AR 2006:AR 2006:The Role of theThe Role of the

Assistant Referee Assistant Referee in in Contemporary SoccerContemporary Soccer

Steven S. Davidson

Updated January 30, 2006

OBJECTIVES:OBJECTIVES:At the end of this discussion, you will have a better

understanding of the Role of the Assistant Referee, as it pertains to:

Proper AssistanceApplication of Law 11 (Offside)Foul RecognitionEmpowerment to ACT

LET’S DO THE MATH!LET’S DO THE MATH!

With few exceptions, each game played in the United States requires ONE Referee and TWO Assistant Referees

Therefore, you should expect to work twice as many games as AR

Law 6: The Assistant RefereeLaw 6: The Assistant Referee

Seven simple duties – to INDICATE: When ball has exited field Which side in entitled to restart When a player should be penalized for Offside When substitution is requested When misconduct is not detected by Referee When offense occurs closer to AR Whether GK moves prematurely on Penalty Kick and

if ball crosses line

HOW MANY TEAMS?HOW MANY TEAMS?

In any soccer game, there are THREE teams on the field

Soccer officials must embrace the TEAM MENTALITY to succeed and to best service the game!

CHECK THE EGO!CHECK THE EGO!

In order for the Officiating Team to succeed, the Assistant Referees must ACCEPT and EMBRACE their role

Be ready to assist when the Referee needs help (infractions not observed)

Be ready to assist when the Game needs help (Referee breaks rules)

AR:AR: CRITICAL PLAYER CRITICAL PLAYERON REFEREE TEAMON REFEREE TEAM

Not just responsible for ball out of bounds

Not only indicate offside infractions

Not a spectator

AR CONFIDENCEAR CONFIDENCE

Must display confidence in yourselfBody Language shows comfort & focusInstill confidence in your officiating

teammatesEach team member trusts one another

so each can CONFIDENTLY focus on individual responsibilities

Demonstrate your THOROUGH MASTERY of the application of Law 11…

HOW DO I SHOW MY HOW DO I SHOW MY CONFIDENCE AS AN AR?CONFIDENCE AS AN AR?

… in other words, start by getting the OFFSIDE DECISIONS correct!

“Where was the offensive player (relative to the Second Last Defender) at the time the ball was last played BY A TEAMMATE?”

The CLASSIC Offside decision!

Law XI: Definition of OffsideLaw XI: Definition of Offside

What about whenWhat about whenwe havewe have SEVERAL SEVERAL playersplayers

(from both teams)?(from both teams)?

WHO is the second last defender?

WHICH teammate is the ball intended for?

HOW do we decide?

What’s thisWhat’s this“NEW INTERPRETATION”“NEW INTERPRETATION”

all about?all about?

It’s not really new… to USA

Attacker usually needs to TOUCH BALL in order

to interfere with play (with exceptions)

Bottom line: Identify offside position as before,

but WAIT to penalize (raise the flag)

SEVERAL SEVERAL playersplayers(from both teams)(from both teams)

The effective AR MUST be able to: Monitor the location of several players from both

teams AT EACH CRITICAL MOMENT

Concentrate on EVERYTHING in front of us

“DEFOCUS” your vision

CLASSIC OFFSIDE DECISIONCLASSIC OFFSIDE DECISION

Let’s look at a few Video Examples…

(You will have the opportunity to learn from others’ mistakes!)

MOST MOST COMMONCOMMON ERRORS: ERRORS:

Decision to raise flag made “too fast” Non-Interference with Play Rebound from goalpost or goalkeeper Mental error following restart Lack of concentration

We would prefer that the AR We would prefer that the AR NOTNOT have any doubt; however… have any doubt; however…

“WHEN IN DOUBT, PLEASE KEEP THE FLAG DOWN!”

……So let’s eliminate Doubt!So let’s eliminate Doubt!

Physical Fitness cannot be an issue!

You are EXPECTED to be in the proper position to make critical decisions

BE THERE => Even with SLD or Ball!

Not in Ideal Position = GUESSING

OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTING THE OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTING THE REFEREE: REFEREE: WHAT TO WATCH?”WHAT TO WATCH?”

Depending on the position of the ball and the Referee, the AR must split focus:

OFFSIDETOUCHLINEGOAL LINEFOUL/NO FOULMISCONDUCT

ASSISTING WITH FOULS & MISCONDUCT:ASSISTING WITH FOULS & MISCONDUCT:

“HOW DO WE WATCH?”“HOW DO WE WATCH?”

MONITOR the movements of the key players

IDENTIFY potential fouls and misconduct BEFORE

they happen

PREDICT where the ball might be played in the next

attacking sequence

ANTICIPATE players’ actions while the ball is in

flight/en route

CONCENTRATING ONCONCENTRATING ONFOUR THINGS AT ONCEFOUR THINGS AT ONCE

AR must be able to concentrate – for a full 90* minutes – on several important factors SIMULTANEOUSLY:

Location of BallLocation of RefereeSecond Last DefenderKey Attackers & Defenders

CONCENTRATING ONCONCENTRATING ONFOUR THINGS AT ONCEFOUR THINGS AT ONCE

AR MUST be able to recognize EVERYTHING in field of vision!

“DEFOCUS” your vision

DO NOT STARE at the Ball!

LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE:LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE:Enough? Too Much?Enough? Too Much?

THINGS TO CONSIDER – In THIS game: How comfortable is the Referee? How comfortable am I? Do I agree with the way things are going? How can I BEST help the Referee?

IN OTHER WORDS: IN OTHER WORDS: READ THE READ THE GAME FROM THE TOUCHLINE!GAME FROM THE TOUCHLINE!

Referee not aware of game intensity change

Player(s) disrupting game going unnoticedDissentPersistent Infringement

Player(s) beginning to lose control

AR “READING” THE GAMEAR “READING” THE GAME

Be prepared to assist when the Referee misses KEY & CRITICAL infractions

(Review four video examples)

AR MUST REACTAR MUST REACTCORRECTLY… CORRECTLY… IN TIME!IN TIME!

Infractions not observed by Referee:DISTANCE: (1st & 4th examples)ANGLE TO PLAY: (2nd example –

DGSO)

Misconduct outside Referee’s field of vision (3rd example)

AR READING THE GAME:AR READING THE GAME:THE OTHER COMPONENT!THE OTHER COMPONENT!

Preventing the Referee from BREAKING the Laws of the Game:

Incorrect Restart after Prolonged Stoppage Improper Identification of player (2CT, SO) Application of Rules of Competition Time Management (35: - 40: - 45:) Substitutions (inappropriate time)

ASSISTANCE:ASSISTANCE:10 YARD ASSURANCE10 YARD ASSURANCE

When requested, the AR moves players in a wall in the same manner as the Referee:

DELAY THE KICK (TELL ATTACKERS!) BECOME FIRST BRICK IN WALL GET INTO POSITION FOR NEXT DECISION REFEREE SOUNDS WHISTLE

The The CRITICAL COMPONENTCRITICAL COMPONENT when assisting with “10 yardswhen assisting with “10 yards””

EYE CONTACT Between R & AR:

BEFORE AR enters field BEFORE Referee blows whistle for

kick to be taken

PROPER ASSISTANCE:PROPER ASSISTANCE:10 YARD ASSURANCE10 YARD ASSURANCE

Let’s look at one more

Video Example…

LATE IN THE GAMELATE IN THE GAME we must we must concentrate that concentrate that much hardermuch harder to counter the to counter the

effects of effects of fatiguefatigue..

ONE LAST THINGONE LAST THING for my fellow for my fellow Assistant Referees…Assistant Referees…

LATE IN THE GAMELATE IN THE GAME (just like late in this presentation!)(just like late in this presentation!)

Players are tired Coaches are tired (of yelling) Referee team is tired (of the coaches yelling) When we are tired, we make more mistakes

COUNTERACT FATIGUE!COUNTERACT FATIGUE!

To counteract the effects of fatigue, give yourself a (silent) “pep talk.”

Concentrate EVEN HARDER in the game’s waning moments!

ARE THERE ANY…ARE THERE ANY…

Questions?