Community Service Opportunity

For High School Aged Officials Who NEED community service hours, the following is available for volunteers to serve as referees at Maryland Special Olympics Soccer.

Sunday October 9, 9 am - 4 pm

McDonogh School, 8600 McDonogh Rd, Owings Mills, Md 21117

How to Submit STAR information for Payment

1. At the field, teams are to notify the referee of the name of the STAR for each match.

2. The referee will enter this information into the Referee Report on the WAGS web site

Clarification about Game Reports from WAGS Office

There are a few questions that the office has been receiving. Some referees are refusing to accept the game card because it doesn't have a stamp on it. I have no doubt that the instructions were sent to your referees; however, will you please resend that information. Referees are to collect these forms for their use when entering information into the WAGS data base.

Statement from Official Sports on Credit/Debit Card Fraud

Dear OSI representative,

We are writing to inform you of an unauthorized access to a database containing the personal information of some of our web site customers. The incident involved a SQL injection attack by a foreign group called “ZmEu @ WhiteHat Team” who attacked several companies. At the recent discovery of this breach we have taken several measures to re-secure our web site. This breach applies only to customers who have ordered on our web site, customer information from telephone, fax or mail orders are not affected.

These are the steps we have taken to ensure the security of our web site. OSI has rotated all customer information databases, access codes and security protocols to quarantine our site and eliminate future unauthorized access. We have also purged all personal customer information from databases and backups as an extra precaution.

We encourage everyone to be vigilant and take action to check on their credit card account. Call your card issuing bank and report the possibility of unauthorized access to your information. Review your card statements carefully and report any unauthorized use. Routinely check your credit report. We suggest using Equifax (Equifax.com), Experian (experian.com) or TransUnion (transunion.com) to check your credit report.

We regret the inconvenience this has caused our web site customers and appreciate all of the information we have received that aided our investigation of this incident. We will remain vigilant in our ongoing efforts to make your online shopping completely safe.

Sincerely,

Marilou Tobin

New WAGS R&D Director

From WAGS: Please notify your referees of the new WAGS R&D Director.

Kley Parkhurst
Email: Wagsrd@wagsl.com
Phone: 703-675-0753

Credit/Debit Card Fraud Email sent Sept. 5 from Maryland Soccer Referees

A number of referees throughout the country have found fraudulent charges on their credit/debit card accounts. There is some speculation that individuals have hacked into the system of Official Sports International as there seems to be some connection with those who have made purchases with OSI. While there is no confirmation of such, we advise anyone who has made any transactions with OSI to review their credit/debit card accounts for fraudulent charges. If anyone finds such charges, contact the security department of the credit/debit card companies.

Maryland Soccer Referees

Fall Openings

The Gettysburg Tournament spots have been filled. You may contact Ross Burbage to go on a waiting list.

Officials who wish to receive weekend youth league assignments may e-mail assignor Ross Burbage now. Please list specific weekend availability for 9/10-9/11 thru the first weekend of November. Schedules will be generated over Labor Day weekend so please send your availability by the last week of August.

Message from Assignor

Starting in Fall 2011, all referee reports for WAGSL and NCSL MUST be made online. There are no more game cards to mail. WAGSL and NCSL retains the right of not paying officials for games in which no report was filed. Furthermore, the leagues have stated that referees who fail to file reports will be reported to the various assignors and a request will be made not to assign those officials as the center referee for future matches.

New Meetings Announced for High School Officials

Posted 2011 High School Meeting Schedule. See the High School page for more details.

New WAGS and NCSL Information

Important updates for WAGS and NCSL including game fee updates. See the Leagues page for more details.

New Westminster Spanish Soccer League Information

Added Westminster Spanish Soccer League information. See the Leagues page for more details.

USSF Fitness Test Scheduled

A USSF Fitness Test has been scheduled for Tuesday August 2, 2011. See the training page for more details.

Mandatory High School Clinic hosted by Old Line Board

The mandatory high school clinic is scheduled for 8/8/11 at Carroll Christian School.

July USSF Monthly Clinic Rescheduled

The July USSF monthly clinic has been rescheduled to July 21 at Carroll Indoor. 

April USSF Monthly Clinic Rescheduled

The monthly clinic at CISC has been rescheduled to Apr. 13, 2011.

Spring Assignments

Referees can start sending their availability for the spring.
BBSL starts 3/20/11 and WAGSL/NCSL kick offs 4/2/11.

February USSF Monthly Clinic Rescheduled

The monthly clinic at CISC has been rescheduled to Feb. 17, 2011.

Best of Luck to retiring Commissioner Jim Myers

A large thank you to retiring Commissioner Jim Myers. Your years of service to the Old Line Board and soccer in Carroll County is truely appreciated.

New USSF Entry-Level Courses

Visit the Training page for the upcoming entry-level (new) referee courses at Westminster and Fredrick High Schools.

USSF Recertification Clinics for 2011 Badge

Visit the Training page for the upcoming recertification opportunities at Westminster and Fredrick High Schools.

BBSL and FCYSL Game Fees Updated

The BBSL and FCYSL game fees have updated for the Fall 2010 season. Please note the changes.

NCSL Reminder

Please remind refs that they should send an email to rdchairman@ncsl-soccer.com alerting me to any games not playing to completion. Thanks.
Barry Finkelstein, Chairman
NCSL, R&D Committee

New NCSL Game Reporting Requirements for Referees

NCSL has implemented a feature available to it on the Demosphere web site of referee game reporting. Many other leagues use this feature. The value to us in using this feature should be:

• Game information such as yellow and red cards will appear directly on the team page, the team will know by name who received cards in a given match.
• R&D and club representatives will know the cards, and other teams in the division will know how many cards there opponent is receiving.
• The referee will have the ability of rating the sportsmanship of the coaches, players and parents- the clubs and the league will then have the ability to reward good teams and discipline poor team behavior.

We will be asking all NCSL referees to register on the Demosphere web site and report all game information using the new Game Report feature. Please note that until the system has been tested and we are convinced that all referees are reporting their matches online, the league will not discontinue the use of the blue match cards. Referees should report the game information online from the blue match report and then mail the blue match report to the league.

Referees can now sign up and registeron the NCSL web page.

1. Create an account by signing up as a referee, and get your PIN.

• Go to the NCSL website: www.ncsl-soccer.com and select referee information in the left hand side
• This will take you to the referee page where there are two links one for sign up and one for game reports
• Sign up and receive your pin number via e-mail from Demosphere

Referees can report their game information on the NCSL web page.

2. Return to the referee information page and select the Game Report link

BBSL and Player Passes

Recently there has been issues regarding the questionable eligibility of players.  It is a reminder that referees must check player passes prior to the start of every BBSL game and anyone who does not have a valid MSYSA player pass (or USYSA pass from another state) for the team for which they are playing cannot play.

Law 4 and Hair Control Devices

From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center:

From:
Paul Tamberino
Director of Referee Development

Alfred Kleinaitis
Manager of Referee Development and Education

Law 4 (The Players' Equipment) requires that nothing be used or worn which is dangerous, with certain limited exceptions (religious or medical items). It is the responsibility of all members of the officiating team to ensure that this requirement is enforced, not only at the start of play but throughout the entire match.

Although ultimately it is the responsibility of the referee to decide if an item of equipment or clothing presents a danger, an increasing number of hair control devices are being seen which should not be allowed on the field. Referees should take note of the following guidelines when evaluating such devices:
Hair control devices which are elastic, flexible, and soft should be allowed.
Devices which are made of hard, sharp, edged, or breakable materials are not safe and may not be worn.
Beads or other similar decorative devices woven into or affixed on the hair are inherently dangerous and are not allowed.

Referees are strongly urged to be diligent in enforcing these guidelines in the interest of player safety.

Here are the steps you’ll follow effective with the first games of the fall season:

Check the safety of the goals prior to every match!

The information below was originated by Jim Cosgrove of USYS, and forwarded by MSYSA. Please send this to your referees. If there is any questions as to the safety of the goals the referees are not to begin the match. Coaches do not have the authority to waive any safety concerns that the referee may have.

“As we progress further into spring and the start of the new soccer season, please remind your coaches and referees to inspect, BEFORE EVERY PRACTICE, TRAINING ACTIVITY, AND GAME (1) all goal posts and nets for safety, that they are properly anchored and secured, and (2) the field and areas around the field that is being used.

For further information, please see the US Youth Soccer website, http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/news/story.asp?story_id=619, or that of your State Association.”