Question Number: 19930

League Specific 9/12/2008

RE: Adult

Vahide Barnes of Camp Hill, Pa U.S.A asks...

Recently I was at a high school soccer game. I was expecting the asst refs to switch sides at half time(as a rule), but they didnt. Whats interesting is that one ref had called 5 offsides, lets say, againist school A in the first half and he still stayed at the same side of school B. Since some of those calls were questionable, it looked like this ref was trying to prevent the school A to score. Am I wrong about side switching rule at half time?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Vahide, I am slightly confused?
The teams switch sides at the half and the AR traditionally remains at his diagonal. Am I correct in assuming you are saying the AR switched sides with the team at the half so the same AR is judging the offside antics of the same side as in the first half? Or are we talking about the two referees system no ARs?

When I was receiving training at a seminar we had an elite EPL English premier league referee come over from England and do a first division university match. He did exactly that, he had the ARs switch with the two sides so the they had the same AR as in the first half looking over their defense . One coach freaked and said exactly as you are now, it is not allowed. The surprising thing it is NOT a requirement that ARs must do 1/2 for each team. In fact some believe as ARs are **neutral** and they learn the in the first half the tactical approach they are better suited to remain with that team then relearn the other teams tactics in the second half. If one team is aggressively pushing up and the AR on that side is say faster or more experienced to be able to read the play that might affect why a referee could choose to let things be .
Questionable is a interesting choice of words that attack the integrity of an official. Those with integrity call what they see, we certainly hope nothing heinous was at work or an unfair ulterior motive has replaced the neutrality of the AR or officials.
You are wrong that the ARs must do 1/2 for each team UNLESS it is a stated bylaw in the league?? I have been advised that the USSF frowns upon it but cannot find absolute vindication in literature this is so. Although FIFA laws do not forbid it a referee best be aware it could be perceived as unfair especially for those not used to such officiating
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The AR's stay on the same side both halves. The teams swtich so the AR gets a view of team's defense in game. If he swtiched, then he would be calling the same team offside both halves.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Oh, I see you're from PA, that explains it. For some reason the high school powers that be in PA invented a truly bizzare form of refereeing a soccer game with the 3-whistle system. Each ref would take the center for 1/3 of the game! And rotate out to the side-ref positions. Likely with a dual system they advocate moving end to end for half the game, but I can't see why this would be a benefit to the game. Nor why it would make any difference if they didn't switch.