2023 SCB Outdoor Season Referee Notes
2023 SCB Outdoor Season Referee Notes
Thanks for being a match official this year. We appreciate you helping out our league. Season starts on May 29th and hoping to have the season wrapped up by August 25th. Games are scheduled Sunday to Thursday.
Field Size
| Game Format | Field Measurements (L x W) | Goal Measurements |
| U9 | Min: 40m x 30m Max: 55m x 36m | Between Goal Posts: 3.66m (12ft) Height of Crossbar: 1.83m (6ft) |
| U11 and U13 Women’s 7v7 | Min: 60m x 42m Max: 75m x 55m | Between Goal Posts: 5.49m (18ft) Height of Crossbar: 1.83m (6ft) |
| U15 and U18 Men’s | Min: 90m x 45m (100 x 50 yds) Max: 120m x 90m (130 x 100 yds) | Between Goal Posts: 7.32m (8 yds) Height of Crossbar: 2.44m (8 ft) |
All age groups U13 and below are to use the retreat line rule during their games.
SCB encourages that all games are played on the appropriate sized fields with the correct size of goal. But at many community park fields, the field and/or goal posts may not be exactly regulation size or the ground might be uneven and the grass might be a little long. On these fields, BOTH teams are subjected to the same conditions thus the game shall be played regardless unless the conditions are grossly irregular for the teams playing. In these cases, the referee will make the final decision if the field is playable or not. Any referee can note on the game sheet any concerns they may have with a field.
If a field is a constant issue, SCB may step in and correct the issue as SCB sees fit.
Game Format Information
| Age Group | Game Format | Game Length | Minimum # of Players to Start | Maximum # of Players Dressed | Size of ball |
| U9 | 7 v 7 | 2 x 25 min halves | 5 | 19 | 4 |
| U11 | 8 v 8 | 2 x 30 min halves | 6 | 21 | 4 |
| U13 | 9 v 9 | 2 x 35 min halves | 6 | 23 | 4 |
| U15 | 11 v 11 | 2 x 40 min halves | 7 | 27 | 5 |
| Sr. Men's Sr. Women's | 11 v 11 | 2 x 45 min halves | 7 | 27 | 5 |
| 7 v 7 | 2 x 30 min halves | 5 | 13 | 5 |
Half time for all age groups is a maximum of 5 minutes. If the weather is very hot or/and humid, the referee has the discretion to extend the half time a bit longer and/or add a hydration break during the halves. Referees are to talk to the team officials about this before the game starts. If the temperature and/or the humidex is 30°or greater, add a 2-minute hydration break into each half of the game.
All games shall start at the designated kick off time. The referee has the power to reduce the length of each half if the game starts late. The time lost shall be deducted from the total game time. The time remaining shall be halved, as each half shall be equal. If there is another game schedule on your field after your game, your game MUST FINISHED NO LATER THAN 5 MINS before the kickoff time of the next game, regardless of how much time is left in the game. And the 2nd game is to start on time, at their schedule kickoff time. If games start on time or you reduce the time for each half properly for late starts, your games should end prior to reaching this mark.
The maximum wait time to start any game is 15 minutes. If one team does not have the minimum number of players to start a game, dressed and ready to go within the first 15 minutes of the scheduled start time, the result will be noted as a forfeit against this team. If both teams do not have the minimum numbers of players dressed and ready to go within the first 15 minutes of the scheduled start time, the result will be noted as forfeiture for both teams.
If the assigned referee does not show up to officiate the game, if one of the assistant referees feel confident to step into the referee role, then please do so. Just have a parent act as your club linesperson and all they do is call ball in and out of play. If neither assistant referees are not comfortable in officiating the game, then the game does not start. If an assistant referee does not show up for their assignment, then just have a parent be the club linesperson for you. In all case of mentioned, please let Wendell know who did not show up for their assignment.
There may be games where Wendell could not assign 2 assistant referees (U13 and above). In these cases, just have a parent fill in as your club linesperson, calling ball in and out of play only.
Pre-game inspection
Please ensure if you are the first game of the day that you do a field inspection-taking note of the goals being anchored.
Corner flags are a necessary component of the field. Make sure the home team has something safe marking the corners (disc cones for example) if they do not have corner flags available.
Game Balls
The home team is to provide two game balls. Please ensure they meet minimum standards and are the correct pressure for the game. If not suitable, use the away team balls.
Coin Toss
When you call the captains, only one player per team is to come do the toss. There is no shaking of hands. You will do the toss, not a captain. Do this at a minimum of 5 minutes before kick-off, if not earlier, so matches begin on time.
Handshakes
There is to be no “fair play” handshakes prior to the start of the game, and no shaking of hands post game between players, team officials, and/or game officials.
Team Officials on the Bench
AT ALL TIMES, there must be TWO (2) team officials on each bench. One of the team officials must be 19 years of age or older. If there are not two team officials on the bench, DO NOT START THE GAME until they fulfil this requirement. If a team official is late or missing, tell the team to get a parent over there as the 2nd team official (this is the only time when you will have someone on a team’s bench without being on the gamesheet). If this happens, note it in the match report.
Substitutions
There shall be no restriction on the number of substitutions made during a game, but no more than five (5) substitutions per team will be allowed at any one time, except at half time and end of the game (should extra time be required) where teams will be permitted substitute as many players they require.
Substitutions are to be made as per IFAB Laws of the Game.
If a team or both teams are only making one substitution each, then the players leaving the field should leave at the nearest touchline (as per the Laws of the Game). Substitutions should take place at the half way line near the bench area when there are 2 or more substitutions being made.
Offside
U13 and above and Senior Men’s, offside will be called.
This year, Under 11 games will have two referees assigned to it and will do a two man system. Each referee will take an end and side of the field to cover for offside, ball in and out of play. Both referees have the power to call fouls anywhere on the field, but should respect the position and view of their fellow referee in they are closer to the play.
There will be times where only one referee will be assigned or show up to an Under 11 game and only one referee for Senior Women’s 7v7. If this is the case, then offside will not be called and do your best to call everything else. if you have players who always seem to be playing in an offside position or is “cherry picking”, please encourage the player to get back onside, have a chat with the team’s coach to have him encourage his players to try and get back onside, or call it as an obvious offside.
NEW: Power Play Rule in Under 11
The Power Play permits a team that is trailing by 4 or more goals to place an additional player onto the playing field, ensuring that they have an extra player.
The Power Play can be used at any time by a team that is trailing by 4 or more goals (4-0, 5-1, 6-2 etc.) and it is the discretion of the coach of the trailing team as to whether they utilize the Power Play.
If at any point the deficit is reduced to 3 goals, the trailing team must remove a player to ensure that the teams are numerically the same (this does not have to be the same player who entered the field).
If a team wishes to use the Power Play, they must inform the referee at any stoppage of the game (it does not have to be immediately after a goal is scored). The referee will allow the additional player to enter the field and play will resume.
Teams may only add one additional player to the game at any point
Game sheets and Scores
For SCB games - for all SCB games, game sheets will be submitted electronically through the RAMP Gamesheet App. Referees are to download the RAMP Gamesheet App to access
All players and team officials are to be listed on the game sheet. If they are not on the gamesheet, they cannot participant in the game! Only those listed on the game sheet are to be on and near the team benches. Spectators should be sitting on the opposite side of the field from the benches. Check the gamesheet app to make sure when you receive the electronic gamesheet from the teams.
The game cannot start until the game sheet has been submitted or if you want, can allow up to half time for them to submit. If you do not have game sheets from one or both team by the end of half time, the game does NOT start until you have game sheets from both teams.
The referee is to input the match report at the end of every game they are in charge of through the gamesheet app.. The report will include the score, any cautions/dismissal information (name and # of the player(s), team(s) and for what did they receive the game for (i.e. USB, Dissent, Serious Foul Play, etc.) given out in the games, any team official ejections, and any other incident that SCB should be made aware of. This information is to be done within 48 hours of the completion of the game. SCB will not pay the referee for any games that the referee has not inputted the match report.
Remember that you have to file a misconduct report with Soccer Nova Scotia for all dismissal with 48 hours of the game. If you need help filling it out or need to talk to someone about an incident, please reach out to Wendell Mac Gibbon or Scott Mabee.
U9’s - do not require gamesheets.
SCB Playoffs/Cape Breton Cup
League playoffs will be the Cape Breton Cup. Cape Breton Cup for U13, U15 and U18, if required, will be the week of August 14th to the 20th.
Game Cancelations
If a game played in the CBRM is to be postponed due to weather, SCB will make this decision by 3:00pm each day. You should receive an email if a game has been postponed or you can check the SCB website or facebook page as it will be posted on there as well. If SCB does not postpone the game by these times, the referees will arrive at the field and decide if the game needs to be postponed due to weather or field conditions (double check the SCB website or facebook page just in case we postpone the games late.) You should also receive notification through the RAMP Assigning App.
Senior Soccer
Senior Men’s will be playing 11v11, 90 min games this season.
No other special instructions outside the Laws of the Game.
Each team are to submit a gamesheet via the RAMP Gamesheet App. Follow the steps about in regards to teams submitting gamesheets. If a player is not on the gamesheet, they cannot play.
Senior teams do not require to have team officials but do need a team captain/manager.
Referees are to submit the match report via the RAMP Gamesheet App. Report this within 48 hours.
If we need a playdown to determine who represents SCB at Senior Men’s A Provincials, this will be done the week of August 7th to 13th.
Senior Women’s will be playing 7v7 games this season. All Laws of the Game apply except for:
(a) game to be played on a U11/U13 size of field, using U11/U13 size of goal nets;
(b) each team fields 7 players which one has to be a keeper;
(c) game will consist of 2 x 30 min halves;
(d) offside will not be called unless it is blatant or a player is considered to be “cherry-picking”;
(e) on free kicks, corner kicks, and kick-offs, oppositing team is to be 5 yards from where the location of the kick is to be taken.
Each team are to submit a gamesheet via the RAMP Gamesheet App. Follow the steps about in regards to teams submitting gamesheets. If a player is not on the gamesheet, they cannot play.
Senior teams do not require to have team officials but do need a team captain/manager.
Referees are to submit the match report via the RAMP Gamesheet App. Report this within 48 hours.
Payment
Payment for SCB games will be done by cheque from the Cape Breton Referees Association. Cheques will be cut every 2 weeks and placed in the referee room at the CBU dome. The rate of pay for each level of game can be found on Soccer Nova Scotia’s website.
Please note that the Cape Breton Soccer Referee’s Association takes $0.50 per game from your pay to subsidize the finances of the association as which include things like awards, pizza party, etc.
All travel allowance, if entitled, for SCB games will be paid at the end of the season.
For those returning referees this season, a $50 reimbursement fee will be applied to your first referee cheque.
Referee Fees
| | Referee | AR |
| Sr. Men's | $52 | $35 |
| Sr. Women's | $36 | - |
| U15 | $40 | $28 |
| U13 | $32 | $22 |
| U11 | $24 | - |
This season, due to high fuel costs that we are currently experiencing, SCB is providing a referee travel allowance. We have divided our area up into communities, using their main field as the start/destination location. If you have to travel to a different community to officiate, you may be eligible for a travel allowance. Here is the travel allowance grid:
| | CBU | Glace Bay | New Waterford | Sydney | North Sydney | Baddeck | Terra Noire |
| CBU | - | - | - | - | $15 | $45 | $83 |
| Glace Bay | - | - | $10 | $10 | $20 | $50 | $88 |
| New Waterford | - | $10 | - | $10 | $20 | $50 | $88 |
| Sydney | - | $10 | $10 | - | $10 | $40 | $78 |
| North Sydney | $15 | $20 | $20 | $10 | - | $30 | $63 |
| Baddeck | $45 | $50 | $50 | $40 | $30 | - | $33 |
| Terra Noire | $83 | $88 | $88 | $78 | $63 | $33 | - |
If you are unsure of what community you fall into, please contact Scott Mabee (competitions@soccercapebreton.com). For those referees living far from any of the communities listed, please contact Scott Mabee.
Any CBRM based referee travelling to an non CBRM location game (and vise versa) will be entitled to a $15 meal allowance. We do encourage the referees to car pool if feasible and safe to do so but leave the decision to the official if they want to carpool or not.
If you have any questions or issues, please reach out to Wendell Mac Gibbon (wmacgibbon@seascape.ns.ca and 902-577-0753) or myself, Scott Mabee (competitions@soccercapebreton.com and 306-861-8287). We are here to help you. Any questions about a situation in your game, not sure about something, anything about officiating, please reach out to us. Never be afraid to reach out to us about anything. We are here to help you succeed at and enjoy officiating.
Have a great season!
Scott Mabee
Vice President Competitions
Soccer Cape Breton
Regional Level Referee
