A&H

First Senior Line

Dan1882

New Member
I've got my first senior line this weekend. Have only done a couple of lines myself so am a little bit nervous.
Do I need to do anything differently?
What is expected of me?
How do I handle being within touching distance of the coaches and subs?
 
The Referee Store
Do nothing differently ... just do your job.
The only 'other' expectations to do, is

a. the substitute procedure - make sure it is always from half way line and clearly one off and one on, don't let a player on before one has come off - ask the ref if he wants time, or just what number off and on

b. The ref may ask you to complete 'full match report' this means noting all goals and cautions/reds etc.

I advise that once you have checked nets, came back in and witnessed the coin toss - you go and introduce yourself to each bench 'hi im Dan, if you need anything then give me a shout - give me a nice shout of 'when is next out please lino etc'. for subs and we'll get them done quickly as we can'

Most of all ... enjoy it!
 
Listen to ref's instructions.

You will have to manage subs - signal when one is required and take a note of player on/off.

You will most likely have to keep full match record including, if possible, all cautions and any red cards.

You will also need to take over of referee is incapacitated - so do take a whistle with you.

Most difficult part is shutting out/dealing with (mostly) nonsense comments from the benches and making sure they are obeying comp. rules of technical area - eg how many standing/allowed to give instructions - again referee should help you in pre match there.

As in another thread, expect (and its my pet hate) benches to say 'You saw that lino' several times during the game - even if you are by far the furthest of the 'team' from the incident!

Finally, do not drop the ref in it - if bench says something like, 'That was never a pen lino' do NOT agree.

IF something looks blatantly wrong, as long as not wrong IN LAW - you just need to either a) ignore or b) just say something like 'Ref in best place to see that' c) just brazen it out and agree 100% with ref.

Like in the middle all games are different, but hope that helps a bit!
 
Do nothing differently ... just do your job.
The only 'other' expectations to do, is

a. the substitute procedure - make sure it is always from half way line and clearly one off and one on, don't let a player on before one has come off - ask the ref if he wants time, or just what number off and on

b. The ref may ask you to complete 'full match report' this means noting all goals and cautions/reds etc.

I advise that once you have checked nets, came back in and witnessed the coin toss - you go and introduce yourself to each bench 'hi im Dan, if you need anything then give me a shout - give me a nice shout of 'when is next out please lino etc'. for subs and we'll get them done quickly as we can'

Most of all ... enjoy it!

Good advice Charlie , only problem with offering the bench 'anything' to help with - usually means them wanting you to reverse the ref's decision!;)
 
only correction to @PinnerPaul there ... some ref's will tell you 'do not defend the indefensible' ... i.e. never publicly agree with the referee if he may be wrong, or deffo was wrong ...I only ever verbally stand up for the ref if I am in 100% agreement that he was correct
 
Good advice Dan , only problem with offering the bench 'anything' to help with - usually means them wanting you to reverse the ref's decision!;)

doh! that's why you say 'if you need anything' i.e. if they want a sub, or think a player needs attention - or clarification etc ... could be how long left? or checking a booking? lol
 
only correction to @PinnerPaul there ... some ref's will tell you 'do not defend the indefensible' ... i.e. never publicly agree with the referee if he may be wrong, or deffo was wrong ...I only ever verbally stand up for the ref if I am in 100% agreement that he was correct

Interested in your last sentence there Charlie. Surely, based on position alone, there are numerous times when you can't be sure ref is 100% correct? Think we need to be a bit more supportive than that - otherwise I think benches can quickly turn on ref if they think, even my implication or non action - that you don't agree with him?
 
doh! that's why you say 'if you need anything' i.e. if they want a sub, or think a player needs attention - or clarification etc ... could be how long left? or checking a booking? lol

Yes I know that hence the;) but seriously I wouldn't be offering 'clarification'

'How's that a pen then lino?!' is a difficult one if a) you haven't seen it clearly or worse b) don't think its a pen yourself!

I sound unhelpful, but have found having a sensible discussion with most occupants of a technical area is fraught with danger once the match starts!
 
Interested in your last sentence there Charlie. Surely, based on position alone, there are numerous times when you can't be sure ref is 100% correct? Think we need to be a bit more supportive than that - otherwise I think benches can quickly turn on ref if they think, even my implication or non action - that you don't agree with him?

Ahhh no ... I said if I am in 100% agreement with the ref, that he is correct ... basically do I agree with the ref's decision 100%, then i'll verbally back him ... anything else then hmm I'm cautious - a lot of ref's agree, remember they can always run away from the benches to the other side of the pitch - if you back the ref if he is in the wrong, you have to deal with the benches still
 
Ahhh no ... I said if I am in 100% agreement with the ref, that he is correct ... basically do I agree with the ref's decision 100%, then i'll verbally back him ... anything else then hmm I'm cautious - a lot of ref's agree, remember they can always run away from the benches to the other side of the pitch - if you back the ref if he is in the wrong, you have to deal with the benches still
Thats fine for crossed flags and the like. But a big KMI you should support the referee even if you dont agree. No one is saying you have to defend him or lie just support him. Stock phrases like he is best placed there, he had a good view. Even if they ask you you can say i am x yards away with a side on view. I cant say. But ref in a good position. Sure he will explain it to you after if you ask him/her politely. Helps placate the benches, puts the responsibility onto the referee without basically chucking him under a bus.
 
ahhh @JamesL - do that, for sure ... I mean, I wouldn't sit there and say 'oh yes, that definitely was a penalty' if im not sure ... I'd lend a phrase alike the ones you've mentioned
 
This is a skill you need to learn if you have any hopes of getting to a level where you will regularly be 4th official. There's a balance to be struck between blindly backing the referee and agreeing that he messed up. For minor things that don't change the game, such as a throw in the wrong way, you can say that from your angle you agree with them and that you'll speak to them at half time or after the game.

When it is a KMD that the referee has goofed up, you need to get a bit creative. Defending the indefensible is going to leave you with a lot of grief for the remainder of game. The safest option, if you can get away with it, is that you didn't see it, aka copping an Arsene. Perhaps you were talking to someone, doing some kind of paperwork, doing something with the subs board. If the benches aren't right on top of each other it makes it easier to get away with it, and in some cases you can claim your view was blocked, as you won't have the same angle as the peed off bench. I used to keep my hand in my pocket so that I could quickly pull out a piece of paper and pen when I saw the referee goof, that way I could pretend to look up from writing and pretend to be confused and do a Chris Kamara (what happened ... !)

Also works if you are on the line. If the dubious decision is at the opposite end to you the simple answer is "I'd glanced at the offside line and didn't see what happened"
 
How do you get to do a line

Contact appointments officer of relevant competition.

Even as a 7 who does mainly youth/women matches you can do Womens PL (3rd tier down) & its cup, Womens FA Cup, Womens County Rep matches, Bostick (Formally Ryman) U18 and U23 leagues. That seems to keep me busy and of course there are adult leagues who use L7 ARS as well. Once you start doing regularly you should also get the odd Cup semi/final in the spring as well if you are fortunate/good enough.
 
At my local Step 7 and 6 leagues, (Cheshire Premier League and North West Counties Division 1) use Level 5, 6 and 7 ARs.
 
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