New Web Page is Excellent Learning Tool for Referees of All Levels

CHICAGO (February 10, 2005)—New referees can now find answers to their questions more easily than ever by logging on to the “Frequently Asked Questions for New Referees” page in the Referee section of ussoccer.com.

The “FAQs for New Referees” section is designed for new and inexperienced referees who have basic questions about specific game situations. It also allows new officials to browse through different questions and learn about other game situations before they encounter them. The page can be viewed here and will be updated on a regular basis.

“The new page has been designed help new referees face real game situations the first time they come up,” said Julie Ilacqua, U.S. Soccer’s Managing Director of Federation Services. “We won't be able to cover everything because new and different things happen all the time, but it will provide insight based on the kinds of questions we receive from new referees.”

The new section is an extension of ussoccer.com’s current “Ask a Soccer Referee” section, where officials can seek in-depth answers to any question they may have regarding the Laws of the Game via email. If new referees have questions other than those listed on “FAQs for New Referees” page, they can email askareferee@ussoccer.org and receive a personalized answer. The question may also be later included as a “Frequently Asked Question.”

Ilacqua describes the new page as a tool to develop the referees at every grade level and for every level of competition to better service the game.

“I'm excited whenever we add a new tool or concept for referee development,” Ilacqua said. “Different people respond to different training tools so the more variety we can offer, the better we can develop all of our U.S. Soccer referees.”

- ussoccer.com -