RefBlog

Cancellation AGAIN?!?

Note: This is a follow-up to I know more lawyers - I put the Regionals story ahead of everything else, because of the timeliness.

This now makes three games in a row. The first game was because of poor playing conditions (or at least to save them - I'll find out how they're looking in a week or so when I head back there); the second was from a team without passes; this time it's because of a field that's not marked. Or, marked for Lacrosse, but not soccer.

Maybe someone's trying to tell me something.

27 June '08 - 09:03 - - default| No comments yet - § ¶

Might not be going to Regionals after all

It's not that one of the complexes that's going to be used is under water - is that's my mother-in-law was put into the hospital a couple of days ago, diagnosed with cancer yesterday, and is scheduled for surgery today (and who know what else). Since Regionals starts on Friday... well, I just don't know. From a purely personal standpoint, it won't be heartbreaking to miss - yes it's great competition, but I think I've done all I can there. I made it the first time and proved I was good enough to make it back last year after a difficult year in between. I don't have a State badge, I'm not going to be able to get one anytime soon, and I don't think there will be any changes in the types of games I'd get. Regionals is fun, and important to the game - but not as important as family. (more)

18 June '08 - 10:27 - - default| three comments, already - § ¶

I know more lawyers

No game today either - it was supposed to be a second division men's game, but one of the teams didn't have passes, and I'm stuck being the bad guy. Nobody, including me, wants to cancel a game - but I know too many lawyers from work, and have read too many horror stories to let it go. The good news is that for a change the previous crew didn't allow the game to go on, either, and that made my argument, while still distasteful to the players, easier to uphold.

Here was the problem: the league prints out passes every year (this is the second year, and you can't use the previous year's), but apparently they screwed up on this team and didn't have their passes ready. The problem is that the referee crew must be notified from the league, either directly or via the referee assignor, if there is any exception to the pass or roster rules. It's not, "No pass - no play. No exceptions;" but since we're dealing with adult men, and the high level of cheating on passes has caused the league to really tighten up over the last few years, we as referees hear a lot about following the appropriate procedure when it comes to admitting players.

They did have a print-out of an email. But the problem was that it didn't go to us - and our assignor spent 30 minutes on the phone looking through his emails for an exception, too. So, despite the team lawyer saying he'd write up a waiver for everyone, I just could not accept it. The league rules are clear (even if it's them who screwed up - and I found out later that it was the league), so is the USSF insurance, and the "waiver" they offered is worth the paper it's printed on. The game is not happening with me there - and I pretty much wasted my night, since I can't even make the gym before it closes.

13 June '08 - 08:43 - - default| No comments yet - § ¶

Nice day, but games canceled

Last entry I mentioned I wrapped up my game just as the rain started coming down - it came down the rest of the day, and apparently beat up the fields bad enough that Sunday's State Cup games were all canceled - despite it being a bright, sunny, and pleasant day.

A bit of a bummer, as my other non-soccer event was also canceled - although this was for a holiday, rather than weather.

11 June '08 - 16:08 - - default| No comments yet - § ¶

The swing of it?

As opposed to the last time I was evaluated - this time I only had one item on the list (although, to be fair, he didn't watch me the entire game like the last guy): bring my thumb down when pointing. I'll take it; if that's the only issue, I must be having a good game.

And I have to admit, it felt good - probably as good as I've had since the season started. I'll just have to admit it: I'm a fair-weather runner. If it gets too hot out, I just don't perform as well; and while that's true for most people, it seems to hit me harder than most.

The game wasn't tight, it ended 7-0 - but our timing was good. The rain started coming in about a minute before the end of the game, then came steadily after that and all night long. I just got a message that tomorrow's games are canceled... before that a call asking me to get the score again (someone decided to print the game reports on an inkjet printer - that's a great idea for an all-weather sport).

It was also the first game that I didn't just feel like I performed good, but I felt good, too. I know I'm a bit overly excited about the new thing, about being able to compete in something new. That hasn't changed, but I've been poo-pooing going to Regionals again, and my ambition on getting to State was waned considerably. The later is still true - it's just not going to be feasible unless something drastic happens (and there are no good drastic options). But I'm getting excited about the prospect of Regionals - that maybe I'll be going back again. I know there won't be many chances for that again, too - so I'll take it, if it comes around. The good news for me is that I have my bases covered, because now I'll have opportunities as either a soccer referee, or as a player in my new sport*.

* - just for clarification, I don't plan on revealing the sport for a while, if ever. It would make it too easy to identify where I'm writing from.

04 June '08 - 10:09 - - default| No comments yet - § ¶