Assistant Referee Course

Author – Art Badenicks

BRITISH COLUMBIA SOCCER REFEREES ASSOCIATION

Assisting, supporting and advocating for referees since 1969

Assistant Referee

• The Assistant Referees’ (or A.R.’s) responsibilities are far different and more complex than that of the Mini Referee.

• Their primary role is a supporting one to the Referee. Where possible there will always be two A.R.’s with each Referee.

• The A.R. should ALWAYS come prepared to become the Referee should something happen.

Assistant Referee

• There are two types of A.R.’s that may be seen at games.

• The “Neutral” Assistant Referee.

• The “Club” Assistant Referee.

Assistant Referee

• Two assistant referees are appointed. Their duties, subject to the decision of the referee, are to indicate:

– When the whole of the ball has passed out of the field of play.

– Which side is entitled to a corner kick, goal kick or throw-in.

– When a player may be penalised for being in an offside position.

– When a substitution is requested.

(Continued…)

Duties and Responsibilities

Pre Game duties:

Check the goal

Check the field

Check corner flags

Check the game ball

If the Referee is late proceed with equipment check, team lists, player cards, coin toss.

Assistant Referee

• There are only 6 Assistant Referee (AR) signals that may be used. Some can be used in conjunction with others, but they are still separate signals.

Assistant Referee

• Attention Referee (2 variations – standard & for a foul)

• Offsides (3 variations – near, middle, far)

• Goal-Kick

• Corner Kick

• Throw-in

• Substitution

Positioning - 1. Kick off• In line with the second last defender

Positioning – 2. General Positioning• In line with the second last defender or the ball• Always face the field of play

Positioning – 3. Goal kick• Check the ball is inside goal area (1)

– If the ball is not correctly placed, the AR should not move from his position and make eye contact with the referee and raise the flag

Positioning – 3. Goal kick• Check the offside line (3), which is a priority• Check also that the ball goes outside penalty area (Ball in

play) and that the attackers are outside

Positioning – 3. Goal kick

• If the second last defender takes the goal kick, AR should move to the edge of the penalty area (2)

Positioning4. Goalkeeper releasing the ball

• Check the goalkeeper does not touch the ball with his hands outside penalty area (2)

Positioning4. Goalkeeper releasing the ball

• Check the goalkeeper does not touch the ball with his hands

outside penalty area (2) • Check the offside line (3), which is a priority

Positioning – 5. Penalty kick• The Assistant Referee should be on the intersection of the goal

line and penalty area

6. Kicks from the penalty mark“Shoot out”

7. “Goal” situations (normal situations)a Eye contact with the referee.

7. “Goal” situations (normal situations)a Eye contact with the referee.b Run quickly towards halfway line.

Positioning7. “Goal” situations (tight decisions)

a First raise the FLAG to attract referee’s attention.

7. “No Goal” situations (tight decisions)a Continue with the play.b Eye contact with the referee. c Wait for eye consultation (discreet hand signal).

Positioning – 8. Corner kick

• AR’s position should be behind the corner flag in line with the goal line.

• Do not interfere with the players.

• Check the ball is inside the corner arc:

CORRECT

CORRECTINCORRECT

CORRECT

– Side-to-side movement for short

distances, especially to judge offside

(better line of vision).

– As a general rule, face the pitch

– Running forwards when sprinting.

– Be in a “ready position” before

sprinting.

Running Technique

• Before signalling:– Stop

– Face the pitch

– Make eye contact with the referee

– Raise the flag with the appropriate hand (fouls and throw-in). If necessary, change the hand with flag underneath

Flag Technique

• Flag held down, always visible to referee and unfurled.

• Flag still while running.

• When signalling, flag is like an extension of the arm.

Flag Technique

Assistant Referee – Managing the Off-sides

• The basics of watching for off-sides means that proper positioning is critical. Even if you are out of position by 1 or 2 yards, it can mean the difference whether the player is on-side or off-side. This takes practice.

Law 11 - Offside

• It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position.

• A player is in an offside position if:• He is nearer to his opponents’ goal line

than both the ball and the second last opponent (defender)

• A player is not in an offside position if he is in his own half of the field or level with the second last or last two opponents

Head, torso, legs, feet…

Hands, arms…

Only those parts of the body that can legally play the ball are observed in potential offside offences.

Law 11 - Offside

• A player in an offside position is only penalised if at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by:

• Interfering with play eg. Receiving the ball• Interfering with an opponent• Gaining an advantage be being in that

position

Last defender

Second last defender

Ball

Red team defending blue team

Rebound off post

Law 11 - Offside

• There is no offence if a player receives the ball directly from:

• A throw-in

• A corner kick

• A goal kick