So I had a women's match at the weekend where both teams supplied ARs, one was a sub that meant was changing regularly and the other in their late teens. The subs always seemed to be looking for direction on which direction to flag or decision to give on goal kicks/corners.
Even though I was keeping up with the game mostly, I was having to try and make decisions through crowds of players as to who touched it last when the AR should’ve been in a far better position but didn’t make the calls until I raised my arm, a couple of times I was questioned and then in one case after making a call the player owned up to touching it which although meant i corrected the call made me feel like my decisions were punts and that I had my authority of the game undermined.
The other teenage club AR gave a few early offsides, none of which were overly questionable but the other team already started moaning about “a kid running the line”. We get to the second half and had 2 instances where the team we ball looked to be close to the sideline. The first one the AR has the best view down his line, the other team stop running and then his team continue to attack up the pitch - it looked very close but one of those where you just know by the players reactions that it had gone off with 3 of the teams player going mad with disbelief when I shouted “still on” and backed the AR. Soon after another close one straight down his line, the opposing team are attacking towards him but has a clear view. The players dribbles appears to just about keep it on but the AR inline flags that it’s gone off, my view was that it didn’t look like it had but the flag was up and having a clear view the AR had a much better position to judge. The team again in disbelief start going on at me about the age and telling me I need to make my own decisions.
By the end of the match I feel I had lost credibility with both teams due to the confusion between myself and the ARs. Any advice how to handle situations like this when you don’t feel you’re particularly being assisted?
Even though I was keeping up with the game mostly, I was having to try and make decisions through crowds of players as to who touched it last when the AR should’ve been in a far better position but didn’t make the calls until I raised my arm, a couple of times I was questioned and then in one case after making a call the player owned up to touching it which although meant i corrected the call made me feel like my decisions were punts and that I had my authority of the game undermined.
The other teenage club AR gave a few early offsides, none of which were overly questionable but the other team already started moaning about “a kid running the line”. We get to the second half and had 2 instances where the team we ball looked to be close to the sideline. The first one the AR has the best view down his line, the other team stop running and then his team continue to attack up the pitch - it looked very close but one of those where you just know by the players reactions that it had gone off with 3 of the teams player going mad with disbelief when I shouted “still on” and backed the AR. Soon after another close one straight down his line, the opposing team are attacking towards him but has a clear view. The players dribbles appears to just about keep it on but the AR inline flags that it’s gone off, my view was that it didn’t look like it had but the flag was up and having a clear view the AR had a much better position to judge. The team again in disbelief start going on at me about the age and telling me I need to make my own decisions.
By the end of the match I feel I had lost credibility with both teams due to the confusion between myself and the ARs. Any advice how to handle situations like this when you don’t feel you’re particularly being assisted?
