CHICAGO (Thursday, July 26, 2001) - The United States Soccer Federation's National Program for Referee Development announces the recent publication of the Guide for Fourth Officials, the next in its series of current educational materials for referees. Joining the Guide to Procedures (1998) and Advice to Referees (1998, revised edition forthcoming in 2001), the Guide for Fourth Officials continues the development of standardized techniques, mechanics, and procedures for soccer officials.

Although the Guide to Procedures included some discussion of the duties of fourth officials, this position is not only being more widely used but the range and variety of its responsibilities has grown considerably over the last several years. Over the past ten years, there have been numerous efforts to identify the things the fourth official needs to do and it was difficult for referees to know which list was official and which represented nothing more than the ideas of the list maker.

These guidelines will serve as a model for referees in their pregame meeting with the members of the officiating team and can be relied upon by fourth officials in any situation which might not be covered in advance of the start of play. As with any new publication, the National Program for Referee Development welcomes feedback from senior referees, instructors, and administrators.

It is available for purchase ($2.00 each). A downloadable copy of the Guide for Fourth Officials is also available.

• Order Form
  
• Guide for Fourth Officials (.pdf - 480KB)