GRASSROOTS REFEREE 2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Injuries on field (ball IN play) - ✔✔reentry of injured player MUST be from the
touchline
✔✔Injuries on field (ball OUT of play) - ✔✔reentry of injured player may be from any
boundary line
✔✔Injuries on field (bleeding) - ✔✔any player bleeding MUST leave field of play
may only reenter w/ signal from referee
may only enter if bleeding STOPS and if no blood on equipment
✔✔Players ALLOWED treatment on field of play - ✔✔injured goalie
goalie & player who collide/need attention
players on same team collide/need attention
SEVERE injury occurs
player injured as result of physical offense IF treatment is completed QUICKLY
✔✔Penalty kicks (Assistant Referee responsibilities) - ✔✔indicate when/if goalie moves
OFF goal line before the ball is kicked
indicate when/if ball crosses the line
✔✔Kick off (general procedure) - ✔✔team wins coin toss chooses whether/not to take
kickoff and what goal to attack first
teams change ends/goals in 2nd half
after a team scores, other team takes kickoff
✔✔Penalty area (dropped ball) - ✔✔dropped ONLY for the goalie
goalie must be at least 4.5yds from dropped ball
✔✔Dropped ball (outside penalty area) - ✔✔dropped ONLY for the player who LAST
touched the ball
player must be at least 4.5yds from the dropped ball
✔✔Dropped ball offense (redropped if) - ✔✔ball touches a player BEFORE it touches
the ground
ball leaves field of play AFTER it touches the ground, without touching a player
✔✔Award/restart play w/ a goal kick if - ✔✔ball enters opponent's goal without touching
at least 2 players
✔✔Award/restart play w/ a corner kick if - ✔✔ball enters team's goal without touching at
least 2 players
, ✔✔Award/restart play w/ a dropped ball if - ✔✔ball touches a referee & goes into the
goal OR if team possession changes OR promising attack starts
✔✔Ball is STILL in play if it rebounds off - ✔✔match official, goal post, crossbar/corner
flag post and REMAINS in the field of play
✔✔Incorrect throw-ins - ✔✔ball touches the ground BEFORE entering the field of play
retake w/ same player/same team
✔✔ Responsibilities of a Referee - ✔✔understand/apply Laws of the Game
complete game reports
manage the performance environment
interact w/ match officials, players, coaches
maintain physical health/aptitude
✔✔Grassroots Soccer Leagues - ✔✔include players 5 years - 18 years
✔✔Adult Soccer Leagues - ✔✔players 18+ years, referees are experienced
✔✔Youth Soccer (U6-U8) - ✔✔4 vs. 4 team size
✔✔Youth Soccer (U9-U10) - ✔✔7 vs. 7 team size
✔✔Youth Soccer (U11-U12) - ✔✔9 vs. 9 team size
✔✔Youth Soccer (U13+) - ✔✔11 vs. 11 team size
✔✔Before the game - ✔✔arrive 30 min early
inspect field & equipment (balls, goals, nets), look for unsafe playing conditions
engage w/ referee team in pregame meeting
meet/check in the players/coaches
✔✔During the game - ✔✔ensure safety of players
interpret player actions/make decisions on field of play
enforce Laws of the Game
use crisp/clear hand signals & display w/ confidence
work w/ other referee team members to keep the game fun and fair
✔✔After the game - ✔✔monitor teams as they leave the field
retrieve/return the game ball
verify game data & complete game report(s)
complete an incident report if needed
reflect on the game as a referee team and as an individual referee
SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Injuries on field (ball IN play) - ✔✔reentry of injured player MUST be from the
touchline
✔✔Injuries on field (ball OUT of play) - ✔✔reentry of injured player may be from any
boundary line
✔✔Injuries on field (bleeding) - ✔✔any player bleeding MUST leave field of play
may only reenter w/ signal from referee
may only enter if bleeding STOPS and if no blood on equipment
✔✔Players ALLOWED treatment on field of play - ✔✔injured goalie
goalie & player who collide/need attention
players on same team collide/need attention
SEVERE injury occurs
player injured as result of physical offense IF treatment is completed QUICKLY
✔✔Penalty kicks (Assistant Referee responsibilities) - ✔✔indicate when/if goalie moves
OFF goal line before the ball is kicked
indicate when/if ball crosses the line
✔✔Kick off (general procedure) - ✔✔team wins coin toss chooses whether/not to take
kickoff and what goal to attack first
teams change ends/goals in 2nd half
after a team scores, other team takes kickoff
✔✔Penalty area (dropped ball) - ✔✔dropped ONLY for the goalie
goalie must be at least 4.5yds from dropped ball
✔✔Dropped ball (outside penalty area) - ✔✔dropped ONLY for the player who LAST
touched the ball
player must be at least 4.5yds from the dropped ball
✔✔Dropped ball offense (redropped if) - ✔✔ball touches a player BEFORE it touches
the ground
ball leaves field of play AFTER it touches the ground, without touching a player
✔✔Award/restart play w/ a goal kick if - ✔✔ball enters opponent's goal without touching
at least 2 players
✔✔Award/restart play w/ a corner kick if - ✔✔ball enters team's goal without touching at
least 2 players
, ✔✔Award/restart play w/ a dropped ball if - ✔✔ball touches a referee & goes into the
goal OR if team possession changes OR promising attack starts
✔✔Ball is STILL in play if it rebounds off - ✔✔match official, goal post, crossbar/corner
flag post and REMAINS in the field of play
✔✔Incorrect throw-ins - ✔✔ball touches the ground BEFORE entering the field of play
retake w/ same player/same team
✔✔ Responsibilities of a Referee - ✔✔understand/apply Laws of the Game
complete game reports
manage the performance environment
interact w/ match officials, players, coaches
maintain physical health/aptitude
✔✔Grassroots Soccer Leagues - ✔✔include players 5 years - 18 years
✔✔Adult Soccer Leagues - ✔✔players 18+ years, referees are experienced
✔✔Youth Soccer (U6-U8) - ✔✔4 vs. 4 team size
✔✔Youth Soccer (U9-U10) - ✔✔7 vs. 7 team size
✔✔Youth Soccer (U11-U12) - ✔✔9 vs. 9 team size
✔✔Youth Soccer (U13+) - ✔✔11 vs. 11 team size
✔✔Before the game - ✔✔arrive 30 min early
inspect field & equipment (balls, goals, nets), look for unsafe playing conditions
engage w/ referee team in pregame meeting
meet/check in the players/coaches
✔✔During the game - ✔✔ensure safety of players
interpret player actions/make decisions on field of play
enforce Laws of the Game
use crisp/clear hand signals & display w/ confidence
work w/ other referee team members to keep the game fun and fair
✔✔After the game - ✔✔monitor teams as they leave the field
retrieve/return the game ball
verify game data & complete game report(s)
complete an incident report if needed
reflect on the game as a referee team and as an individual referee
