If you are one of the many who every weekend plough a furrow up and down the touchline then the following are few guidelines that will hopefully give you a better understanding of how you can help the referee and thus help you to enjoy your time with the flag. Please remember these are only guidelines as each referee will have his own requirements.
Club Assistant Referees should report to the Referee before the game equipped with a suitable flag. The referee will normally brief both assistants together to build a team rapport and to ensure consistency of information. H
The referee will normally start by asking you to run a particular wing usually right wings i.e. keeping with your own left back, he will also ask you to stay with the second rearmost defender at all times.
The referee will then give the following instructions;
Touch line - Ball out of play.
Indicate when the whole of the ball crosses the touch line, either on the ground or in the air, and indicate which side is entitled to the throw. If the Club Assistant Referee is uncertain about the direction of the throw, he should raise his flag straight in the air and the referee will indicate the direction of the throw.
Goal Line - Ball out of play.
Indicate that the ball is out of play. For goal-kick check that the ball is within the goal area. For corner kicks check that the ball is totally within the quarter circle. Please stand behind the corner flag for all corner kicks - you will then be in an ideal position to judge ball in or out of play.
Some referees may ask you to judge offside, but this is down to the individual referee.
Indicate when an attacker is in an offside position but please consider if the attacker is interfering with play (e.g. an attacker on the left wing should not be signalled offside if the ball is passed to another attacker on the right wing). Please note that the decision regarding offside is at all times made by the referee on the advise of the Club Assistant Referee. If the referee decides not to give offside, he will acknowledge the Club Assistant Referee's signal and the Club Assistant Referee's should then lower his flag.
Fouls and misconduct are the prerogative of the Referee and Club Assistant Referees must make no indications on such matters.
If the Referee misses a Club Assistant Referee's signal and play continues the linesman should lower his flag and immediately resume his position level with the second rearmost defender.
The running of the game of football is very much a team job between the referee and his two Club Assistant Referee's. It is an important job and if carried out in the proper manner the game will be better enjoyed by the players, spectators and the match officials. Please remember that it is the Club Assistant Referee's duty to assist the referee, but that only the Referee makes decisions - the Club Assistant Referee's function is always to advise.
It is hoped that these few tips will help you as a Club Assistant Referee but the most important thing is that you enjoy this absolutely vital role in helping the referee.
The OFA will run Club Assistant Referee courses as required so if you are able to get together 5 or 6 people who would like to learn more about the skills required to be a Club Assistant Referee, then please get in touch by clicking here or by phoning 01993 894404 during office hours.