Question Number: 16484

Mechanics 8/29/2007

RE: 9 Under 10

James Meade of Flower Mound, Texas US asks...

I'm a AR, I have most of it down. I just have one question. What do you do to signal a goal. for some reason I rember having to run up the sideline with my flag by my side towerds the center line. And how do you show a goal if the ball goes over the line all the way and it's the type of thing that the center can't really see.

Thank you, James Meade of GLASA

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If the ball is clearly in the net, you look at the referee, and sprint a short distance toward the center line. This indicates you saw nothing wrong with the goal that was just scored.

If the ball goes completely across the goal line and then bounces back into play, we might have a problem. The referee may see you moving upfield, but just assume you are getting back into position for the next phase of play. The thing we need to do first is get the game stopped! You use the standard mechanic for that - put your flag straight up. After the ref sees you and blows the whistle, you make your run up the line. This indicates to the referee why you wanted the game stopped - a goal was scored.

This mechanic should be part of every pre-game conference between referees and ARs. I learned that several years ago, when I didn't see a goal scored and my AR didn't make any clear indication. The one team was clamoring that the goal should have counted. Finally a few minutes later I went over to talk to my AR, and he said yes, he "thought" the ball was in. Well, too late now, the game had been restarted a couple of times. I had to apologize to the coach, that my AR didn't know the signal, but He Does Now! (I wisely didn't tell the coach about the referee's waffling response as to whether the goal was scored or not.)

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If its a goal and you like it...sprint 10 yds towards halfway line. If the ball barely goes over line, then put flag up and when referee blows whistle...then put flag down to side and sprint towards halfway line.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The procedure for indicating a goal in the United States is contained within the US Soccer publication A Guide to Procedures for Referees, Assistant Referees and 4th Officials. Each US Soccer referee is responsible for knowing the procedures therein. These procedures, because they are EXPECTED to be clearly understood, are not part of a normal prematch conference.

If a referee becomes aware his assistant[s] do not know this information he must make them aware of it. He also should make it known to the assignor he is assigning referees why do not have sufficient knowledge to conduct their assigned duties.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Depends on the goal, James. 1)If the ball goes in the net and back out into the field and play, but you, as AR, saw it cross the line completely, then you must raise your flag straight up (which tells the referee that the ball left the field - I'm assuming at this point you will be at the intersection of the goal line with the touchline - otherwise how would you know the ball went in?). Hold it until the referee blows his whistle. Make eye contact, then sprint up the touchline a few yards. 2)If the ball goes into the goal and there was no offside and no other offense committed by the attacking team, then you can make eye contact with the referee and turn and sprint up the touchline a few yards. No need to raise the flag for ball out if everyone can clearly see the ball is off the field! And, please see the Guide to Procedures (available on line at www.ussoccer.com) for the other possible scenarios you will encounter as you do more games at higher levels.