Question Number: 26885

Mechanics 10/6/2012

RE: rec Adult

alex of richmond hill, ontario canada asks...

While watching a fifa women U17 world cup game, I noticed that the ar keeps the flag in her left hand while side stepping in the section between the goal line and the top of the penalty area. I have been instructed 2 years ago that fifa wants ar to keep the flag in the right hand in that section. Has there been any recent changes, again?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Alex
Associations have different training and advice for assistant referees. The older advice was to keep the flag in the hand nearest the field of play when running so it would be in the left hand when heading towards the goal line.
More recent advice has been that in the penalty area the referee is less likely to be looking at the assistant during play and that the flag is more likely to be used by the assistants for offside, corner kick or goal kick which are all right hand flags so it is helpful to be prepared for that with a change to the right hand in that area.
If however an AR has had a lifetime of left hand running with a right hand switch for the call that can be difficult to change and perhaps something that an AR does not need to have to concentrate on in an important game.
The important part is the call not the mechanics and I would certainly not fault any AR for left hand use as long as the call is correct and the CR sees the flag.
If an AR can do the more 'modern' method then that is great and it probably helps to identify the 'better' assistants for promotion and higher level games.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Always keep the flag in the hand that's between you and the referee - ie when sidestepping, keep it in your hand that's opposite to your goal line.

The referee needs to easily and quickly see your flag. If it's concealed by your body, this can be confusing - and some referees use a concealed flag at the PA as a signal for a penalty kick.