Reprinted from The Diagonal Vol. 4, No. 3, (October 1997)

Run Right Ref!

As so often happens, the sprinklers on the field had run during the night. And, as so often happens, the field hadn't drained well or evenly. As I checked out what was to be my line that morning, I could see puddles on the last twenty meters of the line. When I got there, I sank into the mud on every step. So, since the rest of the field seemed relatively dry, I asked the center ref during our pre-game if he'd run a right wing diagonal to keep me out of the ooze.

To my surprise, he said "No". Very politely, he explained that he wasn't comfortable on the right wing, so he'd like to stay with a left wing diagonal.

By the end of the game, I was very uncomfortable. To begin with, I was covered with mud. I'd slipped and fallen once. And, being so concerned with my footing (and appearance, for a while, until it became hopeless), I'd called a lousy line. All too often, neither I nor my mind had been where we were supposed to be.

For all that, the center ref probably did the right thing - for that game. If one of us had to be uncomfortable, better me than him. What was wrong was that he hadn't taken the time to learn to run both diagonals so that we could both have been comfortable.

Most of us run one diagonal (usually left), by habit, 90% or more of the time. It doesn't seem like it's such a big deal, until you switch over. Then you find that all your habits are left or right handed also. The ref on a left wing diagonal turns to the right - both to find his leading assistant and when he turns to go up-field (e.g. when play reverses). The ref on a right wing diagonal looks and turns left. Once you turn the wrong way (and it's easy to on an unfamiliar diagonal) you're quite likely to get disoriented and wind up standing beside (rather than across field from) your leading assistant.

The good news is that these are very easy habits to break. Just take a few games that you expect will not be very challenging (e.g. drop "down" a division for a week or so) and run your "other" diagonal. Expect your positioning to be all at sea for the first couple of quarters - just smile and run to recover. Once you're comfortable on that diagonal, try switching diagonals at half or quarter. (Don't forget to tell your assistants!). Changing diagonals at half is required in some leagues (e.g. the old NASL) to distribute the ref's presence around the field. It's a great technique to use when the off-diagonal side wingers and defenders are ragging on each other - all of a sudden, you're running beside them instead of half a field away and things calm down.

Once you're completely ambidextrous, you'll be able to oblige wimpy assistants who can't deal with muddy sidelines. Even better, when there's a mud pool on your normal path, you won't have to run through it either!

Last updated 31 December 97 Palo Alto AYSO Referee pages Copyright © 1997 AYSO Section 2