Question Number: 15985

Law 6 - Assistant Referee 7/9/2007

RE: Select Under 13

Steve Kenton of Ames, Iowa usa asks...

When visiting another team for my daughter's games, there inevitably be a shortage of ARs and I will often be called into service as a guest linesman.

I had one occasion where a shot on goal hit the lower edge of the cross bar, bounced on the line a couple of times and sat there. The players all assumed it was a goal, however, the whole of the ball did not cross the goal line. I stood, even with the goal line, as everybody else, including the CR assumed the ball went in. I felt I communicated the fact the ball was in play by not sprinting upfield. I'm sure, since I was a guest linesman, the CR probably assumed I didn't know that mechanic. It was a few uncomfortable seconds before the CR asked me if the ball had gone in.

In this situation, would it have been appropriate to verbally point out that the ball was still in play before having to be asked by the CR?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Steve the fact you are a referee, or have been one, should have been communicated to the referee prior to the match. Your mechanics may not have been held suspect had he known that.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Jon Sommer

I disagree there Chuck. The last thing I wanted to hear at the start of a youth match from my club assisstant was "im a referee" or "I used to referee" because, unfortunately, 9 times out of 10, these guys are trying to pressure you into giving them more responsibility, and even i you don't, they will still try and make decisions with their flag causing massive problems. this is my experience of the situation in my youth.

Steve, a quick "BALLS IN PLAY" wouldn't go a miss here, clears up confusion.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Steve, you don't give us one critical piece of information. When you sub for the missing AR, you would normally be considered a "club line", restricted to calling the ball in and out of play only. However some leagues, especially those where refs are in short supply, will allow a certified referee who shows up with the team to function fully as an AR, as if there was no conflict. We do that often in our area on lower level games. I'd never expect it in the State Premier League. But with the consent of both coaches we allow someone affiliated with the team to suit up in proper uniform, get paid, and act as an AR with full duties. Certainly that's contrary to the training we receive from USSF - but if it works for the league, it's better for the game to have a full crew of certified referees.

Club lines that I have worked with, those who are not certified, seldom signal for ball over the goal line. I don't tell them to do so or to not do so, they just usually assume I mean for them only to call balls that go over the touch line. Club lines generally will not be sprinting to keep up with play, so they don't usually have a good view of the goal line for situations like you describe, so anything that they might call would be suspect anyway. This would be the referee's call to make, and evidently he and everyone else concerned, except you, thought the goal was scored.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Not sure what to say here. My comment is that the referee had bad mechanics. I always look at my AR before signaling for a goal and again before the kick off. Did this referee not recognize you as an AR because you were a club linesmen. If so, he should have provided you instructions before the match.