AR 2006: The Role of the Assistant Referee in Contemporary Soccer Steven S. Davidson Updated January 30, 2006
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
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
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
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!
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)
AR: CRITICAL PLAYER ON REFEREE TEAM Not just responsible for ball out of bounds Not only indicate offside infractions Not a spectator
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
HOW DO I SHOW MY CONFIDENCE AS AN AR? Demonstrate your THOROUGH MASTERY of the application of Law 11 in other words, start by getting the OFFSIDE DECISIONS correct!
Law XI: Definition of Offside 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!
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?
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)
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
CLASSIC OFFSIDE DECISION Let s look at a few Video Examples (You will have the opportunity to learn from others mistakes!)
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
We would prefer that the AR NOT have any doubt; however WHEN IN DOUBT, PLEASE KEEP THE FLAG DOWN!
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
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
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
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
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!
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?
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
AR READING THE GAME Be prepared to assist when the Referee misses KEY & CRITICAL infractions (Review four video examples)
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)
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)
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
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
PROPER ASSISTANCE: 10 YARD ASSURANCE Let s look at one more Video Example
ONE LAST THING for my fellow Assistant Referees LATE IN THE GAME we must concentrate that much harder to counter the effects of fatigue.
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
COUNTERACT FATIGUE! To counteract the effects of fatigue, give yourself a (silent) pep talk. Concentrate EVEN HARDER in the game s waning moments!
ARE THERE ANY Questions?