What do I check before kickoff?

Q: What do I check before kickoff?

Your authority to take disciplinary action starts when you enter the field for the pre-match inspection (Law 5). Before kickoff: Field, goals and ball: you decide whether the field and the weather let the match go ahead, and whether the field equipment and ball are suitable. The Laws' default ball is 68-70 cm (27-28 in) around, which is a size 5, but youth competitions may specify a different ball. Team lists: get the names of the substitutes. Anyone not named before the start can't take part. Players' equipment (Law 4): inspect the players before the start, and substitutes before they enter. Required items: a shirt with sleeves shorts socks, with any external tape matching the sock color shin guards covered by the socks footwear Accessories: allowed only if not dangerous and safely and securely covered. Dangerous items must be removed, not taped. Colors: teams must be distinguishable from each other and from the officials. Each goalkeeper must be distinguishable from all other players and the officials. Numbers: each team needs at least 7 players to start. A player who commits a sending-off offense before you enter the field can be stopped from taking part. Report any other misconduct from that period.

Question

Accepted Answer

Your authority to take disciplinary action starts when you enter the field for the pre-match inspection (Law 5). Before kickoff:

Field, goals and ball: you decide whether the field and the weather let the match go ahead, and whether the field equipment and ball are suitable. The Laws' default ball is 68-70 cm (27-28 in) around, which is a size 5, but youth competitions may specify a different ball.
Team lists: get the names of the substitutes. Anyone not named before the start can't take part.
Players' equipment (Law 4): inspect the players before the start, and substitutes before they enter. Required items:
- a shirt with sleeves
- shorts
- socks, with any external tape matching the sock color
- shin guards covered by the socks
- footwear
Accessories: allowed only if not dangerous and safely and securely covered. Dangerous items must be removed, not taped.
Colors: teams must be distinguishable from each other and from the officials. Each goalkeeper must be distinguishable from all other players and the officials.
Numbers: each team needs at least 7 players to start.

A player who commits a sending-off offense before you enter the field can be stopped from taking part. Report any other misconduct from that period.