U7

• Look professional.  Have the appropriate uniform with your shirt tucked into your shorts.
• Blow the whistle loudly.  If play continues after you blow the whistle, you're not blowing it loud enough.
• Track the game time accurately.  You should use a watch that either counts up or down.  Using a cell phone is not acceptable.
• Ensure the field is safe.  You need to make sure the goals have sand bags and that nothing on the field is dangerous to the players.
• Ensure the players equipment is safe.  Do not allow players to play with earrings or other jewelry. 
• Show you are in control.  If you blow the whistle to stop play and the players don't stop, you need to keep blowing your whistle until they listen.
• Call the basic fouls: intentional handballs, trips, pushes, etc.
• Do not allow players to slide tackle.
• Give the proper signals for goal kicks, corner kicks, and fouls.
• Officiate the game by talking to the players in addition to using your whistle. "Number 7... don't push people".
• Guide the restarts as the players may not understand all the rules and restarts.  Give one do-over if a player performs an illegal throw-in.
• Accurately report your games so that issues are reported and so you can be paid.

U8

• Protect the goalkeeper.  Do not allow players to kick at or slide into the keeper. A keeper is in possession when they have 1 finger on the ball.
• Know the details of and enforce the rules related to the "intentional pass back" to the keeper.
• Enforce the rules related to the keeper distributing the ball over the half-way line.

U10

• Check rosters according to league rules (spring).
• You need to be assertive and deal with players who are causing trouble.
• Know and enforce the U10+ substitution rules.  Your signals are now even more important as the coaches will need to understand when they can sub.
• Understand and call offside.
• Know which fouls are direct vs. indirect. (e.g. Pass backs to the keeper are indirect.  NOT penalty kicks).
• Give penalty kicks when appropriate.
• Allow legal slide tackles.
• Penalize illegal throw-ins by giving the throw-in to the other team.
• The field is bigger so you need to keep up with play.
• Carry yellow and red cards and understand the circumstances around when they are appropriate.
• Do not just blow your whistle the same for every situation.  There are different whistles to use for different situations.  Regular fouls, bad fouls, or situations where you need peoples attention have different kinds of whistles.
• Keep track of the game score in writing.  After each goal you should pull out your paper and pen and make a tic mark to keep track.  Total them up at half time and at the end of the game.

U12

• The field is bigger so you need to keep up with play.
• You are now part of a team of officials (spring season).  You need to work as a team, making eye contact at key moments and every stoppage in play. 
• Start using the diagonal system of control so you and the ARs are well positioned.
• Administer "Advantage" appropriately.
• Games are more physical and are more likely to get heated.  Stay in control and use your cards when appropriate.  You may need to stop play and chat with players who are not behaving.

U14+

• The field is bigger so you need to keep up with play.