Assistant Referees

U.S. Soccer Federation Referee ProgramGrade 7 Referee CourseAmateur Adult Training

Importanceo Role of assistant refereesoMore than just signaling for a ball in and out

of playoResponsible for assisting with fouls and

misconduct out of the referee’s viewoMust be in top physical condition

Positioning

Assistant Referee

Assistant Referee

Examples

Kick-off

During Play

During Playo Reading playoPrioritize dutiesoOffsideoAssistance

oVisual cuesoAttackersoDefenders

Goal Kick

Position #1 – Ensure ball is placed inside goal area.Position #2 – If kick is taken by player other than GK, position at edge of penalty area.Position #3 – Once ball is kicked, quickly get to offside position.Exception: If kick is taken by GK and no other defenders are in the penalty area, once ball is placed immediately go to offside position.

Goalkeeper

Penalty Kick

Goal

Goal

Corner Kick

Free Kicks

Responsibilityo Law 6oDuties are subject to the decision of the

refereeo Offsideo Involved in active playoInterfering with playoInterfering with an opponentoGaining an advantage

Examples

Offense

No Offense

No Offense

Offense

No Offense

Offense

No Offense

No Offense

Offense

Offense

Offense

No Offense

Offense

No Offense

Responsibilityo AssistanceoWhen misconduct or any other incident

occurs outside the referee’s viewoWhen offenses have been committed

whenever the assistant referees have a better view than the referee

oMirroring

Assistanceo Assistant refereesoAdditional eyes and ears

o Better able to see and hearoCloseroCleareroGreater detailoBetter angle

Assistanceo Referee team communicationoPre-game conferenceoHalftime conferenceoDuring the gameoAssistant referee to refereeoReferee to assistant refereeoAssistant referee to assistant refereeoMirroring

Assistanceo ObjectiveoMake the correct decision

o PrioritiesoOffsideoFouls and misconductoWho is closer?oWho has the better view?

Review Questiono In addition to signaling for offside, what other

duties might assistant referee expect to perform at this level?

o Indicating when misconduct or any other offense occurs out of the referee’s view

o Issuing cards for misconduct

Review Questiono Which of the following is a component of

being involved in active play?

o Gaining an advantage by being in that position

o Interfering with playo Interfering with an opponento All of the above

Review Questiono Which of the following best describes the

practice of mirroring?

o Both assistant referees signal simultaneouslyo The lead assistant referee signals to the

referee that the trail assistant referee has signaled for something out of the referee's view