RefBlog

If it's going to freak them out that much

I had a 17 girls center and a 14 girls line last night, and overall I'm pretty happy with everything. The 17s came out chippy, and it was actually a lot of fun to manage. A quick card early after the word "fucking" came out of one's mouth when grumbling about a non-call.

"Quick suggestion: if you're going to use language like that about me job, don't do it within earshot." Easy yellow.

I was inches away from giving the same team a card or two for persistent infringement because of late challenges; but a couple discrete words to their captain seemed to do the trick in the second half. It's a rare and wonderful thing when that happens.

The girls game was pretty standard, but the coach decided to endear himself to us right away by being a prat. We're doing check-in, and he has last-years roster sheet (the league changed forms to include more information, and simultaneously make things easier - the amazing thing is that they succeeded). We weren't going to stop them from playing, but told the coach that he needs to get the correct sheet, especially by playoff time; he starts going off about not freaking out his kids.

Ugh - you know, if you have a top-level team, in what is inarguably the most elite club in the state, and an innocent comment asking the coach to use the correct paperwork is going to freak them out, then I think you have the wrong idea; the referees asking an inappropriate question (which it wasn't) isn't the problem, it's the coach.

Oh, yeah - he wanted us to do check-in white the team was running. What a piece of work.

30 June '05 - 08:02 - - default| No comments yet - § ¶

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27 June '05 - 17:44 - - default| Only one comment - § ¶

Stuff I missed

Well, the heads-up was correct, the game cancelled. The later I got a call from an assessor; apparently I was going to be assessed that game, and didn't know it. Apparently that's par for the course in England, but not here - probably just a communication breakdown. He went from being a bit cross, to understanding that I couldn't have called him, since I didn't know he was coming, let alone know his phone number.

The game I was on brings up the age-old question: if a referee isn't what you want him to be, who should adapt. The center wasn't bad, but like so many in this country, not trained; his technique was sloppy, and didn't seem terribly comfortable with the level of play. He will, to be sure - he was confident, but it takes time for referees to get used to higher level games. But as usual, parents just don't get it - because of the layout of the complex we were at, we had to leave our stuff by the hoards of ignorant suburbanite parents who don't understand that, yes, referees can add time, at his discretion for any stoppage (he added about four minutes each half; the final and tying goal came in the final seconds of it). They'll never bother to actually ref themselves, but apparently are the greatest assessors of all time.

The most interesting thing was that a small group watched on the opposite side of the field - there were large reeds that prevented the majority of parents of doing that - but while they were the most vocal, they also seemed to understand the game the most. The only complaints they gave when one of their players earned a second caution was, "That was a stupid, stupid play." They had been riding the goalkeeper all game, and the center finally had enough after a particularly late challenge on the keep. Rather heartening, and also telling that they won't share the sidelines with the other mouths-on-legs.

I also got some good comments, that I totally missed, about my last center (I ran into the AR on the field next to me): I wasn't backpedaling enough, and therefor taking my eyes off the ball. I know this intellectually, but he's right - I wasn't doing it, and missed a minor altercation in the process. I'm not sure why I'm doing these mental slip-ups; maybe it's the same reason I'm feeling slow and out-of-shape. Too many injuries; it's kept me from staying in the shape and condition I want and need for these games - then I spend too much time mentally trying to stay in the game physically. I know exercise doesn't have to stop with an ankle sprain, but it's awfully hard to run, which is what it comes down to when you ref. Now that I'm back in the mix (although this weekend I'm visiting my parents in Missouri, which means no more games until Tuesday), I hope that I'll get up-to-speed quickly.

24 June '05 - 01:15 - - default| No comments yet - § ¶

A heads-up

Just got a call that the game I'm reffiing today might be cancelled - although the assignor's been unable to get back in touch with the coach. So the word is, bring a book and wait for the second one.

23 June '05 - 16:05 - - default| No comments yet - § ¶

Game was fine, but I really screwed up

Odd game for me - I think I did pretty well. I feel really unfit; it's near the end of the season, and I feel like I'm only just starting (it many ways, because of the break, I am). So the game, which I should have been able to keep up with easily, had be worn down pretty badly.

But I think I called the game pretty well: nobody's going to argue a card when the challenge goes to a player's Love Spuds; and another card a few minutes later when there was a pretty good chance (but not obvious) for an attack.

Where I screwed up was for my senior assistant; late the in the game a player started swearing about his calls... but after talking to him, somehow my brain just turned into a pile of mush, because I thought he was talking about a parent, separated from the rest of them on the far side.

Since I restarted the game, I couldn't red card the player after-the-fact, and all I could do was apologize to the parent I kicked out, and the AR.

21 June '05 - 22:23 - - default| No comments yet - § ¶

Amazing how much faster times goes

When I first hurt my ankle and started pulling out of games, one of my assignors asked, "How about a line?" I held my tongue, but in my head I was screaming, "You've got to be joking! A line would be worse!" Although I've done a pair of lines since coming back, yesterday was my first real test on my ankle. I learned two things:

First, even though this game was another blowout (score was 5-1 visitors; apparently the home team had only given up six goals all season), when there's more action on the field time appears to go much faster. Second, I think I'll be wearing the ankle brace for a while longer.

Things were a bit chaotic on the referee front. First, the game was mistakenly assigned to four referees; then there was a time change that only was communicated to one of them. I was caught in some unexpectedly heavy traffic (there was an accident on the highway), but still got there a good thirty minutes before I thought the game was supposed to start... except that the center was tossing the coin. "Either you're way ahead of schedule, or I've got the wrong time in my schedule." Guess it was the later. But I wasn't the only one, because the other AR hadn't shown up, either - we had a report that he left the same time that I did, but we ended up getting an emergency backup ref (the assignor) about 25 minutes into the first half; we used a club line, a player sitting out a red card suspension, up until that point.

The center was a grade 8 looking to upgrade; when I saw him run, boy it made me feel like a fat bastard. He did a nice job, and ran into an issue I think we all do from time-to-time (especially when you do older kids, these were 17 boys, or adults): the players whine and complain, when it's not really a physical game. There were top-division teams, so they should be able to deal with a bit of physicality, and neither of these two teams were terribly physical to begin with. He did what we all have to do: you deal, and wonder what'll happen when they play a team that is all about the muscle.

17 June '05 - 09:40 - - default| No comments yet - § ¶

Lucky to have five cards and no send-offs

Another double-header. As I write this, I'm noting that the sooner I get a couple days off my ankle, the better. Fortunately, just one one make until I get that.

Another game like the one I wrote about yesterday, with myself on the line - U14 (the calm before the storm); while the game was much like yesterday's non-event, the players were visibly and audibly more cheerful (one of the coaches was an absolute card), and it make the game far more pleasant to work. It was also sunny out, for a change, so it probably helped everyone's disposition.

I had the center in a top-division boys U18 game to follow, with the State Cup champion versus a team in its first year in the top bracket. This was not a competitive game, but did feature a lot of chippiness from the team that lost, and it took a while to control. I thought I had a good early opportunity to card, too: in the 12th minute a keeper striker collision, where the keeper kept the ball - I yelled out to let the keeper know that I saw it, but they decided that they would rather jaw at each other, and let some choice words fly between the two of them. So, I seized the opportunity and booked both of them - but it failed to set the tone, as most of the first half had both teams playing cheap; I had a couple more cards before the end of the half, and the player I booked first nearly got himself another for PI (an itsy-bitsy little foul would have done it, but he was either damn lucky, or smart - because he was angelic for the rest of the game).

I feel pretty fortunate to get out with five yellow cards and no send-offs. I think partially it was because it was such a mismatch, and partially because the field was awfully small (you don't notice it with U14 girls as much, but then move in eighteen-year-old males? Yeah.), and that tends to intensify collisions and tempers a bit.

But my ankle is killing me; and it was good the last few games. Only one line tomorrow.

16 June '05 - 22:42 - - default| No comments yet - § ¶

The adrenaline level just dropped to zero

I had a double header yesterday - probably not the best thing for my ankle, but as I said, the assignors went nuts (actually, this one was already assigned pre-injury, but the thought is still there).

The first game was a 17-girls top division game, and the game went pretty smoothly. No real issues; one really obvious PK call where the follow-up shot hit the post. I screwed up on some mechanics when I pointed to the center for a goal, and the AR stood still; fortunately I picked up on it before the restart and found out that a player on the far-side was in an offside position, and she wanted to talk and get my opinion if she interfered with play or not (the answer was no). My bad.

The second game was more interesting, not because of the game, but because of its effects on me. How can I put it politely? The game was just plain boring. On a game with sixteen-year-olds, you shouldn't have to back back up to the six to line up for offside, after sprinting upfield to signal a goal. U12s I would expect it, but not at that age. When that happens, you try to stay focused and do the best job you can, because frankly there's nothing else to do.

But my problem was, in the second half, when the play actually was mostly in my half (well, kinda sorta - the ball was in that half most of the time), and I had trouble moving. The adrenaline I accrued from the first game had dropped to zero, and it was difficult to jump-start my legs. They did, eventually, but they felt like they were at the end of a difficult game, rather than such a non-event.

15 June '05 - 23:08 - - default| No comments yet - § ¶

Only 12 minutes

Check out today's Cleats: http://p71.news.scd.yahoo.com/comics/cleats

I think it would have been a fun game last night, but I suspended the game only twelve-and-a-half minutes into the game, and abandoned it shortly after when the last vestige of blue in the sky vanished in seconds, a tornado warning was issued for our county, and it was clear that even in the best circumstances, we wouldn't get the minimum amount of time in.

But we pretty much knew that would happen anyway - we just kind of hoped that the lightning would stay away. The rain, which was thick, was actually kind of fun (it helped that the field was in great shape), the hail, when it was small, was amusing (not so shortly after the game was suspended), and the game looked like it was going to be interesting.

It was adult women, one group had played club ball for, presumably, most of their lives, one played for a small college in a neighboring state; the club team was more skilled, but also short players, and the game was very even. Because of the lack of players, it make it really fun to watch how they compensated, and still held their own... for the whole of twelve minutes and 28 seconds.

14 June '05 - 08:25 - - default| No comments yet - § ¶

Kind of an "ehh" day

The more I referee, the more I like getting assessments (I had one two years ago, and had two assessments last year on the line, one in the middle, and a slew of informal assessments) - I've heard horror stories, but I've always found them very good and very informative. I wish I had more.

In my second game back after twisting my ankle, we had a swap of weather from what we've had here for the last month-and-a-half: no rain, hot, and (well, this is the same) humid. The teams (adult) played boom-ball, and it made it difficult to keep up and get settled in. Aside from "get faster", which is happening (slowly - probably right before age makes me slow down again), there's not much to do; people pass the ball because it's faster than dribbling with it - so it'll be tougher for me to keep up when the ball's in the air 75% of the time.

I need to keep something in mind, though: cleaning out my old apartment, and weeding the new house is something to avoid before doing a game (though who knows when else I'd be able to do it - every since I told my assignors I was available, they've gone bezerk with games). Still, I felt better in the second half when play settled down a bit. But I just didn't quite feel in-sync, something I had problems with in my last game before sitting out for two weeks; the feeling was less so today, and I think I picked up on something that, if I learn when to use and not use, will be a good idea: the power to ignore. Ignore the people who want fouls and it's trifling, or more likely than not, just not a foul.

We'll see how the ankle holds up after a third game tomorrow.

12 June '05 - 21:22 - - default| No comments yet - § ¶

Back after two weeks

It's hard to believe that it's been two weeks since my last game - but after a few more days of twisting and turning my ankle, I decided to get back into the fray - although I was armed with a brace.

Fortunately for me, the game was at a local high school that has outfitted their stadium with Field Turf over the fall. And while, if you compare it to a perfect grass field, it's inadequate, you don't have to worry about holes, ruts, or bare patches - which is closer to the norm around here.

The game was a top division U15 girls, and I think I ran pretty well (although I think, when I'm done writing this, some ibuprofen will probably be in order) - after getting used to how fast the ball was going to go (it has been raining again, so the field was pretty matted down and faster than even it would normally be), I felt good getting both deep and wide when necessary.

I even caught a couple instances of a tactic that we talked about in the advanced referee class this year: cases where players stand right next to the keeper to purposefully keep them from getting toward the ball; apparently there's a couple local camps that are teaching this to kids, with the idea if, if you're caught, you just lose a corner, and if you're not, it may be a goal. And people wonder why I'm cynical.

They (the team that performed the tactic above) really controlled the game well, too - they should have won 1-0, but an inexperienced keeper who was pretty unsure of her hands all game gave the visitors a gift - running up to a ball, letting it bounce - and because it was artificial turf, it took a very high bounce, over her head, and into the goal before she could get back to it.

One of the teams, from out-of-state, but playing in the state league because of their proximity to the metro area, got the short end of the scheduling stick. I don't know who did it, but whoever did needs to get a talking to: three games, one day. But they got one point out of it. When you have that many games, take them whenever (and in the case of their equalizer, however), you can get them.

11 June '05 - 13:05 - - default| No comments yet - § ¶

Still taking myself out

I was moving some stuff around (this will likely happen for a long time), on the floor, and stretched my ankle - and decided that it wasn't yet ready for prime time. So I've pulled myself from this week's games.

I'm acting a little more paranoid, because this is the same ankle I sprained this winter, and really don't want to do a game just to be out the rest of the season.

07 June '05 - 11:48 - - default| No comments yet - § ¶

We're back!

As promised, the site was down for a couple of days while I moved, and now the server is even here - in house, as it were. So far, it looks like the phone company has done everything as promised (ever the pessimist, I'm pleasantly suprised), and I should start doing games again next week.

But for now, back to the boxes.

05 June '05 - 15:50 - - default| No comments yet - § ¶