Match Day - Before the Match

MATCH DAY – BEFORE THE MATCH

Punctuality

Members must be at the ground by half-time of the match preceding theirs (including end of season final series matches where members must assume that there is an earlier grade match before the first grade). This means at least an hour before kick off. In all other cases, members are required to be at the ground at least 45 minutes prior to the kick off.

Late Arrival

Members who find themselves running late for a fixture should make reasonable endeavours to contact other match officials to advise them of the situation and expected time of arrival.

If a member appears to be late in arriving at a fixture, the members present should make reasonable endeavours to contact the member to ascertain the situation.

If a member fails to appear for their appointment as above, the Assessor or the senior Referee in attendance shall rearrange the appointments. Members shall give consideration to contacting Football NSW Appointments Officer, Football NSW’ Appointments Coordinator, the President or Secretary (in that order) if assistance is required.

In rearranging the appointments members shall consider their grouping and experience. In these circumstances members shall not Referee a grade above their grouping that they have never previously refereed. Members are not to be pressured into refereeing such a match simply for the sake of having the match played. Members should not be pressured by club officials or officials of Football NSW to Referee a match for which they are not qualified.

If the appointed Referee arrives late and the match has commenced, the Referee controlling the match will complete the game, and the late arrival will assume the Assistant Referee's duties if a club assistant referee is being used.

If an appointed Assistant Referee arrives late they will take up their duties after reporting to the Referee during a stoppage in play. Such incidents must be reported to the Secretary.

If a match official arrives after kick-off and another Official Referee, from any Branch, has taken up duties to form a full complement of match officials, then the member who arrived late shall not replace any of the match officials on the match. Instead they should watch the match quietly from the sideline.

Whoever starts a match (as Referee or Assistant Referee) finishes a match, barring injury. It is not permissible to change officials during a match.

Members have an obligation to report their own late arrival to the Secretary, in writing, advising of the circumstances as soon as practicable after the event.

Non Attendance of Match Official

Members have an obligation to report their own non-attendance at a fixture to the Secretary, in writing, advising of the circumstances as soon as practicable after the event.

Members have an obligation to report the non-attendance of Match Officials on the published appointments sheet to the Secretary, in writing, as soon as practicable after the event.

Non Members

If an Assistant Referee is not appointed members are encouraged to take members of other Branches to assist them. However, they must first check with the Appointments Officer that a member has not been subsequently appointed. If a member has been appointed they must be used. The non member's name and Referee’s Branch must be added to the team sheet.

Substitute Officials

The referee must clearly establish the identity of any person being considered as a substitute official. No person under the age of 16 is allowed to participate as a substitute official. If an "off duty" member is in attendance and agrees to assist they must be given preference over any other person and both clubs must be notified accordingly. Both clubs must agree to a substitute official in order that the match be played as scheduled.

Ground Listing

A Grounds List is published by Football NSW from time to time.

The current ground listing can be found at

http://footballnsw.com.au/fileadmin/user_upload/Competitions/Grounds_Directory_new_01.pdf.

Wet Weather (refer also to information from Football NSW)

Where wet weather conditions make any doubts as to the possibility of one or all games being played the Home Club must inspect the ground on or prior to the day of the match and make a decision if all or any games may be played. The decision must be advised to Football NSW by the Home Club official. It is no longer the responsibility of the Referee to inspect the ground on the morning of the match.

If games are cancelled, the Appointments Officer will contact the Referees involved and the Convenor of Assessors. Information to this effect is usually published on the Football NSW website under the link to each competition. In circumstances where a ground has not been closed, the responsibility of the match referee will only be to determine whether a match can be played when he/she arrives at the ground.

No Assistant Referee

Members are not to officiate unless there is another official Referee present. Exceptions are made for WSL matches, whichmay be played without official Assistant Referees at the discretion of the Referee.

In the event of a Referee being left with no official Assistant Referee the match may go ahead at the discretion of the Referee if there is an Inspector or a recognised official of the Division or Football NSW present.

Note: In the event of no official referee in selected divisions clubs are required by Football NSW to provide “Club Referees” and the game must be played.

Two Matches

Members are not to officiate on more than two matches in a day other than in exceptional circumstances where they must seek the permission of the President or Secretary.

Team Sheets and Caution Reports

These are supplied by the clubs and should be complete with team names and all players and substitutes listed and all copies handed to the referee before the start of the match.

Appointments Errors

In circumstances where an error is made in appointments members are entitled to a nominal compensation fee in lieu of match fees. The amount is set by Football NSW from time to time. The amount since 2010 has been $50.

Such circumstances include the wrong day, wrong time, cancellation of a match without notice to match officials, or cancellation of a match due to inclement weather or other circumstances but where members have not been notified by the appointments officer before leaving home.

Members must submit a claim to the Secretary giving full details of the fixture, names of all match officials, and a description of the circumstances. The Branch will then invoice Football NSW for the fee.

Match unplayable

In circumstances where a match is unplayable, after you have arrived at the ground, members are entitled to a nominal compensation fee in lieu of match fees. The amount is set by Football NSW from time to time. The amount since 2010 has been $50.

Such circumstances include where the ground is deemed unplayable by the Referee after a ground inspection, or where a team cannot field the minimum number of players.

In these circumstances and incident report must also be submitted which has the effect of making Football NSW aware of the situation through the proper channels.

Abandonment of a Match after Kick Off

In circumstances where a match is abandoned after it has commenced, full fees are payable.

(The circumstances in the preceding sections all occur before a match commences, in which circumstances the nominal compensation fee is payable in lieu of match fees).

Such circumstances include severe weather, serious injury delaying the match, crowd disturbance, serious violent incidents, failure of floodlights, and even where a team has less than seven players through injury or expulsion.

Members should not press the clubs for payment where cash on the day is the means of payment. If the club offers then you should accept payment, but under no circumstances create an additional incident by demanding payment.

Members must submit a claim to the Secretary, where the match fee is not paid on the day, giving full details of the fixture, names of all match officials, and a description of the circumstances. The Branch will then invoice Football NSW for the fee.

In these circumstances an incident report must be submitted which has the effect of making Football NSW aware of the situation through the proper channels.