Question Number: 23707

Law 6 - Assistant Referee 7/26/2010

RE: Select Under 15

Tim Mackin of San Jose, CA USA asks...

Is it required for the AR(Linesman) to be even with the ball at all times. This is due to two issues,

1) on a kick by a goalie that was moving towards the penalty box and steps over the line at the kick. Is this not considered a handball by the goalie as he is outside the penatly box? This happens several times during a tournament.
and the Linesman was about 5 yrds shy o the half line during each of these kicks.

2) A goalie caught a ball in the goal that was kicked and the linesman was about 10-12 yards from the end line. Is this not a lineman error and also a center ref for not correcting? Both linesmen never went to the end line on any play that required it.

Thanks,

Tim

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The AR is not required to be in line with the ball. Most times he is aligned with the 2nd to last opponent, in order to judge offside positions.

1) The position of the goalkeeper's feet do not matter. It is deliberate handling when his hands are in contact with the ball, and the ball is completely outside the penalty area line. However, in most cases a few inches or a foot over the line makes no difference, and would be considered a trifling offense. The AR's position would not necessarily be following the keeper up to the 18 yard line, although he should be in a position in order to view handling. However, he could be recovering his position to best see the next expected area of play.

2) You mean like England's goal-that-wasn't? The kicked ball will often travel so fast that no human can keep up with it, and both the R and AR will do their best to see whether a goal has been scored or not.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tim
While this is an obvious statement an AR cannot be in two places at the same time and there is no requirement for him to be level with the ball during play. In fact that is a poor position for most plays. The most regular decisions that an AR has to make is ball out of play and offside. The only requirment to follow the ball is on a tight corner kick or goal kick call. If the ball is going back to the GK who picks the ball up inside his penalty area with his defence and all attackers moved up close to the half way line the main priority here for the AR is to be in a position to view subsequent play from the punt which could be offside. If there is an opponent beside the GK then that will be his priority position to view that. Also the GK moving outside the penalty area may not be a deliberate handling offence as the ball can be released inside the PA and kicked outside. Indeed slight movement outside the PA with the ball is IMO a dubious call on a punt and teams should get on with play rather than berating officials. I viewed the actions of a GK closely for a half of a game recently after a team was berating the officials for not awarding DFKs for deliberate handling on his punts. From a perfect viewing position of level with the penalty area line I did not see one violation yet that did not stop calls for the DFK. The GKs momentum on every kick brought him outside the penalty area but not with the ball in hand. Even it there was a tight call here IMO it is trifling. The referee might have a word with the GK to remind him of his position and also say to the AR that if his position allows to keep an eye on it.
As regards positioning to view a hairline goal again the main priority is to be in a position to view offside and that can be well away from the goal line say at the edge of the penalty area or beyond level with the 2nd last defender. Again unless it is blatant and plainly obvious that the ball has crossed the goal line, the AR if he is not well positioned and has not seen it clearly cannot give it. It is certain that offside will be the more common call and teams will expect the AR to be positioned to view that rather than be on the goal line for a hairline call that rarely happens. In the England v Germany game the AR was well positioned on the penalty area line level with the 2nd last defender to view offside which was his priority. When the shot was taken he was unsure of the position of the ball and he did not give it. If an AR is not well positioned and he does not see the ball clearly cross the line the goal cannot be given which is the standard instructions to ARs.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The proper position for the AR is to be even with the next to last opponent or the ball, whichever is closest to the opposing goal line. When the keeper has the ball, it is the AR's responsibility to watch him. However, a keeper carrying the ball a short distance over the penalty area boundary line is likely to be viewed as trifling by most of us as it has no impact on the game.

2. It is very difficult for the AR to get to the goal line at the same time or before the ball when a shot is taken. They should run every ball to the corner, but sometimes it's not physically possible