Question Number: 22923

Law 6 - Assistant Referee 3/9/2010

RE: ALL LEVELS (MALE & FEMALE ) Adult

RICKY BERNEY of KILWINNING , AYRSHIRE SCOTLAND UK asks...

IS THERE A RULE STATING 'WHICH SIDE OF THE PITCH' THE LINESMEN MUST TAKE UP BEFORE THE MATCH KICKS OFF ? ie IF YOU DIVIDE THE WHOLE PITCH INTO FOUR SECTIONS, AS AT PRESENT, AND AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER 20 YEARS OF PLAYING FOLLOWED BY 30 YEARS OF WATCHING,THEY HAVE ALWAYS RUN THE LINE IN THE SAME SECTOR. BETWEEN 9 O'CLOCK & 12 O'CLOCK AND 3 O'CLOCK & 6 O'CLOCK. IS THIS A WRITTEN RULE ? OR HAS THIS BEEN THEIR POSITIONING EVER SINCE FOOTBALL WAS INVENTED ?
I look forward to your reply.

Regards

RICKY BERNEY.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Ricky,

When writing online it's generally advisable to ensure your caps lock key is switched off as writing in capitals has the appearance of shouting.
There is nothing in the laws of the game or from FIFA to stipulate which side of the field the assistant referees take. In Australia, we typically run in the bottom left hand corner (at the goalmouth, facing the field, it will be each half's left side), but this is convention and is not a written rule. Sometimes it may be necessary to run on the opposite lines instead, particularly if the normal assistant referee's path is particularly muddy - the sun, if it's at an angle to the field, can also be a factor.

If I understand your description correctly, you say that the games you watch have the assistants running in the bottom right hand corner. Different to how we do it in Australia, but neither method is better than the other.

Different nations and referee associations may offer their own guidelines or directives on this matter.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

As I understand, there is a strong tradition in the British Isles for running the lines as you suggest. Here in the States, it's usually the opposite, as it is in Australia as Ref Wright notes.

We call it the 'left diagonal' because the referee running down the field is also moving diagonally toward his left.

As I recall, most international games use the left diagonal.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The only guidelines are the AR will patrol one half of her side of the field and the other AR will patrol the equal but opposite end of the field on the other side. Which half of the touchline the ARs will patrol depends on the field, the referee and sometimes the national association.