12/1/2008 - Thank You Jonathan Meersman! - Just 8 short years ago a young man, with a great deal of potential as a referee, stepped forward to accept the position of State Director of Instruction for the state of Wisconsin. What emerged then was the growth of the State Referee Committee into a viable program for the referees registering here. But more important was the growth of our Instruction program into one envied by many other states nationwide. Consistent, updated referee training methods utilizing current technology quickly realized growth in numbers, as well as retention, which increased individual opportunity for development of individuals to a higher level.

Jonathan’s innovative methods brought consistency from the classroom to the playing field – new wave instruction – Instructors and Assessors meeting annually together in the same room. Mentoring started with Instructors and was reinforced on the field by Assessors, again bringing recognition from the National Referee Program who initiated this format in many other states as well as regionally. Development of our web site as an assistant to all those that served as an Instructor, Assessor, Assignor, Referee, or anyone interested in the game that was looking for information. Jonathan is WISREF, a teacher, a father, a husband, and a friend. He steps aside now as SDI and Referee to enjoy the game from a different prospective – a fan. All your referee friends will miss you, but will not forget all you have done for all of us. The Wisconsin Referee Development Program wishes you and your family all the best and send you our unending gratitude for all your efforts.

Posted by: Joe Krzyzaniak, State Referee Administrator

8/24/2008 - Substitution Procedures in Wisconsin -

Referees: You may wish to print this out and bring it with you to your games in case of confusion with the new substitution procedures in Wisconsin. Referees are encouraged to briefly discuss this with both coaches prior to the beginning of each match early in the season to avoid confusion during play.

The following was announced on www.wisref.org on July 26, 2008:

“Effective immediately, substitutions will be permitted at any stoppage of play at all levels of play for games played within Wisconsin.”

There have been a number of questions about this. To help clear up any confusion, we are sending this email to all referees in Wisconsin.

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS IN WISCONSIN
Q. Can a team substitute while the ball is in play (i.e. on the fly)?
A. NO! Substitutions can only take place during a stoppage of play.

Q. Can a team substitute on a free kick?
A. YES. A free kick is awarded because of a foul that results in a stoppage of play.

Q. Can a referee deny a substitution request?
A. No, assuming all of the procedural requirements (see Law 3 below) have been met. However, if the substitutes are not ready when the game is stopped, the requirements have not been met. This is particularly important to recognize when a team wishes to take a quick restart. See 3.5 below from the ADVICE TO REFEREES ON THE LAWS OF THE GAME published by U.S. Soccer Federation.

Q. What if it is obvious that a coach is practicing gamesmanship and sending a substitute at every stoppage?
A. How did referees handle this when substitutions were only for particular stoppages? Referees should inform the teams that time will be added for time lost due to substitutions. Note to referees: that generally stops the problem.

Q. Are the number of substitutes a team can use limited, as stated in the Laws of the Game?
A. Youth and amateur games in Wisconsin will still have unlimited substitutes (i.e. can reenter the game), unless otherwise noted in the league rules (i.e. State Championships).

FIFA LAWS OF THE GAME
LAW 3 – The Number of Players
Substitution Procedure
To replace a player by a substitution, the following conditions must be observed:

• the referee is informed before any proposed substitution is made
• a substitute only enters the field of play after the player is being replaced has left and after receiving a signal from the referee
• a substitute only enters the field of play at the halfway line and during a stoppage in the match
• a substitution is completed when a substitute enters the field of play
• from that moment, the substitute becomes a player and the player he has replaced ceases to be a player
• a player who has been replaced take no further part in the match (PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT APPLICABLE TO YOUTH OR AMATEUR GAMES IN WISCONSIN UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED BY THE COMPETITION RULES SUCH AS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS – YOUTH AND AMATEUR GAMES PERMIT UNLIMITED SUBSTITUTIONS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED IN COMPETITION RULES)
• all substitutes are subject to the authority and jurisdiction of the referee, whether called upon to play or not

LAW 7 – The Duration of the Match
Allowance for Time Lost
Allowance is made in either period for all time lost through:

• substitution(s)
• assessment of injury to players
• removal of injured players from the field of play for treatment
• wasting time
• any other cause

The allowance for time lost is at the discretion of the referee.

ADVICE TO REFEREE ON THE LAWS OF THE GAME
3.5 PREVENTING DELAY DURING SUBSTITUTION
Referees should prevent unnecessary delays due to the substitution process. One source of delay is a request for a substitution that occurs just as a player starts to put the ball back into play. This often (incorrectly) results in the restart being called back and retaken. Another common source of delay is a substitute who is not prepared to take the field when the request to substitute is made. In each case, the referee should order play to be restarted despite the request and inform the coach that the substitution can be made at the next opportunity.
The referee shall not prevent a team from restarting play if the substitute had not reported to the appropriate official before play stopped.

3.6 ALLOWING SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDING TIME
Except for situation described in 3.5 (above), referees may not ignore or deny permission for a legal substitution that is properly requested. Although Law 3 requires that the referee be “informed before any proposed substitution is made,” this does not mean that the referee can deny permission for any reason other than to ensure that the substitution conforms to the Law. Even if it seems that the purpose is to waste time, the referee cannot deny the request, but should exercise the power granted in Law 7 to add time lost.

State Referee Committee
Joseph Krzyzaniak, State Referee Administrator
Sue Walter, State Youth Referee Administrator
Thomas Mesalk, State Director of Assessment
Jonathan Meersman, State Director of Instruction
Paul Beck, State Assignment Coordinator

7/26/2008 - Substitutions Permitted at any Stoppage - Effective immediately, substitutions will be permitted at any stoppage of play at all levels of play for games played within Wisconsin.

7/23/2008 - Kyle Trimble Selected for National Championships - Congratulations to Wisconsin's Kyle Trimble for being selected to attend the National Youth Championships in Little Rock, Arkansas, as representing Wisconsin and Region 2. Kyle attended his first Regional Youth Championships in 2003 and set a goal to make it to nationals. When asked what it took to make it, Kyle replied “to be selected to nationals take a lot of hard work and patience. Every game you have to go out and act like it is the World Cup. Every game someone is watching. Every game is a test.”

Kyle offered the following advice for other referees: “listen to your mentors and assessors and learn from their advice, but develop your own style – your style that works for you. Every referee is different. Assess yourself after every game and adapt your own style. If you are willing to go far in your referee career, there are tons of mentors that are willing to work and help you go as far as you want. Use them and their advice and your hard work will pay off.”

Added 7/27/08: Kyle was selected to be the referee for today’s U18 girls’ championship match.