Refereeing acronyms that help me discuss (and understand) the game

Ref X
May 10, 2023
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Last updated: June 11, 2023

I think it’s important that all serious referees learn them. It’s important to be able to discuss in-game situations with others and communicate ideas succinctly.

These acronyms are also used expansively online. Knowing them will be important if you want to be able to easily digest situations you read about online and engage with others in conversations and discussions in online forums, chat rooms, Facebook groups, etc.

As I discuss refereeing here at RefJourney, I’ll use a host of acronyms. Some below I’ll use regularly and other not so much. Use this as a reference anytime.

I’ll be updating this list regularly!

Thank you RefChat and Ask The Ref for helping to create the list below. Please visit the links above for an even more expansive collection. Some I didn’t think were necessary to include below because they’re more niche or I’ve never personally seen them used online.

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  • 2LD - 2nd to Last Defender

  • 4Ds - (For DOGSO) Distance to Ball, Distance to Goal, Direction of Play, # Defenders

  • AA - Aggressive Attitude

  • AET - After Extra Time

  • AL - Abusive Language

  • APP - Attacking Phase of Play

  • AR1 - First Assistant Referee

  • AR2 - Second Assistant Referee

  • CAR/NAR - Club/Neutral Assistant Referee

  • CFA - County Football Association

  • CL - Champions League

  • CMI - Critical Match Incident

  • CRUEF - Carless Reckless Using Excessive Force

  • CT - Careless Tackle

  • DB - Dropped Ball

  • DFK - Direct Free Kick

  • DGH - Denying Goal Hand (denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball [this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area])

  • DOG - Denial Of a Goal

  • DOGSO - Denial of Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity

  • DOGSO H - Handball Denial of Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity

  • DP - Dangerous Play

  • DP - Disciplinary Panel

  • DR - Delaying Restart

  • DT - DissenT (by word or action)

  • ET - Extra Time

  • ET - Excessive Tackle

  • FK - Free Kick

  • FOP - Field of Play

  • FT - Full Time

  • FTS - Failed To Score

  • GC - Goal Celebration

  • GK - Goal Keeper

  • HB - Handball

  • IFAB - International Football Association Board

  • IFK - Indirect Free Kick

  • ITOOTR - In The Opinion Of The Referee

  • LOTG - Laws Of The Game

  • Law 18 - Common Sense

  • Law 19 - Spirit of the Game

  • MIS - Misconduct

  • OFFINABUS - Offensive, Insulting or Abusive language or behavior

  • OG - Own Goal

  • OOB - Out Of Bounds

  • PA - Penalty Area

  • PGMOL - Professional Game Match Officials Limited

  • PIADM - Playing In A Dangerous Manner

  • PIOP - Player In Offside Position

  • PK (or Pen) - Penalty Kick

  • PO - Persistent Offenses

  • PRO - Professional Referee Organization

  • RC - Red Card

  • ROC - Rules Of Competition

  • RP - Reckless Play

  • RT - Reckless Tackle

  • SA - Situational Awareness

  • SBO - Second Bookable Offense

  • SFP - Serious Foul Play

  • SOTL - Spirit Of The Law

  • SPA - Stopping a Promising Attack

  • SUB - Substitution

  • TI - Throw In

  • TR - Tripping

  • UB - Unsporting Behavior

  • UEFA - Union of European Football Associations

  • USSF - United States Soccer Federation

  • VC - Violent Conduct

  • YC - Yellow Card

Know a soccer ref? Feel free to share this with them 💙

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