AR advantage?

[wardtc]

How would you guys handle this...?

On a counter attack from the other end of the field, the ball goes deep into your corner. You follow it and the players down, the Center is still coming up the field when the defender fouls the attacker (outside the box). The attacker regains control of the ball. Clearly an advantage call.

Do you raise the flag for the foul, or apply advantage. If you apply advantage, how do you signal that?

[ref47]

from your observations of the cr earlier in the match, you decide if the cr would have given advantage, if he had seen the play. if you decide, yes, then you do not raise the flag. that is your only signal that should be made - no signal; continue observing and moving. if you decide the cr would have given the foul, then you raise your flag, look to the cr, wait for whistle, wiggle and point direction.

[Nevadaref]

This is an extra signal that you should discuss with your partners in the pregame. It can be very useful.

Extend your right arm horizontally towards the goal line and continue to run with the play.

I tell my ARs to do this when they observe a foul, which they do not wish to flag because the players may see it and stop. When an AR gives this signal, I holler out, "Play on, advantage!" I also do this when I am the AR for a few centers that I work with frequently, thus we are on the same page.

Many people incorrectly use this to indicate to the Center that a player is onside during a run. This was a mechanic that some of the big boys (Nationals and FIFA refs) were using about a dozen years ago. Currently the top level instructors are teaching NOT to do this. If the player is onside, you just run.

[wardtc]

Thanks Nevada,

This makes sense. If I do nothing (not raise and wiggle the flag) the impression that I send is that if the Center is not close, it's OK to foul.

By signaling that I saw something and having it acknowledged by the Center, reinforces that the players are being watched, and cuts down on the possibility of things getting out of control (esp retalitation if the foul was hard).

P.S. I've seen the arm out on through balls and wondered why that was being done.

[ref2coach]

Most of us do games that do not have excessive crowd noise. I prefer that the AR just say "Advantage or Play On". The players hear, as CR I hope I am getting close enough in my sprint to hear. If I then choose to call the foul I just verbalize "advantage did not develop".

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by ref2coach

Most of us do games that do not have excessive crowd noise. I prefer that the AR just say "Advantage or Play On". The players hear, as CR I hope I am getting close enough in my sprint to hear. If I then choose to call the foul I just verbalize "advantage did not develop".

While it is good to encourage the ARs to use their voices during the match, it can't be recommended for them to verbalize "advantage" or "play on". This does not fit within the Laws of the Game.

Under Law 5 the REFEREE is the only one who is permitted to allow play to continue for advantage.
Under Law 6 the Assistant Referees are to indicate "when offenses have been committed whenever the assistants are closer to the action than the referee..."

Hence what I have recommended above is a method for an AR to clearly indicate to the referee that the AR has observed an offense, but he does so without interfering with play. The referee can either take this advice from the assistant or not.

[ref2coach]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

This is an extra signal that you should discuss with your partners in the pregame. It can be very useful.

Extend your right arm horizontally towards the goal line and continue to run with the play.

I tell my ARs to do this when they observe a foul, which they do not wish to flag because the players may see it and stop. When an AR gives this signal, I holler out, "Play on, advantage!" I also do this when I am the AR for a few centers that I work with frequently, thus we are on the same page.

Nevadaref, Do you not see an in-congruency here? What is the right arm upraised and as the AR continues the run? Is it not half of the "play on signal" The complete signal is for the referee to "extend both arm in an up-sweeping motion and call out Advantage, Play on"

So you are perfectly OK with giving the visual signal for play-on BUT you are taking issue with verbalization as a signal. The upraised right arm everyone in the entire field area can see the AR signaling "Advantage" With AR verbalization, in general, the involved players are the only ones hearing the AR signaling "Advantage".

Neither option is sanctioned as an "approved mechanic" so I can understand a "purist" taking me to task, but not someone who is advocation their own "non-sanctioned" signal.

[AlaRef]

Since the CR is out of position and the AR has seen the foul then the AR should signal the foul. The AR doesn't have the ability to call play on. It doesn't matter if the Attacker regains advantage. The attacker is outside of the box and isn't in position to score. The foul should be called and given the correct restart.

[ref47]

alaref, pls see the guide on fouls not seen by the cr.

lead ar: Determines that the infringement was
not or could not be seen by the referee
and that, per the pregame conference,
the referee would likely have stopped
play for the infringement if it had
been seen