How to be a more effective Assistant Referee

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How to be a more effective Assistant Referee

• United States Soccer Federation

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Is your attitude different if you are assigned as
an AR rather than the Referee?
?
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AR Duties from the Referees Perspective

• Be in the correct position
• Use the proper mechanics
• See what I didnt or couldnt see
• Call the fouls that I would call, NOT the ones
  YOU would call
• Dont let me do anything stupid
• Make me look good

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AR Duties from the ARs Perspective

• Dont screw up
• Call offside
• Call ball in/out, indicate who gets the restart
• Dont get yelled at
• Dont call a foul unless its obvious
• Never call a penalty kick
• Dont screw up get yelled at

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Duties of the AR

• Indicate
• When ball is out of play
• Which side is entitled to the restart
• When a play may be penalized for offside
• When a substitution is requested

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Duties of the AR

• Indicate
• When misconduct or any other incident has
  occurred out of the view of the referee
• When offences have been committed, whenever the
  assistants are closer to the action than the
  referee (this includes, in particular
  circumstances, offences committed in the penalty
  area)
• Whether at a PK, the goalkeeper encroaches and
  whether the ball crosses the goal line

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What does this really mean?

• You are expected to be fit
• In the proper position to make critical decisions
• Make correct decisions
• Offside
• Ball in/out of play
• Know the Laws
• Latest interpretations
• Emphasis for this year

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Mechanics and Signals

• Mechanics Guide to Procedures
• eye contact,
• crisp,
• clear,
• timely,
• when needed
• Covert signals
• discussed during pre-game
• dont bring undue attention to the AR

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Teamwork

• Work as part of the team
• Know your role
• ARs provide info Referee makes decision
• Be Pro-active
• What does the Referee want me to do?
• What info do I have that the Referee needs?
• Be Aware
• Who has been cautioned?
• Who has been fouled, or is fouling?
• Is that the player who committed the misconduct?

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Balance

• What is the balance between supporting the
  Referee and getting the call right?
• Referee of a higher grade than AR
• AR of a higher grade than Referee
• Professional (televised) game
• Harm to the game

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Trust

• Do you trust the other team members?
• To be in the right position
• To make the correct calls
• To step in, if necessary, to get the call right
• Is there a lack of trust because of
• Prior matches with the other official(s)
• No prior matches with the other official(s)
• Egos getting in the way

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An Effective AR

• Knows their responsibilities
• To the Referee Team
• Provide Assistance
• Involvement in pre-game when others need you
• Concentration for the entire game
• Communication via mechanics signals
• To the Game
• Getting the call right (cautions and send-offs)
• Making Referee aware of changing situations

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E mc2

• Excellence
• mechanics x
• C squared

Conditioning
Concentration
Courage
Confidence