|
Sometimes you sign up for a game where there is only the CR position in Arbiter. Other times you show up at the field and nearing game time you don't have a full crew of referees. Maybe you are the only one who is there, maybe it is you and another referee. This email is a reminder on how to handle this situation.
The protocol is to check with both coaches and ask if they have any grade 8 or grade 9 referees associated with the club. First ask the visiting team, then give the home team a chance to provide trained, certified assistants. If you can't fill all of the open spots with trained referees, then you fill the remaining spots with a "parent volunteer" who is provided by the coaches. Again, ask the visiting team first, followed by the home team.
Grade 9s and 8s are treated as "assistant referees" and perform the normal duties of an assistant referee under the Laws Of The Game. They should have their uniform to be considered official, but for rec games I usually take their word for it if they don't have their uniform but say that they have been trained. It is your disretion. For competitive games, they should have their uniform shirt (at least) and badge in order for you to consider them Assistant Referees. If they don't, then consider them Club Linesmen who have reduced responsibilities as described below.
Your new assistants probably have only a little (if any) experience. Thus it is important that you have a good pregame discussion. Introduce yourself and make sure they know your name and you know their names. Tell them that if at any point in the game they need to get your attention simply call out your name. As you run through your pregame, talk to them with a cheerful and upbeat attitude that lets them know this is going to be fun!
If you have a club linesman, remember that they have probably been drafted at least partially against their will. They thought they were going to the field to relax and watch their kid kick the ball around, and now they find themselves with a job. They will often be nervous and worried about making mistakes and getting "yelled at" (ahhh....the irony!). Put them at ease by making their job simple. Tell them that as a club linesman, they assist you with one and only one task: indicating when the ball is completely "out of touch" (over the touch line). The moment that the ball is completely out, they are to raise their flag straight over their head. That is all they have to do. They are not to call offside nor are they to call fouls. Technically, they are not even allowed to point direction of the restart, although for recreational games I will usually instruct them that if they know the direction for sure they can indicate direction.
Take a moment to instruct them how to tell when a ball is completely out of touch by doing a quick and fun little demonstration. Take a ball and place it on a touch line. Rolling the ball slightly, show it in positions where it is clearly in, just barely in, and where it is just barely out, saying "this is in, this is in, this is out...". Now place the ball just barely out of touch. Have them stand a few yards down the touch line from the ball and, with their feet right behind the touch line, ask them to turn their head and look down the line and observe that the ball is out. Now have them step back from the line a yard and repeat the exercise. Note that now the ball appears to be in! This points out the importance of moving up to the line when the ball is near the touch line to get the best angle to make the proper call.
For a grade 9 assistant referee, it will be helpful to remind them of the specifics of law 11, offside. Remind them to stay positioned with the 2nd to last defender (or the ball if it is behind the 2LD). Discuss the three requirements for offside: a player has committed an offside offense when they are (1) in an offside position (2) at the moment the ball is played and they (3) participate by becoming involved in active play. When all three requirements are met, the grade 9 AR stops and raises their flag straight up and doesn't drop it unless waved down by you. Explain how you would like them to judge participation. Keep it simple.
When you hand them the flags, take a moment and demonstrate the signals. Straight up for ball out of touch and offside. Show them the proper way to indicate direction of restart by raising the flag from their side to 45 degrees and then lowering it. Tell them to relax and take their time when giving their signals, coming to a stop and then making a nice, crisp signal. Keep it simple, make it fun. After you take the field together and complete the coin toss, point out where they are going to be positioned and let them know they can move along the touch line between the goal line and the center line and that they don't need to venture past the center line. Shake hands and send them directly to touch (hopefully you have inspected the nets already!) and get the game started.
Have fun out there.
Bill Crisafulli |
