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1. Do you know the official uniform for a NS referee?
When officiating, all referees shall wear the official uniform which is a black shirt, black shorts and black socks.

Nova Scotia Referees (other than first year officials) must have an alternate colour shirt if the game demands it. The first choice alternate is yellow, then red.  If all Officials do not have the same alternate colour, then the Centre Referee will wear the alternate and the Assistants will wear black.  For National and televised games, all Officials shall wear shirts of the same colour.

The badge, issued by Soccer Nova Scotia, shall be worn on the left breast area of the shirt. 

2. Do you know what your responsibilities are, when you are offered a game?   Referees must accept or turn back all appointments within 48 hours of issue or the deadline given by assignor.   If no response is received by the assignor, appointments will be reassigned.

3. Do you know the maximum number of games you may referee each day? A Referee may officiate a maximum of 360 minutes per day.  After 180 minutes there must be a two hour break before returning to officiate. 

No more than 180 minutes of the 360 may be as centre referee.   

For 11-a-side matches, officials may not act as centre referee for more than two consecutive matches. 

4. Do you know when you might be in a conflict of interest?  

Competitive games involving a team in the same age and gender division in the same league to which the referee is directly affiliated as a player, registered coach or manager.

Competitive games in which an immediate member of his/her family (by marriage or common law) is a registered player or coach. An immediate member of the family is a parent, a spouse, a son or daughter, a brother or sister.  

Provincial championship game involving a team or club to which the referee is directly affiliated as a player, a registered coach or manager, an elected Executive or Board member.

5. Do you know when you are required to report to the field?

Officials must report to the field ready to officiate and conduct pre-game activities (field inspection, personal equipment, instructions to assistant referees, players’ equipment, game ball, starting time) as directed by their regional referee committee but no less than:

15 minutes for Tier II, Senior B, Senior C and 7-a-Side Games

30 minutes for Tier I and Senior A

60 minutes for televised games
 

6. Do you know when a dismissal (formerly misconduct) report must be filed and how to fill one in?

In the event of serious foul play or violent conduct or misconduct toward the match referee or assistant referees, the centre referee shall, within 24 hours of the conclusion of the game, submit a copy of the Soccer Nova Scotia Dismissal Report to Soccer Nova Scotia.  (for more information, click here, then scroll to find module on writing dismissal forms)

7. What about eye glasses, headwear, footwear and jerseys?
Eye Glasses: Laws 4 and 5 apply: "a player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player"; and "the referee ensures that the players' equipment meets the requirements of Law 4". 

Hats: no hats are allowed on the field of play, except for goalkeepers using one as an eye shade. Materials such as metal or glass are not accepted.

Footwear : Referees are also to incorporate a footwear inspection into the pre-match safety check of players’ equipment.  Poorly maintained studs or blades on the sole of the boot can constitute a danger.

Jerseys : All jerseys must have sleeves. The players may not roll the sleeves up or tie them at the shoulder level.  A player who removes his/her jersey to celebrate a goal will receive a caution for unsporting behaviour.

Disciplinary actions
The player(s) will be instructed to remove the dangerous item.  A player who, after having been told to remove jewellery, wears it again will receive a caution.

8. Can players wear jewelry? 
The rule of thumb should be ‘if it can be seen, it’s a problem’.
Earrings: no earrings of any kind are acceptable. The practice of taping is no longer acceptable.
Facial rings: any kind of jewellery around the eyes, nose or any other part of the face must be removed.
Bracelets: all bracelets (including metal, rope, fabric …) must be removed.
Medic Alert bracelets: may be worn but must be covered or padded in order to be safe for all players.
Necklaces: all necklaces must be removed.
Body piercing; any body piercing not visible to the referee is not of concern. Should the piercing become visible the referee will ensure it is removed.
Watches: players are not allowed to wear any kind of watches.
Beaded Hair: if a player is wearing hair beads the hair must be tied in a bun or covered by a hair net. Loose beaded hair is not to be allowed.
Wedding rings: must be removed. The sole exception is a smooth wedding band which the referee is convinced cannot be removed, and which poses no danger to any player.  It is recommended that teams advise players to have such rings removed before reporting for the match. If it cannot be removed, it must be adequately padded.

9. Can players wear knee braces?
FIFA Circular 863 states that the vast majority of commercially manufactured supports are safe to use. These items pose less of a hazard than players accidentally banging heads, for instance.  The major concern is not the ‘hardness’ of the equipment alone, rather it should be whether any part of it can cut or wound another player.
Any support must be safe for all players, and adequately padded if necessary.

10. Can players wear casts?
Players wearing a soft cast will be permitted to play if the cast does not present a danger to himself/herself or to any other player.