Question Number: 18403

Law 6 - Assistant Referee 2/19/2008

RE: Competitive Under 14

Jay of Santa Cruz, CA USA asks...

When ARing, one of main reasons to position ourselves even with the next to last defender is to determine if an attacker is in an offside position. Why do we not position ourselves at either that postition or even with the first attacker, whichever gives is the best vantage point to the action? In either case, we could determine if a player is offside and would be better able to assist the center.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Jay, the only reason you will elect to use this method is if the last two players are standing in the goal area talking and play is sufficiently inflammatory that your presence is required closer to the referee's back. In other words, almost never.

In the event circumstances demand you to give up the last two players for the first attacker your scan MUST include the last two so you may keep tabs on where exactly the offside line is. This limits your ability to keep watch on that which is in front of you and behind the referee's back. You set yourself up to miss something, someplace!

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Jay you position yourself even with next to last opponent or the ball whichever is closer the goal line. Your goal is NOT to get best vantage point for the action but IS to judge offside position.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

There may be more than one player in or near an offside position. If you position yourself with the clearly offside positioned player, can you see if that second attacker is in an offside position as well?

If you stay with the 2nd to last defender, any attacker beyond you is in an offside position, and if any of them participate in play after the ball is touched by a teammate you make the call.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

We need to be EVEN with the offside line. If we are not, we cannot make an effective decision. Even if we are even with the near attacker, what happens if two attackers are in an offside position and the ball gets played to the attacker that you are not in line with? That would be a problem.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The first attacker may be one of many players in an offside position. If he doesn't get involved but one of his teammates does, you will not know if they are offside or not with certainty. This is so because you won't have an appropriate angle to determine this fact.

Stay with the line and you will see ALL players who are offside at the moment the ball is played.