Question Number: 15482

Mechanics 5/14/2007

RE: 1 Professional

Jon of London, UK asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15462

Guys, Im not sure about OZ, but in UK club assisstants tend to be told by the CR that they can judge offside...there becomes too much for the CR to deal with otherwise. We put the assisstants running with their teams left back therefore the worst that can happen is he flags wrongly and IFK is awarded not flag down and a goal. Yes we try to be in a position to judge offside, but if we aren't we can go with the club assisstant.

Just thought id point that out becuase u often say that club assisstants don't rule offside, but they do here. Not meant to yes, but they do.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

USSF is ADAMANT club linesman, even if certified referees, are to ONLY call in and out. Like Chuck, I tend to rather do games with no AR's as opposed to having a club linesman. Now, if there's a certified referee and the game is rec and the center asks him/her to act in capacity as an unbiased AR, then that person then becomes an AR with all responsibilities and is paid by the association. If this person has a referee uniform availables, they may do Select games as well.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I suspect this is a matter of culture rather than Laws. You pick out the average spectator watching a soccer game in the US, and the only thing they know about offside is that they don't understand it. USSF is probably attempting to head off problems by restricting club lines to calling ball over the line only.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Just a little info not included in the personal letter, here [USA] a club lino is a parent or sibling who carries a flag and runs up and down the touchline in street clothes. You mention once the club linesman dons the black robes of neutrality, things change. Here nothing changes, he still yells out "offsides" and complains about decisions -- then wonders why the referee doesn't take his word for anything...

It's a cultural thing, I learned The Game in the colonies. Upon my return to the States I was a freshman in high school, they asked me to try out for the football team -- can you guess what was in my kit bag and how embarrassed I was when everyone else was wearing a kind of armour and frigging helmets. Then I saw the ball.

Regards,

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 15495