Question Number: 30670

Law 6 - Assistant Referee 8/14/2016

RE: Rec Adult

Andy Quiligotti of Manchester, Cheshire England asks...

Why do the linesmen only work the pitch to the left of the goalkeeper and never the half to the right ??????

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Andy
There is nothing to prevent this other than assistant referees tend to have much more experience on the left side than the right plus the referees are more accustomed to running their usual pattern of left corner flag to left corner flag. Many AR signals come naturally with constant use such as signalling for a corner. Change to the opposite side and it requires a little more thought using opposite hands.
I have on occasions ran the right side due to damage to the left side, the referee wanted to try the opposite diagonal and in one we thought the setting sun might have less effect from the angles of views of the ARs.

Answer provided by Referee James Sowa

Andy,

The referees do occasionally work the opposite side of the pitch. This usually occurs when their is some issue with the normal touchline or referee diagonal. There is no 'rule' against it, however referees are usually much more comfortable running the standard diagonal. I know that whenever I run a reverse, I am lost for the first 10 - 15 minutes as to where my ARs are and where I need to be.