Solo Refereeing Higher Level Matches.... Touchline issues

[AspireNatlRef]

Ok, again looking to the great amount of experience and knowledge of the BS referee community:

Had two boys varsity games back to back to back (in different locations one at 3:30, 6pm).

Both fields were "bush league" with football lines in white and soccer lines in white. Nightmare.

First game, was on a field about 70ydsx115yrds. I could see the four inch touch lines, but nearly immpossible to be able to judge the exact time the entiretly of the ball crossed the entire line. Had a few times I may have played on when the ball went out of touch and may have whistled a few times when the ball was still in touch.

Second game, field was much smaller ( 55ydsX100yds) however the lines were about 2 inches. Same issues, but discussed with coaches and captians my dilemma about seeing the ball in and out of touch.

Now I am 27 years old, very fit, meet the top standards of FIFA fitness requirements, however there is no way I can cover those fields (one as the sun sets, and one with dim lighting) from line to line to line to line.

I called as well as I could, but at one point felt like blowing the whistle and pulling a "jump ball" kind of situation. If I couldn't see who kicked it out 1/2 the time one side, then the next the other side. Didin't do it, but what do you guys do when you are put in this situation?

Both of these games were to have 2 ARs with me as a center, but with the low numbers of officials in my area, and the early start times, there have been some difficulties.

I have spoken to the assigner who was disappointed that I had to deal with what I did, but I wanted to know what you guys are doing in these situations, especially in a more competitive Boys varsity setting.

NOTE: Both teams/coaches/spectators knew what I was dealing with, so they behaved stellarly. I also "guessed" with authority and wouldn't back down unless the team that kicked it out admitted it.

Overall, good matches, I just wish they could have had a crew of officials, and not just the one.

So, what do you do these situations and how do you handle yourself.

After both games all 4 coaches thanked me and said they were immpressed that the game was managed as well as it was by a single man in the middle.


ANR

[Yellowshirt]

This is a tough but not uncomon situation. Sounds like you did the best you can do.

In situations like this I have told the teams (captains) upfront that I will not be able to see the line all the time. I ask them to behave like gentlemen and acknowledge who should get the throw....most times it works out just fine.

You can also have a ball boy be a club linesman to help you out.

I think the most important thing you did was to make a quick firm decision as to when the ball went out and who was to take the throw. This shows the teams you are in charge and capable of making decisions...firm but not overbearing or arrogant. I suspect this is but one reason why you had not other trouble in the match.
It appears you handled this just fine.

As an aside, while we must of course know the Rules (NFHS) many referees forget much of the game is about player management and interaction not just enforcing the rules. A referee can enforce every rule perfectly but have a horrible match and ruin the game.

[falcon.7]

Another tactic you can use is, when the ball goes out, wait a second and see how the players react. If one immediately moves away to take up a defensive position, you can bet that its going against him. If both players raise their hands, just pick a direction and go with it. Be careful though, sometimes players will try and take advantage of this tactic by picking up the ball and trying to get a quick throw in before you can signal, hoping you'll just go with it.

[macheath]

Sounds like you did well; unless the players are being deceptive and taking advantage, their reactions will usually tell you who gets the throw-in, as falcon described earlier. If you ask them before the match to be honest about it, that usually works, in my experience. End lines can also be challenging, especially on the opposite side from you, and even more so with the crummy type of field markings you described here.

But the bigger and much tougher question, working solo with no ARs, is what to do about offside. I tend to work wide in these cases, and have club linesmen take the other side to signal the ball in and out of touch--no direction call, simply all the way over the line. Then I stay wide on the opposite side to catch offside, and pinch as close to the center as I possibly can without losing sight of the defenders, or having attackers end up behind my back. Don't see how the center diagonal can work for offside with no ARs.

The old Giovanni Piazza memo recommended staying wide, but crossing over when necessary while working solo, in order to keep close enough to play so you don't strain credibility. I've tried that, but found that I got caught too often in the middle, with things happening behind my back.

[Rufusabc]

Very difficult situation at this time of the year with both fading light and a sharp angle of the sun...I feel for you, especially when you were supposed to have ar's.

I like the idea of telling the coaches about the offside situation more than the in/out. Unless it is in a serious attacking situation in the last third of each attacking zone, I don't know how advantageous it is to get the throw. I also like to look at body language. The players are wrong about as many times a game as you are.

Nothing worse than fading light and a sharp angles sun though...

[Tarheel Ref]

But the bigger and much tougher question, working solo with no ARs, is what to do about offside.

I handle both situations in similar fashion...I do a thorough set of pre-game instructions for both teams and their coaches: what they can expect from me and what I expect from them. If they disagree with a call they are welcome to ASK me about it at an appropriate break in the play but yelling and gesticulating will get an even less enthusiastic response from me than if I was working with a full crew.

Points I stress:

1. I can only call what I KNOW I see...I won't guess.

2. For ball in/out of play...I'll try to give them a "keep going" if I'm not going to call the ball out of play but can't promise it every time. PLAY THE WHISTLE!!! I tell them I won't fault them if I have to whistle twice to stop them so they should keep going if they have any doubts.

3. For offside...I can only call it if I KNOW it is offside...again, I won't guess and I won't take input from the players/coaches/spectators. Tell them it may not come out evenly but I'll do my best. Caution both teams (not YC but word of warning/admonishment) that if they employ the offside trap that I HIGHLY recommend against using it this match. Once again (serious point of emphasis): PLAY THE WHISTLE!!! Defense: don't stand there staring at me with your hand up in the air waiting for me to call offside. Sometimes I'll get a "keep going" out but not always.

4. It is highly likely that at some point I MIGHT make a mistake or miss something. I'm only a human referee and possibly not perfect every time. Sorry but I'm all alone out here.

And one more fairly obvious piece of advice: bring your thick skin. The understanding and sympathy you get from the teams at being all alone out there generally only lasts until you make a call that somebody disagrees with (and we all know how rarely that happens!:cool:).

I've found that this bit of pre-game instructions for the players and coaches goes a long way to preventing some problems.

You guys must really be hard up for officials if you're working "higher level matches" solo. We should all lobby for higher pay for working those kinds of matches all alone. I remember NJ refs work adult matches solo for $70 (pocketing that fast $70 as I remember one NJ adult league player put it!)...VERY difficult work in my experience.

ANR...sounds like you did pretty well with it. All we can do is all we can do.