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Question Number: 19460Mechanics 6/19/2008Todd of Rockford, IL USA asks...As a referee just starting out, when I am AR, I sometimes find it very difficult to watch for both out-of-play and offside at the same time - especially when the defending team is doing a very good job at playing the offside trap against the attacking team. I realize that offside is a more serious foul (for lack of a better term here) than just pointing the direction of out-of-play. Any suggestions or comments on how to be better at doing both things simultaneously, or which one to pay closer attention to? (especially when you have a CR looking to you on almost every out-of-play call) Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol I know your dilemma. Sometimes the AR has to look 3 or 4 directions all at the same time!
Consider what you want from your AR's when you are the referee. Offside is likely the most important, as it's the hardest for the referee to see. Next would be ball out of play: although that is often quite obvious, it's harder when the lines are faint or the ball barely crosses. Third on my list would be who kicked it out, and fourth assistance with fouls. As we go down the list, the assistance required by the referee is usually lessened. You may see the ball go over the line slightly, but not have seen who kicked it last. In that case, you make a guess and put the flag up vertically in that hand (rather than the 45 degree angle). This tells the ref that you know the ball was out, but aren't as sure on the direction. The ref can then make that decision, but the harder one, whether the ball was completely over the line, has been made by you the AR.
Speak to the center referee before the game to clarify just how she wants you to do things when you're not sure of something. The referee should lead the pregame conference with the AR's, but if that's not forthcoming or if she just gives you a "you know what to do" speech, ask some questions.
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View Referee Gary Voshol profileAnswer provided by Referee Richard Dawson Hi Todd, excellent post and observation just substitute infringement instead of foul. You need to be eye shifting and staying really focused on the movement of the second last opponent and the ball as they are the ingrediants in any offside decision. Hence you will see most balls in or close to the touchline because of your offside duties incorperates the ball location and touch as important. You can listen to the sounds of the ball being struck at the grassroots sometimes as the pitch noise is not quite so muted as in the loud stadiums! Side to side sliding along the touchline to stay even withthe second last opponent but if you must turn and run to stay with the play so be it! A good referre will be aware that the OFFSIDE is #1 and although the ball out and throws and fouls out of sight are PART of the AR's duties OFFSIDE is #uno! NUMBER ONE!, #1!!!!!!!!!
While the safety of all is the primary concern your responsibility as AR is the offside as it creates the greatest challenge on the pitch to allow or stop play. The secondary responsibility is not let the referee screw up and you do that by ensuring he gets the calls correct.
The ball in or out often is self explanatory but in the close situations where we need to freeze the camera and back feed the incident then slow motion to actually see who last touched the ball the AR and referee have no such option.
As a referee I instruct ARs to stay with the second last opponent at ALL times unless the ball is advanced beyond closer to the opposing goal line. I ask they raise the flag in the correct hand to 45% to indicate direction in any obvious ball in or out while they look at me.
In my Quadrants I will take the in or out of touch call as to direction but look to the AR to get eye contact especially on balls running along the touchline with the AR looking along the touchline to see if the ball is just in or just out. If they are unsure they raise the flag straight up but in the hand they think the throw should go to show it IS out look at me for the decision as to who gets it if I am in their quadrant. Then if I agree I signal that same way and they follow. If the referee signals the opposite way because he saw it better the AR switches hands and lowers the flag to 45% to the same way the referee has indicated.
If the referee is way out from the point it exited the nearest AR will likely be looked at to indicate a direction which the referee should acknowledge! If the referee is aware because he saw the touch of a close decision he could signal the direction as the ball is actually in the process of going out so the AR can mirror that decision. effectively. Cheers
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View Referee Richard Dawson profileAnswer provided by Referee Steve Montanino The best thing you can do in these cases is to stay square to the field and side step, then you basically put your head on a swivel and continuously check the offside line and the ball out of play. Focus more closely on the ball out of play when the ball gets very close to the touchline or goal line. Focus more intently on offside when the ball is farther away from those places. Keep looking and switching and at no point should you focus so much on one that you forget to keep track of the other. Having a good position as you side step also gives you more use of your peripheral vision in these situations and a better angle of view on offside decisions.
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