Referee Development Page

• Impermissible Behavior by Team Officials in Professional Matches (.pdf)
• Restarts after Striking, Throwing or Spitting (.pdf)
• Abandoning a Match Due to Insufficient Number of Players (.pdf)
• Automatic Suspension Following an Expulsion from a Match (.pdf)
• Availability of Water During a Match (.pdf)
• Behavior in the Technical Area (.pdf)
• Cardable Offenses and the Restart of Play (.pdf)
• Ceremonial Restart after Misconduct (.pdf)
• Changes in the Laws of the Game for 2005 (.pdf)
• Contact with Game Officials (.pdf) (Clips Available for Download via Google Video)
• Dealing with Severe Weather (.pdf)
• Electronic Flags (.pdf)  
• Feinting at the Taking of a Penalty Kick (.pdf) 
• The Field of Play (Equipment and Devices) (.pdf)
• Fouls, Misconduct and Restarts (.pdf) (Clip Available for Download via Google Video)
• Gesturing for a Card - Misconduct (.pdf) - added 4/5/2007
• Handling Offenses (.pdf)
• Increasing the Communication Effectiveness of The Officiating Team (.pdf)
• Instructional Documents (Memoranda and Position Papers) (.pdf) - 1/13/03
• Instructions to Referees & Resolutions Affecting Team Coaches and Players (.pdf)
• Jersey Sleeves Rule Suspended (.pdf)  - This position paper refers to this previous announcement
• Kicks from the Penalty Mark (.pdf)
• Kicks from the Penalty Mark, The “Reduce to Equate” Principle (.pdf) - added 6/11/02
• Law 11 - Offside - Interfering with Play and an Opponent (.pdf) (Google Video)
• Law 15 - Throw In (.pdf)
• Law 4 - Players’ Equipment (Jewelry) (.pdf)
• Managing Match Time (.pdf)
• Mandatory Suspension Following Dismissal (.pdf)
• Mass Confrontation (.pdf)
• Medical Alert Jewelry and Law 4 (.pdf)
• Misconduct and Display of Cards (.pdf) - added 8/26/02
• Misconduct Involving Language/Gestures (.pdf)
• Misconduct by Attackers at a Free Kick (.pdf)
• No Replacement for Player Sent Off after the Game Has Started (.pdf)
• Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity Denied - The 4 Ds (.pdf) - added 9/16/02
• Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity - Advantage (.pdf)
• Offside - Law 11 (.pdf)
• Offside - (.pdf)
• Penalty Kicks and the 2005-2006 Law Changes (.pdf)
• Player Dress (.pdf)
• Player's Equipment (.pdf)
• Players Temporarily off the Field Involvement of Fourth Official (.pdf)
• Players Wearing Non-Compulsory Equipment (.pdf)
• Positioning at Free Kick Restarts (.pdf)
• Removing the Jersey While Celebrating a Goal (.pps) 
• Rescinding a Displayed Card for Misconduct (.pdf)
• Restarts after Striking, Throwing or Spitting  (.pdf)
• Sequential Infringements of the Law (.pdf)
• Send-Offs for Receiving a Second Caution (.pdf)
• Shinguards (.pdf)
• Status of Sent Off Players (.pdf)
• Throw-In to Keeper by Teammate (.pdf)
• Use of Elbow (.pdf)

The difference between fouls and misconduct remains confusing for some people. Even more confusing is the proper restart. Click here for a matrix that explains the proper restarts in various situations.

Current USSF Position Papers

USSF "You make the call" videos

Laws of the Game, USSF Memorandum and other resources