Question Number: 23837

League Specific 8/26/2010

RE: Competetive Intramurals College

Aaron Goldfein of Pittsburgh, PA USA asks...

I have recently taken a job at my college as an intramural soccer official. Since then, I have learned that the coordinator only assigns two officials to each match, feeling that the smaller than normal fields don't require three officials (and, I assume, not wanting to pay a third).

The result of this is that the coordinator has formally declared that the matches will use the dual system of control, and he has had all officials trained accordingly.

Thus, when I show up to my first match, I will be partnered with another official armed not with a flag but with a whistle who knows nothing of the diagonal system of control. I have officiated for 5 years, exclusively using the diagonal system of control.

So what should I do? I have no problem with personally overruling the coordinator and trying to convince my partner, who will probably be doing the first match of his career, to try out the diagonal system of control. But considering that I do not have AR flags (the athletic department supplies all officiating equipment and, because the dual system is used, flags are unnecessary), and my partner may have never even heard of the diagonal system, is it best to do that?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If you take a job, you are committed to doing the job the way the people who hired you want it done.

This obviously is not a USSF-affliated league. They can make their own rules as they see fit. They have decided to do a 2-ref system without AR's, so you must adjust and learn to use that system. The other officials - especially those who have been trained only for this college intermural league - will be focused toward this system.

You might ask if there have been any changes to the Laws of the Game for the players, since they have changed it for the referees.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Goldfein
At the outset I might say that as you have accepted the role then you are obliged to follow the system that is in place and declared to be used by the co-ordinator
If the games are being officated using the the Dual System of Control then that is the system referees must use.
I suggest that you familiarise yourself with the system and the positions that a referee is expected to take as the Lead Referee and as the Trail Referee. The absolute necessity is that there is a good pregame discussion to include field Inspection, determine lead/trail directions, decide touchline/goal line responsibilities, simultaneous whistle ? who is the Head Ref and how substitutions, injuries and restarts are handled.
I might add as well that the teams and coaches will be used to the system so it is important not to change that because of your preference when every other game will be officiated using the Dual System. It is also probably unfair to your colleague on the day to try to change the way games are being officiated from the norm which is used in all other games.
As they say ' When In Rome do as the Romans do'

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

If you take the assignment, you need to follow the rules.

High school soccer still allows the dual system of control. You will find that your experience as a center referee is applied when you are the trailing referee (when the attack is moving away from you) and your experience as an assistant referee is applied when you are the lead (the attack is moving toward you). In a properly run dual, both referees must run/sprint to position to catch the fouls or alternative to make the offside calls every time possession changes. It is hard work, but it can be done.