SoccerRef wrote:

SuburbanDad wrote:Also, if you’re not a ref, be nice to the refs. $30-50 isn’t nearly enough for the amount of abuse refs have been getting locally/lately. If you get a chance, thank your kid’s ref after the game, win or lose (especially if it’s clear they’re trying to kids safe and learn their sport). Imagine if you treated other folks doing their jobs like you do refs “Those aren’t even close to enough sprinkles in my Blizzard!! What’re you, blind?!?!”

Saying as a dad, not a ref

While I agree that a “good job ref” while you’re walking away is nice, with all the ref abuse we have to deal with I DO NOT want any parents approaching me or my crew after a game, even with good intentions.
Teach your kids to thank the refs after the game instead.

Thanks for the clarification. Yeah, I’ll usually kind of say it across the field as I’m getting our kid, if the ref’s are in earshot.

SuburbanDad wrote:Also, if you’re not a ref, be nice to the refs. $30-50 isn’t nearly enough for the amount of abuse refs have been getting locally/lately. If you get a chance, thank your kid’s ref after the game, win or lose (especially if it’s clear they’re trying to kids safe and learn their sport). Imagine if you treated other folks doing their jobs like you do refs “Those aren’t even close to enough sprinkles in my Blizzard!! What’re you, blind?!?!”

Saying as a dad, not a ref

While I agree that a “good job ref” while you’re walking away is nice, with all the ref abuse we have to deal with I DO NOT want any parents approaching me or my crew after a game, even with good intentions.
Teach your kids to thank the refs after the game instead.

Also, if you’re not a ref, be nice to the refs. $30-50 isn’t nearly enough for the amount of abuse refs have been getting locally/lately. If you get a chance, thank your kid’s ref after the game, win or lose (especially if it’s clear they’re trying to kids safe and learn their sport). Imagine if you treated other folks doing their jobs like you do refs “Those aren’t even close to enough sprinkles in my Blizzard!! What’re you, blind?!?!”

Saying as a dad, not a ref

Looks like the mystery was solved. Hand gesture was for what the AR felt was offside and back...not saying the AR was correct, just saying that seems to be what he called. As to the deflection keeping the player onside, look 16 threads down on this forum. I started a thread called "Offside Offense" with new guidelines for this season on what is a deliberate play.

While it's definitely not an official signal I have definitely used an "over and back" gesture with my hand to the center when he gave me a quizzical look on an offside flag when the player had come back from an offside position to meet the ball. Never done it with the flag though, only my other hand. I have also had ARs use the same gesture with me when I was center.

FPYCparent wrote:I'm going to hijack this thread instead of starting a new one. Feel free to send me hate mail.

During a match yesterday, a sideline ref made a call that looked like an over-and-back (or backcourt) violation signal from basketball. I don't yet have video of the play, but an attacker made a pass across the mouth of the goal to a trailing teammate. The receiving player shouldn't have been offside ... and the side ref didn't put his flag straight up in the air as one might expect for an offside call. Instead, the ref made the hopping motion with his flag like over-and-back/backcourt. I'm wondering what else that call could have been. (There was no other obvious foul and no goal was ultimately scored or wiped off due to the call against the offensive team.)

I guess I could go through referee training to figure out what the call was. {grin}

Thanks in advance!

There are no official flag movements for ARs (sideline ref or Assistant Referee) that you describe. My only guess in what you are describing (even though you said it didn't happen) is that the AR thought that, when the ball was played, the teammate was in front of the ball and the 2nd to last defender (so in an offside position) but when the teammate actually received the ball, he was back on side because the 2nd to last defender recovered between the ball and the GK. But what is normally done here is the AR pops his flag straight up and then with his empty hand makes the "backcourt" signal. I've never seen an AR try to make this signal with the flag but anything is possible. What was the restart? Was it an indirect kick (center referee holding his hand straight up until the ball is kicked) for the defending team from where the AR was standing? If so, it's probably what I described.

As you might know there is a severe shortage of referees in DC and VA (and nationwide).

My son, 17yr. old, has been a ref. for a few years now. He makes between $30 and $50 per game. Being a ref is really easy for him since he loves the sport and understands the game. He started refereeing Rec. games and now does NCSL, CCL and EDP games. He doesn't really do ECNL or MLS NEXT because they are a bit too stressful.

VA is doing all possible to attract new refs. New referee clinics are now $45, that's half of the price, they also have uniforms 50% discount.

So I'm just passing the information below in case you have a teen who is looking to have fun and make some extra bucks during the weekend.

1. Consider becoming a referee
2. VA State Referee Office Information

>>> Website to view the list of in-person field training sessions already scheduled:

https://mdcvasrp.omgtsys.com/AvailableClinics.aspx

**NOTE: Most Fall field training sessions will be added soon.

NOTE: Click the link below each document to download:

- CONSIDER_BECOMING_A_NEW_SOCCER_REFEREE_
Link: https://vadcsoccerref.com/instruction/path-1

- VA_State_Office_New_Referee_Flyer.jpg (169 KB)
Link: http://media-3.gameofficials.net/VA_State_Office_New_Referee_Flyer.jpg