AR and flags, which hand?

[NHRef]

While watching the ARs in the WC I noticed they had the flag in what I was taught was the "wrong" hand, however in real use, how they do it makes sense.

What I was taught was to ALWAYS keep the flag between my body and the CR, which means most of the time its in your left hand. Left as you are side stepping towards the goal line with the SLD, Left hand as you are sprinting with the SLD, left hand as you are standing/slight adjusting position with the SLD, right hand as you head back up field at faster than a side step pace.

However the WC ARs usually had the flag in the right hand, which when watching the upcoming signals makes perfect sense. You signal a GK you want the flag in the right hand as you point out to the GA, Right hand as you point for the restart on offside. If the flag had been in your left hand when you pop it for offside, you then have to drop it, switch hands and then point, also when you do pop it, your arm is in the way of viewing the field.

So... which hand should it be in?

[MassachusettsRef]

So... which hand should it be in?Field side, as you've been taught. It's been USSF policy for years and, in fact, UEFA adopted it a couple years ago; they just grandfathered in their older refs. To my knowledge, though, there is no set FIFA policy for their tournaments.

[Englishref]

We're taught to do it just as you mention, only we're not as lazy as some nations such as Germany, in that we somehow manage to change the flag from our left to our right hand before signalling. It's quite a simple skill, that when put together with proper procedure as you mention, looks extremely smart. :cool:

[gosellit]

Right hand as you point for the restart on offside. If the flag had been in your left hand when you pop it for offside, you then have to drop it, switch hands and then point, also when you do pop it, your arm is in the way of viewing the field.

Try switching hands prior to raising flag for offside (don't pop, please). I actually instruct my AR's to do this in my pre-game. When you are switching hands, use that 1/2 second to make sure that in fact, offside infraction occurred (offside player become involved) or not (onside player running through, offside player not involved). Speed is not important, getting it correct is.

Also, switch hands for GK as well.
Example:
You are following the ball as it crosses goal line, you think it is a GK. Stop, as you are switching hands, you look at the Ref, guess what?, he is giving the CK signal and giving you info that the ball was deflected by the defense. You smartly give the CK signal.

[bluedevils]

Left hand (assuming ref is running a left diagonal).

When signaling for goal kicks or offside, right hand so you can maintain better eye contact with the referee.

gosselit's point that this gives you an extra half-second to make sure your decision is correct before you signal it is a great point. I hadn't thought of it that way.

Most of the FIFA ARs I see on TV have terrible flag mechanics.

[jose\/erde]

I don't really want to rain on anyone's thread but it seems to me you could hold the flag up in your mouth as long as it signaled to everyone what it needed to say.

[david58]

I don't really want to rain on anyone's thread but it seems to me you could hold the flag up in your mouth as long as it signaled to everyone what it needed to say.
And as long as you wanted that to be your last assignment.:)

[Ref Flunkie]

I don't really want to rain on anyone's thread but it seems to me you could hold the flag up in your mouth as long as it signaled to everyone what it needed to say.

Doesn't look very professional to do things that way. I could do my job in a yellow t-shirt, blue shorts, and white tennis shoes if I wanted to, but we don't do that now do we? ;)

[USSF REF]

I don't really want to rain on anyone's thread but it seems to me you could hold the flag up in your mouth as long as it signaled to everyone what it needed to say.

What a silly thing to say.

[chrisrun]

Most of the FIFA ARs I see on TV have terrible flag mechanics.
My favorite was the penalty by Zidane in the finals. As the ball bounces out of the goal, the center is looking at the AR for confimation of the goal. The AR starts running towards the touch line, but then realizes he didn't signal the ball crossing the goal line, so he puts the flag up as he is running.

[jose\/erde]

Doesn't look very professional to do things that way. I could do my job in a yellow t-shirt, blue shorts, and white tennis shoes if I wanted to, but we don't do that now do we? ;)

Well sure, but aside from the very trained eye, who will really notice which hand the flag is in? It seems to be one of those things where you do it by the book when you're being assessed then go back to your usual habits afterwards.

[gosellit]

Well sure, but aside from the very trained eye, who will really notice which hand the flag is in? It seems to be one of those things where you do it by the book when you're being assessed then go back to your usual habits afterwards.


I have a great idea. Try doing it "by the book" all the time, then "that" becomes your usual habit.

Someone once said that you can tell a person of good character because he does the right thing even when no one is looking. I think this applies. Your mechanics should not change just because you are being assessed.

[jose\/erde]

I have a great idea. Try doing it "by the book" all the time, then "that" becomes your usual habit.

Someone once said that you can tell a person of good character because he does the right thing even when no one is looking. I think this applies. Your mechanics should not change just because you are being assessed.

I agree with that, because I for some unknown reason still do compelte stops at stop signs at 1am (much to the chagrin of my brakes). But, I guess my main point was simply to say how in my opinion the hand in which you hold the flag doesn't really matter and seems more pedantic than anything else. It's not going to make you a better referee. I mean, the flag goes up, he's offside. As long as it is understood clearly it's all good.

[usatowin]

I agree with that, because I for some unknown reason still do compelte stops at stop signs at 1am (much to the chagrin of my brakes). But, I guess my main point was simply to say how in my opinion the hand in which you hold the flag doesn't really matter and seems more pedantic than anything else. It's not going to make you a better referee. I mean, the flag goes up, he's offside. As long as it is understood clearly it's all good.

Until that 1 time in 10 000 when your view is obstructed by the wrong arm and something happens...

[litlewojo7]

Some more FIFA AR Mechanics: I was at a usa international friendly a couple years ago .. On a corner kick the AR was standing in-line with the goal line(correct so far). The ball goes out for another corner kick. Instead of taking a step along the touchline to signal for another corner kick... he takes a step back and points to the corner flag in-front of him. :)

[HoldenMan]

If perpendicular to the field, then have it field side. If facing the field, then I've always been taught to have it in your left hand (if running the bottom-left line). However, a HAL instructor recently told me that's being switched over to having it in the right hand.

[bobshlo311]

Many times throughout the World Cup I saw the AR's holding the flag in the wrong hand...did anyone else?

[Wreave]

Many times throughout the World Cup I saw the AR's holding the flag in the wrong hand...did anyone else?

Welcome to BigSoccer. Please read the first post in this topic for the answer to your question. :rolleyes:

[MidwestRef]

I don't know the answer to this question, but could AR mechanics just not be that big of a deal in other countries? I can obviously speak for US ARs when we know that AR mechanics are taught quite a bit. I know my officials' association extensively covers AR mechanics throughout the year. Our senior official (a transplated Englishman) also talks about how the FA stresses AR mechanics.

Other countries may just tell its ARs "get the calls right and do what feels comfortable". I saw many instances when ARs were moving when making flag signals, holding the flag in the wrong hand, and doing other "incorrect" AR mechanics. However, it seemed like the ARs were getting many calls right.

[Englishref]

I don't know the answer to this question, but could AR mechanics just not be that big of a deal in other countries? I can obviously speak for US ARs when we know that AR mechanics are taught quite a bit. I know my officials' association extensively covers AR mechanics throughout the year. Our senior official (a transplated Englishman) also talks about how the FA stresses AR mechanics.

Other countries may just tell its ARs "get the calls right and do what feels comfortable". I saw many instances when ARs were moving when making flag signals, holding the flag in the wrong hand, and doing other "incorrect" AR mechanics. However, it seemed like the ARs were getting many calls right.

Yeah I don't think it's so important abroad. We're heavily picked up on mistakes with our flagging and flag holding by assessors. Just last season I was picked up for holding my flag to high when signalling a throw-in.