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Question Number: 22045

Law 6 - Assistant Referee 9/21/2009

RE: AYSO Under 11

Scott Worthington of Huntington Beach, ca usa asks...

Hi,

As an assistant referee, I know I must defer to the center referee's judgment. But what does the AR do when the center makes a clear mistake in applying the laws?

Here's what happened: I was AR on a U-10 game. Early in the game, there was a clear handling foul in the penalty area (no dispute there). But rather than awarding a penalty kick, the center gave the attacking team an indirect kick at the spot of the foul.

I knew this was wrong (there is no rule modification in our league that would call for an indirect kick in this situation), but I wasn't sure whether I should say something. This was only my second game as an AR, and I wasn't sure how the center referee would react if I suggested she was wrong.

At any rate, I did nothing and the game moved on. This did put me an awkward position later when a parent asked me how a handball in penalty area could be an indirect kick.

As it turned out, the game was one-sided, so this event didn't matter much. But I'd like to know what I should do if this happens again.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Judgment calls belong to the referee. But, when the assistant referee is 100 percent sure the referee is making an error in applying the laws, the referee should get the referee's attention before the restart of play.

Raise the flag or shout the referee's name. Then, move to the referee and have a private word with the referee. Give the referee the information you have: ('If you called handling against the defense, that requires a penalty kick'). Then, accept whatever the referees does. You've done your job.

The questions to ask before you act: (1) if I fail to act, will I fail to assist the referee? (2) If I fail to act, will I fail the game?



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Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

The assistant referee is there to assist the referee in every way possible - but he must remember he is there to ASSIST, not INSIST. If the referee is insistent upon making a mistake there isn't much you can do.

If the referee makes a clear error - such as an error in law like the one above - the assistant referee has the duty to call the referee's attention to the matter.

Use your signal to call the referee's attention - or, as Ref Wickham said, shout out to him if you need to. A situation like this can result in a match being appealed and replayed - so when a blatant and significant error in law is occurring, you must do everything possible to get the referee's attention and to get him to come over (once he approaches, I prefer to step onto the field myself so the conversation can't be overheard by spectators) and tell him why you believe he is making an error in law. If he chooses to continue making the error, there's nothing more you can do.

I don't blame you for being uncertain about what to do - I would've been on my 2nd game!



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Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Referees who treat their ARs as lowly subordinates instead of team members still have much to learn. Younger or older but less experienced ARS are often intimidated by older or experienced referees but being older and having more experience does not automatically make one correct or all knowing all the time!
U-10 referees are often not the best of those available more as a learning position same as the players they officiate are doing . Learning! So his knowledge could be less than your own!

It takes courage to intervene especially as one incorrectly perceives it as undercutting the authority of the referee in front of the coaches or players or fans. As Ar we do not yell out"(Hey you frigging blew that you dummy!).

When I have a pregame with my ARs , my basic instructions aside from offside is your baby, player safety the third most important instruction is DO NOT LET ME SCREW UP! You get my attention BEFORE any restart, we discuss PRIVATELY away from the hustle and bustle and I listen!

Once the information is related and the referee STILL wants to shoot himself in the foot then such is life. You know what you know and can suggest to the league the referee you worked with had some strange ideas on fair play and the laws of the game.

In a protest situation if you are called in to present evidence and you relate you informed the referee the indfk for the DFK foul inside the penalty area was incorrect but were ignored. Eyes will open wide unless there is an INDFK only stipulation in the by laws. I have seen some leagues create this and could easily imagine confusion if these weird changes were unknown!
Cheers



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