You've seen that Lino
When you talk to some referee's they will tell you that being an assistant referee, or "lino," is actually harder than being the referee.
You have to learn to assist the referee and not insist in a job where having numerous eyes in multiple directions would be a major help. The man in the middle, the referee, is in charge and you are there to assist him or her when help is needed and always be credible. "You've seen that lino," spectators and players will shout at you. As assistant I often think "don't tell me what I've seen, how can you possibly know what I am looking at." An assistant referee has so much to take in and, most importantly, (apart from the other two assistant referees and maybe an assessor) no-one knows what the instructions are from the ref. Usually assistant referees will receive their pre-match instructions an hour-or-so before kick-off; a lot of these instructions are the same but some referees change certain areas. As an assistant you need to know what they want and make sure you don't give the referee any surprises.
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So, what does an assistant referee do?
The senior assistant usually patrols the dug outs and ensures that competition rules are being followed by both sides. Normally, two are allowed to stand, with one person shouting instructions. All substitutions will be made from the half-way line and they will make sure a player leaves the pitch before the substitute enters the field of play. The assistant must also make sure the player wears no jewellery (including bands around their wrist), that under armour garment colour matches the kit colour and, finally, he or she will check boots and studs. The assistant then needs to get back in position, which is line with the second rear-most defender.
People think that awarding a throw-in is just a case of pointing the way you think- but it's not always that easy. What if two players from opposing teams go in on the ball at the same? You don't want the referee to give the throw to the home team and then you, as an assistant referee, give it to the away team. Both sets of players will see it as their ball and fiercely argue their case - this is why officials are appointed. If the team of officials are unsure then the decision will go in favour of the defensive team.
Sometimes match officials convey messages "downstairs" - the ref will point one way below his waist and the assistant, if unsure, can look and ensure that they ‘go the same way.' Alternatively, if the assistant is certain a little shake of the flag in the right direction below the waist will assist the referee. What other things come into consideration when deciding which way a so-called "simple" throw-in goes? How far away are you? Your position should be the second rear-most defender. If the defenders are sitting really deep then you can be a good distance from the ball, which is where the teamwork comes in. You must bear in mind that there are three areas. Firstly, there is ‘your area,' which is the space immediately around you. Secondly, is the area a bit further down the line, which is where the ref is usually situated if the ball is there, and, finally, the third which is furthest away from you. In this area, as assistant ref, you always look at the referee and go with him, no matter what you think - assisting not insisting.
A simple throw is not so simple all of the time. So, with that in mind, what would you do in this situation?
Red team are attacking down the wing - running right next to the line - and the blues are defending and trying to tackle. The assistant is looking down the wing. He or she needs to know if the ball goes out of play for a throw-in and, remember the whole ball has to cross the line to be a throw-in, he or she also needs to be in line with the second rear-most defender. Apart from looking down the line for the throw-in, the assistant is also checking for offsides at a 90-degree angle to where play is. Try doing it - it's much harder than it sounds. The ball is then whipped in and the assistant has a whole new set of tasks. Was it defender or attacker that headed the ball? Was it a goal kick or corner? Or was it hand-ball? Was it in the box? Was there a push? Was the player in an offside position, and, if so, was he interfering with play? Where is the referee positioned? If there was an incident will he need my help? Is the incident outside of my credibility zone (the further away the less credibility an assistant has)? That is an awful lot of information for the assistant to digest - and it all comes from one cross. Then you hear the shout, "You must have seen that, Lino?" Again don't tell me what I've seen. I was looking at the offside, the three heads that went up, the keepers encroaching movement, if the ball's in-play or over the line, and, and this is a big one, was there a late tackle as the cross came in? Amazingly match officials get the majority of these decisions spot on. Per game, the percentages of correct decisions made by officials are a lot higher than those of the players. It's brilliant - considering how hard these decisions are. Then, with all this happening, the assistant referee still has to keep control of the dugouts when there isn't a fourth official available.
So, at your next game, please spare a thought for the assistant referee. This is just a small insight into an assistant referee on match day.......
So, what does an assistant referee do? The senior assistant usually patrols the dug outs and ensures that competition rules are being followed by both sides. Normally, two are allowed to stand, with one person shouting instructions. All substitutions will be made from the half-way line and they will make sure a player leaves the pitch before the substitute enters the field of play. The assistant must also make sure the player wears no jewellery (including bands around their wrist), that under armour garment colour matches the kit colour and, finally, he or she will check boots and studs. The assistant then needs to get back in position, which is line with the second rear-most defender.
People think that awarding a throw-in is just a case of pointing the way you think- but it's not always that easy. What if two players from opposing teams go in on the ball at the same? You don't want the referee to give the throw to the home team and then you, as an assistant referee, give it to the away team. Both sets of players will see it as their ball and fiercely argue their case - this is why officials are appointed. If the team of officials are unsure then the decision will go in favour of the defensive team. Sometimes match officials convey messages "downstairs" - the ref will point one way below his waist and the assistant, if unsure, can look and ensure that they ‘go the same way.' Alternatively, if the assistant is certain a little shake of the flag in the right direction below the waist will assist the referee. What other things come into consideration when deciding which way a so-called "simple" throw-in goes? How far away are you? Your position should be the second rear-most defender. If the defenders are sitting really deep then you can be a good distance from the ball, which is where the teamwork comes in. You must bear in mind that there are three areas. Firstly, there is ‘your area,' which is the space immediately around you. Secondly, is the area a bit further down the line, which is where the ref is usually situated if the ball is there, and, finally, the third which is furthest away from you. In this area, as assistant ref, you always look at the referee and go with him, no matter what you think - assisting not insisting.
A simple throw is not so simple all of the time. So, with that in mind, what would you do in this situation?
Red team are attacking down the wing - running right next to the line - and the blues are defending and trying to tackle. The assistant is looking down the wing. He or she needs to know if the ball goes out of play for a throw-in and, remember the whole ball has to cross the line to be a throw-in, he or she also needs to be in line with the second rear-most defender. Apart from looking down the line for the throw-in, the assistant is also checking for offsides at a 90-degree angle to where play is. Try doing it - it's much harder than it sounds. The ball is then whipped in and the assistant has a whole new set of tasks. Was it defender or attacker that headed the ball? Was it a goal kick or corner? Or was it hand-ball? Was it in the box? Was there a push? Was the player in an offside position, and, if so, was he interfering with play? Where is the referee positioned? If there was an incident will he need my help? Is the incident outside of my credibility zone (the further away the less credibility an assistant has)? That is an awful lot of information for the assistant to digest - and it all comes from one cross. Then you hear the shout, "You must have seen that, Lino?" Again don't tell me what I've seen. I was looking at the offside, the three heads that went up, the keepers encroaching movement, if the ball's in-play or over the line, and, and this is a big one, was there a late tackle as the cross came in? Amazingly match officials get the majority of these decisions spot on. Per game, the percentages of correct decisions made by officials are a lot higher than those of the players. It's brilliant - considering how hard these decisions are. Then, with all this happening, the assistant referee still has to keep control of the dugouts when there isn't a fourth official available.
So, at your next game, please spare a thought for the assistant referee. This is just a small insight into an assistant referee on match day.......
Referee Promotion
It isn't an understatement to say I wished I took up the whistle sooner, or even followed the promotion trail sooner. Nowadays the development of referees is way beyond when I started, more information, more help and mentors to help you out. This season 09-10 season I was lucky enough to get asst Ref on one of the NCEL cup finals, this was at the end of a very good season, where my assessments have been quite good. It does give you the dream to go further. That means doing 15 middles (as referee) and 5 Lines (asst ref) between March 1st and Feb 28th. The referee promotion season doesn't run Aug /Sept to April / May. I have already got enough games in as an asst, and I have over half my middles already covered. So doing the right number of games for level 4 won't be an issue.
So what else is needed, good club marks and good assessments and the small matter of the fitness test. I need 3 assessments and they will take place providing I conquer the fitness test. The fitness test is 2500m in 12 minutes followed by 2 50m sprints in 7.5 seconds. Now I have no issue with running 2500m, I have no issue in running non-stop for 12 minutes, however doing both at the same time seems to be a problem and is a challenge. Speed is definitely the issue over a distance. People would say build up on stamina and run faster for longer, I have done this for the last couple of months, knocking major time of my runs, I also did a training session at Don Valley stadium that I shouldn't have completed if stamina was an issue.
My fitness has come along way, better than last years. We did the 2500m in this training session and I was nowhere near unless I counted wrong, but once again for the 2nd time in 3 days I completed running for the 12 minutes. We then did the two sprints and did them no issue, and then completed a full on training session, so how can I match up distance with speed? The fitness test is this month and I need to find time quick, I have been for a couple of runs, one where I did 400m at a time sprinting and managed to keep each lap between 1m 40 and 1m 50, this would bring me in on time.
The aim was to get my legs used to running at this speed on a regular basis. It hurt I won't deny it but it was about doing it. I have also run away from the track, I advise anyone to train on the build up to the fitness test to run on a track it is totally different. Occasionally run something different but a lot of track running. So I have confidence in my ability as a ref, my fitness on a match day won't let me down and I much more experienced for assessments so would like to think everything is in place. Just the one obstacle to overcome and that is to run for 12 minutes straight completing a minimum of 2.5 k. I am doing a few 12 minute + runs away from the track, plus the Don Valley workout on Thursday before trying a mock fitness test Sunday. Let's hope the hard work pays off, because to fail it means waiting one more year, one year older making it even harder.
Junior football needs premiership referees
The situation with the game means we desperately need premiership referees in junior football, it is expected by team managers and supporters as well as some players. Junior football exists for kids to enjoy a game of football, it also helps to develop and nurture our future footballers. David Beckham was once one of these players, Messi, Deco, Ronaldo, Lampard, Gerrard and many many others. They made mistakes at junior level, and learned from those mistakes, how to chip the ball, how much power etc etc etc. However referees at this level are not allowed to learn, if they have just passed their exam no matter what age, they are expected to go and referee the perfect game, if they are young referee's, adults realise they are there to be bullied. New referee's are not given a chance. They are not given a way into their game to find there feet and learn.
Now lets look at this from a different angle and the experienced referee, they were once new refs and they started off probably mens Sunday league, and a few junior games. These refs have experience but and its a HUGE but they will not touch junior football, this has nothing to do with the players or the fact its not promotion game for them, it is plain and simple and that is the parents. The way the parents behave not always towards the match official but sometimes to the young players on the pitch. So these referee's simply don't touch junior football.
We will now go back to the young and new refs being bullied, some keep going and will find the teams with respect and decency, make it up a senior league and then say "I won't do junior football" the rest simple say "I don't have to put up with this" and unsurprisingly they leave refereeing. This is an out of control spiral because a lot of junior football teams expect premiership referees who sadly have already been chased off by parents before them. There is no time for an inexperienced referee to learn, which wouldn't surprise people to learn that the FA will see potentially good referees and place them in a position to referee at Academies out of harms way. This in turn means less referees for junior football, less referees willing to do junior football. So when a referee gives a decision and the young player on the pitch copies the abuse directed to the referee "why don't you have assistants" then remember you are very lucky to have a referee. Start respecting the referee you have and then one day, their will be enough referee's to have assistants.