Other than obviously with the flag, what are the best ways to communicate with the referee as an assistant when you don't have communication equipment or buzzer flags?
Thanks - I like the signals for cards - I'll have to use that. I was at a Southend match a couple of months ago and the referee got the yellow card out of his pocket, before being called over by the assistant referee who (correctly) informed him that the foul warranted a red card. The fact that the red had already got the yellow out of his pocket made the fans even angrier, but I'm amazed the assistant didn't tell him over the microphone that it was red. IYup, discreet signals.
For example:
If deciding a throw in, my flag is in the hand I would raise to indicate direction - but make eye-contact with ref first. He sees what I would give and either overrules or we both signal the same thing at the same time. If it is obvious, and ref doesn't need guidance, he signals I follow suit.
Flagging for fouls etc, after flag goes up and eye contact made, I either scratch the back of my left leg (Red Card) or under the arm that is raised with the flag (yellow card) or keep hand down (no card).
Keep regular eye-contact and you will very quickly learn to read what the other is about to do.