The players are not the only ones on the field who need to have their own assortment of specialized equipment.  Much like how reusch gloves are unique to goalkeepers, things like whistles are unique to the referees.  Here is other equipment that is uniquely used by the game referees.

As already mentioned, referees are the only ones who use whistles.  They use these whistles to communicate starting points, game infractions, and other calls.  Usually when you hear a whistle during the game, it calls for the players on the field to stop.  A referee who spots a foul in the game can blow his whistle to stop the game and award a free kick to the offended team.

Referees may not be the only ones in the game with a watch, but there is a purpose to why they wear it.  Sure it can tell time, but more importantly, it acts primarily as a stopwatch to keep the game on track.  Sometimes a referee will wear two watches in case one malfunctions or breaks.  Another reason for the second watch is for the referee to keep track of the extra time that will need to be added at the end of each half.  One watch runs continuously while the second stops for injuries, time-outs, substitutions, and infractions.

Speaking of infractions, referees are the only ones that carry flags on the field.  Each flag has a different meaning and is thrown for a different reason.  Having the responsibility of being the judge and official in the game, the referees are charged with keeping the players honest and the game clean.  These flags are thrown in the event a player or a group of players does something illegal that needs to be remedied.  A referee can flag a player with a yellow card for his infraction.  Two such instances and that player is removed from the game and the team is penalized with having one less player on the field. Serious infractions call for a red card which bypasses the yellow card system and immediately dismisses the offending player or even the manager from the game.

Of course the referee is not expected to remember every foul in the game so they are provided one more piece of soccer referee equipment that is unique to them, a game book.  In this book, the referee can write down the infractions and refer to them when needed to help him keep track of the game offenders.

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Guest post is provided by Soccer Garage.  For a complete assortment of quality soccer referee gear, visit us at www.soccergarage.com.