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Club Assistants

James Field

James Field

New Member
Level 5 Referee
Having recently moved up to Yorkshire from Middlesex, I have found that clubs are directed by County FA not to encourage club assistants to assist with offsides. This proved for a very interesting first game at the start of the season!

In Middlesex, and other counties i have refereed games in, it is/was the 'done' thing to ask club assistants to help with offsides, and in a pre-match briefing to both you explained what you wanted from them. If you felt they were not making the correct calls (or you suspected a bit of cheating!) you could monitor the next few, then make the call as to whether to go over and have a quiet word or for the club to change the assistant.

I felt this worked well in two ways; It allowed you to concentrate and focus on the game itself, and, if a referee ever gets to a level where they are provided with neutral assistants regularly then they are already used to having assistants doing what neutral assistants will do. It can only be a good thing with regards to positioning, communication etc.

I understand why some county FA's suggest that referees make offside decisions, however over the past couple of months it has forced me to completely change my game, and perhaps I will have taken a step backwards with regards to how i work with two assistants.

Having spoken with other local referees it has proven to be an interesting topic of debate so i wondered what anyone's thoughts on it were?
 
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Make them feel part of a team and feel wanted but use them as little as possible. Personally, my line was always 'If you think it's offside, put your flag up. If for whatever reason, I'm not going to give it, I'll put my hand up and acknowledge you'
 
see i ref in west yorkshire and have been brought up with it so im used to it now, except when i got assessed this year the assessor said i should be watching into the crowd at FKs rather than watch down the line for offsides. which was what i wasnt brought up to do, so i've had to adapt my game to that. personally i prefer CARS to do throw ins only but thats because ive been brought up with it.
 
That's what a lot of the guys in West Riding have said Arran. I'm just about getting used to it now!

Somebody suggested perhaps it should be at the referees discretion what he/she asks CARS to do. Dan, that is exactly what I used to back in Middx.
 
Entirely referees discretion! Think it's probs a location thing as to what is usual, cos I used to officiate (before getting my 4) with CAR's in Middx & Herts and used to say the above.
 
I think personally it should be referees discretion. The problem for me was when approaching CARS at the start of the season and asking them to help out with offsides (those usually being the ones when the ball is booted upfield by a defender and you have absolutely no way of telling whether offside or not, as your stuck at the other end of the pitch!) and they look at you like you are an alien!
 
The problem with CARs doing offsides is, how often have you seen a CAR trying to stay level with the second last defender?
 
I've moved around the country a fair bit, think I'm on my 6th county now :). Despite counties recommendations, I've always asked CAR's to flag offsides.
 
In my league, CAR's are the only people we can ask to do the job. Unless you are fortunate enough to be able to grab a ref who hasn't got a game! I've had no problems, and if anyone complains, then I politely remind them that it is actually someone from their team that should be flagging for it!
 
Yesterday I had CARS. One of them was a qualified ref but I was using him as a CAR. Surprisingly he turned up in all his gear. And I didn't know what to say. The next thing I know he is getting ready - I.e putting his boots on etc in my dressing room. He was only a young lad (15) but it feel strange.
I didn't say anything and he came in at HT & FT. What would you have done??
 
That's a hard one! Do you treat him like a neutral? Or do you still treat him as a CAR because he comes from the club?!
 
refdave83 said:
Yesterday I had CARS. One of them was a qualified ref but I was using him as a CAR. Surprisingly he turned up in all his gear. And I didn't know what to say. The next thing I know he is getting ready - I.e putting his boots on etc in my dressing room. He was only a young lad (15) but it feel strange.
I didn't say anything and he came in at HT & FT. What would you have done??
Click to expand...
I've had a similar situation, a young lad (13) was at an U12 match with his stuff, I got there late cause there had been a VERY nasty accident and he's ready to ref with his stuff on, I was on the same course as him so he was gutted when I appeared, I did let him line though and to be fair he was very good.
 
Had a match today where the club assistant referee was constantly giving close offsides which I didn't question as I was watching the play. Turned out he was flagging players offside inside their own half, when they were 3 yards onside, etc. I started watching the last defender to try and combat this and meant that I often waved play on after he flagged, which wound the manager up no end.
However, the fact that I was having to watch the defensive line meant I missed a few pushes, what should I have done?
 
Now I have been doing offsides myself (i.e only asking CARS for ins/outs) for half a season I have found that yes, having to watch both back lines does have its downsides, such as affecting positioning and missing things you wouldn't miss otherwise. However, overall I think that it is better not to give CARS the responsibility of doing offsides as they so often cheat or get it wrong, and once you start over ruling them it winds players and coaches, and the CAR up!

Try a game of doing offsides yourself and see how it goes. If you really hate it, then perhaps think about what you say to both CARS before the game (such as telling them firmly to be fair and honest, and explaining that you will monitor some and over rule them if you believe them to be incorrect).
 
Thanks for the advice, will definitely try that!
In the league I'm reffing in we're asked to give both CARs a mark out of 10, and there's a prize at the end of the season for the best one. I gave the one today 0, because not only did he seem to be a bit biased, he hurled his flag to the ground after a gave a free kick in the second half, refused to shake my hand after the game and shouted at me in Polish after the game. I don't speak it, but I was pretty sure it wasn't complimentary!!
 
Personally, I always take offsides, CAR's here would have a fit if you asked them to do offsides! If you are in an area where the CAR's regularly give then, I suppose they would be honest, but that is not the case here!

I tell the captains that I am doing them and tell them to go lightly on me if I miss them. Never really been a problem.
 
Agreed. Strange how it varies across the country.

You're welcome James. The initiative your league has for the scoring system is quite a good idea. The guy acting like that and shouting what is probably abuse at you is something I might consider reporting to the county and the league, especially if the person in question holds a position within the club. But, that is course up to you!
 
I'm not sure whether I want to report it to the league, I didn't take offence to it and the way I see it, if he wants to yell at me in Polish then he's more than welcome to. I didn't understand him and I didn't really care what he had to say. It was just sour grapes. I was more annoyed about the handshake, but I just told him to grow up.
 
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