Question Number: 17504

Mechanics 10/25/2007

RE: Competitive Under 12

uthamm of Logan, Utah USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15955

I have been reading through the Q & A on mechanics and have noticed several times where referees will mention that they will forgo club lines and just referee solo - my question concerns solo mechanics. I had a game where neither of my ARs showed up (unusual, usually we have at least one). What steps should the solo referee take to attempt to make a passable attempt at the offside call? I run into this as well with a single AR - I feel like I need to 'hold' the offside line opposite the AR and don't get near enough to play to call fouls properly. Does reference material exist to help with this? Should offside become secondary? Not that missing offside will make the sidelines any happier . . . Thanks in advance for the answer.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

As a solo referee any team that plays with the offside sword shall live and die by that sword given our position as referee to discern whether to slay or ok the decision.

As to positioning alterations as single referee I will simply have to run more and set up a bit deeper on the corners. I tend to stay wide to one side as opposed to a diagonal and move in and out as in wwwwwww if you get my meaning. If the players can see the physical effort they can respect the occasional perceived missed call as part of the match.

As a single referee I often say something to the coaches or captains along these lines,
"Hi my name is ? and it is my privilege to be your referee today.
I am fair, not perfect but you have my word you will get my best effort! ALWAYS play the whistle do not stop and raise your hands to ask to use the washroom on offside or a ball marginally out of play I understand disappointment but please no useless dissent. I will only call offside or a ball out if 100% sure it is so, if unsure it will not be called. If I miss something it will because I never saw it, thus let it go, please no retaliation. I expect Fair Play and will do my utmost to ensure all 23 of us are on speaking terms, walking upright at the end of the match. You gentlemen also bear much of that responsibility as well. Let?s get this ball rolling! Have good game gentlemen! "
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

As a solo referee I prefer to tell the captains, just before tossing the coin, that offside is going to be an issue and how I intend to deal with an offside situation is to "call every other close one offside". When the look at me in that glazed over "say what" look I ask them to remember they won't know when I start with the every other and won't know what I consider close until I actually blow the whistle. So in that each knows he really has no control over what I'm going to do or when I'll start doing it. Then I do the very best I can to judge fairly. To them it will appear I'm doing exactly as I said! Carping and dissent are dealt with much more harshly as well.
Nothing is really written about how to conduct a solo match. I will say this, if you're not at the top end of physical conditioning you will not be able to do well because a solo referee is going to have to judge the ball in and out of play on each goal line and each touch line and that sometimes involves running to be where you're needed. If you don't run ALL the time your credibility will be the same as a used car salesman or, heaven forbid, a politician.

Sometimes the referee is effectively solo on a park when he has two assistants assigned and they show up! We have all done those matches and have unconsciously behaved just as if there were no linesmen present, if ya get my drift...

All that said, an experienced referee will just "know" when a player is offside. You seem experienced because you're reading and finding out what you don't know, asking for help in those areas and understand there is no "s" in offside. And that Sir, demonstrates a level of knowledge and desire above and beyond.

Regards,