
The referee awards a goal
The referee stops play and a dropped ball is awarded
The referee stops play and awards an indirect free kick
The referee stops play and has the corner kick retaken - ✔✔I would love to see this bc
of how high on(ur drug of choice) this ref is...
dropped ball
✔✔During my online experience in the U.S. Soccer Referee training there was
something about reflection after the game. In addition to increasing knowledge and
understanding of the game, I am working on...":
Finding errors in other referees to tell them about it
Exchanging (offering and receiving) honest feedback: 1) what I/we did well, 2) what
I'd/we'd like to improve, and 3) how I/we would do something differently to improve
my/our performance in the next game(s)
Asking the team coaches 'what they liked' and 'what they did not' - ✔✔DO NOt ask for
feedback from coaches(unless its ur dad and u wont the belt and a yelling),
but option b
exchange honest and good feedback
✔✔A goal kick is taken by the goalkeeper and before it has been touched or played by
another player, the goalkeeper deliberately picks the ball up with their hand. What
decision should the referee make? - ✔✔you need to know this for young ages, ifk all
day from where they touched it(minimum 6 yards away from goal or the small box in the
goalie box)
✔✔An obvious goal-scoring opportunity is denied by a player who deliberately kicks the
opponent. Is the deliberate kick considered a serious foul play
Yes, always
No, never
Yes, if the offense is committed using excessive force while challenging for the ball
Only if it prevents an obvious goal-scoring opportunity - ✔✔Yes, if the offense is
committed using excessive force while challenging for the ball
✔✔ got a few wrong and started this late but apparently i still only have to anwer 50
correct, - ✔✔come here to laugh
