ASSISTANT REFEREE TRAINING

2015

TOPICS

Structure

• In-class instruction (60 minutes)

• On-field training (60 minutes)

Topics

• Duties and Responsibilities

• Positioning

• Teamwork

• Gestures

• Running Technique

• Flag Technique

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Two assistant referees are appointed. Their duties, subject to the decision of the referee, are to indicate:

• When the whole of the ball has passed out of the field of play

• Which side is entitled to a corner kick, goal kick or throw-in

• When a player may be penalized for being in an offside position

• When a substitution is requested

• When serious misconduct or any other incident has occurred out of the view of the referee

• When offences have been committed whenever the assistants are closer to the action than the referee (this includes, in particular circumstances, offences committed in the penalty area)

• Whether, at penalty kicks, the goalkeeper has blatantly moved forward before the ball has been kicked and if the ball has crossed the line.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The assistant referees help the referee to control the match in accordance with the Laws of the Game.

At the request and direction of the referee, they also assist the referee in such matters as:

• Inspecting the field, the balls and player equipment

• Monitoring the substitution process

• Maintaining back-up records of time, goals and misconduct

POSITIONING 1. Kick off

POSITIONING 2. General Positioning

POSITIONING 3. Goal kick

POSITIONING 3. Goal kick (continued)

POSITIONING 3. Goal kick (continued)

POSITIONING 4. Goalkeeper releasing the ball

POSITIONING 5. Penalty kick

POSITIONING 5. Penalty kick (continued)

POSITIONING 6. Kicks from the penalty mark

POSITIONING 7. Goal scored (normal situations)

POSITIONING 7. Goal scored (ball appears to be still in play)

POSITIONING 7. No Goal situations (ball not in net)

POSITIONING 8. Corner kick

AR’s position should be behind the corner flag in line with the goal line.

•Do not interfere with the players.

•Check if the ball is properly placed inside the corner arc.

RUNNING TECHNIQUE

• As a general rule, the assistant referees should face the field whilst running.

• Side-to-side movement should be used for short distances, especially when judging offside (better line of vision).

RUNNING TECHNIQUE (continued)

• Running forwards should be used for sprinting.

• Be in a “ready position” before sprinting.

• Keep the flag down, visible to the referee.

FLAG TECHNIQUE

• The assistant referee’s flag should always be visible to the referee, unfurled and still whilst running.

• The flag should be like an extension of the arm when signaling.

FLAG TECHNIQUE (continued)

When making a signal, the assistant referee shall:

• Stop running

• Face the field

• Make eye contact with the referee

• Raise the flag with the appropriate hand (that will also be used for the remainder of the signal). If necessary, change the hand with flag underneath.

A/Referee vs Referee General Positioning

AR

AR

Assistant Referee

Assistant Referee

FLAG TECHNIQUE – THROW-IN Near AR Position

Clear situations: •directly show direction

•priority for AR

If any doubt: •raise the flag

•make eye contact with

the referee

•follow referee’s signal

FLAG TECHNIQUE – THROW-IN Far from AR position

Very clear situations: • AR can directly show direction

along the touch line

Other situations: •priority for referee

•raise the flag

•make eye contact with the

referee

•AR just follows referee’s

signal

FLAG TECHNIQUE – GOAL & CORNER KICK

• Raise the flag with the right hand for goal kick or corner kick (better line of vision).

• For tight decisions when the ball is out of play, raise the flag first.

FLAG TECHNIQUE – GOAL & CORNER KICK Near AR position

Clear situations: •show goal kick or corner kick

directly

•priority for AR

If any doubt: •raise the flag (if

necessary)

•make eye contact

•follow referee’s signal

FLAG TECHNIQUE – GOAL & CORNER KICK Far AR position

Far situations:

• make eye contact with the referee

• priority for referee

• just follow referee’s signal

FLAG TECHNIQUE - OFFSIDE

• If an assistant referee is not totally sure about an offside offence, the flag should not be raised (FIFA recommendation).

• If the flag is not seen immediately by the referee, the AR shall keep signaling until it has been acknowledged or the ball is clearly in control of the defending team.

• The flag shall be raised with the right hand, giving the AR a better line of vision.

OFFSIDE POSITION

• A player is in an offside position if he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent.

• A player is not in an offside position if he is in his own half of the field of play.

• Consideration should be given to any part of the head, body or feet of the attacker in relation to the second last defender, the ball or the halfway line.

The arms are not considered to be parts of the body that can put an attacker in an offside position!

OFFSIDE POSITION (continued)

Onside Position Offside Position

OFFSIDE POSITION (continued)

Onside Position Offside Position

OFFSIDE POSITION (continued)

Onside Position Offside Position

OFFSIDE – ACTIVE PLAY

“Interfering with play” means:

• Playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team-mate.

“Interfering with an opponent” means:

• Preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball, for example, by clearly obstructing the goalkeeper’s line of vision or movement.

• Making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.

“Gaining an advantage by being in that position” means:

• Playing a ball that rebounds to him off a post or crossbar, having previously been in an offside position.

• Playing a ball that rebounds to him off an opponent, having previously been in an offside position.

GOLDEN RULE FOR OFFSIDE

Wait and See! It is better to be slightly late and correct than to be too quick and wrong.

FLAG TECHNIQUE - FOULS

• The assistant referee should raise his flag when a foul or misconduct is committed in his immediate vicinity or out of the referee’s vision.

• In all other situations, he should wait and offer his opinion if it is required. If this is the case, the assistant referee shall report what he has seen and heard and which players are involved to the referee.

• The assistant referee shall raise his flag with the appropriate hand (the same hand that will also be used for the remainder of the signal); this gives the referee a clear indication as to who was fouled.

FLAG TECHNIQUE - SUBSTITUTION

The assistant referee shall signal the substitution at the next stoppage in the match

• Once the referee acknowledges AR signal, flag goes down and AR moves to the halfway line

• AR checks substitute’s equipment

• AR ensures substitution is done correctly

The assistant referee assists with substitution procedures. In this case, the referee shall wait until the AR is back in position before restarting play.

ASSISTANT REFEREE MECHANICS

On-field training

Each participant should have:

• Shirt and shorts or tracksuit

• Running shoes

• AR flag

• Whistle

ASSISTANT REFEREE MECHANICS

Basic Teaching Setup

ASSISTANT REFEREE MECHANICS

Exercise 1 – Warm Up

Explain reason

Demonstrate

Side to Side

Side to Side Crossover

Turning – towards field

always

Exercise Warm Up

Whistle for change of

direction

ASSISTANT REFEREE MECHANICS

Exercise 2 - Flag Mechanics

Demonstrate

Carrying and running / stopping

Flag field side always

Switching hands, down low

Flag extension of the arm

Exercise Flag Mechanics

Monitor and correct deficiencies

One on one mentoring

ASSISTANT REFEREE MECHANICS

For far AR situations, simulate situations where a

referee calls it the other way. AR must mimic Referee.

Exercise 3 - Signals

Demonstrate

Throw-in + Quick out of

bounds

Goal kick + Quick

out of bounds

Corner kick

Substitution

Goal signal / No

goal signal

Exercise Signals

Monitor and correct deficiencies

ASSISTANT REFEREE MECHANICS

Exercise 4 – Run the line

Explain exercise

Students at halfway

Mentor send them

away with

a signal

‘Referee’ plus

students interpret

Monitor and correct

deficiencies

ASSISTANT REFEREE MECHANICS

Exercise 4 – Run the line

Explain and exercise

Positioning – Kick-off,

normal play

(Second last defender

or the ball)

Exercise

Monitor and correct deficiencies

ASSISTANT REFEREE MECHANICS

Exercise 4 – Run the line

Explain and exercise

Second last defender

Staying ‘square’

(90 degrees)

View from behind

Exercise

Monitor and correct deficiencies

ASSISTANT REFEREE MECHANICS

Exercise 4 – Run the line

Explain and exercise

Move the angle

View from behind

Show how player

now ‘looks’ onside

ASSISTANT REFEREE MECHANICS

Exercise 4 – Run the line

Explain and exercise

Take them back

Finish in the

correct position

View from behind

Demonstrate various «offside» and «no offside» situations - use the «Wait and See

Technique» (e.g. three players running for the ball, wait and see who touches it

before making a decision)

ASSISTANT REFEREE MECHANICS

Exercise 4 – Run the line

Explain and exercise

Bring the GK out

Explain the

difference

View from behind

Demonstrate various «offside» and «no offside» situations - use the «Wait and

See Technique» (e.g. interfering with an opponent, gaining an advantage, etc.)

ASSISTANT REFEREE MECHANICS

Exercise 4 – Run the line

Explain and exercise

Throw a ball in

Explain the

difference

“Blue” is now OK

ASSISTANT REFEREE MECHANICS

Exercise 5 – Game

Situations

Field Coverage - with

Mentor directing game

situations

Assistant Referees

interacting with Referee

(eye contact, etc.)

Direct free kick

Indirect free kick

Penalty kick

Corner kick

Goal kick

Throw-in

Substitution