GRASSROOTS REFEREE COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Time allowance okay (in each half) if time is lost due to - ✔✔substitutions,
treatment/removal of injured players, players wasting time, disciplinary sanctions,
stopping play for medical reasons, etc.
✔✔Do NOT Making time allowance - ✔✔in 2nd half if time was lost/wasted in the 1st
half, and vice versa
✔✔Penalty kick (time allowance) - ✔✔if a penalty kick has to be taken or retaken,
extend the half until the penalty kick is completed
✔✔Abandoned game (time allowance) - ✔✔game should be replayed unless the Rules
of Competition or game organizers say otherwise
✔✔Stopping play - ✔✔end the half when play is in the middle of the field w/out
imminent attack developing or when the ball is out of play for a throw-in
✔✔NEVER end half of game during - ✔✔corner kick, free kick in the attacking third near
the penalty area
✔✔Referees and ARs are NOT responsible for - ✔✔handling injured players & must
stay on the field
✔✔Injured players may reenter the field of play AFTER - ✔✔referee is satisfied that
bleeding has stopped and that any bloody clothing has been removed or replaced
and/or if a doctor/medical professional clears the player for reentry
✔✔Dropped ball (injury) - ✔✔awarded when an injury was NOT the result of a foul
✔✔Dropped ball fundamentals - ✔✔ball must touch at least 2 players before a goal can
be scored & counted
✔✔Warnings & Requests (coach) - ✔✔caution overly vocal/verbally abusive coach w/ a
yellow card (if behavior continues after being asked to stop)
RED CARD and send off if behavior does NOT stop after being issued a yellow card
✔✔Referee signals a goal (has been scored) before the ball has completely crossed the
goal line - ✔✔restart play w/ dropped ball
drop ball on the goal area line if stoppage occurred in the goal area
✔✔3 ways to determine a winner - ✔✔away goals rule
extra time
, kicks from the penalty mark
✔✔Away goals rule (winning team) - ✔✔when a tied game is awarded to the away team
✔✔Extra time (winning team) - ✔✔add 2 equal 15min periods of extra time at the end of
game
both periods are to be played regardless of the # of goals scored
must use alternate method if score is still tied after the two 15min periods
✔✔Kicks from the penalty mark (winning team) - ✔✔both teams alternate taking penalty
kicks
can go on indefinitely until a winner is found
each team much have equal # of players (reduce & report name/number if needed)
all players except goalies and kicking player must remain in the center circle
✔✔Five kicks - ✔✔typical/standard for determining a winner
alternate players between teams and within each team
all eligible players must take a kick before any player can kick a 2nd time (including the
goalies)
✔✔Early winner (5-kick method) - ✔✔if one team scores more goals than the other
team before all 5 kicks are taken, that team wins and NO need to take the rest of the
kicks
✔✔Late winners (5-kick method) - ✔✔if the score is still tied after both teams have
taken 5 kicks, more kicks continue until one team has scored ONE more goal than the
other team for same # of kicks
(i.e. team a scores on 6th kick, team b misses on 6th kick = team a wins)
✔✔After the whistle checklist (complete before leaving field) - ✔✔collect the ball
return passes and rosters
monitor players/coaches as they leave the field
✔✔2 types of game reports - ✔✔official game report and supplemental report
✔✔Official game report - ✔✔accuracy is critical
date/time/venue
members of 2 teams
referee team members
score & scorers
substitutions
fouls/misconduct
✔✔Supplemental report - ✔✔send-off offenses (name/number)
2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Time allowance okay (in each half) if time is lost due to - ✔✔substitutions,
treatment/removal of injured players, players wasting time, disciplinary sanctions,
stopping play for medical reasons, etc.
✔✔Do NOT Making time allowance - ✔✔in 2nd half if time was lost/wasted in the 1st
half, and vice versa
✔✔Penalty kick (time allowance) - ✔✔if a penalty kick has to be taken or retaken,
extend the half until the penalty kick is completed
✔✔Abandoned game (time allowance) - ✔✔game should be replayed unless the Rules
of Competition or game organizers say otherwise
✔✔Stopping play - ✔✔end the half when play is in the middle of the field w/out
imminent attack developing or when the ball is out of play for a throw-in
✔✔NEVER end half of game during - ✔✔corner kick, free kick in the attacking third near
the penalty area
✔✔Referees and ARs are NOT responsible for - ✔✔handling injured players & must
stay on the field
✔✔Injured players may reenter the field of play AFTER - ✔✔referee is satisfied that
bleeding has stopped and that any bloody clothing has been removed or replaced
and/or if a doctor/medical professional clears the player for reentry
✔✔Dropped ball (injury) - ✔✔awarded when an injury was NOT the result of a foul
✔✔Dropped ball fundamentals - ✔✔ball must touch at least 2 players before a goal can
be scored & counted
✔✔Warnings & Requests (coach) - ✔✔caution overly vocal/verbally abusive coach w/ a
yellow card (if behavior continues after being asked to stop)
RED CARD and send off if behavior does NOT stop after being issued a yellow card
✔✔Referee signals a goal (has been scored) before the ball has completely crossed the
goal line - ✔✔restart play w/ dropped ball
drop ball on the goal area line if stoppage occurred in the goal area
✔✔3 ways to determine a winner - ✔✔away goals rule
extra time
, kicks from the penalty mark
✔✔Away goals rule (winning team) - ✔✔when a tied game is awarded to the away team
✔✔Extra time (winning team) - ✔✔add 2 equal 15min periods of extra time at the end of
game
both periods are to be played regardless of the # of goals scored
must use alternate method if score is still tied after the two 15min periods
✔✔Kicks from the penalty mark (winning team) - ✔✔both teams alternate taking penalty
kicks
can go on indefinitely until a winner is found
each team much have equal # of players (reduce & report name/number if needed)
all players except goalies and kicking player must remain in the center circle
✔✔Five kicks - ✔✔typical/standard for determining a winner
alternate players between teams and within each team
all eligible players must take a kick before any player can kick a 2nd time (including the
goalies)
✔✔Early winner (5-kick method) - ✔✔if one team scores more goals than the other
team before all 5 kicks are taken, that team wins and NO need to take the rest of the
kicks
✔✔Late winners (5-kick method) - ✔✔if the score is still tied after both teams have
taken 5 kicks, more kicks continue until one team has scored ONE more goal than the
other team for same # of kicks
(i.e. team a scores on 6th kick, team b misses on 6th kick = team a wins)
✔✔After the whistle checklist (complete before leaving field) - ✔✔collect the ball
return passes and rosters
monitor players/coaches as they leave the field
✔✔2 types of game reports - ✔✔official game report and supplemental report
✔✔Official game report - ✔✔accuracy is critical
date/time/venue
members of 2 teams
referee team members
score & scorers
substitutions
fouls/misconduct
✔✔Supplemental report - ✔✔send-off offenses (name/number)
