Question Number: 18540

Law 6 - Assistant Referee 3/14/2008

Melvin Hagerman of Colorado Springs, Colorado U.S.A. asks...

This question is a follow up to question 18440

Taking #18440 in a different direction--if this had happened in the other half of the field (i.e. the AR was at or near the center line and the offensive attack was going away from him, where he couldn't call offside), would the AR's job then be to keep an eye on these two players instead of the ball, and if he saw something then wave the flag? (I know his responsibility is the sideline that he is stationed on, but can he call the CR's attention to something trailing a play?)

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

One of the assistant referee's tasks is to call the referee's attention to misconduct or other incident that happens out of the referee's view. The situation you ask about is one of those. However, waving the flag is not the answer, the assistant must raise his flag seeking a stoppage in play. Once the referee sees the flag he should give it a slight wiggle, indicating foul play, or stand and wait for the referee to whistle for a stoppage. If there is misconduct not involving foul play or misconduct and foul play the assistant should call the referee over and explain exactly what happened. If there is only foul play the assistant gives the slight wiggle, making sure the flag is in the hand corresponding to his anticipated restart of play. If the referee whistles play stopped the assistant merely points the direction of the restart. [the direction is already known by the referee because of the hand in which the flag is held]

All of these things are written in the Guide to Procedures and the assistant referee is expected to know exactly what to do and when to do it. There can be no deviation from the procedure because team communication breaks down at that point.

Regards,