This past weekend while refereeing a girls College Showcase the following situation occurred. The attacker was dribbling the ball along the goal line in the penalty area -- dribbling toward goal -- literally right along the line. The defender stabs a foot out to tackle, misses the ball and trips the attacker. The CR blows the whistle and points to the spot for a PK. While players are moving into position, the goal keeper mentions to the CR, "Not that it matters now, but the ball was out before the girl was tripped." The CR says, hold on and jogs over to the AR and asks, "Was the ball out before the trip occurred?" The AR responds, "Yes, it was." The CR says thank you, turns and says loud enough for everyone to hear "The ball was out before the trip occurred -- it is a goal kick" This is a great example of using communication to get it right -- and thankfully, the keeper kept her cool and mentioned the fact that something could be checked out. I think the CR did everything right given the situation. However, the AR could have done something -- he could / should have stood along the goal line with his flag in the air -- or done SOMETHING to get the CR's attention to discuss the possibility that a PK wasn't the proper call. So mainly, I am pointing out two things -- 1) As the CR, don't be afraid to ask for more information and overturn a call you've made. 2) As an AR, be diligent about trying to get all possible information to the CR -- don't WAIT to be asked for the information.
I am in total agreement with this. "AR" means assistant referee - and also "another referee". Part of the AR's assistance is to let the ref know some information when it is apparent he does not already know it. I know the phrase, "Assistant, not Insistant". To me that means the AR gives his information, but does not insist that the ref use that information. But if he doesn't give it, how can the ref decide whether or not to use it?
It begs two questions: What was the AR thinking about (lunch?) that he didn't immediately signal the one thing (ball out of play) for which the CR can't waive him down? and ... If this is the level of attention this AR pays to a college showcase game, what effort does he put forth for the kids on a regular basis?
I don't know -- he was from outside the area -- and in addition to this situation, I wasn't overly impressed with him. On this play, I did see him start to raise his arm (flag) as the whistle was blown and it was probably to signal that the ball was out but then he didn't finish the signal once the whislte blew and the penalty was called.
You may be a little hard on my AR friend. On of his/her duties is to signal "Ball out of Play". Given the situation it would be hard to have an AR be insistant about stating that the foul was before or after in/out of play. This also bring up a question of "when does a foul start". If the defender puts out there foot in a careless manner while in-bounds but the contact is out of bounds - when is it a foul? I do think that the right call and communication was made, but I would say judge an AR by this in the heat of the moment.
Well perhaps it was a tough decision to make as to which event happened first, but the important thing is to make the decision and stick with it. If the AR knew the answer after the CR came over and asked him, then the AR knew the answer before the CR came over and asked him and the AR should have given the appropriate signal. Waiting to make the decision until after someone else gets the CR's attention is not one of the AR's options. What if no one else had seen the ball go out of play first - does the AR continue to watch the taking of the PK in silence?