IMPORTANT NOTES & FYI's
IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED:
1 - LOOK IN THE LI FUTSAL LOTG AND/OR THE PROCEDURES LISTED ABOVE
2 - IF IT IS LEAGUE/ADMINISTRATIVE RELATED AND NOT COVERED IN THE LOTG OR ABOVE (ie. venue not open or roster issue), CALL JOHN BRANCA
3 - IF IT IS REFEREE RELATED, CONTACT STEVEN WOWK:
If an emergency (ie. referee no show, running late, or something else I need to know ASAP) call me
If something that can wait until latter in the day or on a future date, WhatsApp or Email
(this was necessary to put into writing as I was getting calls nearly every week way too early in the morning, usually about things I had no control over)
Payments
Game Pay Rate adjustments for 2026 are as follows: (last year was $40-50)
$40 - for referees new to futsal; can be increased during the season after a favorable evaluation
$46 - for referees qualified through a successful evaluation to officiate U7-U12 futsal matches
$50 - for referees qualified through a successful evaluation officiate U7-U16 futsal matches
$54 - for referees qualified through a successful evaluation officiate U7-UBHS futsal matches
Adjustments can be made at any time and take into account feedback from other referees, coaches, LI Futsal staff and personal observations. Payments will be made twice. The first will be at the end of January and the second, after the season is completed.
League Protocols, Policies & Procedures:
NOTES - please be as familiar with these as you are with your knowledge of the LI Futsal Laws
Please read through the entire website and get familiar with it. This will be where assignments will be listed for all L.I. Futsal matches.
Availability
Availability should be submitted a minimum of 8 days prior to the week being assigned via the availability form. It just makes things on my end so much easier when I can see everything in one place. It is not practical for me to go through emails and text messages for your availability may be. I normally receive the schedule Monday evenings and start working on it then or Tuesday morning.
To go to the availability forms, you can either click on the drop down arrow next to the "scheduling" tab on the left side of this page then click on "availability" or click on the "scheduling" tab on the left side of this page and then click on the "availability" link. From there, click on the appropriate link for the dates you would like to enter your availability. If you ever need to update your availability, just submit a new form on the availability page. I will use the most recent availability submitted.
If the link is down for that week, that means I have already started assigning for that week. If you find your availability is less than what you expected, let me know right away via an email, text, or WhatsApp message (personally, not the group WhatsApp).
If you find your availability more opened, you can email me but your best option would be to check the uncovered games section on the weekly assignments section of this website.
Scheduling
If you see anything out of place with the schedule, like 2 games being booked at the same time and venue, please do me a favor and shoot me an email to let me know. The longer I start at the computer screen the more of those things I am likely to miss. I think I got them for this week but another look from another pair of eyes couldn't hurt. Thanks everyone!
Administration
All cards (yellow and red) as well as any other unusual incident (injuries, etc....) must be reported via the L.I. Futsal Supplemental Referee Report located on the top of this page. That team's roster of any sanctioned player or coach must be retained.
There are no "soccer" balls permitted ANYWHERE in any building. If you see them have them put away.
Safety is our primary concern. If a match needs to be stopped or postponed to deal with a safety issue, it MUST be dealt with. Clock does not stop.
Games must start on time. If a game start is delayed because of a safety concern, the time comes out of the playing time
You must be at your location a minimum of 30 minutes before the scheduled kick off, especially if you are the first game to kick off at you location.
If this is your first time officiating a L.I. Futsal match, you are expected to get to the pitch at least 75 minutes early so you can watch the procedures and game proceeding your first match. You can also do this on a day prior and have the referee(s) of that match let me know you attended.
If you have an emergency or a referee fails to show, call or text my cell phone and let me know of the situation (631-327-5647)
Scores must be confirmed with both team's coach who must verbally verify the score with the referee(s) and circled on the score sheet. (not necessary with for U7/8, which is used for future years balancing)
Referee Assault
In the case of referee assault, follow the ENY Referee Assault Protocol. The only change to that procedure is I and the League President, John Branca need to be contacted as soon as possible. In addition all referees assigned to the match must submit within 24 hours, a typed USSF supplemental report which is to be emailed to both myself (stevenwowk@gmail.com), John Branca (lifutsal@gmail.com) and the SRA Joe Brosi (sra@enysreferee.org). You will be informed afterwards if any further action is required.
Rosters
All teams must present a roster (players and coaches are listed) prior to the game indicating players are fully registered. This will be indicated by one check mark next to their name which indicates that the liability waiver was signed and has paid the registration fee to be covered by ENYYSA insurance. Duplicate rosters at the field that can be used as a backup if the coach or team manager doesn’t have a roster. A digital record of the roster of the coach’s phone may be used if a hard copy is not available. A supplemental report must be submitted if a team does not present a hard copy of their roster. Teams will be penalized points in the standings for not supplying a hard copy roster. EACH PLAYER MUST HAVE THEIR OWN NUMBER. A team without numbers may not play, no exceptions.
I would suggest taking a photo of each team's roster so you have a copy of it should you need to do a supplemental report.
Equipment
"Footwear - Only non-marking footwear should be used • A BLACKED SOLED NON MARKING INDOOR SOCCER OR FUTSAL SHOE IS ALLOWED • No turf or "street" shoes, which are designed for outdoor use, or cleat shoes, are allowed.
Not only can turf shoes cause scuff marks but they are not designed to be used be used on hardwood surfaces like a gym floor • "On hardwood, concrete, or ceramic gym floors, the surface is completely flat.
At the same time, turf soccer shoes have a number of small studs on the underneath. This means you’re going to have very little of your shoe in contact with the ground at any given moment. Essentially, it’s a recipe for slipping over."
• Basketball sneakers, or a quality indoor soccer shoe designed to be used on indoor soccer pitches are a good choice. • The best shoes for futsal are futsal shoes or indoor sneakers. Brands like Adidas, Nike, and Under Armor all make good, quality futsal shoes •
Ideally, the indoor shoes should never be worn outdoors, as the grit that invariably attaches to the bottom of the shoe can cause damage to the gym floor."
Now for the other thing. For younger players (u12 and below) in this situation write a report after the game but allow the player to participate if said equipment is legal otherwise. Obviously the best solution would be to find a replacement but my advise, if that is not a possibility, would be to tell the coach that if a referee in the future says that you can not play with that particular garment, he/she would be 100% correct in not permitting it to be worn during the game, whether it's Futsal or outdoor soccer. For older age groups, give the player the option, you can play without it or you can watch from the bench if you wish to keep it on. In either case, NEVER make an ultimatum.
Game Management
Futsal is not outdoor soccer. It is a game of skill and must be called appropriately. Do not to let fouls go early in the game and then try to call it tighter later. Call the game tight from the start, the way it is supposed to be. Be in the best position to make the correct decision.
Futsal is a game of skill and quick decision making. Most contact above the waist is a foul. Any arm or body contact to an opponent is a foul.
"Hand Checking" of any kind is penalized as a push and results in a direct free kick restart and an accumulated foul
Keep communication open with your fellow referee, coaches and players.
With younger players, especially in the first couple of weeks of the season, help them out with the game by explaining what they are not doing correctly. They are there to have fun and develop skills above all else. Try your best to assist in helping them learn the game.
Abandoning a Match
Prior to abandoning a match, the referee(s) must call John Branca (631-790-7481) to inform him of the situation. If John does not answer, you may then and only then call me (631-327-5647). We want to get the games to go to completion as much as possible and would like to be informed to see if there is something we can do or if ending the game early is appropriate.
Game Cancellations
Cancellations due to weather will be posted at the top of this site, on the league's website lifutsal.com, through WhatsApp and lastly via email. Individual game cancellations will be posted on the schedule. I will also do my best to notify the affected referee(s) as soon as possible.
League Rules to Remember
The "goalie 2 touch" rule is only applicable to U-13 and above.
Goalkeepers may not throw ball over the halfway line without it first touching the ground or another player. If thrown completely over the halfway line, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opponents where the ball crossed the halfway line.
Goalkeepers may not drop kick the ball off a save. If a goalkeeper does so, an indirect free kick is awarded at the top of the penalty area.
All restarts except for kick offs require opponents to be a minimum of 5 yards from the spot of the restart. This is regardless of the size of the pitch.
Kick offs can go in any direction. A goal may not be scored on a kick off.
Penalty kick scenario to decide the winner - kicks from the mark are done on a 1 vs 1 basis. The first team to score more goals than their opponent, with both teams taking an equal number of kicks, shall be declared the winner (this is only done for championship matches, which will be clearly identified in the referee schedule)
A yellow card issued to a player or substitute results in a THREE (3) minute cool down period for which that player may be substituted.
A Sliding tackle or any attempt to slide to play the ball by any player is an indirect free kick to the opponents. A player who does so within playing distance of an opponent results in a direct free kick or penalty kick.
A goalkeeper may slide on their knees or dive hands first to make a save without penalty unless it is done carelessly, recklessly or endangers the safety of an opponent.
A goalkeeper may extend a foot or stretch (lunge) in order to make a save. As long as one foot remains planted or moves minimally on the floor, it shall not be deemed a slide.
There is no heading permitted for U-12 and younger. An indirect free kick is awarded to the opponents from where the ball was headed.
Referees (if working with another referee, the referee closest to the restart) shall indicate the 4 second count for all restarts. There is no count for kick offs or penalty kicks.
Coaches do not need to sign off scores for U-7/8 and U-9. Keep scores on scoresheets for future league balancing.
There are two columns for coaches to sign off the final score, one for each team. John Branca has asked that referees write team colors on the score sheet. It will certainly help everyone keeping track of which team is which.
After your last game at a field, take a picture of the completed score sheet and email or text it to me and John Branca. Include in the email/text the location and date . This needs to be done so the league can keep scores and standings up to date. (631-327-5647).
Above all else, USE COMMON SENSE! My expectations for referees is high.
Those who do not follow the procedures and protocols will find themselves no longer being assigned to officiate L.I. Futsal.
IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED:
1 - LOOK IN THE LI FUTSAL LOTG AND/OR THE PROCEDURES LISTED ABOVE
2 - IF IT IS LEAGUE/ADMINISTRATIVE RELATED AND NOT COVERED IN THE LOTG OR ABOVE (ie. venue not open or roster issue), CALL JOHN BRANCA
3 - IF IT IS REFEREE RELATED, CONTACT STEVEN WOWK:
If an emergency (ie. referee no show, running late, or something else I need to know ASAP) call me
If something that can wait until latter in the day or on a future date, WhatsApp or Email
