Question Number: 15719

Mechanics 6/6/2007

RE: Rec Under 16

Steve Brannan of Duluth, MN USA asks...

I have a question dealing with mechanics. I was an AR on a game today and there was a moment of confusion at the goal line. An attacker played the ball to a teammate who was about three yards away and was just barely in an offisde position when the ball was played. As the ball was traveling to the attacker, it deflected off a defender and went out of bounds, passing less than a foot away from the attacker who made an attempt to play the ball. The referee was in a bad position to judge offside and obviously was not aware that an offside infringement had occured. I put my flag straight up to indicate the offside, and after making eye contact lowered the flag horizontally to indicate the middle of the field is where the infraction occured. However, the referee who had seen the ball touch the defender, signaled for a corner kick because he thought I had called a goal kick. I quickly beckoned him over and told him an offside had occurred prior to the ball going out of bounds. From there, we sorted out what and where the restart would be.

Although we were able to figure our way through this, is there any procedure that could have made this situation less confusing and more efficient? If I may offer my own personal thought, it seems logical to me that when the AR signals for the ball out of play on the goal line and he or she needs to raise the flag, he or she should raise it in the hand closest to the goal line (often the right hand) and then proceed to indicate either a corner kick or goal kick. On the other hand, if an AR needs to indicate offside, he or she should raise the flag vertically in the hand closest to the half line (often the left) and then proceed to signal which part of the field the offense occurred in. However, as I said, this is just my own personal opinion on the matter since the Guide to Procedures never says anything about specific hands the flag should be in.

I realize that this type of situation is probably rare, and even the action of calling the referee over to sort things out is probably adequet to resolve any problems. Nevertheless, it just seems to me that there should be a more effective and efficient way to do this so that the crew can look even more professional.

Thanks for your time in this probably trivial question.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Steve, when signalling for either offside or a goal kick, the ref uses the hand nearest the goal. That way the least amount of the AR's vision of the field and other players is blocked by the flag. You might, instead of noting a "middle of field" offside, modify it to a "near side of field" signal - although that of course might look a lot like a corner kick signal from some angles. One other difference, for the goal kick or corner kick it is not necessary to raise the flag vertically first, so the ref could have taken a cue that it was offside because you waited to lower the flag.

In your situation, we need to determine whether or not an offside infraction had occurred. The offside-positioned player (OPP) didn't get a chance to play the ball, so was not interfering with play. You may have determined that the defender was pressured by the OPP and thus the OPP had interfereed with an opponent. If that was the case, the offside call would be correct.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Steve,
NOT trivial great question! You seek information and wish to get better in my world you are exactly what we look for in a referee.

I cannot fault you on an opinion that the defender was reacting to the ball being passed to an unmarked offside positioned player had it deflect off said defender because he was interfered with!

I tend to withhold an offside flag as to interfering with play until the offside player makes actual physical contact with the ball when any doubt remains as to whether it might go out of play or be touched by a team mate. The exception of course if there is an opponent who is in danger of a collision or some pressing aspect as interfering with an opponent.

It is just that as old school mechanics although I will try and raise the flag in the hand of the direction of who should get possession I tend to FACE the field on offside but turn sideways on goal kicks it was how I was trained but probably not a USSF procedure.

Also on corner kicks the hand closest to the defending goal line is used so not sure how which hand use translates to a mental picture for referee information as does the direction of the flag and what it is pointed at!

A flag up could indicate STOP play as ball out of play rather than just offside but it is in the secondary action of the direction we signal and the body language we undergo that clue in the referee he is required to stop play for
a foul or misconduct; (stay facing field, raise flag and wave, eye contact with referee, then signal direction )
a goalkick (stay facing field, flag up right hand , eye contact with referee then turn body sideways arm straight out to the side point it to goal area)
a corner kick (stay facing field, flag up, eye contact with referee point flag to corner pole)
a throw-in ( stay facing field, flag up eye contact with referee if direction unsure says its out but no idea you decide then follow suit with referee decision o reye contact with referee raise flag in proper hand to signal direction of throw elevated at angle)
an offside ( stay facing field, raise flag, eye contact with referee then point out at the three positions, far, mid or near using arm nearest referee)
PS remember as a Canadian official I am not bound by USSF policy although it is likely the idea remains the same, to communicate clearly and efficently!
Cheers