Information: Help

1- Player Cards

Rosters

Coaches are supposed to have a team roster with them at all ages and levels of competition. For younger recreational matches, the roster stays with the coach and there is normally no reason for you to check it. For any match in which player cards are required, a roster is also provided to the referee by both teams. You must keep a copy of the roster. The roster will usually have instructions for what you should do. Typically, there is a place for you to record the score and your name on the roster. You will then give copies of the roster to each team, following the instructions on the form. Some leagues ask that you mail in a copy of the roster. Others don't tell you anything. If there are no instructions, then keep a copy of the roster in a safe place for the remainder of the season. After the last game of the season is played, wait a week, then you may destroy any copies of rosters that you have.

Most leagues that require rosters provide an "official" roster form. If they forget the form, collect a roster on ANY piece of paper. You should NOT play a game without a roster. The roster must include, at minimum, the name of the team, the number of each player, and the first and last name of each player. It must be legible. Note on your match report if you had to collect a roster that was not on a league provided form.

What Leagues have player cards?

Crossfire RCL - All ages

All leagues in which Crossfire teams participate require player cards.

Crossfire NPSL - All ages

Player cards will be used for NPSL play.

U12 and younger, recreational matches

NO player cards are required

District II (U13 - U18 Recreational)

Player cards are not required during regular season play. Player cards will be required during the State Cup. Rosters should be collected.

State Tournaments

All State Tournaments (Presidents Cup, Commissioners Cup, Challenge Cup, Champions Cup). HOWEVER, these tournaments MAY also have special instructions for referees. Make sure you get those instructions and READ THEM.

NOTE: At the start of the season some teams may not have player cards or they may not be filled out as they should be - for reasons beyond their control. This is especially true of the younger teams, who may have new coaches or managers. Be flexible, play the game. Just note in your match report any "anomalies" related to player cards and let the league officials fight it out.

Procedures

Allow extra time for this procedure. It takes a few minutes for each team. This should be part of your "pre-game" inspection of teams.

1. Collect the roster and player cards from a team.
2. Assemble the players and complete your safety check.
3. For each player card, call out the name of the player. Have them step forward so you can see them and compare them to the picture on the card. (Note: Kids grow up and the picture on their card is often not as they appear ready to play a soccer match. Therefore, they often differ in appearance somewhat from their picture on the card - but if there is an OBVIOUS difference, it should be challenged.) Check each player off on the roster as you do this.
4. As you check each player, have them move to a different spot so you can see who you have checked and who you have not checked.
5. Player cards include Coaching staff. Make sure their names match what is on the roster.
6. When you are done RETURN THE CARDS TO THE PERSON WHO GAVE THEM TO YOU. Unlike adult games, once you have a checked roster in hand, there is no reason for you to keep a player card. If you give the cards back right away, there is no risk that you may walk off with one.
7. Repeat the procedure for the other team.

Things that go wrong

A team forgets ALL of their cards

Collect the roster and still check the names of the players vs. the roster. When you file your match report, indicate that "Team ______" did not provide player cards. PLAY THE GAME AS NORMAL.

One or more cards is missing

The players that do not have cards are not permitted to play. Note any player without a card on the roster. If, for any reason, a player without a card ends up on the field, report that in your match report. Be certain to include the name of the player.

The cards are "not right"

Player cards are supposed to be laminated and have a picture under the lamination. If they aren't laminated or are missing pictures - do your pre-game as best you can and note what was wrong on your match report. PLAY THE GAME AS NORMAL.

What can you do if a couple of cards are missing/wrong?

It is important to remember that the RULE is that, if a card is missing or wrong, that player may not play. However, you will be faced with situations in which coaches or parents will beg/plead and make strong cases that you should make an exception. YOU have no ability to declare that a player who is ineligible because of credential issues is suddenly eligible. However, many coaches do not feel this should be strictly enforced, given the large number of administrative difficulties that seem to exist concerning player cards. One approach is to say "We can go to the other coach, and if the other coach says it is OK for the player to play, I will permit it, but will note it on my match report." Then, accompany the coach and let the two coaches talk, with you as a witness. YOU should not be asking if the player can play or taking any position, pro or con. The coach should do the talking. If the opposing coach agrees, make sure you get their name (to make sure its the coach) and the name of the player, and note "Player (name) on (team name) player card was (missing/not laminated,etc) but the coaches talked about this and the coach of the (other team name), (coach name) said it was OK if the player played." This MUST be filed with your match report. If this involves multiple players or is during a tournament, you MUST file a Supplemental report. It need not be any longer than the above.
If the opposing coach does not agree, then the player must not permitted to play. Simply say "Your league officials have asked that we enforce this rule about player cards and, as the referee assigned to this match, I am obligated to do so." Don't say you think the rule is silly. Don't say anything about whether or not you agree with either coach position. If people are getting upset, suggest that the place they need to go with their concerns is to their league officials and repeat that you, as the referee, are obligated to enforce the rules that the league provides you. Then, leave the conversation and get the game going.

It is important for you as a referee to stay out of the argument of "what happen's?" The matter gets reported with your match report. That is ALL you do. It is up to the league officials to figure out what, if anything, will happen to a team if there was something wrong with the player cards. YOU, the referee, should not speculate or even say "I think such and such...". If somebody asks "what will happen?", all you can say is "I've been told to file my report with the information and league officials will figure out what happens."

IMPORTANT: ESPECIALLY FOR TOURNAMENTS!!!

If there is a problem with credentials during a State Cup match, the referee MUST file a Supplemental Report NO LATER THAN THE MONDAY MORNING AFTER THE GAME completely describing the problem. There is a meeting on Monday nights to review credential anomalies and the committee MUST have your information in hand. Also, each year make sure you review the specific tournament rules about player cards. They change from year to year and this web site is NOT the official source for that information.

What is a "Proper" Player Card

A player card should have all of the following:

1. It is an official document from WSYSA, not the local association
2. It has a player picture
3. It is signed by the player
4. The player's name is printed on the card
5. The card is LAMINATED

Having a laminated card is intended to prevent last minute changes of picture at the field.

Who has "Player Cards"

Player cards are issued to all participants that are officially registered with WSYSA and associated with a program that requires cards. For most of what we deal with, this will mean:

1. All players and substitutes
2. All coaching staff (head coach, assistant, trainer - whatever they are called, they get a card)
3. Other "team officials" such as team manager.

While there is no limit to the number of adults that can be issued credentials on a team, the competition MAY limit the number that can be with the team at any time.