Question Number: 18914

Law 6 - Assistant Referee 4/28/2008

RE: premier Under 12

jane of Massapequa , NY usa asks...

during a recent game. A parent volunteered to work as AR. The game was getting a little agressive. At one point in the game, a fight broke out between to players. The Volunteer AR was 2 feet from the children and step in to break the fight up.(Basically just standing in between the 2 children) The referee at that time, was on the other side of the field. A parent starting screaming at the AR for breaking up the fight, stating he should not be on the field. What is the rule if the kids look like they were going to get hurt. (PS the AR had no relation to either player.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

As a human being when I feel a child is about to be hurt I will do as necessary to prevent that hurt. The parent screaming is going home or the match will not restart. It is that simple.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Who cares what the rules are? If kids safety is at risk you do whatever you need to do to prevent an injury. Parents yelling at an AR because he is on the field only show their ignorance as the AR is allowed on the field of play. Their yelling at him for preventing injury only shows that they are rotten human beings as well as a pack of idiots.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The AR in this situation is operating as a club line and is subject to the referee's authority and instructions. I cannot imagine a referee who would not have expected his assistants to use common sense, or who would fail to back them up when they acted with initiative and restraint to prevent harm to the players. The other parent was either ignorant or stupid (or maybe both?) and had no business interfering. For shame!