Assistant referee facts for kids

An assistant referee is a special official who helps the main referee during a sports game. Think of them as the referee's trusted helpers. They watch parts of the game that the main referee might not be able to see clearly.

Assistant referees have important jobs. For example, in soccer, they can tell if a player is offside. They also help decide if a goal was scored properly or if the ball went out of bounds. However, it's important to remember that the main referee always has the final say. An assistant referee cannot change a decision made by the main referee.

Images for kids

• 

  An ice hockey referee

• 

  A referee (right) issues a yellow card to a player during a game of association football.

• 

  An American football referee (right, in white cap) announces a call. The other officials wear black caps

• 

  A boxing referee counting a boxer

• 

  A rugby league referee (left) sending a player to the sin bin for ten minutes

• 

  Gaelic football ref in blue

• 

  A college basketball official making a call

• 

  Hurling referee and linesmen in blue shirts, umpires wear white coats

• 

  Close up of typical hurling referee attire

• 

  An ice hockey referee (top right) positions himself to have a clear view of the game action so he can make crucial judgment calls about plays as accurately as possible

• 

  A gyōji, indicated by the solid purple tassels on his outfit.

• 

  A squad of shooters get their stage brief by an IROA Range Officer on Stage 11 of the 2017 IPSC Rifle World Shoot.

See also

In Spanish: Árbitro (deporte) para niños