Reverse Diagonal

[vabeacher]

As a fairly new referee, I worked with a CR who chose to work a reverse diagonal system. In other words, when I was on my line, facing the field, I was responsible for the left side of the field, as opposed to usually having a goal to my right hand side. I find it easiest to hold the flag in the hand that is going in the direction of the attack, in this case in my left hand when the attackers were heading toward the goal on my side. At first I found this a bit awkward, but easily got used to it. I'm just wondering what, if any, benefit there is to switching from the traditional system? None of the players seemed to question it, or even notice it. The only benefit to me was that I didn't have to run in the same rut that was left by previous AR's. This would have been great on a muddy day, but this was a perfectly nice day.

I meant to ask the CR about if after the game, but never got around to it.

[Englishref]

I am a referee who runs the 'reverse diagonal, or the Right Back/Left Wings diagonal as we call it, and there is absolutely no benefit from doing it one way or the other, at least not at this time in the season when the pitches aren't as played on, and there is fresh grass. Towards Christmas time, and definitely after, the left back patrol path is usually warn down, and in particularly long spells of wet weather (yes ok, as we always have over here! :D ) it can become terrible, and the right back patrol path is usually the best part of the whole pitch for grass as its so economically used!

As for why a referee does it, it is completely up to the referee and what he feels comfortable doing. If he is more comfortable with his assistants on his left side, then so be it. It is quite a common practice in England, and more and more referees are adopting it, 2 of our SG officials use it, and several in the Football League do too.

I would pick you up on what you said about running with the flag whilst doing right backs. It may just be your description, or my understand of your description, but when running right backs, if you are running with the attack, i.e. towards goal, the flag should be in your right hand, so as to keep it pitch side. Or did you mean when you are crabbing?

[ArgylleRef]

There are many reasons to run a reverse diagonal. I was at a tournament where there was a telephone or power pole about a yard and a half off the touch line. Running a traditional diagonal put the AR running right past it. If play was close the AR might run a little wide and .... I ran that line as AR and was startled when seeing out of the corner of my eye several times. When I centered that same field later in the day, I made a point of running a reverse diagonal so my AR wouldn't have to risk a collision.

Another time, I was having trouble with chit-chat between the bench in my quadrant and the opposing players. Always quiet when I was near, but bubbling when I was at the other end. I switched my diagonal at the half, putting my AR right in front of the bench. (ARs stayed on their same ends.) No more problems.

Worn ruts is another good reason to switch. I once asked a center to run a reverse diagonal because my end of the touch line was under water. He refused and I got very, very wet. I don't think he was confident in his ability to run a reverse.

A fourth reason would be just to practice it so if/when a situation that calls for it you would be confident in your ability to do it.


Steve

[IASocFan]

I think EnglishRef's reverse diagonal is our standard rightback/left wing diagonal. I run the standard diagonal about 75% of the time. I use the reverse diagonal if the lines are bad, the sun is at a bad angle, I want an AR to be on the side of a certain team - either to help manage or to let me manage (depending on my AR's skills), or for practice running the other diagonal. Most refs I work with use the standard diagonal. There are two refs I work with that use the reverse, and some vary depending on circumstances.

With a tougher match, I tend to go with the standard diagonal. It's a little more comfortable.

[kevbrunton]

Another time, I was having trouble with chit-chat between the bench in my quadrant and the opposing players. Always quiet when I was near, but bubbling when I was at the other end. I switched my diagonal at the half, putting my AR right in front of the bench. (ARs stayed on their same ends.) No more problems.

Steve
I've done this as well to deal with bench issues to put an AR in front of the problem bench - actually, I was the AR on the team side and suggested to the center that we switch diagonals at half to help manage the bench situation. In this case, both AR's were experienced and the Center was not - so putting the other AR on the team side, and therefore, in front of the problem bench was going to make things easier to manage.

The primary reason to run a reverse diagonal is field issues -- one field I referee at has a major dip right along the touch line. Otherwise, just dealing with ruts, etc. We just got a notice from one of the facilities where they host a lot of college games asking that when we have double headers (which is most of the time there), that we run one regular diagonal and one reverse diagonal so that we don't run down one side of the touchline. In this case, it's preventive measures.

[whitehound]

I have done a reverse diagonal less then 5 times in over 1000 games. I had to do one a couple of weeks ago and I was a football bat.......I first and formost go where I need to be to control the game but default to running left of the ball to keep my ARs in view......you gotta run to the right of the ball to do the same thing in a reverse. I was doing a relatively high level game so the players noticed a missed flag or two and it wasnt good. Should have not done the game as there was a large pile of dirt on the field.......learned alot that day.