A&H

Goal-No Goal Signal

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IslandRef

New Member
Level 7 Referee
So, I was bench-side AR last night at a youth cup final in my local youth league. Game was extremely entertaining with the winning side scoring with essentially the last kick of the game after being 1-0 down at halftime.
There was an incident with there first Goal however. The header from a corner had crossed clearly over the line in the air before the keeper clawed it out so naturally I put the flag up, looked over at the ref who blew and then ran back to the halfway line to confirm the goal whilst giving a discreet thumbs up which he acknowledged. I believed that this was standard practice for this situation and it is stated in the LotG.
As I was leaving the ground I got pulled aside by the league ref secretary who said that I should never put the flag up for a goal-no goal situation as it would confuse the players and spectators which confused me as I'd been told to do this numerous times in the past.
So out of interest, where does everyone else stand on this?
 
A&H International
Lol, if you're not going to put the flag up how can anyone know?

Flag in the air (left hand) agitate until seen by ref/everyone then drop and move quickly up the touch line towards the half way line.
 
Off the top of my head, I don't there's there's an official signal for this.

My brief to liners was similar to @es1 - flag in left hand, just to take out possible confusion of offside. My only difference was I always told liner to hang about at line for a second or two, just to sell the decision. My thinking was if they turn around and liner is already half way up the pitch, we'll get the shout of not in line.
 
Runner Ref said:
Off the top of my head, I don't there's there's an official signal for this.

My brief to liners was similar to @es1 - flag in left hand, just to take out possible confusion of offside. My only difference was I always told liner to hang about at line for a second or two, just to sell the decision. My thinking was if they turn around and liner is already half way up the pitch, we'll get the shout of not in line.
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Yeah that's fair, let them see you on the goal line (in a perfect position)
 
es1 said:
Lol, if you're not going to put the flag up how can anyone know?

Flag in the air (left hand) agitate until seen by ref/everyone then drop and move quickly up the touch line towards the half way line.
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I think that is viewed as old school and superseded now. It is what I have always done, but was pulled up by an observer for it as it is too similar to flagging a defensive free kick. He said the flag should go up with the right hand, keep it still, wait for the referee to whistle and then run towards the half way line. Given that is identical to an offside signal I'm not really sure about his confusion point. I checked the law guidance after and it states this ...

When a goal has been scored but the ball appears still to be in play, the assistant referee must first raise the flag to attract the referee’s attention then continue with the normal goal procedure of running quickly 25–30 metres along the touchline towards the halfway line.

There's nothing in there around which hand to use, but there's also nothing there around agitating the flag.
 
This happened in my only game (so far) with NARs and I hadn't actually covered it pre-match as it never occurred to me it might be needed. He put the flag up in his left hand, eye contact, used his right hand to discreetly give a thumbs up then discreetly pointed to the halfway line as I would have done for confirmation followed by the sprint, which is when I blew up and gave the goal. I guess it doesn't really matter as long as it is clear to the ref what is meant by the signal.
 
RustyRef said:
I think that is viewed as old school and superseded now. It is what I have always done, but was pulled up by an observer for it as it is too similar to flagging a defensive free kick. He said the flag should go up with the right hand, keep it still, wait for the referee to whistle and then run towards the half way line. Given that is identical to an offside signal I'm not really sure about his confusion point. I checked the law guidance after and it states this ...

When a goal has been scored but the ball appears still to be in play, the assistant referee must first raise the flag to attract the referee’s attention then continue with the normal goal procedure of running quickly 25–30 metres along the touchline towards the halfway line.

There's nothing in there around which hand to use, but there's also nothing there around agitating the flag.
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This. Straight up right hand. Get ref eye contact. Optional shout goal goal. Do your 13.5 yard sprint for the cameras (watch the field tho, not your shoes!)
 
santa sangria said:
This. Straight up right hand. Get ref eye contact. Optional shout goal goal. Do your 13.5 yard sprint for the cameras (watch the field tho, not your shoes!)
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A couple of our local referees have reported issues when using this, because they saw the signal (no shout from the AR) and initially signalled an offside offence . . . so they now ask AR's to use a left hand vertical signal.
 
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ChasObserverRefDeveloper said:
A couple of our local referees have reported issues when using this, because they saw the signal (no shout from the AR) and initially signalled an offside offence . . . so they now ask AR's to use a left hand vertical signal.
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Exactly what I'd ask for. Straight up in left hand, as that signal doesn't mean anything else.

In a pinball situation, right arm straight up is too easily registered by everyone as offside. Left arm agitated registers as foul.

But there's no right or wrong way, technically (I think!)
 
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I've been in this situation on the line more than once or twice.
I personally don't give a monkeys what the LOTG say or any observer.
If I see the ball has wholly crossed the line inside the goal posts and it's a goal, then I'm standing right on the goal line, buzzing the referee, raising my flag in my right hand and pointing back to halfway with my left.
Unambiguous and easy for all to see what's been given.
Send me to Hell/whatever ...
 
Kes said:
I've been in this situation on the line more than once or twice.
I personally don't give a monkeys what the LOTG say or any observer.
If I see the ball has wholly crossed the line inside the goal posts and it's a goal, then I'm standing right on the goal line, buzzing the referee, raising my flag in my right hand and pointing back to halfway with my left.
Unambiguous and easy for all to see what's been given.
Send me to Hell/whatever ...
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Think this is an example of flag in the right works just fine in tandem with another, appropiate signal.

Really, this should be something in our pre-matches; none of my Step 5/6 PreMs have had it this season.
 
george.g said:
Think this is an example of flag in the right works just fine in tandem with another, appropiate signal.

Really, this should be something in our pre-matches; none of my Step 5/6 PreMs have had it this season.
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As an observer, I always like to hear the referee's pre match spiel covering this eventuality.
In my own experience, I've only ever seen this event go "pear-shaped" when the ref doesn't cover it in their pre-match. ;)
 
ChasObserverRefDeveloper said:
A couple of our local referees have reported issues when using this, because they saw the signal (no shout from the AR) and initially signalled an offside offence . . . so they now ask AR's to use a left hand vertical signal.
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At least we are instructed to use right hand.

In my humble experience, maybe 300 matches as AR, I’ve needed this less than ten times, and when I have, it’s been blindingly obvious it’s a goal / no goal decision.

(Plus ball is ”dead”. No slow flag drop like offside. Plus ref signal. Plus running. Never had an issue. TBH thought this was universal. What does CORE teach?)
 
Kes said:
As an observer, I always like to hear the referee's pre match spiel covering this eventuality.
In my own experience, I've only ever seen this event go "pear-shaped" when the ref doesn't cover it in their pre-match. ;)
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Yeah, it's so crucial that to gloss over it feels like setting yourself up for a fair few views on twitter
 
JamesL said:
Left hand makes more sense as that is the direction of the restart.
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The direction of goal kick and flag hand are different so....

There are a few "non directional' AR signals. The advise for us for the hand to use for flagging has changed over the years I have been refereeing. From what I remember there were times national, continental and international advise were not always aligned.

The current advise I have is right hand as there is less of a chance of blocking your own view of field of play and missing an incident.
 
ChasObserverRefDeveloper said:
A couple of our local referees have reported issues when using this, because they saw the signal (no shout from the AR) and initially signalled an offside offence . . . so they now ask AR's to use a left hand vertical signal.
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This is probably a area of improvement for the referee and not for the process. In a situation where the AR has to flag for a goal, there would certainly be a case of appeals for a goal or at the very least the referee must have the feeling that there could have been a goal. In either case, the referee shouldn't signal for a final decision before the AR has had a chance to complete his/her signal. Flag straight up is just a signal from AR to stop the game. What he/she does next is the communication for the restart.
 
es1 said:
Lol, if you're not going to put the flag up how can anyone know?

Flag in the air (left hand) agitate until seen by ref/everyone then drop and move quickly up the touch line towards the half way line.
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Agitating the flag isn’t the right signal. That’s the signal for a foul and will create confusion (unless of course that was a pregame instruction).

When the flag goes up, the R should already have some sense that is a potential issue. When the R blows, he should pause before signaling—if it is OS, the AR is going to drop the flag across the field; if it is a goal, the AR is going to move up the field after making eye contact with the R. This should be clear.
 
santa sangria said:
watch the field tho, not your shoes!
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You've clearly not seen my shoes. I can't take my eyes off the and no one else can either!

refchat.co.uk

Refs in trainers

That referee is just straight up in trainers hahaa Obviously a deliberate choice, just interesting. Also looks like he's having a lil chew on gum, man's completed life.
refchat.co.uk refchat.co.uk
 
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