Abused as assistant

[RustyRef]

Question: Would your response change if it was not a club AR and it was a match with certified ARs? Thanks.

Yes, of course it would as these are neutral officials appointed to the game.

 

[NOVARef]

Think that's a self-explanatory question really. Certified AR's should be neutral and appointed by League/CFA so should 100% not be doing any sort of coaching.

I certainly agree and, here, where I am in the US, we do not use club ARs at all, so I was just trying to imagine what I would do if one of my certified ARs started coaching the players. I certainly wouldn't think that, because the LOTG don't specifically disallow it, I would allow it. I guess I would stop the game, tell the AR to stop, if he/she continued, I would stop the game again, talk with the coaches and call my, well actually both of OUR, boss (the assignor), and ask what I should do. I would have to assume the AR would be suspended. I just can't imagine anyone would stand for that.

 

[RustyRef]

At the risk of repeating myself I’ve shown my logic in understanding the rules and the spirit of the game. There should be only one person coaching and yes that rule as stated requires a technical area, but by extension not having a technical area doesn’t suddenly allow a CAR to coach players. Certainly not in the spirit of the game and yes spirit of the game as mentioned in law 5

Decisions will be made to the best of the referee's ability according to the Laws of the Game and the 'spirit of the game' and will be based on the opinion of the referee who has the discretion to take appropriate action within the framework of the Laws of the Game.

Ok. So are you also saying that a referee can coach at the same time? Tell me where in the rules it says he can’t? Or is that not in the spirit of the game?

But on that basis are you stopping a parent from coaching if he isn't a CAR? There's still more than 1 person coaching after all.

Your choice at the end of the day, but I think you are causing yourself unnecessary problems. What I can say with certainty is that if you stopped a CAR from coaching and the team wouldn't / couldn't provide anyone else there's nothing the league can do about it. The clubs are asked to provide an assistant referee, but there's nothing in SCoR to prevent them from coaching, so they can't fine the club when the referee has effectively had a CAR but disposed of his services.

 

[RustyRef]

I certainly agree and, here, where I am in the US, we do not use club ARs at all, so I was just trying to imagine what I would do if one of my certified ARs started coaching the players. I certainly wouldn't think that, because the LOTG don't specifically disallow it, I would allow it. I guess I would stop the game, tell the AR to stop, if he/she continued, I would stop the game again, talk with the coaches and call my, well actually both of OUR, boss (the assignor), and ask what I should do. I would have to assume the AR would be suspended. I just can't imagine anyone would stand for that.

In England that would be covered by the refereeing regulations, which all qualified referees are bound by. I'd say covered by either of ii or viii. If you are are neutral appointed assistant referee then you very clearly aren't acting in the best interests of the game if you are also coaching, and easy to argue it is a technical irregularity.

7. CONDUCT OF REFEREES

(a) The Association, Affiliated Association or Service Association, as appropriate, shall have the power to act at any time in relation to the registration of a Referee who has:

(i) less than proficiently applied the Laws of the Game; or
(ii) committed a technical irregularity; or
(iii) proved to have been concerned as an agent for a Club or a Player in the transfer or attempted transfer and/or engagement of a Player; or
(iv) wilfully mis-stated his/her age, or, date of birth; or
(v) as a player, violated the Laws of the Game to such a degree that a Regulatory Commission or a Disciplinary Committee subsequently imposes a penalty of suspension from playing; or
(vi) been found to have committed an act of Misconduct (as defined in and) pursuant to the Rules of The Association or an Affiliated Association or Service Association; or
(vii) a Football Banning Order imposed on him or her; or
(viii) has not acted in the best interests of the game

 

[Ori]

As per my previous response, I have a nuanced view on what I would and wouldn't allow that changes with the context of the game.

What I do disagree with is the argument that if it's not explicitly forbidden in the LOTG or competition rules, it's by definition allowed. Take that to the extreme and you end up in some very odd places.

Using my previous example of not allowing a CAR in a Step 7 game to manage the offside line, if ever challenged, Spirit of the Game is enough

Said it better than I could and totally agree.

 

[RustyRef]

Said it better than I could and totally agree.

A step 7 game is a lot different to your son's under 18 game. Step 7 is the highest level that NARs aren't appointed to, indeed many step 7 leagues have NARs, as indeed do some step 8, 9 and 10 leagues. These clubs will often have someone they pay to run the line so yes, you wouldn't expect them to be coaching. It is a world apart to a parent running the line at a youth game.