Question Number: 18909

Law 3 - Number of Players 4/28/2008

RE: Select Under 16

Mike Owens of Temple, TX USA asks...

Looking for some Assistant Referee advice.

I have worked a half dozen games as Senior AR (i.e., on the player bench side of the field). In all these games, played at various sites, the technical area has not been marked. I find that many coaches stand right up at the touchline, getting in my way as I try to run the lines. I usually try to warn the coach (with a joking tone) that if he doesn't keep the lines clear I will run him over (I am 6', 230 pounds, and run the 2 mile in under 14 minutes, so he will definitely feel it if I do). This, usually accompanied with a guffaw, gets the coach to move, but this last week I "ran into" (literally) a coach that apparently felt that he had a right to be there, since the technical area wasn't marked, and whined "don't push" when I put my hand on his shoulder as I asked him to move out of the way.

Do I, as AR, have the right to order a coach to return to the technical area, or is this the referee's responsibility?

Should I advise the referee if this "persistent infringement" is occuring? Should we try to avoid it become a problem before I end up "fair charging" a coach?

I'd like your advice on how you handle such a situation when it comes up and/or how to prevent such a situation from occurring.

Thanks a lot!

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If a coach is stupid enough to get in someone your size's way after being warned, run him over! Just kidding. When I AR I ask the coaches to keep themselves, their players and any equipment at least 2 yards off the touchline. I tell them I can't watch the touch line and will have to guess who last touched a ball if they are in my way. Amazingly, in 15 years of doing this I have never had a problem but as a center referee I have had to tell coaches this when they ignored my ARs. If this is a problem you need to have your center referee deal with it.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

As Ref Contarino says, there are ways to deal with this short of running down the coach - tempting as it can be! I have done it inadvertently, when I turned quickly to follow play and plowed right over him - oddly, he managed to remove himself for the rest of the game. Usually, I would first try something along the lines of "I would hate to miss a call for your team because I am unable to see what needs to be seen." But if this is unsuccessful - if the coach is truly in your way and it means you cannot clearly see on whom the ball last exited, then it is only fair to assume it left off of his team, or if you cannot maintain the offside line because of his interference, I'm certain his team will not benefit from my lack of decision or decision. When he asks about a call, I can honestly say it was the best decision I could make under the circumstances - and he will understand. Now, having said all of that, I would first have tried to enlist the authority of my referee to help the coach find his proper place out of my way. The other only follows when there is no help, or the help does not solve the problem. Oh, and it cannot be persistent infringement, since the coach is not a player, and thus any Law 12 violations do not apply to him - but I guess that's why you put it in parentheses? As referees, we need to be careful about applying terms in the Laws which apply only to players to other personnel such as coaches. Just a caveat...

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Another ploy is to mention to the coach his standing on the touchline interfering with you accomplishing your duties is not acting all that responsible. If needed later and the referee is called to assist all you need mention is the coach knows standing in the way is irresponsible behavior because you already told him. If the referee has any grasp of his powers and duties he'll know what to do. If the referee is unable to deal with it do just like the players do, paint a target on the coaches back and have fun.

Regards,