GRASSROOTS REFEREE RE-CERTIFICATION
COMPREHENSIVE TEST PAPER 2026
COMPLETE ANSWERS ACCURATE
⫸ The ball is in play on a kick-off when the ball is kicked and clearly
moves backward. Answer: True
⫸ Early in the first half of a competitive game, the assistant referee sees
a foul committed by a defender in the penalty area that the referee could
not have seen. The assistant referee should Answer: all of the above
⫸ As time expires at the end of the first half, you call for a penalty kick.
All players except for the kicker and goalkeeper must leave the vicinity
of the penalty area for the taking of a penalty kick in extended time.
Answer: False
⫸ After you stop the game because a team official has entered the field
and interfered with play, you must restart with: Answer: Direct free kick
⫸ A player in an offside position retreats into his team's half of the field
to receive a ball directly from a teammate. The referee whistles for an
offside offense. This is the correct procedure. Answer: True
,⫸ When a player is sent off before the kick off, the number of
substitutes available to this team is decreased: Answer: True
⫸ A penalty kick is the only restart that must be kicked forward to be in
play. Answer: True
⫸ If you notice shortly after the start of the second half that the Red
team substituted player Red #2 with substitute Red #18 during the
halftime without informing the referee, the referee must: Answer: allow
play to continue, no disciplinary action is taken, report the matter to the
appropriate authorities
⫸ Your assistant referee flags Red #11 for a direct free kick foul in his
penalty area. After you stop play for this infraction, Red #11 approaches
and directs dissent at the assistant referee. You caution Red #11. The
correct restart is Answer: Penalty Kick
⫸ Blue #30 was cautioned in the 75th minute. After the game is over,
he approaches your assistant referee, while still on the field, and verbally
insults the AR regarding decisions made during the match. Answer: do
not show a card and report the incident to proper authority
⫸ A player asks for and receives permission to leave the field to have an
ankle taped. Without permission he comes back onto the field and plays
the ball. You stop play and caution him for entering without permission.
The proper restart is Answer: Direct Free Kick
, ⫸ There is a required distance for opponents on all restarts. Answer:
False
⫸ When a player is sent off before the kick off, the correct procedure is
for the referee to identify the guilty player by showing a red card.
Answer: False
⫸ If a player wearing white shorts with a black hem chooses to wear
undershorts, the undershorts can be either white or black even though
white is the dominant color of the shorts. Answer: True
⫸ Players that are injured during play and are treated on the field must
leave the field of play except if the injury: Answer: Was caused by a YC
or RC offence and treated quickly
⫸ At a dropped ball restart, Blue #30 taps the ball several feet sideways
as soon as it hits the ground and then kicks it back to his goalkeeper. The
goalkeeper completely misses the ball and it goes into their own goal.
The proper restart is Answer: corner kick
⫸ An attacking player other than the identified kicker enters the penalty
area, takes the penalty kick and the ball enters the goal. The referee must
disallow the goal and: Answer: Award an indirect free kick from the
penalty mark to the defending team and show the 'wrong' kicker a YC
⫸ With the ball in play, a player near the center circle shouts at a team
mate and then deliberately pushes him to the ground. The referee must:
COMPREHENSIVE TEST PAPER 2026
COMPLETE ANSWERS ACCURATE
⫸ The ball is in play on a kick-off when the ball is kicked and clearly
moves backward. Answer: True
⫸ Early in the first half of a competitive game, the assistant referee sees
a foul committed by a defender in the penalty area that the referee could
not have seen. The assistant referee should Answer: all of the above
⫸ As time expires at the end of the first half, you call for a penalty kick.
All players except for the kicker and goalkeeper must leave the vicinity
of the penalty area for the taking of a penalty kick in extended time.
Answer: False
⫸ After you stop the game because a team official has entered the field
and interfered with play, you must restart with: Answer: Direct free kick
⫸ A player in an offside position retreats into his team's half of the field
to receive a ball directly from a teammate. The referee whistles for an
offside offense. This is the correct procedure. Answer: True
,⫸ When a player is sent off before the kick off, the number of
substitutes available to this team is decreased: Answer: True
⫸ A penalty kick is the only restart that must be kicked forward to be in
play. Answer: True
⫸ If you notice shortly after the start of the second half that the Red
team substituted player Red #2 with substitute Red #18 during the
halftime without informing the referee, the referee must: Answer: allow
play to continue, no disciplinary action is taken, report the matter to the
appropriate authorities
⫸ Your assistant referee flags Red #11 for a direct free kick foul in his
penalty area. After you stop play for this infraction, Red #11 approaches
and directs dissent at the assistant referee. You caution Red #11. The
correct restart is Answer: Penalty Kick
⫸ Blue #30 was cautioned in the 75th minute. After the game is over,
he approaches your assistant referee, while still on the field, and verbally
insults the AR regarding decisions made during the match. Answer: do
not show a card and report the incident to proper authority
⫸ A player asks for and receives permission to leave the field to have an
ankle taped. Without permission he comes back onto the field and plays
the ball. You stop play and caution him for entering without permission.
The proper restart is Answer: Direct Free Kick
, ⫸ There is a required distance for opponents on all restarts. Answer:
False
⫸ When a player is sent off before the kick off, the correct procedure is
for the referee to identify the guilty player by showing a red card.
Answer: False
⫸ If a player wearing white shorts with a black hem chooses to wear
undershorts, the undershorts can be either white or black even though
white is the dominant color of the shorts. Answer: True
⫸ Players that are injured during play and are treated on the field must
leave the field of play except if the injury: Answer: Was caused by a YC
or RC offence and treated quickly
⫸ At a dropped ball restart, Blue #30 taps the ball several feet sideways
as soon as it hits the ground and then kicks it back to his goalkeeper. The
goalkeeper completely misses the ball and it goes into their own goal.
The proper restart is Answer: corner kick
⫸ An attacking player other than the identified kicker enters the penalty
area, takes the penalty kick and the ball enters the goal. The referee must
disallow the goal and: Answer: Award an indirect free kick from the
penalty mark to the defending team and show the 'wrong' kicker a YC
⫸ With the ball in play, a player near the center circle shouts at a team
mate and then deliberately pushes him to the ground. The referee must:
