About

Greetings Officials!

We are busy preparing for our Fall Season for High School and Middle School. We anticipate many games, and we're hoping all of you return to work with us. We are actively recruiting new Officials, Please invite all those you know.

Registration will open in early July. A late fee will be applied after early October. Registration will again be through Arbiter's Central Hub. We will communicate more specific dates as soon as they are known. Leon County background checks must be current (they expire after 5 years).

Future emails will come through Arbiter, and/or from Alex Rhodes. Please pay attention and do the necessary. Nothing to do right now, just hoping to get you on alert.

Any questions or issues, as always, call or text John Williams.

If you are no longer interested, please let me know to remove you from our lists.

Thanks - NFRA

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Fields

Soccer fields must be between 100-130 yards long by 50-100 yards wide. However, our fields are what they are. We are there to complete the games, not to introduce issues that might prevent that. Remember the basics – safe, fun, and fair. Having said that, do not begin a match if goals are not secured, i.e. weighted down.

Use standard 30/30 rule for lightning – if you see lightning and hear thunder within 30 seconds, suspend the game, clear the field, and do not re-start until 30 minutes after the last lightning strike.

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Players

There are eleven players on a soccer team. A soccer game consists of two teams of eleven players competing on the field at one time. The players on a team include one goalkeeper and ten field players. The field players are a mix of defensive and offensive players.

We will encounter games with less players. The minimum to play is 7. If one team has less players, suggest the opposing team play down to equal the sides. It is not up to us to insist or enforce this.

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Time

All JV and Varsity play two 40 minute halves. Ties stand unless predetermined arrangements are agreed to (like in a tournament or playoffs).

Middle Schools play two 30 minute halves. Leon County MS games (typically played at Gene Cox Stadium) if tied go straight to kicks from the mark and must have a winner.

Private Middle Schools ties stand.

Only shorten games if absolutely necessary (darkness), and only if agreed to by both Coaches.

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The ball

Suitable balls should be provided by the home team. If two suitable balls are not available, check with the visiting team. Do your best, get the games played.

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Penalties

NFRA Officials use discretion in administering cards, relying more on active game management. Yellow and blue cards need not be reported. Red cards must be reported.

Notify John Williams the same night, and then a report must be filed with FHSAA within 24 hours, help is available before submitting report, call John or Marc Taps.

Red Card/ejections come with stiff penalties for player and school. Manage your games, and use cards wisely.

North Florida Referees Association