Top products from r/Referees

For those of us who have an offseason - either because weather demands it or because you just choose to work harder in some seasons than others - having a training plan is both critical and awesome. Like many, I mostly referee in the Fall and Spring HS/College seasons, with an occasional youth game outside of that - being in shape for 3-5 games/week is very different than a Saturday or Sunday game. (I do other things, like ski, and adjust accordingly, but this is a basic plan.)

My goal is to continually improve my running endurance and overall fitness without overdoing it and causing injury, plus enjoying what I do.

My plan looks like this:

--3days/week running - every run is challenging in some way. I follow the Train Smart, Run Forever plans (https://www.amazon.com/Runners-World-Train-Smart-Forever/dp/1623367468) - one interval, one tempo, one long - but you can choose something else, as long as they are real work. It's enough to really improve your cardio fitness without reaching injury thresholds.

--2-3 days/week strength training - I tend to avoid significant strength training on my lower body during heavy soccer season - it just creates too much strain and exhaustion. I'm able to more balance that training during the offseason. I always have two days: I sometimes add a third depending on schedule.

--1-2 days/week cross-training. I use a stationary bike - I do this quickly, like a 20min HIIT ride - I enjoy it in small doses. If I have a game that week, I'll generally swap this out.

--1 day rest. (Some of the bike/weight days are the same.)

I'll sometimes mix things up with a group training session of some kind, etc., but this is the basic plan. I love it.

Just a thought, but have you ever seen a pro game where the referee was using a Spintso watch? No? That's bc there have never been one. Most pro referees have 2 simple watches one running, and one stop start, and sometimes a goal line tech watch. I personally use the SF Ref app on my apple watch. It was developed by one of the referees in my region that i have worked with in numerous occasions. Check it out if you use an Apple Watch. If i'm doing my DA games or an ECNL, I will generally use a more complex setup. I will generally use a Garmin as a running clock and as a reference against the fitness data I get from my tracker. On the other wrist, I will wear a Robic or apple watch.

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BONUS: Trackers are amazing for tracking distance and speed, heart rate, and most importantly, which parts of the field you are running on the most and what parts you are not covering, and it's fifa approved! The stat sports app gives you concentration zones that show where on the field you are covering and where you aren't. It's great for developing better coverage of where you need to be, and can expose zone where you should be, but aren't. I'll link everything below.

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SFRef for apple watch: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sfref-soccer-referee-watch/id1163321127

Garmin: https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/641121/pn/010-02156-06

Robic: https://www.amazon.com/Robic-591-48319-SC-591-Referees-Regular/dp/B079V8WDJT/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=referee+watch&psc=1&qid=1572913887&sr=8-4

Tracker: https://shop.statsports.com/collections/apex-athlete/products/apex-athlete-series-us-soccer-edition?variant=13023306776633

This may not be the most popular option - and addresses more questions than you posed - but I use a set of writable cards. I had trouble elegantly using a paper and pencil and book setup, so now I keep my game notes on the yellow card in my chest pocket with a normal Sharpie. My markings come off pretty easily with some aerosol spray and toilet paper. The cards themselves are a bit on the larger side (though I'd guess much closer to 6" than Amazon's 8" figure), but they fit in my pockets fine, their colors are true, and they don't get vent out of shape.

They are certainly professional and functional enough for my purposes but I don't take very high level assignments. Not for everyone, but I would recommend my setup to someone at my own level.

Your absolute cheapest option is to get 3 Bluetooth headsets (early 2000s style) and pair them with your crews phones and do a 3-way call. But I don’t recommend that at all.

Next cheapest is to pony up about $180 for these: Referee Headset 3 Referees Talk Same time Football Wireless Headsets Wireless Football Headsets Headset Football Referee Communication https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074W37NQP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_kjhPDbHXRFCK3

I have that set and they work great. I’ve used mich nicer ones like Vokkeros and honest they’re not that drastically different

The Casio RFT-100 was developed for the 2006 World Cup, and is a solid referee watch. Pre-programmed halves, tilt-night glow, vibration-only operation (selectable), made for soccer. The only downside is that over time, the spring bar that holds the band to the watch can pull through the plastic. I've broken one with a ball to the wrist, and the band pulled the spring bar loose. Because it's plastic, it scores the watch, and the spring bar will pull easily from then on, and can't be repaired.

I've been using a 1st-generation Spintso referee timer and it's quite good as well. While there are no pre-programmed times, it's built for one-touch operation. Once the times for the halves are programmed, all other operations are one-touch. For example, once you set the halves for 45-minutes, and, for example, select 10 minutes for the halftime break, you just use one button to start/stop for anything after that.

The workflow for the Spintso is like this:

• Set duration of halves
  
• Set duration of halftime break
  
• Long-press start/stop button to start match. Begins counting down from 45mins to zero on one timer, and match counter begins counting up from zero.
  
• Long-press for any stoppage (injury, time-wasting, etc.) Watch automatically begins counting stoppage time. The stoppage time indicator begins climbing up from zero. Watch vibrates every five seconds when stoppage time is enabled to remind you that match time is stopped.
  
• Long-press start/stop button again to end stoppage time and resume match. Stoppage timer stops, and match timers resume (1st period timer decrements toward zero, match timer increments from zero upward)
  
• When the half expires, the watch vibrates. The stoppage counter shows you how much time to add. The match time automatically adds the stoppage time, and vibrates to let you know that the half, plus stoppage has expired, and begins the halftime period timer.
  
• When the half-time timer expires, the watch vibrates to remind you to start the second half. It waits for you to start the second half - you don't have to start right when the halftime timer expires. Just long-press the start/stop button to begin the second half.
  
• Just as in the 1st half, long-press the start/stop button anytime you need to add stoppage time (injury, time wasting, etc), and the stoppage time increments, the match half timer stops, and the full match timer keeps incrementing. The watch will vibrate every few seconds to remind you that you are in stoppage time mode. Long-press the start/stop button to resume match.
  
• When the halftime timer decrements to zero, the stoppage timer begins displays how much time to add. The match timer increments to the half duration plus stoppage, and vibrates when that time expires. End the match.
  
  The cool part is that it's all one-button operation once you've set the halves and halftime duration. Takes some getting used to, but it's very easy once you've done it a few times. It has three modes - the regular watch mode, which displays the day of week, year, month/day, time (with Daylight Savings mode with one press to switch modes) (hours/minutes/seconds). The second mode is game mode, which displays Time Zone (you can select any time zone in the world), hh:mm:sec, month/day at the top, am/pm, which period you're in (1st or 2nd), minutes remaining in half, then the bottom displays total match time (incrementing from zero), stoppage time.
  
  When you enter halftime period, the halftime timer appears, and decrements from whatever duration you've set.
  
  The last mode is stopwatch mode. It just starts/stops a timer from zero.
  
  Hope that helps!

I live in Canada, but I'll give my advice.

I personally bought the cheapest referee uniforms I could find. In Canada, they were the Avantis

For watches, I use a Fitbit (not really necessary but I recieved it as a gift) and a Casio

For the whistle, I have the lanyard and just wrap it around my hand.

Good luck!

Yes. I use ref comms that can be bought on Amazon for $185 for a set of 3. A lot of the refs in my area have gotten them, and they make life way easier when doing upper level youth games or high school. It's very convenient to communicate decisions and talk through things on the comms rather than having to walk over and make a scene. Also the CR can focus more on the action in the middle when there are tight offside situations. The comms also help you look more professional. I find that it adds a level of respect from coaches and players.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074W37NQP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_hKG4Db5MD197A

I've switched to black bamboo - after dozens of uses they still don't stink :)

Here's the last set I bought: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E87TF0C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00

They fit well, wick great, and wear better than the cotton & polyester ones I used to wear - none have worn out.

your choices, basically:
-any old cheap timex with any kind of timer function will suffice, and last for a good long while.
-a nice watch made for reffing, often with vibrate features. Spintso watch or this one is what i use, personally. Spintso is expensive, but I've heard you can often find last year's model for a decent price if you know where to look.
-a smartwatch. Something that can pair to your smartphone, or a fitness-centric model like something from garmin or polar. these typically offer less soccer-specific settings, but allow you to track steps, heartrate, and all sorts of things like that.

Casio RFT-100
I got this watch for my birthday last season and I would highly recommend it.
It's the smallest and lightest watch I've ever worn yet the numbers are large and easily readable with a quick glance.
It's got many different options, all of which are simple to use. The preset halves are especially useful.
It's a bit more expensive than most digital watches but trust me, you won't regret buying it. Although I'm not sure if they make them anymore so get in quick!

I personally use this. Got it as a Christmas present. It's pretty cheap, but has interval timers, stopwatch, a function to let you run stoppage time, and such. Works great.

Casio Men's W735H-1AVCF Super Illuminator Watch With Black Resin Band https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BS8U88W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_vylWDbA58K163

Personally I use pencils with a clip top very similar to the ones found on this link. Might be something to look into? I would thoroughly recommend them.

https://www.amazon.com/Faultless-Pencil-Clips-Quantity-DCLIPS/dp/B00N3HKL7E

I really like these

For a watch, you can't go wrong with this Casio for $30.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00IYUYAFY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

As far as whistles go, the Fox 40 Classic is the most affordable highest-quality whistle you're gonna get, and they sell them everywhere.

Cards – the FIFA set is my personal pick, lots of listings on Amazon and eBay.

If you want to do PRO games you need:
Tag Heuer
Polar V800

Just kidding any watch with a stopwatch function is fine

I bought the acme tornado because it looks cool. It also has a unique sound.

www.amazon.com/dp/B005UGMKFM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_o7CNBbWXRFMCA

I use this 2 in 1 ball pump and gauge. It gets the job done for me and is $20. I can’t say much for this electronic pump, but have seen some people I’ve worked with use it without a problem and it only costs $22

https://www.amazon.com/Casio-AE-1300WH-4AV-Referee-Timer-Watch/dp/B00JQ2QY1W/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1467149115&sr=1-1&nodeID=7141123011&keywords=casio+referee+timer

This is pretty much the same watch as the RFT-100 but without the vibrate function and a smaller display. Comes in different colours too, red, blue, black, yellow...

Also, much cheaper.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BS8U88W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is my gold standard. Counts up or down. Lights up if needed. Easy to read. And the count down alarm is a vibration. My amazon history has four of them, two for my soccer bag, one for my football bag, and a replacement one last year cause I loaned it out and it never came back.

Love that watch.

I use luggage cubes. A medium one will hold 4-5 jerseys folded: https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Piece-Packing-Travel-Organizer/dp/B014VBHEFW One bag for USSF short sleeve, one bag for USSF long sleeve, one bag for NISOA new, one bag for NISOA old.

I've also seen other officials use a gallon zip loc with a jersey and dryer sheet in it.

Back when I reffed, I would either use the little notepads that go in the cardbook, or write directly on my yellow card in sharpie, and rinse it off with rubbing alcohol/acetone after the game.

They also sell these

Law Five


Amazon 4 Colors for $80

This Casio watch has a Football style stopwatch for calculating stoppage time and costs about $20US

[Casio Men's AE-1300WH-8AVCF Illuminator Digital Display Quartz Black Watch](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IYUYAFY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_MMp7Cb79ZN8AD]

I picked it up at Walmart

I believe it is this

Casio Men's AE-1300WH-8AVCF Illuminator Digital Display Quartz Black Watch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IYUYAFY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_tqLPDb1QKQ0Q4

Referee Headset 3 Referees Talk Same time Football Wireless Headsets Wireless Football Headsets Headset Football Referee Communication https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074W37NQP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Ajx0Cb3J04R2D

I use these. Under $200 for 3. Open mic.

I use a Robic watch that has a referee mode. It counts down from 45 minutes (or whatever I set the half length to). And a second button counts up stoppage time. When the countdown timer reaches 0 it starts counting up again. So I can look down and see that, say, I have 2:45 of extra time and 5 minutes left in the countdown.

But until you get to competitive levels or older players you don’t need to worry about extra time, really.