Question Number: 12745

Law 6 - Assistant Referee 5/6/2006

RE: Junior Leagues Under 15

Tom Brown of Stafford, Staffordshire UK asks...

Hey,
I'm 14 and have been a qualified referee for 8 months, i only ever ref games on my own (i do not have any neutral AR's), so i end up handing my flags to some substitutes or parent etc, but i always tell them only to call ball-in, ball-out etc but they always try to call offside! they raise there flag when they think a player is offside, and last game the AR did this and i disagreed, but because the players saw the flag go up they handed the ball to the goalkeeper (hand ball) and went back in there own half (all this without me indicating a thing), i had no option but to book the player for handball (wish i had another choice) and then had to dismiss the AR, and then awarded a DFK to the team who were originally given the ball via a wrongful hand ball! How are kids meant to ignore the AR flag when i dont make a call?, in future i might just ref the game on my own! and i also have another problem!, where i referee, there are 14 pitches next to each other, all in use on the sunday i ref, and last week i sent the coach off for using abusive language towards a member of the opperisition, he then stood in the spectator area of the pitch next to mine, continuing to protest against my desicions, i blew my wistle and halted the game and tld him to leave the who playing areas! he refused so i abandoned the game! was this right?
thanks in advance!

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Your abandoning of the game was correct but I have problems with the rest of what you say. Whenever using club AR's not only are you to insist they only raise the flag for ball out of play but the second they raise the flag for offside you stop play and go tell them again not to do this. Since play should be stopped there should be a dropped ball restart. If they insist on raising the flag again then take it away from them. Your sanctioning the player for handling may have been allowed via the Laws but was in contradiction to the Spirit of the Game. No way should you have done that. Find some other reason to restart with a dropped ball or even an IFK for offside would be better. You might also remind the players before the game to play your whistle and only your whistle. I do this with all the younger games I do to avoid exactly what occured here.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

You handled the situation with the coach correct. If the coach refuses to leave the vicinity of the field, the game should be terminated. Make sure to write a detailed report to the league. Now, a couple of things about the club linesman:

Have a LONG pre game with these volunteers prior to the game. Tell them that their only responsibility is to raise the flag when the WHOLE ball leaves the field of play. Make sure to emphasize the whole ball must completely cross the touch line. Tell them to point the flag in a direction only if you do not signal in a direction or if you ask them to. Tell them that they will not have to worry about offside. Whenever I utilize club linesmen, I instruct them to cheat a little towards the goal line knowing that these volunteers are not going to be as quick to follow the ball to the goaline as regular AR's would be. Also, make sure they know to stay on their assigned half of the field and of course off the field behind the touchline. Finally, make sure to thank these people for helping you out.

I do, however, have a comment about the player picking up the ball after seeing the flag up. Players should know not to do this! Players need to understand that you play to the referees whistle and nothing else. For example, an AR could put the flag up in an effort to call a foul, but the referee has the option of waiving the AR off. I am assuming that you were refereeing a younger kids game and they need to be trained to play to the whistle. Perhaps we as referees need to be emphasizing this more at that level.

I do agree with Mr. Contarino on going with the drop ball rather than the direct free kick restart via spirit of the game due to the perceived confusion.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Tom,
It is a tough assignment for a 14 year old to manage a match without the support of neutral officials. I question what age were you refereeing? I admittedly do not think it is a good idea to referee your peers at this age level?

When refereeing as a single referee I PREFER not to have parents or volunteer club linesmen. I think they want to watch their kids play and I think the coaches want to coach.

Now we do not want to antagonize or appear too haughty so if we are going to be asked can they help it MUST always be on our terms.
It can not work any other way.
So we thank them for the assistance and we instruct them what we expect . Or you could do as I do, thank them kindly but let them enjoy the game as a spectator, parent, or coach as they should!.

We tell the teams we play the whistle .

We explain that unless we are 100% sure we will not blow it for offside or ball out of play or to award a restart of any kind.

We explain how subs enter only at centre and must be there before the stoppage.

We explain they wait until we signal them in AFTER those they replace are off ther FOP.

We CAREFULLY explain ONLY we will decide what the final outcome of any situation will be.

Now your club linesmen are asked to raise the flag if the ball completely leaves the FOP. You should show them what this truly is some might give you a ya I know but if you show them it will help set the standard!. You must also tell them not to be too quick and not to be offended if you overrule them!

We indicate who gets the throw in corner or goal kick by verbally stating it as so in ANY close encounter.

We might ask the well informed CLs to stay with the second last defender thus by their position they could assist you as to what the line of offside might be.

We might ask if they notice something that requires our attention to raise the flag and on this and substitutions to mirror each other to help signal us what is going on!

In your match with a difficult coach, if he fails to act responsibly you could verbally request the coach to completely leave the playing area if in your opinion that is what is required. He is not sent off , only players are sent off, only players are supposed to be shown cards although it is my understanding some leagues have adopted this policy of showing cards to other than just players.
I do suggest though you make it known if he refuses to leave this abandonment action will be taken and wait a wee bit to see if others in attendance might step up to the plate and help him on his way?

If he does not do as you request you are correct in abandoning the match.

The REPORT you write must detail everything you did and why it was done. NO abuse or misconduct from anyone is to be tolerated and leagues MUST KNOW to take appropriate action.

IN your match with the CLs trying to be ARs while correct not to let that happen the game is more than just a set of rules . It has a human component in the kids their well being is the number one concern here. The spirit of the game the concept of fairplay and fun must not be forgotten when dealing with confrontation by others not playing! If the Cls are not doing what you asked then you stop play and remove them as part of the playing enviroment.

You DO have a few options when outside interference affects play. In this case you have no need to caution a player for a deliberate handling created by confusion with the CL which is essentially an outside force.

Personally I see a dropball for outside interference as the one possible restart that causes the least harm to the game.

I see a possible DFK out if it was the attacker who deliberately handled the ball. A Deliberately handled ball by the defenders of course could be a DFK or a PK depending on where it occurs along with a caution or send off ? I remain a bit unclear who actually picked the ball up? Did the defenders to give it to the keeper or the attackers who returned to their side of the field?

We certainly would not caution an attacker for giving up an attacking opportunity. A defender who deliberately handles the ball could be cautioned for USB of breaking up attacking play or even sent off for DOGSO by showing a red card. While Letter of law might support you is that is what best for the match?

You are to be commended for having the courage to take the field and for soliciting help here, as well I hope, within your local association.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

I seem to remember club linesmen having more authority outside America, though if given specific instructions as to what they should and should not signal for one would really expect them to follow instructions. But an adult given instructions by a teenager tends not to do what he is told. When he does not follow instructions simply announce to the players, they are younger than you, that they should stop play when your whistle sounds, they will follow instructions. Then go to the linesman in question and ask him not to flag for offside because that is the way you want it.

I find it way easier to referee as a solo than use club linesmen because my occasional miss of a ball in or out far overshadows constant interference by someone who insists on getting in his two pence even though he has no clue.

Remember this when considering dismissing a club linesman: the club gave you the very best they had, who knows who'll replace him? If you choose to go without him and it is better start that way next time and just run a bit more...

Regards,

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