Question Number: 19303

Mechanics 6/8/2008

RE: Competitive Under 15

Ben Citrin of Madison, Connecticut United States asks...

I am just wondering, what are your thoughts on have 2 centers and no ARs on the field? I was recently playing in a match and instead of to ARs and a CR, there were just 2 CRs. I didn't like this because one was running around on one half, but the other one barely moved, and they each let us play on different levels of contact, which was very annoying.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If you visit our site often you'll see we are very much against the 2 whistle system. Personally, I think it the dumbest of all the dumb things US High SChool and NCAA have done. The 3 man system is the only one recognized by FIFA and USSF and with good reason.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I have never worked a dual with two center referees, but I have worked many games when there was only one assistant referee. That is worked with mechanics very similar to a dual, except one of the refs holds a flag instead of a whistle. The center referee has to be a long way away from the AR to cover offside at the other end of the field. In between, there is a great distance with no referee close to where most play action occurs, and most fouls as well. The effect is to either make foul calls at long distance, or have to guess on offside.

If the game which you reference was played under the authority of USSF (either USYS or AYSO), the referee crew should be reported for using an unapproved system of refereeing.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Your complaint is at the heart of why the 2 whistle system is fatally flawed. If both referees are good and have similar styles and are very fit, a dual can work. But that is a very small percentage of the match ups, unfortunately, and thus the dual continues to have a deservedly bad reputation. High school and college referees like it because it is more money per game. Too many referees also regard it as "less work" although if they are doing the dual correctly, it is actually more work than if a three man crew is present. If this was a USSF sanctioned league game, the league and the referees can be disciplined for using a two man system like this, as USSF does not allow it.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

My thoughts are not able to be written down because they are unspeakable. You hit on the exact reason why a dual system is a pathetic method of refereeing a match.