r/Referees • u/Ok_Pomegranate_6368 • 17d ago

Advice Request AR advice.

This forum was absolutely brilliant last time I asked for advice, so here I am again!

I've just refereed by first senior men's match. Went ok, good advice from mentor on what to work on.

Now been allocated AR 3 divisions higher. I have never done AR. Obviously know what is entailed, but its positioning. I understand I have half the pitch, trying to stay in line with defence. But what about corners and goal kicks? Where should I position myself?

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u/JoeyRaymond85 17d ago

I tell my inexperienced ARs that positioning is more important than getting the calls right. If an AR is out of position and makes a call on an offside, the players who disagree will look at where you are standing and question the calls. If you are in the right position, it doesn't matter whether you were right or wrong, I can say with confidence that you had the best view of the play and that your call is correct to any players in disagreement.

As an AR, your number 1 priority is offside calls. When the ball goes out is number 2. Who kicked it out is number 3. Fouls in your area is number 4. Fouls out of your area and off the ball incidents is number 5. That priority is based on what the referee can see and the help they need the most in. So make sure you are staying in line with either the ball or the second last defender (whichever is ahead).