New assistant referee mechanics for the ball out of play in the "referee's quadrant"

[Steve Piercy - Web Site Builder]

Please read this modification regarding assistant referee mechanics for the ball out of play in the "referee's quadrant".

Feel free to ask questions or discuss the impacts on this email list.

--steve

------------------------------------

Source:
<http://images.ussoccer.com/Documents/cms/ussf/AR_MECHANICS.pdf>

To: Chair, State Referee Committee, State Referee Administrators, State Youth 
Referee Administrators, State Directors of Instruction, State Directors of 
Assessment, National Referees, National Instructors, National Assessors 
   
From:  Alfred Kleinaitis, Manager of Referee Development and Education 
 
Subject: Assistant Referee Mechanics 
   
Date:  June 5, 2006

The sport of soccer evolves through innovations in team strategies and tactics and advancements 
in player skills.  This occurs at all levels but often starts at the most competitive matches and 
gradually filters downward, eventually reaching youth and recreational play.  The skills, 
capabilities, mechanics, and procedures used by referees must evolve as well.  This is why 
deliberate experiments as well as gradual trends in referee mechanics are monitored closely to 
identify modifications that have proved successful. 
 
US Soccer's Guide to Procedures for Referees, Assistant Referees and Fourth Officials is the 
official source of advice on the proper standard mechanics to use in matches conducted in this 
country under the Laws of the Game.  Based on developing trends in high level national and 
international matches, the following change in procedure should be given immediate 
consideration. 
 
* The referee retains primary responsibility for announcing decisions regarding the 
throw-in, goal kick, and corner kick restarts when the ball leaves the field across the 
portion of the touchline (throw-in) or goal line (goal kick or corner kick) not given to 
the assistant referee (what is commonly termed the referee's end of the touchline or 
the referee's side of the goal line). 
 
* However, hereafter, the assistant referee should also provide a confirming flag signal 
after the referee has clearly signaled the restart decision. 
 
* Nothing in this modified procedure alters the need for the assistant referee to provide 
a signal (if possible) when the referee makes eye contact to ask for assistance.  
Similarly, nothing has changed regarding the assistant referee signaling when the ball 
has entirely left the field but returned and is still being played (flag straight up, 
changing to the appropriate signal once eye contact is made with the referee). 
 
The purpose of this change is, among other things, to provide an additional emphasis and visual 
confirmation for the restart which might be more easily seen by players, team officials, and 
spectators.  The next published version of the Guide will reflect this change.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Steve Piercy               Web Site Builder               Soquel, CA
<web at StevePiercy.com>                   <http://www.StevePiercy.com>