SOCCER

List of Fourth Official's Responsibilities

 

• Arrive at the ground, and in the officials’ changing room early, and at the appropriate expected time.
  Dress smartly and in a confident manner.
  

• Assist the Referee to approach the game calmly and confidently. Adopt a friendly and fully co-operative attitude towards your Refereeing colleagues.
  

• Give the Referee every possible support, before, during and after the match. Keep eye contact with the Referee at all times during the game - this indicates that all matters under the Fourth Official's responsibility are under control.
  

• Be conversant with the competition rules before each game.
  

• Take proper notice of the Referee's pre-match briefing, and politely clarify any uncertainty arising.
  

• Have all the expected Referee accoutrements in you pockets; such as spare whistle, notebook, tissues, coin etc.
  

• Carry out the duties delegated by the Referee, properly, smartly, efficiently and pleasantly.
  

• Participate fully in the Referee's pre-match and post match brief.
  

• Take responsibility for anything delegated by the Referee.
  

• Sort out the Referee's changing room supplies by interacting with the facility manager.
  

• Accompany the Senior Assistant Referee whilst he inspects the players' equipment before the game has started. (Checking players’ equipment will depend on competition rules).
  

• Identify the Team Managers and Coaches, and discuss with them, substitution procedure, warm-up areas
  and injury procedures. And clear up any ambiguities concerning the Competition Rules.
  

• Assist with any administrative duties before, during and after the match, as delegated by the Referee.
  

• Obtain, and supervise the replacement footballs, where required. If the match ball has to be replaced during a match, provide another ball, on the instruction of the Referee, thus keeping the delay to a minimum. 
  Speak to any 'ball-handlers' particularly about entering the field of play and retrieving extra balls on the field of play. Remind the ball-handlers of their neutrality.
  

• Be fully prepared at all times, to take over either as the Referee, or one of the Assistant Referees. Conscientiously prepare yourself for either the Assistant Referee's role, or the Referee's role, should any of them become injured.
  

• Inspect the substitutes' equipment prior to entry onto the field of play. (This will depend on the requirement of the competition rules).
  

• Be the focal point for persons other than players, substitutes and team officials (e.g. stadium staff, security staff, ball-persons).
  

• Collect any Team Sheets prior to the game, and pass them on to the Referee.
  

• Make a note of the captains' numbers before the game commences.
  

• Organize relevant paperwork during substitutions and verifying that the information is correct. And check that the substitutes have been named on the official listings before being allowed onto the field of play.
  Record the time of any substitutions.
  

• Inform the nearest Assistant Referee of any substitution request. Seek his help if needs be, to signal the Referee.
  

• Stand at the halfway line, by the halfway line flag with the substitute until the Referee signals for the substitution to take place.

  Use your common sense on local grounds where substitutes can sometimes forget that they must enter on the halfway line; or where there is no properly designated technical area.
  

• Be prepared to deal with substitution requests at any time during the game.
  

• If display boards are available, use them to show the number of the player leaving the field of play, and the number of the substitute player entering.
  

• Allow the substitute to enter the field of play - but only when the outgoing player has left the field of play.
  

• Having completed the specific substitution monitoring duties, quickly take up your normal position between the technical areas (or benches).
  

• Monitor substitutes when they are warming up - particularly when they are near (and influencing) one of the Assistant Referees.
  

• Check the equipment of substitutes before they enter the field of play. If their equipment does not comply
  with the Laws of the Game, inform the Referee.
  

• When the end of time approaches, pass clear 'time remaining' signals to the Referee, preferably during natural stoppages of play. Indicate the last 5 minutes with appropriate number of fingers pointing downward against the background of the shorts. Time expired, signal = closed fist on the shorts, or fist to the chest (arm across the chest).
  

• Note the added time to be played at the end of each half - as indicated by the Referee. Advertise this additional time by the display of number boards etc. (This only applies to top-level games).
  

• Supervise the departure of the teams or/and bench personnel at the end of each half.
  

• Wait on the side of the field of play and meet the Referee at the end of each half, by quickly joining the Referee when he/she blows the whistle for half-and full-time.
  

• Leave the field of play with the other officials, as a team, and after the two opposing teams have departed or have otherwise ceased all competitive activities.
  

• Proceed to the officials' changing room at half-time and at full time to discuss match details in a calm post-match discussion in privacy. Clarify any misunderstandings, confusion or breakdown of teamwork that occurred during the game, and agree what should be done about any misunderstandings.
  

• At half-time and at full-time, check that the match ball is in the possession of the Referee - if not, then
  retrieve it.
  

• Avoid giving any suggestion of resentment when the Referee acknowledges your advice but did not act upon it as you would have liked.
  

• Work together as a team, and always back up the Referee's decisions.
  

• Prior to sorting out problems (such as requesting substitutes to warm up in a different area), to prevent unnecessary aggravation, the Fourth Official should engage the help of the team manager or coach, rather  than directly approach the substitutes themselves.
  

• Don't comment or talk to the crowd or to the managers in such a way that will antagonize them.
  

• Retain a sense of humor.
  

• Be polite at all times to all people.
  

• Keep out of the way of the spectator's viewpoint and take the proper action if they encroach. The home team is responsible for the behavior of the spectators – seek help from the ground staff or security staff to deal with this.
  

• Keep alert always.
  

• Recognize and immediately respond to any gesture from the Referee that conveys his need for your assistance or advice. For example, the Referee may signal the Fourth Official to organized the turning on of the floodlights, due to inclement darkening weather.
  

• Record the name (if team sheets are available), and club identity of any player who has been disciplined by the Referee during the match. After the match, submit a report to the appropriate authorities on any misconduct or other incident that has occurred out of the view of the Referee and the Assistant Referees. Advise the Referee and his Assistants of any report being made.
  

• Keep alert and deal with players leaving and re-entering the field of play either to adjust their equipment, or when they have bleeding injuries or blood on their uniform. If given this responsibility,  check the return onto the field of play, those players who have been treated for bleeding wounds or blood on the uniform, or after a player's equipment has been adjusted.
  

• When an injury occurs, prevent team officials (or the technical area occupants) from rushing onto the field of play before receiving the Referee's permission. Players should be prevented from re-entering the field of play until the Referee has beckoned them on by a clear signal. Use gentle persuasion to achieve this. Use discretion when small children are concerned, and do not be over-officious if trainers or parents rush onto the field of play to comfort a small child.
  

• Manage the Technical Areas, and keep both of them under close observation throughout the match. Inform the Referee of any unruly or irresponsible behavior committed by the technical area occupants.Inform the Referee if a player or substitute (a) has been cautioned or sent off based on an incorrect identification: (b) has not been sent off despite having received a second caution: or (c) has committed violent conduct out of the view of the Referee and Assistant Referees.
  

• Always Keep players, substitutes and team officials under observation. Be aware of the general movement and whereabouts of the Club officials and any another team personnel throughout the game.
  

• Only authorized personnel are allowed inside the technical area. Remove any unauthorized personnel.
  

• Any technical area occupants, who leave the area to give instructions to their players, should be asked to return. Always speak in a professional and calming manner.
  

• Taking decisive smaller actions against the technical area occupants early in the game will very often prevent more serious situations arising later.
  

• Prevent and deal with anyone else who interferes with the match officials.
  

• Prevent water containers from being thrown onto the field of play. These can be passed to players from the touchline (if the Referee allows this).
  

• Remain in the same standing position during the game (unless performing another duty). This allows the Referee to locate the Fourth Official quickly if required.
  

• Keep an eye on the behavior of the ‘ball-persons’ (for example, ensure that they do not show favoritism to one team. Or enter the field of play etc.)
  

• Do not become involved during the game, with match incident conversations that do not relate direct with
  the duties of the Fourth Official. Maintain a professional composure throughout.
  

• The Fourth Official should participate fully in any after-match discussions between the officials and any assessor.

The responsibilities shown above, increases the authority of the Fourth Official and allows him to take action in situations concerned with actual play, and with situations not concerned with actual play.

The listing above serves to remind you of the complexities of being a Fourth Official.

Courtesy Julian Carosi