Question Number: 18910

Law 11 - Offside 4/28/2008

RE: Under 15

Dave of DM, IA US asks...

This question concerns the mechanics of calling offside.
Say there is a long pass to a teamate in an offside position but there is a delay in making the call due to waiting for active involvement.
I was told, in this situation, to stop and plant myself as soon as the teamate last touched the ball, then wait from there to judge active involvement.
Normally I'd keep moving until the offside criteria was satisfied and then plant myself with my flag raised until noticed and then dash back to the spot where the offender was when the ball was last touched to show the location of the restart.
It is somewhat difficult to find instruction on the nuances of being an AR
so any thoughts on this subject will be appreciated.
Perhaps, on this same subject, you could pass along some wisdom on AR etiquette-is there anything you find annoying or offenssive as a Center?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Your method of following play is much more reasonable than standing still. If offside doesn't materialize, you are in position if you continued to follow play.

As far as an annoying AR, my primary concern is an AR that doesn't know his craft. If you would have told me that I was making all the offside calls myself, I would have hustled, rather than letting both of us look like idiots when the AR wasn't in position to make the call. At least if an AR doesn't show up, I know I'm making those calls.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

No in my opinion you follow play as more can happen. It is increasingly apparant a referee MUST look over to the AR more often as delayed flags are inevitable given the true understanding of actual involvement. If the involvement does occur later and you are 25 yards from the spot of where the restart should be you side step your way back along the touchline to indicate the correct spot.

ARing is a difficult job to remain FOCUSED for the full 90 minutes, it takes only a second to look at the beautiful girl in section six and miss the most obvious offside of the match thereby undoing all good work prior. Or get into an argument with a coach away from the technical area and miss the most flagrant foul in the penalty area in behind play
.
The guide to AR and 4th official proceedures published by the USSF is likely to be adopted by FIFA as the world guide on such matters and covers the way in which the flag and the mechanics used to do this effectively.

As a referee I want the ARs to be be diligent in remaining with the second last opponent and communicating with me at each stoppage to NEVER allow me to screw up! Use your voice if there is something I MUST know!

At the pregame as an AR I want the referee to be clear with instructions and as AR I want to be able to ask questions if I am unclear. I realize the time allowed for these get togethers is not often very long but arriving an hour ahead of a schedualed match generally allows for a field inspection and decent disscussion.
Most pregames are quick and rarely in detail, proffessional world cup we can go 3 hours disscussing a match and the things that we want or might happen and that is after weeks of training and preparing for upcoming matches.

One of the most confusing aspects of communication is when silmultanauos or very close together fouls or misconduct occurs inbehind play or at two seperate areas on the field. If you read our you call it #14 it specifically deals with this type of call.

We must remember that radio communication and beeper flags are not in use at the most of the millions of matches played .
Three people working as a team keep a match flowing as long as they work together to make it so!

ARs who do their job to the best of their abilities, are ready on time and prepared to go when it it is time, understand offside and the significance of involvment, work on giving crisp clear flag signals. Who run their butts off to stay with their responsibilities, who are looking out for me and support the decisions I make unless they know I need MORE info and then ensure that information GETS to my attention before play restarts. To buy into the team aspect a referee must command and give the respect to his ARs to value them as important to managing a game not just two people running up and down the touchlines while the guy in the middle takes charge.
The only true way an AR is able to give a great performance is the referee must work with him to make it so. COMMUNICATION! COMMUNICATION! COMMUNICATION!

Cheers