Question Number: 20269

Mechanics 10/15/2008

RE: Competitive Under 14

Jay of Santa Cruz, ca USA asks...

Two AR procedural questions:
First question: At a recent game I reffed, there was kicking back and forth of the ball near the goal and the ball finally went in, barely. The keeper grabbed the ball clearly over the net but the CR may not have seen that it was over. I raised my flag indicating that the ball was out of play. The keeper starts saying that I indicated offside. How should I have indicated a goal to avoid confusion?

Second question: A player is in an offside position and the ball comes flying out of a group of players from both teams to the player in the offside position. Whether or not I raise the flag depends on how the ball got to him. If it was off his teammate the flag goes up. If the defenders had control and it got to the player without first touching a team mate first, no flag. What do I do as an AR in this situation?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

1) A flag straight up indicates that play must be stopped. Once the ref does that, the next signal tells why. If you pointed the flag near/middle/far, that would be offside. Else if you move smartly up the sideline toward midfield, you would be indicating a goal scored. If the center doesn't get it, you talk to him. You can't let the game continue if a goal was actually scored. It doesn't matter why the goalkeeper thinks you signalled.

2) If you don't know who played the ball, you don't call offside. If the offside player ends up scoring a goal, you stand at attention so the ref will confer with you. Then you can state what you know: 'The player was in an offside position, but I didn't see who kicked the ball to him.' The center can decide if it was a teammate or an opponent.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

1. Flag straight up is not necessarily a signal for offside. It indicates play should stop. Once the referee acknowledges that, your next movement tells the referee why you stopped play. You put the flag down and run up the touchline towards the center line indication a goal had been scored.
2. This one is easy. You should NEVER signal for offside unless you are sure of your call. You don't know who touched the ball last. Keep your flag down