The Referee Commitment

The U. S. Soccer Federation National Program for Referee Development, through the involvement of each referee, is recognized by players, coaches and administrators as a program which consistently

provides excellence in officiating and displays the highest level of professionalism through service and dedication.

To accomplish this, I, as a referee, am committed to:

1. Officiating matches in a fair and safe manner that ensures player and spectator enjoyment.

2. Maintaining my physical fitness for peak performance.

3. Faithfully keeping all appointments assigned to and accepted by me.

4. Supporting my fellow officials with loyalty, pride and dignity.

5. Conducting myself in a way to be ethically and morally beyond reproach.

6. Granting players and coaches dignity and self-respect.

7. Contributing to the overall development of the National Program for Referee Development.

8. Remaining committed to continuous learning and an improvement process that enables me to perform to my full potential.

Code of Ethics for Referees

(1) I will always maintain the utmost respect for the game of soccer.

(2) I will conduct myself honorably at all times and maintain the dignity of my position.

(3) I will always honor an assignment or any other contractual obligation.

(4) I will attend training meetings and clinics so as to know the Laws of the Game, their proper interpretation and their application.

(5) I will always strive to achieve maximum team work with my fellow officials.

(6) I will be loyal to my fellow officials and never knowingly promote criticism of them.

(7) I will be in good physical condition.

(8) I will control the players effectively by being courteous and considerate without sacrificing fairness.

(9) I will do my utmost to assist my fellow officials to better themselves and their work.

(10) I will not make statements about any games except to clarify an interpretation of the Laws of the Game.

(11) I will not discriminate against nor take undue advantage of any individual group on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

(12) I consider it a privilege to be a part of the United States Soccer Federation and my actions will reflect credit upon that organization and its affiliates.

Code of Ethics for Assignors

(1) I will maintain the utmost respect for referees and other officials of the game and I will conduct myself honorably at all times.

(2) I will make the assignments based on what is good for the game and what is good for the referee.

(3) As a member of the United States Soccer Federation, my actions will reflect credit upon the organization.

(4) I will contribute to the continuous development of referees in the National Referee Development Program.

(5) I will conduct myself ethically and professionally in the assignment process.

(6) I will respect the rights and dignity of all the referees and I will not criticize them unless it is in private, constructive, and for their benefit.

(7) I will offer equal opportunity to all qualify referees and I will not discriminate against or take undue advantage of any individual or group on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

(8)I will cooperate fully in the timely resolution of any grievance hearing or complaint.

(9) I consider it a privilege to be a part of the United States Soccer Federation and my actions will reflect credit upon that organization or its affiliates.

(10) I will safeguard the confidentiality of the USSF registered referee list.

(11) When assigning unaffiliated games, I must notify the referees being assigned that the game is unaffiliated.

(12) I will not use affiliated game assignments to coerce or convince registered referees to officiate unaffiliated matches.