Assistant Referee Mechanics Module

Assisting the Referee correctly and lucidly is the job of the AR, and the Assistant Referee Mechanics serve as the language with which to communicate during the match.  Through game experience and assessments, hopefully, the Assistant will gain a sense of when to assist, but these following basic signals must be mastered to be assigned games in the Diagonal System of Control

These videos are meant to be used as a tool for Athens Referee Academy Officials and all others looking to improve their game; other sources for this information are linked below.

Tracking Play--Goal

Tracking Play means staying level with the second to last defender or the ball whichever is closer to goal.  These videos do not track play; they are static "snapshots" of the view of the Assistant.

--at 1:03 we see the Assistant Referee mechanic for a Throw-in awarded to the Attack.
Then, we see the Assistant Fall behind play as the attack shoots on goal--when the ball becomes closer to goal than the second to last defender, the Assistant should be level with the ball.

The Assistant gets to the flag after the shot, yet manages to make a call with a clear and firm signal.

--1:11 the Assistant is signaling to the Referee to "Stop Play".  This mechanic is holding the flag straight up.

--then at 1:13 the Assistant who has established eye contact with Referee signals for a Corner Kick.


 --at 1:20 the Assistant signals for a Substitution, as High School Rules--and College-- permit subs at this time.  The Assistant drops his Flag after the Referee has acknowledged the Signal.

--at 1:29 the Assistant uses an unapproved signal, but one that is common to the High School fields in this region.  The Flag held diagonally downward informs the Referee that the substitution process is complete, and the game can restart.

--at 1:37 the Assistant signals a good goal by sprinting up the line.  He records the goal at an inopportune time, however, as the after-goal drama is in front of him.  The far side Assistant--in this case AR2--should record the goal first, then the Referee, and finally the near Assistant.  Of course, the Assistants will abide by the specific procedures set forth by the Referee in the Pre-Game Talk.

If the Assistant has questions about the Goal, if there was a foul or interference, he should remain at attention.

--at 2:00 the Assistant Returns to the positioning of "level to the second to last defender", and makes eye contact to signal to the Referee he is ready for the Kickoff.

 

Sidestepping & Throw In-- 

The Flag is raised at a 45 degree angle toward the direction of play.  In this case

--at :26 the Defending team is awarded the Throw In.

--then at :32 we see a quick signal awarding the restart to the Attack.

--and again to the Attack at :45

--We don't see the signal for the Corner Kick,  but by 1:11 the camera has positioned itself at the goal line behind the Assistant.

--After the ball is cleared by the defense, the Assistant maintains his positioning with the second to last defender.

Goal Kick and Substitution Mechanic--

 Goal Kick-- The Flag is raised in the right hand straight out, and the position is at the goal line.

Player Substitution-- The Flag is pinned between the palms and raised directly overhead.

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 Pre-Game Discussion

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Corner Kick--

  Assistant stands with a view down the goal line and will become goal judge if a ball rebounds into play.

 Signal is Downward Diagonal Fag in the Right Hand.

Offside & Ball In & Out of Play--

After the Corner Kick, the Assistant holds the flag in the wrong hand. It should return to the hand nearest the Referee as he sidesteps.

--:12 The Assistant Referee informs the Referee that the blue player was in an Offside position at the moment the ball was played, the signal is a Flag held straight up.

-- :33 Assistant then signals that ball has left the Field of Play.

The action moves down field and is quickly back; such is the life of an Assistant Referee.

--1:34 Assistant Signals for a Goal kick.

 

Foul & Foul Plus Caution--

 --:05 The Assistant is signaling for a foul, but ought to first have raised the flag straight up in the left hand to signal "stop the game", then waved the flag to indicate the foul.  Finally, the Assistant would tilt the Flag Diagonally to the left at a 45 degree angle to indicate the direction of the Restart to the Referee.

Flag mechanics are like a language, and so the better the mechanics are understood the better the communication, and the eaiser the work becomes.  Mastering the mechanics is accomplished through the system of review, called assessments and source for information is the United States Soccer Federation document--Guide to Procedures.

--:55  Assistant Referee indicates foul against the defense.  The Referee signals to the clock--High School and College mechanic only-- to stop time, then the Referee and the Assistant have a discussion. It is important to keep both sets of eyes on the players, during these brief down moments in the game.

As experience grows, Officials recognize that when play stops, the level of awareness must be heightened.

The Referee beckons the player and presents the Caution. Before the Restart the Referee performs the protocol for this level and correctly informs the coach of the misconduct.

The Assistants record the information as per the Referee's instructions in the Pre-Game, then scans the field for activity.

After setting the wall, the Referee takes his position before signaling with the whistle.  The restart is served in and the ball leaves the field.  The Assistant signals for a Goal kick.

 

Assistant Referee Mechanics Test: Spot The Error 

  Read the Guide and watch these videos, when Athens Referee Academy meets September 5th, we will discuss these videos, and you may be asked to explain how this signal could be improved.

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