Overruling an AR

[JJ Mindset]

It seems to be that CRs are very reluctant to overrule an AR on some very dubious calls, especially certain offsides situations. Doesn't a CR have the ability overrule an AR if (s)he deems that a player is in a correct position and simply let the play continue? If so, then why are they very reluctant to use this power?

Perhaps the CRs are afraid of offending the ARs or feel that the ARs would get angry at them, which would explain why they would not overturn certain calls.

[nsa]

How often is the referee perfectly in line with the 2LD at the moment that the ball is played?

If it's more than 1:10^6, then I suggest that the referee is not in a position to do the job to which s/he is assigned. ;)

The referee must presume that the AR is a professional doing the job, unless blatant errors prove the contrary.

[neilgrossman]

Originally posted by JJ Mindset
It seems to be that CRs are very reluctant to overrule an AR on some very dubious calls, especially certain offsides situations. Doesn't a CR have the ability overrule an AR if (s)he deems that a player is in a correct position and simply let the play continue? If so, then why are they very reluctant to use this power?

Perhaps the CRs are afraid of offending the ARs or feel that the ARs would get angry at them, which would explain why they would not overturn certain calls.

I think CRs are reluctant because it looks a bit like the crew is incompetent if they can't agree.

My take has always been that all calls belong to the center ref. Most of the time, the AR is correct, or has a much better view. In the times that you know he is wrong, the CR does have an obligation to correct the call. It's best to do it in a way that doesn't embarass the AR. My suggestion is to talk to the AR before the game and stress the importance of eye-contact. If you're looking at each others eyes, the linesman will realize he's being overruled should be able quickly change his signal to what the CR called.

[billf]

It would be an extremely rare case where I would overrule an AR on an offside when I am in the center. As part of my pregame, I tell the ARs offside is always theirs. I do this because a) offside is the ARs primary job and b) if I overrule on that when the AR is in the better position, I lose that AR for the rest of the match. That AR will lose credibility.

Now I have overuled ARs on foul calls when I saw an incident clearly and decided not to make a call or when an advantage situation materialized. I'll always back this up with a positive comment to the AR however. You probably don't see this much in pro matches because the referee's pregame will cover these sorts of things.

[neilgrossman]

Originally posted by billf
It would be an extremely rare case where I would overrule an AR on an offside when I am in the center. As part of my pregame, I tell the ARs offside is always theirs. I do this because a) offside is the ARs primary job and b) if I overrule on that when the AR is in the better position, I lose that AR for the rest of the match. That AR will lose credibility.



It's pretty rare that I overrule an AR on an offside. When I do, it will usually be because he thought it was played by an offensive player when it was actually played by a defender (thus, making position at the time the AR thought the attacker touched it irrelevant).

[Stan]

On offside calls, the only time I would wave down an AR's call is if the ball was clearly going through to the goalie, or if the ball was cut off by a defender before it got to the offside positioned player. Otherwise, I have to live with the AR's offside call. He or she is in a much better position to see it than usually am.

Offside does not always develop in a way that is obvious to the sidelines. For instance, at least once a week, I see a play in which a player, in an offside position when the ball is passed, coming back onto an onside position to play the ball. Because I wait until she looks like she is going to play the ball, there is no obvious offside situation by the time the flag goes up.

I think that on a foul call, I would only overrule the AR if I could use an advantage call, unless I was right on top of the play and saw it clearly. Even then, I would be reluctant to do so.

[gildarkevin]

I'm very reluctant to overrule an AR on offside. And when I do, it's normally, as others have mentioned, to waive down the flag when the player is not participating in the play. Usually, I'd have to be sniffing glue to think I could overrule an AR who is in position. And, invariably, when an appeal comes to me as the center ref, I make a point of saying to the player/coach/loud enough for the sideline to hear that "my AR was in perfect position for that one and that's his/her primary responsibility, there's no way I could have seen it better than he/she did". Hopefully, that provides a reminder to anyone on the sidelines that they're in no better position either. For that reason, one of the first points made in my pregame is to tell my ARs that their positioning is the most important thing I'm worried about because I will willingly defend their decisions to the death if they're in position.

I will overrule the AR willingly on direction of throw-ins, goal v. corner kicks, fouls, if I think my angle was superior (or even equal) to the AR. But when I do, I always make eye contact and let the AR know, usually with a thumbs up and a motion such as pointing to myself or patting my chest to indicate that I saw him/her and am taking it on my own -- especially done to put the onus of any possible criticism on me, not the AR.

Because it is so infrequent an occurance for any reason (perhaps once or twice per game), I always make sure to talk about it with my AR during halftime or at game's end to fully explain it and make sure he or she knows why it occurred, and to make sure I didn't have it wrong for future occasions.

[AAGunner3]

Originally posted by gildarkevin
tell my ARs that their positioning is the most important thing I'm worried about because I will willingly defend their decisions to the death if they're in position.
...
I will overrule the AR willingly on direction of throw-ins, goal v. corner kicks, fouls, if I think my angle was superior (or even equal) to the AR. But when I do, I always make eye contact and let the AR know, usually with a thumbs up and a motion such as pointing to myself or patting my chest to indicate that I saw him/her and am taking it on my own -- especially done to put the onus of any possible criticism on me, not the AR.
...
I always make sure to talk about it with my AR during halftime or at game's end to fully explain it and make sure he or she knows why it occurred, and to make sure I didn't have it wrong for future occasions.

Right on. Had a great tourney this past weekend. Had two young ladies as my ARs. Overuled one offside flag on a deep ball that the forward totally misjudged and the defense took for a counter attack. Frequently if I've got a better angle on ball in/out play I'm giving visual and verbal cues as to who has the restart - many times even 'how that team earned the restart'. I even overuled a 'senior' AR who flagged a fella jumping up in down in front of the thrower. Figured he stayed in the same spot and he'd left plenty enough room that he was not unfairly impeding the throw-in.

And you're dead on about the positioning. As I've matured over the years, I am finding myself glancing at the ARs to see where they are and am very pleased to find them still in position, anticipating the next run of play. Never used to do that. I used to be focused only on the play and not my ARs.