Question Number: 17297

Mechanics 10/14/2007

RE: select to High School Under 15

Franco of Bloomington, USA asks...

AR communication

1. Should the AR always signal the ball went out and direction of possession if everything is obvious to both teams and center ref? Is this a good habit or a waste of effort and a distraction?

2. How should the situation be handled by the AR if the ball went out, but the AR is not sure who it touched last and the center is not sure either? Should the AR signal that it went out and leave the flag up and make eye contact with the center? Should the AR just make a call with the direction of the flag or let the center make the call, and if so, should the flag remain up until the ref makes the call?

3. Should a center ever tell the ref out loud during the game that he or she should make the call since the last touch was much closer to them than the center?

4. What if an AR is making calls that he or she is confident they are good (about possession), but the center never seems to look at them and over rules many of the possession calls even when it is much closer to the AR and even about the ball being out of bounds but the AR has the much better advantage?

Franco

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The answers to these questions are found in the US Soccer publication Guide to Procedures for Referees, assistant Referees and Fourth Officials. It is the responsibility of all US Soccer referees to understand and use what is contained in this book. Usually the procedures outlined in this book are not covered in the prematch meeting because they are so clearly understood.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Also, a lot of this should be covered in the pregame conference the referee has with his assistants

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Yes, there are Guide to Procedures. Also, communication between referee and AR is essential. A lot should be covered in the pregame discussion as to what the expectations are.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 17351