Question Number: 15673

Law 6 - Assistant Referee 6/2/2007

RE: Under 15

Ryley Ball of Osoyoos, British Columbia Canada asks...

Hi,
I have never been a linesmen before, and there are soccer provincials being played in my town. They asked me to line and I don't know the positioning of the assistant ref. Does the AR stay on their own side of the field? Where do I stand when a goal kick, throw in, or corner kick are being played, anyways if you could awnser these questions and give any other feedback on this subject i would really appriciate it.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Oh my. I certainly hope these are some sort of friendly games, not competitive games for a provincial championship.

It takes one or two hours to teach the assistant referee module of the referee certification course. We can barely scratch the surface of assistant referee duties on this site. Perhaps you should go back to the person who recruited you for this position and find out what you are expected to do. If you are not comfortable with those duties, you should respectfully decline the position.

I can refer you to USSF's document, "Guide to Procedures for Referees, Assistant Referees and 4th Officials". While it is a US document, the mechanics are fairly universal. It is at http://images.ussoccer.com/Documents/cms/ussf/GuidetToProc0607.pdf

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Outstanding assignor you have there, all referee assignments and nothing on the line, a referee's dream -- right up till the time someone else nails you with a line assignment.

Basically you are going to do everything possible to stay with the last but one player or the ball whichever is nearer the goal line. Do that and the referee is well served. It gives him a line, beyond which attackers may not go AND get involved in play after the ball is sent to them by their side. So, even if you have no idea what an offside infraction is the referee has a assistance showing the line. In your end of the touchline you show who gets a throw-in, in the referee's end he does that and you help out if you think he needs help. On your side of the goal line, far post to corner flag you tell him when the ball has crossed and whether you think it is a goal, goal kick or corner kick. On his side you follow what he does. Help out with fouls when you are WAY closer to them, follow his direction when he calls them. Go to the halfway line and help him out with substitutes by NEVER letting the substitute run on till the player he is replacing leaves [let him break Law 3 first then do it his way]. If he asks for an opinion give him one. If HE gives a penalty move to the intersection of the goal line and penalty area and judge the goal and, IF HE TELLS YOU WHAT IT IS, give a signal indicating the keeper has moved off the line and done so unfairly.

Bottom line...

Assist don't insist!

Answer provided by Referee MrRef

Jon From London writes this for you:

Standard standard standard...why do they always do it??! My first line was two years into refereeing..i was 17 and got assigned to AR1 for an Under18 County Cup Final...quite a big deal for all involved. And there they are, assigning a 17 year old who, yes, knows what he was doing with the whistle after two years, but had never been an assistant!! Thanks very much. The fact it was a local derby didn't help either. Be confident and make sure u make the CR is confident in you. I think I must have given off this persona at my first assisgnment on the line. CR gave a penalty on my word, disallowed a goal on my word and dissmissed for VC on my word!!! Typical, they throw you in at the deep end and inevitably it will be a tricky game!!! Enjoy it, its fun being on the line. Different, but fun. Often people say its harder being AR than CR and although I woudln't agree as its more the refs head than yours, it does take a lot of concentration when maybe u think it doesn't. Remember, ENJOY!!