When you are refereeing a game what instructions do you give to your linesmen?
When my daughter played in junior and then ladies football somebody connected with each team ran the line, I frequently took a turn and it's a harder job than it looks. Referees varied from passers bye to some quite experienced Refs. Each Ref would talk to the linos before the game, some just said "flag for throw ins and offside and leave the rest to me"(usually the passer bye). Others would add to that "if you spot any infringement put your flag up and I'll come and have a word"(the more experienced Ref).
I ask because when watching the Cobblers it often appears that some linesmen only flag for throw ins and offside even when a blatant foul or hand ball happens under their nose.
How would you handle things?
Two types of 'Assistants', club and qualified (neutral):
I brief club officials to give me ins and outs down the line and on the goal line if in a credible position (whole ball).
I also ask them to give me a flag for offside if, in their opinion it is, with the brief that I will overrule them if I believe that it's incorrect but 'not to take it personal'. A similar brief if they want to flag for fouls/infringements. I tell the players/teams to ignore the offside/foul flags and play to the whistle throughout, because they are for my benefit only and it takes the pressure off the club official.
Qualified Assistant Referees are to use their knowledge and experience in accordance with Law to provide assistance subject to my/their credibility and/or if I am asking for 'help'. A lot of times it's not needed because it's obvious. As I have the whistle, I will make the final decision though, based on my interpretation of their assistance. If using 'comms kits', there will not always be an obvious indication that the AR is 'assisting' the man in the middle, so don't assume that the AR who is on top of the incident hasn't assisted, even if they don't flag. If we don't have comms kits, there are many 'indications/signs/signals', including buzzers, that we use to 'talk' to each other without obvious face to face conversation, in order to be as correct as possible. At live games, I'm always looking out for those little 'signals' between the officials.
I will always say that Assisting is more difficult than middling because you have to be in the correct/credible position every time when giving a decision (offsides etc..), whereas the referee 'only' needs to be in a credible vicinity.
I normally get appointed to at least a middle and a line each week. I did a line at Aldershot Town last week, clocking up 4 miles of 'bleep testing' up and down in the 90 minutes (I normally average about 3 for a line). Middling, I can clock up anything between 6 and 12 miles depending on the level of the game, although I normally average about 7-8.