It is at this time of the season, I suppose, with semi finals and finals being prevalent, that the arts and skills of lining come into focus. Some referees are being given the luxuries of neutral assistants for maybe the first time this season and others are perhaps acting as assistants for the first time.

Without "teaching my ganny to suck eggs" may I suggest, that whichever category you are in or indeed if you are not in any of them you consider the following points.

1. Act as a team at all times - before, during and at the end of the game.
2. Arrive in good time for your game, if possible all travel together to the ground, so that you arrive as a team.
3. Prepare as a team, inspect ground conditions and markings, in sufficient time for discrepancies / errors / omissions to be corrected by the organising authority.
4. Ensure that as a team you all know your individual tasks. 4.1. Who is responsible for the spare ball(s) before, during and after the game?
4.2. Which side - senior assistant to be where the biggest crowd is?
4.3. Who takes hands / feet at throw-ins?
4.4. Who stands where at penalties?
4.5. When do we check the nets / make introductions before the kick off?
4.6. Do we go into the changing rooms at half time?
4.7. Is there to be extra time and penalties? - re-read the competition rules!
4.8. If penalties, who supervises the kickers and who assists with the penalties.
5. Liase with the competition representatives on arrival at the ground
6. Liase with the competition representatives regarding your requirements i.e. match balls, correction of any defects etc. - "it's good to talk" I believe.
7. Who is responsible for collecting the names of the substitutes? How many?
8. Leave the dressing room as a team and return as a team. Remember not only does it look good but if a player, club official or spectator says or does something that needs to be reported to the appropriate authority, then you will have witnesses.
9. As assistants give your full attention to your game and to your colleagues at all times.
Please do not chat to the crowd around you, even if they are your friends. It is and looks so unprofessional.
10. Roping off the playing area is usually a requirement of the competition. Ensure that all spectators are always behind the rope. You will need to tell to tell them numerous times and you may require the referee to stop proceedings if you cannot, as the assistant, maintain the crowd behind the rope.
11. Understand how the game will finish. Is there to be presentations? And if so in which order will they be made?
12. Advise the competition representatives that your team is leaving the ground and thank he, she or them for the game.

To those of you that officiate regularly with assistants or are regularly assistants, please do not be insulted that you are in need of my suggestions. You could however, as I indicated at the start, be with a colleague who does not have this knowledge or be a little "rusty". I get frustrated when I see my colleagues not being professional in their approach to a game, especially a semi-final or final, which many players and club officials achieve rarely in their careers.
You will note that I have not mentioned the techniques of lining and working with liners which I assume you already know and have revised and practiced when you received your appointment(s).