Play on signal instead of calling offside

[laffysoccermom]

Player was clearly offside 3-4 feet from our angle but could have been more or less. AR makes play on sign and keeps running. Please explain why they would do this and what it means. My only thing I could think of was that he didn't think player had advantage from the position but this doesn't make sense given the situation.

[premier]

Did the player A:make a play on the ball? Or B:affect play? If the answer is no, then that player was not offsides and the AR indicated that, yes, a player was off, but that play is to continue due to them not being involved in the play

[laffysoccermom]

One instance, player received ball and took shot- can't remember if that one hit it's mark. That's the one that left me scratching my head. There were others where player didn't touch ball but a defender was trying to get to cover them- I think that impacted play but the ref could have disagreed. I happened at least 4-5 times with only this AR and this was the first time I have seen that.

[happyjack]

Jan 2, 2016 18:55:17 GMT -6 laffysoccermom said:

Player was clearly offside 3-4 feet from our angle but could have been more or less. AR makes play on sign and keeps running. Please explain why they would do this and what it means. My only thing I could think of was that he didn't think player had advantage from the position but this doesn't make sense given the situation.

I can only guess the AR is indicating the player was not in an offside position when the ball was kicked and therefore nothing was called.  I have seen ARs make a motion to indicate player was not offside, always thought this was a wasted motion as if they are offside you call it.  If not, just run down the line like you're supposed to do.

[laffysoccermom]

This was a first for me. Whatever it was- he didn't make the call.

[Steven Gerrard]

The only reason to allow "play on" instead of making the offside call is if the goalie is about to pick up the ball. However, as suggested by Happyjack above, I think you saw an AR indicating that the players were not offside and to "play on". But, as he indicated, the AR should just run up the sideline with the play; if no infraction, no reason to indicate "play on."

[archangel]

Jan 3, 2016 11:34:48 GMT -6 happyjack said:

I can only guess the AR is indicating the player was not in an offside position when the ball was kicked and therefore nothing was called.  I have seen ARs make a motion to indicate player was not offside, always thought this was a wasted motion as if they are offside you call it.  If not, just run down the line like you're supposed to do.

Running down the sidelines like you are supposed to do and making the play on call are not EXACTLY the same thing. The play on call indicates the player was not offsides.  Running down the field could mean the player was in the offsides position, but has not impacted play yet.  As soon as they do, the offsides flag will go up.  To me, the play on signal is a signal to the defense that says "I am not going to call this player offsides, so don't ease up and expect me to."  Now, whether they are supposed to do that is another question.

[Steven Gerrard]

Jan 4, 2016 13:48:48 GMT -6 archangel said:

Jan 3, 2016 11:34:48 GMT -6 happyjack said:

I can only guess the AR is indicating the player was not in an offside position when the ball was kicked and therefore nothing was called.  I have seen ARs make a motion to indicate player was not offside, always thought this was a wasted motion as if they are offside you call it.  If not, just run down the line like you're supposed to do.

Running down the sidelines like you are supposed to do and making the play on call are not EXACTLY the same thing. The play on call indicates the player was not offsides.  Running down the field could mean the player was in the offsides position, but has not impacted play yet.  As soon as they do, the offsides flag will go up.  To me, the play on signal is a signal to the defense that says "I am not going to call this player offsides, so don't ease up and expect me to."  Now, whether they are supposed to do that is another question.

I disagree.  You indicate "play on" if there was some offense, but you are allowing play to continue.  If the player is not offside, you do not make a "play on" indication.  You simply keep doing what you are supposed to do.  The players should do the same; until they hear the whistle.  

[archangel]

Jan 4, 2016 14:02:10 GMT -6 Steven Gerrard said:

I agree that is what is supposed to be.  But it seems in practice, the ARs are using it to say "It may have looked offsides to you, but it wasn't".  I can't think of any other reason that you would say Play on if they really were offsides.

[kevin]

Some referees (including ones at the top level) will say or give some sort of a signal that there wasn't a foul. I don't know if that's explicitly encouraged in any official policies, but it definitely happens. This seems like much the same thing.

On a somewhat related note, I wish more refs would let play continue when an offside violation occurs but the goalkeeper picks the ball up and no one is anywhere near him/her. Especially for younger and more inexperienced players, a punt is usually a much better situation than a free kick, even if the free kick is a little farther up the field.

On the other hand, I cringe when I see an offside attacker and a keeper crash into each other when the play could have been blown dead seconds earlier. Obviously sometimes a ref can't blow the whistle yet (if an onside attacker has a chance to get to the ball), but I hate seeing an unnecessary chance of injury.

[time2retire]

All of this can and should be discussed in the pregame brief between referee and assistants. As far as the assistant giving a signal (one arm extended), I have seen this done and have done so myself in the past, prior to learning that this is not a standard signal. In my brief, I give specific instructions on when to raise the flag. In some cases sooner (Player in offside position collision imminent with GK), some cases later (1 on, 1 off, wait and see), some cases not at all (GK collects).

Some referees may want information presented to them in this fashion, although it is contradictory to Guide To Procedures. In any case, "advantage" may only be called by the referee. IMO a lot of infractions are called far too quick by assistants for the situation presented. And this is why I will always conduct a thorough pregame brief, regardless of the crew or the game.

[cardsinhand]

In the past, I wasn't a fan of this signal. It is NOT a "Play On" signal. It should mean, that according to the AR, the player is not offside.

However, since the implementation of the "Wait and See" concept, there is good positive info being given with it to the players but especially the referee. Most referees have a feel for when it's time to check with the AR for an offside flag, when they see the hand signal, they know the player is not offside and they don't need to check back with the AR to see if the "Wait and See" is being applied. If they don't see it there is a need to keep looking and that will put more pressure on the referee. So I am starting to encourage it.

[time2retire]

Jan 4, 2016 17:00:47 GMT -6 cardsinhand said:

In the past, I wasn't a fan of this signal. It is NOT a "Play On" signal. It should mean, that according to the AR, the player is not offside.

However, since the implementation of the "Wait and See" concept, there is good positive info being given with it to the players but especially the referee. Most referees have a feel for when it's time to check with the AR for an offside flag, when they see the hand signal, they know the player is not offside and they don't need to check back with the AR to see if the "Wait and See" is being applied. If they don't see it there is a need to keep looking and that will put more pressure on the referee. So I am starting to encourage it.

As always, I value your opinion and will reconsider/evaluate my own.

[laffysoccermom]

Maybe that's what he meant that in his view the player was not offside. It was a first for me.

[feetaretoolsformind]

Jan 3, 2016 21:15:56 GMT -6 Steven Gerrard said:

The only reason to allow "play on" instead of making the offside call is if the goalie is about to pick up the ball. However, as suggested by Happyjack above, I think you saw an AR indicating that the players were not offside and to "play on". But, as he indicated, the AR should just run up the sideline with the play; if no infraction, no reason to indicate "play on."

no, no , no, and no.  Their is no advantage on offsides. If a through ball is sent to the player offsides and makes a run to it to play it but the ball is to long and keeper can snatch it up it is still offsides and should be called. I repeat there is no advantage on offisdes.

[happyjack]

Jan 7, 2016 15:59:03 GMT -6 feetaretoolsformind said:

Jan 3, 2016 21:15:56 GMT -6 Steven Gerrard said:

The only reason to allow "play on" instead of making the offside call is if the goalie is about to pick up the ball. However, as suggested by Happyjack above, I think you saw an AR indicating that the players were not offside and to "play on". But, as he indicated, the AR should just run up the sideline with the play; if no infraction, no reason to indicate "play on."

no, no , no, and no.  Their is no advantage on offsides. If a through ball is sent to the player offsides and makes a run to it to play it but the ball is to long and keeper can snatch it up it is still offsides and should be called. I repeat there is no advantage on offisdes.

sorry, but advantage can be applied for any offense, including offside, if by allowing the play to continue results in an advantage for the team against which the offense occurred.  So, a player is offside and challenging for ball but keeper gains possession and punts 60 yards downfield to teammate who collects and scores.  Decision - goal!

[hsref3]

If the player in an off side position runs toward a through ball, but it is too long and the keeper picks up the ball no offense has occurred. The offensive player has not touched the ball, not gained an advantage and therefore is not in violation. As long as there is no imminent threat to the keeper from a collision there is no reason to raise the flag.

With respect to the play-on hand signal offered by the AR, I think this action is a direct result of the all too common, loud and often offensive screams of parents and players who think their view from 50 yards away and at a 90 degree angle and usually following the ball is so much better than the AR who is in position and making a effort throughout the game to be watching the 2nd last defender at the time the ball is kicked. The AR is simply saying to the cr as well as players and spectators "I was on this one, there is no infraction".

Keep in mind that non-verbal communication between AR and CR is (or should be) common during the game. Many refs use eye contact, hand signals, and unofficial flag motions to send information the CR. These signals are not documented anywhere, nor are they standard across associations. But the non-verbal communication is very important and helps the refs send and receive information and allows the refs to do a better job.