Question Number: 25440

Law 6 - Assistant Referee 9/16/2011

RE: Competitive

Todd Wendorf of Marysville, PA US asks...

This question is a follow up to question 25418

Hi,

It should be noted that USSF recognizes the need for Club Linesmen as a substitute when there is only a Center Referee available or one of the ARs fails to show. In those cases, the Club Linesman is only to call Ball IN/OUT -- No direction, No Offside, No fouls, No indication of Corner/Goal Kick, No goal indication.

This is the case EVEN if the Club Linesman in question, is a certified referee. They are instructed to only fill the role of a Club Linesman, not a full-fledged AR.

This improves the impartiality issue as the CR is not supposed to take any direction (except ball in/out) from a Club Linesman.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Todd
thanks for that clarification and indeed that is the point I made in my answer which is universal with the exception of offside. The CR can make the ultimate call and overrule

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

You are correct, a club line is restricted to calling ball in or out.

I recall a game several years ago where a fellow referee served as club line in a game his child was playing. (We assign only a single referee to U8 and U10 games, and each side supplies a club line.) I reminded him that he'd only be calling the ball out. There was a close offside situation, and I looked over to the line to see him standing there in perfect position, grinning at me. I could just hear him, "Make up your own mind, Gary." Thanks, Peter.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The question you reference did not deal with club linesmen but assistant referees assigned to a match. what you say,of course, is correct