Line Referee in the Game of Soccer

Watching a soccer game, you will see a referee on each side of the soccer field. They are holding a flag and calling different signals with it. You're wondering what are these signals and who are they for.

Learning to play the game of soccer is easy, for the younger generations seem to grasp it as if they already know it, but us oldies need to take it step-by-step by learning it at a slower pace.

Here I will try to explain what these referee's on the sides of the field are doing. First they are called Line Referee. There is one on each side of the soccer field, walking and/or sprinting up and down the field. They are holding a flag and for each position they wave the flag, there is a meaning.

These referees are assisting the referee that is on the field with the team players. The referee on the field relies on these line refs for input. Even though you probably think the line refs are not as important and the referee on the field is but they are.

Here are the meanings of the flag-waving positions that the line referee's use.

Flag Up
This is the most basic signal used. The line referee will put the flag up, this is indicating to the field referee, that play needs to be stopped for a reason. Basically when the line referee sees something, they will raise the flag straight up in the air to get the field referee's attention. The field referee will blow the whistle and play will stop. The line referee will indicate what they saw. If the field referee doesn't see the flag, the line referee will begin waving it side to side to attract the referee's eye.

Ball out-of-play and restart
This is two of the main jobs a line referee does to indicate when the ball is out of bounds and how the game should restart. After the field referee has blown the whistle, the line referee will indicate how to proceed:
1. If the line referee raises the flag in a 45-degree angle, and is pointing it horizontally along the touchline, they are calling for a throw-in. The attacking team will take the throw in.
2. If the line referee is standing near the goal line, pointing at the goal, they are calling for a goal kick.
3. If the line referee is standing near the goal line and points at the corner flag (flag in the corner of the field), they are calling for a corner kick.

Watches for offsides
The line referee will hold the flag straight up to let the field referee know that the play must be stopped. The field referee will blow the whistle; the line referee will hold the flag in one of three positions in front of them to indicate where on the field the offside occurred and where the ball should be placed for the freekick.
1. If the line referee holds the flag at a 45-degree angle, they are calling for an offside on the far side of the field.
2. If the line referee holds the flag straight out in front of them, they are calling for an offside in the middle of the field
3. If the line referee holds the flag down at a 45-degree angle, they are calling for an offside on the near side of the field.

Substitutions
If the line referee hold the flag straight up with both hand and above his head, he is calling to the field referee that a substitution needs to be performed and that play should not be started until finished.

Goal signal
If the line referee thinks a goal has been scored, they will lower the flag and may point to the center with their hand and sprint back to the centerline. If the line referee wants to dispute the goal, they will put the flag up and stay right where they are.

Penalty kick signal
If the field referee has called a foul and it is inside the penalty area the line referee will move towards the corner flag. If the line referee stays where he is then it indicates the foul was outside the penalty area. The field referee can then determine where the restart point should be.

There are some other signals for penalty kicks that the line referee can do like: Holding the flag horizontally across the chest or running to the corner flag and hiding their flag behind their back.

Miscellaneous signals
1. When the line referee needs to talk to the field referee, he will hold the flag straight up after the whistle is blown. The line referee may show this signal, for example, a player is abusing him or he sees outside interference. In particular, if the line referee wishes to indicate that a player deserved a yellow or red card, he will place his hand over his chest badge.
2. If the line referee signals for something but the field referee disagrees, the field referees signal will take priority over the line referee.
3. The line referee will always stay in line with the second last defender or the ball; whichever is closer to the goal line. This helps judge when an offside occurs.