Greyhound; Why ask the question if you don't want to hear the answers?

You asked for 5 comments. You got at least that many; and some of the comments were similar complaints from different people (this is called a consensus of opinion which may give a comment credence). You can wave the LOTG flag as much as you want, but the laws are not applied to each match the same way by all referees. I assume that your question was to help you be a better referee. If it was not, then what are you trying to accomplish? The LOTG are not cut and dried and there is no penalty for having dialog with the coaches before a match. Further, the offside call is only difficult to make if you are not in position to make it. I would rather a referee defer to the linesman unless the referee is in a better position to make the call (certified or not). One more thing, don't assume that coaches are not also referees because many do both. I say this because you are inviting people to referee as a closing, and you really don't know if they have that background or not. I have done both and my comments are made from that perspective; and yes I know that you are speaking from that same perspective.