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Sunday, April 27, 2014

Significance Of Linesman Tools In Sports

By Essie Osborn


A linesman is like a sectary of an office assistant but in a good way. In field sport linemen contribute a huge role in the good officiating and smooth flow of the matches that take place. This is the desire of stakeholders of any given sport, be it players, coaches, fanatics or even the owners of teams. A lot goose on it team sport as this attracts a lot of attention in terms of numbers and following. With this comes huge responsibilities that are given to a few. For the chosen few to carry out this they need good linesman tools.

This is a variety of tools that are out in the market and depend on the type of sport that a particular linesman is in. The field sports that have the position of a linesman are football in this sense, soccer, American Football and finally Rugby. Rugby is the father of the other two sports. Ironically, it is the least popular of the three. Soccer being the first in terms of global following. The tools used are of a variety they include: watches flags, whistles, boots, jerseys, and earpiece sets for communication.

Back in history, 1986 Soccer World cup. Diego Maradona, the best soccer player at that time did the most controversial thing ever. He scored a goal, through handball, against the English team a matter that till date has never left the tongues of many. This simple incident could have been easily avoided if the linesmen had the skills, tools and technological advancements that their counterparts of today have.

Such a handball could be easily been avoided if the match officials were well equipped, skilled and to some extent had the input of technology to a reasonable extent as their present companions have. A handball, for the little who know, is controlling of handling of the ball with a players arms. Football players do contrary to what the NBA players do. This is the reason as to why goalkeepers have gloves on to handle the ball.

Linesmen ought to be quick, precise and on-point with their decision. This is arguably the characteristics and qualities of a desirable linesman. This however deserves a good equipping. In the English Premier League, linesmen are equipped with flags, jerseys to distinguish them from players and earpiece sets for communication. They also have modernized minute boards that fourth officials use in keeping and showing additional time.

The use of flags in field sport have brought in the element of time saving and faster decision making. Time is money. This is the simple reason as to why the use of signs is included in sports. Soccer could have been a tough game to officiate if it was not for the tools and prowess that linesman have come up with for the sport.

Earpiece on the other hand have acted like mobile phone in the field. It is easier to call someone who is far than shouting. The earpiece in this case entail both the shouting and easy accessing of a referee from a linesman and vice versa. Linesman as assistants can seek further clarity from the other officials and in turn a true judgment is made before the whistle is blown.

Boots, whistles and referring attire have traditionally been the tools being used in match officiating. They cannot be ignored because without them field sport could not be what it is today.




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