FOR REFEREES — THE NORCAL APP
In the first few weeks of the season, the NorCal App rollout has been mostly smooth. However, there are some continuing issues that we would like to address. Most involve the post game reporting process. Please ensure you read below and follow up with any questions by emailing appsupport@norcalpremier.com.
The Match, Start to Finish
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Starting. The home team shows you a QR code. Scan it with your phone to get reporting access for that match. No account or assignment needed. → Referee Check-in
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Check IDs. Complete a Digital ID Check on all players and coaches for both teams before kickoff. Only players on the match-day roster in the app are eligible. Coaches do not need to be on the match day roster, but must have a valid US Club pass. Players not on the match day roster, who have a valid US Club pass may play, but the match is played under protest - notify the opponent and they may file a Match Report. → Digital ID Check
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Keep your own record. All three officials should note goals (time, number) and discipline (time, number, card, reason). The center referee’s record should be shared with both teams, who should take a photo of your notes.
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After the match, the score is the home team's job. You do not need to enter the score, the goalscorers, or the yellow cards.
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If there was a red card, that is yours to report. See below.
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If the app fails — no service, a phone problem, a pass that will not load — use a coach's or manager's phone, or accept physical or digital US Club Soccer passes. Play the match; it proceeds under protest. Never abandon/fail to start a match over an app problem.
RED CARDS: THE ONE THING YOU MUST DO POST-MATCH
No red card in the match? You have nothing to submit. You are done.
Red card in the match? Enter it in the Post-Game Event Report before you leave the venue. → Post-Game Event Report guide
Open the match in the app or through your check-in QR link, go to Goal & Event Reporting, and open the Post-Game Event Report. If the home team's reporter already logged the card live, edit that entry rather than adding a second one. Otherwise add it. Record the player or coach, the time, the card, and the reason.
Do not put send-off information in the match comments. The comments field is a public game feed. It is visible to families, it does not reach NorCal's disciplinary system, and a red card recorded there produces no suspension.
Write a complete description.
The written description attached to the red card entry is the entire basis for the ruling. The NorCal Suspensions Subcommittee sets the suspension length from the Disciplinary Matrix using what you write. A two-word entry forces us to apply the minimum, regardless of whatever actually happened on the field.
The App send-off reporting process requires the following:
The text description, written by you, requires the following:
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What happened — the physical act or the words used, described plainly. For contact, provide the point (what was used to make contact) and mode (where contact on the opponent was made). Include a description of the force used. If the send-off was for language, write the words; do not sanitize it.
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Where — where on the field, and whether the ball was in play
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The sequence — what led to it, and what happened immediately afterward
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The consequence — any injury, any continued dissent, any refusal to leave etc
Not enough: "Violent conduct."
Enough: "#8 Home, Jordan Smith, 63rd minute. Off the ball, approximately 20 yards from active play, #8 struck #4 Away in the chest with a closed fist and considerable force after an exchange of words following a throw-in. I showed #8 Home a red card and they were sent-off, leaving the field without further incident. #4 Away stayed down for approximately one minute while being attended to by their coach, and then returned to play."
If you send off someone who is not on the match-day roster, select Unknown and enter their name and number in the comment on that entry.
Entering the red card correctly in the app replaces the old Send-Off Report in GotSport. For a standard send-off, there is nothing else to file.
When You Must Also File a Referee Match Report
Separate from the app, a Referee Match Report is filed in GotSport within 48 hours for anything outside normal match operations:
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Match abandonment or termination, a delayed start, or shortened halves
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Referee abuse
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Fight or mass confrontation
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Discriminatory behavior — all incidents from one match in a single report, describing the specific behavior witnessed or alleged
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Spectator issues — entering the field, refusing to leave
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Serious injury
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Credential or roster problems
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Anything else unusual
Instructions and the form are on the NorCal Referee Reporting page. Complete the required fields and submit — never add anything in the chat/comments area, which is reserved for NorCal's communication back to the teams. Failure to file a required report results in a fine to the host club.
Other Reporting
Please note that this describes NorCal required reporting. Your assignor and/or club may also require reporting via a different mechanism in addition to the NorCal mandatory reporting presented here. Contact your assignor if you are unclear about any additional reporting requirements.
Guides and Support
Thank you for the work you do on the fields every weekend.
