Q&A for How to Understand Soccer Assistant Referee Signals

Yes. In the case of a throw in, you always point to the team that shot the ball over the line.

Simply point to the corner closest to you. The referee and players will know to take the corner nearest to where the ball went out.

There is no distinct flag for an indirect vs direct kick. For either, the assistant should raise the flag, give it a flick, then point in the direction the kick should be taken. Indirect should probably be indicated verbally. The main example where this might happen is for a dangerous high kick near an opponent where no actual contact was made. This free kick would be indirect, meaning it would have to be touched by a player before going into the goal for that goal to count.

The referee will ask both goalkeepers if they are ready, and will blow the whistle.

Yes, but the referee will add it on to the extra time at the end of the game.

If the assistant stands near the goal line and points at the goal, he/she is signaling for a goal kick.

No, a linesman can't coach because it would be considered "cheating," or there might be arguments over unfair calls being called for the team he would be coaching.

No. There are two assistant referees. One is on the left side of the net and on one side of the center line. The other is on the right side of the net and on the other half of the field.

They're too long/detailed to add here, but you can do some research online to find a list of the laws and an explanation of what they mean.

Yes. The center referee always can make or change calls that the assistant referee makes.

Yes, the AR will signal the center referee. To do this, he will raise the flag straight up in the air. When the referee stops the game the AR will explain the reason.

When a referee calls an offside, it is resumed where the the ball was last touched by the offense.

He has to raise the flag straight up and let the center referee know that there was a hand ball foul.

You should point it toward the other team?

To signal a foul throw, the linesman will commonly raise his flag in the air. Then put it to the side of the team who gets the throw, which is the team who didn't throw the ball into play improperly.