1. AR 2006: The Role of the Assistant Referee in Contemporary Soccer Steven S. Davidson Updated January 30, 2006

2. OBJECTIVES: At the end of this discussion, you will have a better understanding of the Role of the Assistant Referee, as it pertains to: Proper Assistance Application of Law 11 (Offside) Foul Recognition Empowerment to ACT

3. LET’S DO THE MATH! With few exceptions, each game played in the United States requires ONE Referee and TWO Assistant Referees Therefore, you should expect to work twice as many games as AR

4. Law 6: The Assistant Referee Seven simple duties – to INDICATE: When ball has exited field Which side in entitled to restart When a player should be penalized for Offside When substitution is requested When misconduct is not detected by Referee When offense occurs closer to AR Whether GK moves prematurely on Penalty Kick and if ball crosses line

5. HOW MANY TEAMS? In any soccer game, there are THREE teams on the field Soccer officials must embrace the TEAM MENTALITY to succeed and to best service the game!

6. CHECK THE EGO! In order for the Officiating Team to succeed, the Assistant Referees must ACCEPT and EMBRACE their role Be ready to assist when the Referee needs help (infractions not observed) Be ready to assist when the Game needs help (Referee breaks rules)

7. AR: CRITICAL PLAYER ON REFEREE TEAM Not just responsible for ball out of bounds Not only indicate offside infractions Not a spectator

8. AR CONFIDENCE Must display confidence in yourself Body Language shows comfort & focus Instill confidence in your officiating teammates Each team member trusts one another so each can CONFIDENTLY focus on individual responsibilities

9. Demonstrate your THOROUGH MASTERY of the application of Law 11… HOW DO I SHOW MY CONFIDENCE AS AN AR? … in other words, start by getting the OFFSIDE DECISIONS correct!

10. “Where was the offensive player (relative to the Second Last Defender) at the time the ball was last played BY A TEAMMATE?” The CLASSIC Offside decision! Law XI: Definition of Offside

11. What about when we have SEVERAL players (from both teams)? WHO is the second last defender? WHICH teammate is the ball intended for? HOW do we decide?

12. What’s this “NEW INTERPRETATION” all about? It’s not really new… to USA Attacker usually needs to TOUCH BALL in order to interfere with play (with exceptions) Bottom line: Identify offside position as before, but WAIT to penalize (raise the flag)

13. SEVERAL players (from both teams) The effective AR MUST be able to: Monitor the location of several players from both teams AT EACH CRITICAL MOMENT Concentrate on EVERYTHING in front of us “DEFOCUS” your vision

14. CLASSIC OFFSIDE DECISION Let’s look at a few Video Examples… (You will have the opportunity to learn from others’ mistakes!)

15. MOST COMMON ERRORS: Decision to raise flag made “too fast” Non-Interference with Play Rebound from goalpost or goalkeeper Mental error following restart Lack of concentration

16. We would prefer that the AR NOT have any doubt; however… “WHEN IN DOUBT, PLEASE KEEP THE FLAG DOWN!”

17. …So let’s eliminate Doubt! Physical Fitness cannot be an issue! You are EXPECTED to be in the proper position to make critical decisions BE THERE => Even with SLD or Ball! Not in Ideal Position = GUESSING

18. OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTING THE REFEREE: WHAT TO WATCH?” Depending on the position of the ball and the Referee, the AR must split focus: OFFSIDE TOUCHLINE GOAL LINE FOUL/NO FOUL MISCONDUCT

19. ASSISTING WITH FOULS & MISCONDUCT: “HOW DO WE WATCH?” MONITOR the movements of the key players IDENTIFY potential fouls and misconduct BEFORE they happen PREDICT where the ball might be played in the next attacking sequence ANTICIPATE players’ actions while the ball is in flight/en route

20. CONCENTRATING ON FOUR THINGS AT ONCE AR must be able to concentrate – for a full 90* minutes – on several important factors SIMULTANEOUSLY: Location of Ball Location of Referee Second Last Defender Key Attackers & Defenders

21. CONCENTRATING ON FOUR THINGS AT ONCE AR MUST be able to recognize EVERYTHING in field of vision! “DEFOCUS” your vision DO NOT STARE at the Ball!

22. LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE: Enough? Too Much? THINGS TO CONSIDER – In THIS game: How comfortable is the Referee? How comfortable am I? Do I agree with the way things are going? How can I BEST help the Referee?

23. IN OTHER WORDS: READ THE GAME FROM THE TOUCHLINE! Referee not aware of game intensity change Player(s) disrupting game going unnoticed Dissent Persistent Infringement Player(s) beginning to lose control

24. AR “READING” THE GAME Be prepared to assist when the Referee misses KEY & CRITICAL infractions (Review four video examples)

25. AR MUST REACT CORRECTLY… IN TIME! Infractions not observed by Referee: DISTANCE: (1 st & 4 th examples) ANGLE TO PLAY: (2 nd example – DGSO) Misconduct outside Referee’s field of vision (3 rd example)

26. AR READING THE GAME: THE OTHER COMPONENT! Preventing the Referee from BREAKING the Laws of the Game: Incorrect Restart after Prolonged Stoppage Improper Identification of player (2CT, SO) Application of Rules of Competition Time Management (35: - 40: - 45:) Substitutions (inappropriate time)

27. ASSISTANCE: 10 YARD ASSURANCE When requested, the AR moves players in a wall in the same manner as the Referee: DELAY THE KICK (TELL ATTACKERS!) BECOME FIRST BRICK IN WALL GET INTO POSITION FOR NEXT DECISION REFEREE SOUNDS WHISTLE

28. The CRITICAL COMPONENT when assisting with “10 yards ” EYE CONTACT Between R & AR: BEFORE AR enters field BEFORE Referee blows whistle for kick to be taken

29. PROPER ASSISTANCE: 10 YARD ASSURANCE Let’s look at one more Video Example…

30. LATE IN THE GAME we must concentrate that much harder to counter the effects of fatigue. ONE LAST THING for my fellow Assistant Referees…

31. LATE IN THE GAME (just like late in this presentation!) Players are tired Coaches are tired (of yelling) Referee team is tired (of the coaches yelling) When we are tired, we make more mistakes

32. COUNTERACT FATIGUE! To counteract the effects of fatigue, give yourself a (silent) “pep talk.” Concentrate EVEN HARDER in the game’s waning moments!

33. ARE THERE ANY… Questions?