Will there be a referee, and is there offside?
Guideline- South Africa
- SAFA
- Grassroots football
- Ages 6-12
- FIFA Grassroots Programme
- 2026
- Parents
Referees (SAFA grassroots material):
| Event | Refereeing |
|---|---|
| Festival (any age) | No referees. Coach-educators supervise the games. |
| Tournament, 6-8 years | No referees |
| Tournament, 9-10 years | With or without referees |
| Tournament, 11-12 years | With referees |
Grassroots refereeing must always be educational. In 7v7 and 9v9 the recommended style is "informative" refereeing from off the pitch, without a whistle, with a chat to both teams' players and coaches before the match.
Offside
- 4v4 and 5v5: no offside.
- 7v7: offside as in 11-a-side, but only inside a line 8 m from the goal line (marked with two cones or poles).
- 9v9: offside as in 11-a-side, but only inside a line 13 m from the goal line.
Added 22 Oct 2026