Touch match officials, also known as assistant referees or linesmen, are the people who help the main referee during a sports game, like soccer. Their job is to make sure that the game is played fairly and to assist the main referee in making important decisions.
Just like the main referee, touch match officials wear special clothes and carry flags. These flags are like magic wands that help them communicate with the main referee and the players. When they see something important happening on the field, they use their flags to get the attention of the main referee.
One of the important things they do is to help decide if the ball has gone out of bounds. If a player kicks the ball and it goes past the white line marking the field, it is considered out of bounds. The touch match official will then raise his flag to let the main referee know. This helps the main referee make the right decision and award the correct team possession of the ball.
The touch match officials also help in deciding if a player is offside. Offside is a rule in soccer that ensures fair play and prevents one team from having an unfair advantage. If a player is closer to the opponent's goal than both the ball and the second-to-last defender (another player from the opposing team) when the ball is passed to them, they are considered offside. The touch match official raises their flag to let the main referee know if they think a player is offside. This helps the main referee decide if the player should be allowed to continue or if a penalty should be awarded to the other team.
Another important job of the touch match officials is to help the main referee spot fouls. A foul is when a player breaks one of the rules of the sport, like tripping or pushing another player. The touch match officials use their keen eyes to watch the game closely from the sidelines and they inform the main referee if they see any fouls happening, even if the main referee may have missed it. This helps the main referee make fair decisions and keep the game safe for all the players.
In summary, touch match officials are like the main referee's helpers. They watch the game from the sidelines, use their flags to communicate important information, and help make sure that the game is played fairly and according to the rules.