This note is just a friendly reminder about properly filling out the Official Lineup Forms (aka Game Cards). As these are the official record of each AYSO sanctioned game, it is very important that these forms be filled out and used properly by both the coaches who prepare them and the referees who use them. And it's not just for record-keeping purposes; the points earned by certified referees officiating a game -- the points which must be earned by a team in order to qualify for post-season play -- are determined in very large part by the information on the cards. In other words:

Improperly filled-out card = no point(s) earned!

That isn't as punitive as it sounds; it simply means that, if the cards are not correctly, legibly, and completely filled out, we will be unable to use them. But have no fear! It's actually quite easy to fill out the game cards; you covered most of this when you attended your coach and/or referee certification training class. We won't attempt to rehash all of that in this letter; we will instead just point out a few items which must be legible and complete.

Front of Card:

• Region number properly and legibly filled out (NOTE: Ojai comprises Region 147).
• Age Division properly and legibly filled out.
• Team number correct and legible.
• Team name (if known, some teams are still without names).
• Uniform colors. If multiple colors are used, list the predominant color first.
• The Coach's full name.
• The Assistant Coach's full name (if applicable).
• Every player's name listed next to their jersey number.
• Absent (or late-arriving) players marked as such to ensure proper playing time procedures are followed.
• The periods ("quarters") each player sits out clearly marked.
• Any goals scored clearly indicated and attributed to the scoring player.
• A 'G' or 'GK' clearly showing which player(s) acted as goalkeeper during each period.
• The date of the game properly and legibly marked.
• The time of the game properly and legibly marked.
• The field number on which the game was played properly and legibly marked.
• The halftime score properly and legibly marked. Be sure this is in agreement with the total of the goals scored by all players on each team.
• Which team was leading at halftime (if applicable) properly and legibly marked.
• The team which won the game (if applicable) properly and legibly marked. Again, be sure this is in agreement with the total of the goals scored by all players on each team.
• The team which lost the game (if applicable) properly and legibly marked.
• It is the job of the center referee to ensure that the scores on both game cards are in agreement with each other!

Back of Card

• Clearly mark the checkboxes which indicate the conduct of the players, coaches, and spectators in general.
• Clearly note any disciplinary actions which had to be taken against any player, coach, referee, or spectator.
• Clearly write any additional comments which you feel may be necessary. (Please limit these to facts, such as 'Player 5 (Gonzalez) was injured in the 4th period and did not return.')
• The Center Referee's signature (to verify that the game was officiated), along with his or her printed name (if the signature is illegible, as many are), along with -- and this is very important -- the number of the team to which the Center Referee wishes to assign the points he or she earned by officiating the game. Please do not merely write "Team 3", or "Girl's Pink team", or any such shorthand; the full team number (which includes both the Age Division as well as the gender) must be marked.
• Both Assistant Referee's signatures (to verify that the game was officiated), along with their printed names (if the signature is illegible, as many are), along with -- and this is very important -- the number of the team to which the Assistant Referees wish to assign the point they earned by officiating the game. Please do not merely write "Team 3", or "Girl's Pink team", or any such shorthand; the full team number (which includes both the Age Division as well as the gender) must be marked.

It really doesn't take much more time to fill out a card the right way than it does to do it the wrong way, and you will doubtless come to find that doing so regularly will make your job as a coach or referee (or both!) easier and more pleasurable for everyone involved. As always, let's keep it Safe, fair, and fun!