It is quite likely that a match will have only an Official Referee or an Official Referee and one Official Assistant Referee. In this situation the Official Referee may request of the team manager/s the provision of Club Assistant Referee/s to run one or both sidelines. The team manager can appoint this person from anyone available at the ground at the time.

Club Assistant Referees are required to only signal if the ball has left the field of play over the sideline or goal line. Club Assistant Referees are not required to signal off-sides or any other fouls that occur during normal play. Official Referees may request that Club Assistant Referees DO NOT signal for offsides or other fouls. This is done to ensure that decisions are impartial but also because the Official Referee cannot be sure that the Club Assistant Refderee has been properly instructed on how to recognise and signal for such offences in line with the current Laws of the Game.

If a Club Assistant Referee is taking part in a game and an Official Assistant Referee arrives at the field, the Official Assistant Referee has the right to take over from the Club Assistant Referee.

Club Assistant Referees may assist a Club Referee in a manner as requested by the Club Referee.