Question Number: 24958

Mechanics 5/16/2011

RE: Competitive, Rec Under 14

Marcus Campbell of Olympia Fields, Illinois United States asks...

How do you differentiate the goal kick signal from offside-mid? The centers here still believe in flag up, then direction for balls out of bounds. Then they always seem to get confused when I call goal kick because its the same signal for offside in the middle, and it leads to sloppy looking shouts and gestures trying to get the call right. What should be done?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Marcus
The signal for a goal kick by the referee is an outstretched hand palm pointing downwards towards the goal area. The AR goal kick signal should be a flag pointing inwards using the right hand towards the goal area having run to the goal line. The flag is not raised unless the ball returns into play immediately. For less fit ARs getting to opposite the 6 yard line to signal is sufficient.
The offside signal is the raised arm IDFK signal by the referee and the AR signal is a raised flag held for a few seconds and then dropped to indicate location such as far, middle and near.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Context.

For a ball that has run past the goal line for a goal kick, the assistant referee's signal would directly point toward to the goal area. Not up.

The only time the flag goes up, with a goal kick restart, is when the ball has fully crossed the goal line and then immediately returns into play. The assistant referee raise the flag and wait for a whistle. But, if the ball fully crossed the goal line in the middle of the field, last touched by an attacker, the result is a GOAL. It would never be a goal kick. So, the assistant referee's indication must mean offside. If a player was offside on either side of the goal, the flag signal would be near and far.
When there is any doubt as to the call, the assistant referee also has a voice. If there is a great need for clarity in the restart, looking at the referee and enunciating 'offside' usually will provide it.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The AR should point directly at the goal area, never up with his flag. If the flag goes up, there is no reason the referee should think a goal kick is a possibility. UNLESS the flag goes up, the referee has no reason to think offside a possibility.

If flag goes up for balls out of play, it should only be for over the touch line, not the goal line, unless the ball has gone over the goal line and comes right back out. That is very rare and would be the only time there could be confusion. If the ball goes over the goal line your signals are for goal, corner kick, goal kick or the signals to disallow a goal: stand there or raise the flag if the person scoring the goal was offside.

I may be wrong but I don't remember ever being told you should raise the flag before signalling a goal kick or corner kick. To do so would cause just the problem you are having

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The only time the flag should go vertical when the ball goes over the goal line is when it immediately reenters the field. The raised flag is a universal signal for 'stop the game'. For a goal kick (or corner kick) when it is clear the ball has gone out, the flag should not go vertical first.

If the ball quickly goes out and back in, there could be some confusion as to what happened and the ref and AR may need to have a short conversation. The AR can call out, 'Goal Kick' so everyone knows it's not offside.