Question Number: 16641

Mechanics 9/11/2007

RE: Competitive Under 16

Dave of Portland, OR USA asks...

I'm AR for a game where the cobalt team is dominating completely. The brown team are all back on defense on their own side of the field. Cobalt is almost always on offense. However, the cobalt sweeper is hanging back in a very conservative position. She is just outside her own penalty area. I'm in line with her as the second to last defender. The skill level of this game is mediocre and none of these players is able to kick a really long ball. My point is that no one on the brown team is anywhere near an offsides position or able to get there quickly. They would have to run at least thirty yards to get there. So, as the AR, should I still stay in line with the defender? Or can I "cheat" and move up towards midfield to give me a better view of the play so I can better see and assist the center ref in calling the line and fouls.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

The level of play and the speed of transition factor into this decision to forgo a basic premise of ARing! In such a situation where the attackers are not tactically aware or in this case unable to mount an effective attack. If the 2nd last defender is willing to sit back and chat with the keeper you only have to be aware if the opponents are closing into the area to reestablish the inline stance with this lollygagging sweeper! In the interest of being interested and a greater contributor I see no reason not to move ahead to the midline if all opponets are on the other side of it and likely to stay there given the circumstances! It is for certain not a desired trait but certainly understandable in the situation. Just do not get caught napping and allow the positional aspect to catch you out! It only takes one glaring incident to undo a lot of hard work1
cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

As Ref Dawson mentions your desire to be closer to things is laudable. I have assumed the same attitude as you on the rare occasion. As linesman one of my duties is to advise the ref ere when the attack should be sanctioned for offside. I know that is when an attacker nearer the goal line than the last but one opponent and the ball. How I determine that position may be from being even with the last but one defender OR even with the first attacker.

I know I can keep up with defenders running backwards. But when I assume a position at the first attacker my ability to remain even AND slow instantly as I come into line with the usual linesman's position may be compromised by my fitness, age, eyes, ego and all the other excuses I can conjure up for not being where I'm supposed to be in the first place.

I must make an educimaked guess that me being up field contributes more to the grans scheme of things than does my staying where I am expected to be by the referee. It the risk assessment model tells me to go up field, fine. If it tells me to be upfield and I get caught out and am unable to effectively judge offside then I have just buried my referee and that just ain't all that professional no matter what my intentions were in the first place.

In all things where we are offered a choice in what to do we must remember that 10,000 atta-boy's are always cancelled out by 1 awshit. But we still want to choose, don't we?

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

One thing I would caution is that you not do this without the center referee knowing about it. The referee may see you halfway to the circle. Then he sees an attacker beyond you receive a through-ball, and wonders why in the world your flag hasn't gone up for the offside as you race back into position. Then thinks, "Well, if he doesn't call it, I guess I have to" and he blows the whistle. Oops - there's that conference back there between the keeper and the sweeper. Dang, I hate restarting with a dropped ball when it's my fault.