RefBlog

So young, so sophisticated, so cynical

2009-06-26T22:45:00-05:00

I don't normally deal with teams this young. Part of it is that, outside of the State Cup (which this is) I had been focusing on adult games in order to upgrade - but even when I did youth games, I started out on the U15s and up, because was an adult and apparently had the temperament to deal with them (if not the skill).

This year the State Cup is split into two locations, and the older games are far, far away, and it's just not feasible to do more than a couple; so I've been at the U15 and younger fields which is only 25 minutes away as opposed to two hours and 25 minutes. I know they're short of referees, but I've become old enough and cynical enough to state without regret that it's not my fault if they're short referees; if the two-year turnover rate is 70-80%, and the vast majority say they quit because of abuse, then I am quite happy to tell them where to stick their unfilled games.

Speaking of cynical, one of the teams I had was a U13 boys from the new superclub that formed over the winter. The new club merged the two most successful clubs, and added the local professional team. Aside from maybe the residential private school, there is probably little that, at least on paper, stand in their way. And these kids were good - not just in individual skill, but also in tactics and visual awareness. Most of the time when you have kids that age (and often older), you give them a wide berth because they'll kick it any which way; but they all knew where their other players were, had crisp and accurate passing and unselfish teamwork. I was going to put in something totally tasteless involving rabid US national team fans (which usually means rabid critics about how soccer is played in the US) and... well... something tasteless... but I think you're better off coming up with something from your own imagination to make yourself go, "Ewwww!"

However, with all the other professional-like play, there was also professional like cynical play. Lots of grabbing, subtle bumping, and diving. Diving? At 13? OK, sure - I was a real shit at 13 and diving was the least of my problems. But these were good dives; enough to make me go, "Hmmmm," but not enough for the actual call. You hate to call it looked practiced, but... all I can think of was the diving training commercial that was immediately attributed as being a slight to the Italians.

The thing was, he was good enough to wait until there was contact, so when I did book him in the second half (to much complaining by his coach), it wasn't because there was air (unlike the last time I booked someone for a dive), but because he not only went down far too easily, but also at the wrong angle given the "foul". And while he was the only one booked, other players went down in the first half and it didn't take long for me to think they were strategic moves.

After the game, the coach came over and said all the right words about how he teaches them not to dive, to play well and stuff like that. Well enough to make me doubt myself for a time - but the more I think about it, the more I feel better about the card. I know me; I know how much it takes me to book for simulation and this is only the third, maybe the fourth time I've done it. Further, as a team we talked about him at halftime and his play made all three of us think the same thing: we went down way too easily, way too many times. And let's say the coach is right, that he runs on his toes and tries to emulate the pros a little too much - then he know his next job is to teach him to team him to not go down that easily and get booked for it.

First time on grass

2009-06-09T08:23:00-05:00

I wondered if I'd even be allowed to referee this game. This year the youth soccer association is requiring all referees to go through background checks (that makes three in the last twelve months - if these things count against you like multiple credit checks I'm going to be really really annoyed). Due to my being out-of-town a lot lately, I caught the tail-end of the rectification classes and background check information (which I found out about at the recert class); I had to send a check to the association to pay for it, but the post office didn't pick up the letter from my mail slot so....

Well, they let me referee anyway. It's rather odd to me anyway; referees don't have much, if any, interaction with kids off the field - it's coaches that have more time with players on and off the field. The paranoia in this society sometimes scares me.

The game itself wasn't much to write home about. It's a State Cup match, but it was only a 14-boys game. It looked like it would be a blowout when one team scored twenty seconds into the game, but three minutes later the other side evened up; and it was relatively even the rest of the match. No fouls, nothing particularly exciting on the field - just a pleasant day. And knowing how things will likely turn out as the season (and this tournament) progresses, I'll take a pleasant day.

To those who hate my hand-ball calls: REJOICE!

2009-06-09T08:16:00-05:00

I just finished my annual re-certification class, and while there were no major changes in the Laws of the Game for this upcoming season, there was a major change in one of our favorite bugaboos, the handling call.

For years, probably decades, millions of idiots got the mistaken impression that just because a ball hit the arm it should be called a hand-ball. Those people are still idiots. But a different, still ignorant but slightly more logical group understood that the ball had to be played by a person (instead of just ricocheted), but thought that should that ricochet provide an advantage they should still be called for a foul.

Maybe the USSF saw the wisdom in that second group of people, or maybe they were tired of being badgered by them, but those people can no longer be called ignorant - they're... god help us all... correct. Correct the same way someone guesses the number of jellybeans in a jar - but only after someone adjusts the jar to fit the guess.

The USSF also expanded the arm in "an unnatural position" portion to cover making the body look big, cutting off passing lanes and avenues for the ball to travel - in other words, a crap load of grey area that made the handling call so interesting, but also a major pain in the ass to call to the layman's satisfaction. Overall, it's hard to find too many negatives about it, although I have to wonder if trying to play for a handling call will become a major tactic again.

Online testing

2009-05-12T16:07:00-05:00

It sounds like it's a national thing, but maybe not - but this year we took our USSF re-cert tests online. It was timed, so you couldn't hunt online for every single answer (like the high school exam), and was pretty straight forward. This won't be an exciting entry, but I thought I'd list off the pros and cons of the online versus the paper method.

Pros:
� It leaves the re-cert class an actual class. This may shorten the class or allow more for more material. Either is a plus.
� No mucking around waiting for your test to be graded and picking up your patch.
� (Presumably) much easier for the USSF and the state organization to keep track of referees.
� Can take test at the best time for you (unlike a few years ago for me, when it was a couple days after a family member's funeral).

Cons:
� I know people who could work from home, but do so in an office. While taking my test I had to deal with telling others to leave me alone so I could take the test, including a cat that enjoys biting my arm then running away. God help me if I had kids.
� The test infrastructure was poorly designed. In the USSF test, after you answered a question, you were stuck with that answer forever. So if you had an, "Aw, crap!" moment, you were SOL. I've taken some online tests before, and most of them have a pretty standard format. There's an additional checkbox to "mark" an item you want to review before finishing the test, and a final review, where you can go back to any question you wish, before making the final submission of your test (assuming you had time left). In other words, those other online tests try to make their programs similar to taking a paper exam - the USSF one does not.

If you go by pure verbiage, it's the last con that bugs me most (and you'd be correct). The good news is that the 7/8 test is not difficult and you should be able to pass it easily without having those paper-like features. But what about the State exam? What about those who don't test well (and I know people who are brilliant until they have the word "grade" hanging over their head)? What about those who tend to whip though tests as quickly as possible, then take the remaining time to make sure they didn't miss an important word or screw up in some other way (which is me, by the way)?

Five Best of the First Five Years: I don't know a ref who likes this venue (2003)

2009-05-04T09:57:00-05:00

The more I think about this piece, the more I think about "mind over matter". If you ref, like when you're carrying a full soup bowl, that you think you're going to have trouble, will you? Or are you merely carrying realistic expectations based on not only your own, but others experiences? This is also a great one on the differences of the indoor game versus outdoor; and when the indoor game is done at any old place, as long as people are willing to pay .

I don't know a ref who likes this venue

I woke up this morning to my cell phone going off; I lifted my head slightly, then looked at my cat, curled up next to me with a look in her eye that said the same thing that was going through my head: "Who the hell was calling me on Sunday morning?" And, proving that people choose pets after their own behavior, and what is different begins to merge, we both dropped our heads back to the bed with "Who the hell cares" as the final thought before falling back asleep.

Then the phone rang again.

Usually a second phone call means something is important, so I got out of bed and answered the phone - a number I didn't recognize on the caller ID. It was Michael, who's filling in for the regular soccer coordinator who's out-of-town. "Can you ref this morning? Please say you can. Please say you can."

The fog starts to lift with the thought of soccer. "Ummm, yeah, I think so. I don't think I have anything going on. What time?"

"10:30."

I look at the clock on the microwave, which reads 10:45, meaning it was in reality an hour earlier (and a constant reminder that it's the last clock in my possession that hasn't been updated). I also take a look out the window; snow. At least a good four inches of snow had fallen, and it was still going pretty well. "There's no way I'm going to make 10:30, no matter where it is. I just got up, I hadn't had breakfast," and what I didn't say is that I know the reason why you're hunting for a referee; people around the state may like to see themselves as the next best thing to mountain men, with their SUVs, but the reality is that they're little different than Tennesseans when it comes to the first snowfall of the year (sorry, Tennesseans, one of my boyhood hobbies was watching people going into a panic whenever there was even a hint of snowfall... in Tennessee).

"That's OK, you can start there late."

"No, there's no way I'm going to get there anywhere near for a 10:30; I can start at 11:30."

"OK, I'll find someone for that first one. The games run until 2:30 at the Y, you can park indoors - just sign in at the desk."

Waitamoment... 2:30? Doesn't the MLS Cup start at 2:30? I know I committed to a starting time, but did I for an ending time? No? YES! "I've going to be out by 1:30, I promised to be with my girlfriend before 2:30." Do I feel bad? Nope - I'm bailing them out, and we were planning on watching the MLS Cup together.

"I can work with that. Thanks, man!"

And then it hit me. One little letter pretty much ensured that I had a better than 50/50 chance of having a not-very-fun time. It was the letter "Y".

The group I ref for has three venues they work through during the winter. Two are at college campuses; one is in one of those air-pressure domes and uses AstroTurf (and I had worked there for two years), the other uses the nice synthetic turf (AstroPlay, for those keeping score). The third is the venue that every referee I know that works for this group hates: the gymnasium at the city YMCA. The reason for these are very straight forward: it's dangerous, it's small, and it just invites people doing stupid things.

It's dangerous: take a basketball court, add the usual amenities like drinking fountains, brick walls, etc., and make them all playable. Basically, it's your typical dasher-board soccer on a wooden floor with additional objects thrown in to make play more dangerous. Despite telling all the teams that I will call the play tighter around the walls (I do NOT want to call the office and explain why someone's brains are smeared across them), I will inevitably get people pissed off for calling things too tight. Which is ironic, because they're usually the same people who whine about things getting too rough (but only about their own team.... hmmmmm...).

It's small: It's a gym with limited area, so if someone gets pissed, there's no place for them to go and cool off. It's a problem waiting to happen in terms of man management.

It just invites people to do stupid things: Nobody really wants to play there. The other locations fill up quickly, and this one, despite being half the price per team, is the refuge of teams who filled out their paperwork late, so they really want to be doing half-field games, instead of quarter-field games. The other problem is better described with rugby. If you watch Fox Sports World, you've seen a lot of rugby lately, and I was told by someone from a traditional rugby nation that Americans can't play the game - not because they don't have the skills, but they don't understand the moderation necessary to play it safely. In short, pointy-ball has corrupted us; we're used to so much padding that we're expected to go full-bore into our opponents, and if you did that in rugby, you would risk serious injury to yourself and your opponent. What's the saying? "Rugby is the hooligan's sport played by gentlemen." In the soccer-in-a-gym, you cannot play as physical - the environment is too unforgiving - but we're corrupted, thinking everything has to go full bore no matter where, because it's a sign of weakness to not do (especially when one is lacking in the skills to do otherwise). The size and condition are a powder keg, and all you need is one idiot who doesn't understand how to treat that explosive material for the entire game to blow up. And at that location, it does. Regularly. I refuse to ref there on a regular basis (I'm never too asleep to forget that one), and generally dislike subbing there. But I do, because it helps the group out.

I recognize one of the teams in the first game; gee, let's walk into the ammo dump with burning matches, why don't we? The team name is called the Hooligans, and a better name I cannot think. They have one player in particular who whines continually about everything, and it just pisses the other team off - always. For example, during the game, he got a tiny bit of heel on his shin, sends the ball up-court, then starts winging - I even call advantage, and he's still winging. They score a goal because of the advantage call, and he's still winging!

Here's where it all goes to hell. The Winger boards someone in his own penalty area; I come in blaring his whistle, yellow card already out of the quick-draw pocket, and tell him to get off the court (no real rule for that, but since this league is unaffiliated, there's some leeway), and give the penalty kick.

There is a theory in refereeing that you should obey your instincts when it comes to red and yellow cards; that if you don't know it's a red right away, you'll never sell it, because nobody else does, either, but even more-so, it's probably not worthy of a red. This was my idea at the time, so I pulled the yellow (red never really entered my thoughts); in retrospect, this was the start of the game's deterioration, but you can only change your mind before the first restart; not 10 minutes late. Actually, I still don't think it's a red, but pulling a red probably would have done more for game management than just the yellow.

Few minutes later, player from the other team darts into the wall to take the ball away from someone who already had it, and had position. This player basically throws himself in the wall - but other team wants a foul that I am not willing to give; how could I? If there was a foul, it was against their team for pushing, not boarding. This brings words to the referee.

There is a theory in refereeing that the difference between dissent and abusive language is the word "you". Should someone say to the referee, "That sucks", they would receive a yellow card for dissent; should he, however change one word and one letter to "you suck" and you have a red for abuse language toward the referee. Why do I write about this? Someone decided to use the word "You" addressed to me. Just like I didn't even consider red for the boarding, I considered nothing less for this one. Needless, to say, the team was not happy - all the sudden they want a red card for the boarder and it takes a few minutes before things get settled enough to play (although the red carded player came back out after the game to complain some more, including threatening to complain - something in this league I am NOT worried about - I know the people there well enough that I know they will back me).

I know some experienced referees (even some with National badges) would say that in the interests of man management, I should have red carded the boarder; I know others who would be aghast as even the thought of putting man management in front of the laws. But it was a call that's "in the opinion of the referee", and it's up the players to decide on what to do next. I wonder if there are things that I could have done before the game to keep it from escalating. It's hard to say, given the nature of the game a the gymnasium. Indoor games, even when the field is half-field (as opposed to a basketball court) seems to have tensions up several notches from outdoor; perhaps the only way to avoid situations like that, if you're a referee, is to not work there.

Updated Reading of the LOTG

2008-03-17T20:06:00-05:00

I've updated the audio-recording of the Laws of the Game. It's still not a professional recording, there's still bound to be little mistakes (and maybe even big ones - did I mention it's not a professional recording?). If you're like me, and spend a lot of the time in the car (or someplace else where reading isn't practical, but listening is), maybe this will help you.

No update to the ATR yet - the last couple years has seen the USSF tighten up on it's copyright; and although I can't see this as a threat to them, I haven't decided if the greater good is worth more than the possible financial hit.

You can download the updated reading here (44.5 MB).

The New USSF Sock: This End Up

2008-03-25T22:53:00-05:00

OSI is gradually pushing out the pieces of the new uniform, and recently I obtained the final piece of the revamp - the socks. I try to be very honest about the good and the bad about OSI (see this article for a review of the new jerseys), but I've always loved the fit of their socks; and with the revamp of the new socks, the fit of the stockings haven't changed, but the styling has.

Let's be perfectly clear: 90% or more of referees in this country do not need these socks.The standard three stripes along the top will do just fine (or, as OSI/USSF put it, to keep Adidas at bay, "two stripes with a white top"). If you never used the logo socks, you probably won't need these, although these look a whole lot better than the logo socks did. Click here to view the old Logo Socks.

Speaking of logo socks, let's review some of the nicknames I've seen associated with them: logos, smiles, pumpkins, ovals, those *&#! ugly things. Even in it's debut, the logo still came out oval, and even after shrinking the logo, to keep it from stretching as much - it just didn't work on anyone with any type of calf muscle - and c'mon people, were soccer referees! We're going to have calf muscles! So, the best news out of this is that OSI is no longer selling the logo socks, but just like the old uniforms, they can still be worn.

Gone along with the logo is anything along the top. The design, which mirrors the new jersey in that it has two stripes, one thin and one fat, is located below the bottom of the calf muscle, on the lower half of the sock; between the stripes is the OSI logo. If I were to hazard a guess, the black top, in addition to being what's becoming a standard look on the international scene, rids us of looking sloppy if the tip of the sock starts to slide down, or if someone wears a different make of sock.

Different make of sock? There's no logo on this sock, so could other companies make the same design (sans Official Sports logo)? Maybe. Would there be a market for it - that's up to the people who have to put up the money.

The strangest thing about the sock, however, is the foot. On the upper portion of the foot, where you'd lace up your boots, are the words "US Soccer Referee". Why? Text isn't enough here - picture my hands up next to my head looking really perplexed, "Why???" I have only one possible thought to this, and it goes back to the logo socks again. I found that most people did not put on their logo socks correctly: they'd just slap them on, and the logos would be cockeyed or at the front-and-back, instead of at the sides - I even saw it happen at a professional game. So, given that problem, OSI must have put those words there as a polite way of saying "This End Up" - if the words aren't centered, neither is the logo. This theory fell apart on my first time trying on the socks, but who knows, maybe it'll help.

So will the socks become popular? It will by the people who either have to, or want to, buy anything new that comes down the pike for referee gear. Should you buy it? I'd say the socks, like the jerseys, should get bought for the same I cut my hair short for regionals, as it was told to me several years ago: "You don't have to cut your hair, but they don't have to give you games." If you want those games, get the socks - if you don't care, then don't.

Here are some pictures of the new sock (total of four).

Product Summary:
U.S. Soccer Referee Sock
$12.95

Positives: Far better looking than the old Logo socks. Since there's no visible logo, you could use it, if approved, in high school soccer or other leagues. Same quality as OSI's Pro Socks (which feel better than any this reviewer has tried).

Negatives: Yet another expense that's necessity is highly questionable. Without approval, it can't be used outside of the USSF. Costs $2 more per pair than the same sock with three stripes.

Refblog.com OS X Dashboard Widget

2007-12-22T20:44:00-05:00

OK, so I'm a geek: aside from the owner, I'm the only one in the company I work for that doesn't have kids, so I'm stucking working all week (except for Tuesday), so instead of going elsewhere to visit family, I'm here playing around with utilities in the latest version of OS X, in this case, DashCode.

So, with little fanfare, I submit a Dashboard Widget for you Mac users that brings up this humble little blog. I have no graphical abilities, so I won't claim it's pretty, but it does work, using this existing RSS feed. You can download it here.

The following is required by Apple to have the widget listed on this site:

Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger is required. If you�re using Safari, click the download link. When the widget download is complete, show Dashboard, click the Plus sign to display the Widget Bar and click the widget�s icon in the Widget Bar to open it. If you�re using a browser other than Safari, click the download link. When the widget download is complete, unarchive it and place it in /Library/Widgets/ in your home folder. show Dashboard, click the Plus sign to display the Widget Bar and click the widget�s icon in the Widget Bar to open it.

First Look: The 2008 OSI/USSF Uniform

2008-02-11T20:37:00-05:00

Note: When you click the (more) link to view the entire article, you'll want to increase, if not maximize, the screen to see both the text and pictures.

I won't kid you about buying the jerseys so I can review them on the site - no, I bought them because I want to do Regionals again, I want to do semi-pro games again - I want to do good games. Before the first time I went to Regionals (and what a neat thing it is to say that), I was told by one of the assessors who was going with us, the equivalent of, "Good, you have Official Sports jerseys - that's what you're supposed to have"; he then went on to say that since Regionals is a USSF sponsored tournament, and OSI is a USSF sponsor, you should wear OSI gear.

I'm sure OSI loves to hear that, because even with holiday "specials" going on, you're going to shell out over $500 if you decide to refit your entire wardrobe.

This review won't go into the shorts - aside from the new logo, there's no change (you can see the original review here); it'll also pass on the socks, because I don't have them yet. Another thing this review won't cover is how well they work while actually reffing in them; partially this is because I haven't worn them (except for in front of a mirror), and partially because it looks like the same fabrics as the previous jerseys. That's probably my biggest disappointment; I would have gladly shelled out half-a-g if I wasn't going to be as uncomfortable during hot and muggy days, like kits from Adidas or Diadora, but that's not the case.

So what's left? The look and fit. Since the fit may be the only tangible positive to this review, let's go to the look, where I'll stay as neutral as possible.

A few days after MLS Cup, where the new jerseys were announced, the USSF said that both old and new jerseys could be worn on matches together. I don't know if this is a bone thrown out to all the people who were unhappy about purchasing new gear, or because third-party manufacturers (like Law 5 and Olympus) won't have time to update their lines before the start of many of the country's seasons, but clearly the two styles, while not a match, won't be awful looking, like some of the combinations you see at USA Cup. The big changes, of course, are the change in stripe patterns (nicknames to differentiate the new jersey from the pure pinstripe version on the right, such as "fatties" have already taken hold on SocRef), the number of them, and the stripes on the sleeves. Both shirts have 12 stripes, although in the new one, six are the thick variety, and six thin.

One thing to notice are the stripes between the pockets: on the old jersey there are two, and on the new one, there are none. This really isn't a big deal aesthetically until you see the new black. The picture doesn't really do it justice, but when you put it on, the furthest stripes both left and right are really on your side, and it looks like you have instead a large black stripe going across your chest, where advertising would go if we were wearing a professional player's jersey. Perhaps the inclusion of a badge will lessen this, but since the predominant color of the badge is black (except for those few wearing white), I don't think it'll help much. Even though all five colors have the same design, it took the contrasts of the black jersey to see this rather odd configuration, and to my eyes (of what colors I've seen), only the black seems to suffer for it.

Now to the fit. After showing these to my wife, who makes Renaissance Faire costumes, she pointed out one potential positive to the new jerseys: the sleeves. Now, if you ask her, she will tell you that fitted sleeves, like on the old jerseys, look better than raglan sleeves; but the problem is that, in the cookie cutter world that is uniforms, not everyone looks good in fitted sleeves, and I have to admit seeing a lot of jerseys with the sleeve well off the shoulder and past the armpit. The nice thing about raglan sleeves is that you don't have this problem, and for those of us who are not as broad-shouldered as OSI's models will see an improvement in fit.

Raglan sleeves are also much easier to make, it's just a simple straight cut of fabric to sew on, rather than on a curve. Except that OSI did something a bit odd to my wife's eyes. To the left is a good example of a typical raglan sleeve, with the seem going straight up the arm to the collar. Now look at OSI's which has an s-curve to it. One of the things she noticed (that I didn't) was they they seem to bunch around the armpit. A positive for the women, is that she thinks they may look better on women because of it.

The most important thing I can say about these shirts is that unless you're in a similar boat as myself, do not feel obligated to buy these shirts. The USSF has yet to announce when the classic pinstripe jerseys will be retired, and even when they do, I'd give it at least a few years.

Product Summary:
USSF Stripe Pro Shirt
$46.95 - $47.95 depending on size, economy versions range from $24.95 to $25.95

Positives: A possible better fit for women and men with narrower shoulders. The new design does not clash with the old one (like the stripes did with the fuschia jerseys).

Negatives: No improvement in material, some questionable design choices, a full kit is obscenely expensive.

Regionals Diary 2007

2008-01-28T00:24:00-05:00

I was privileged enough to be invited back to participate in the US Youth Soccer regional tournament; all those who won their respective State Cups, or got in from winning the Regional League come here to fight for a berth to the national championship. It's tremendous soccer, and plenty of the joy of victory and the agony of defeat for referees as well.

Diary entries from 2007. Simply click to read:

Day One: Travel, Rain, and Lightning

Day Two: Rain, Mud and Saved Asses

Day Three: Close Games

Day Four: Out of Gas

Day Five: Semis

Day Six: Final thoughts

Diary entries from 2004:

Day One: Travel

Day Two: Training Day

Day Three: Let the Games Begin!

Day Four: I'd Like to Package That and Bring It Home

Day Five: My Last Games?

Day Six: Spectator

Day Seven: Finals

10 Best of 2006, The List

2007-11-10T01:17:00-05:00

Below are my totally subjective list of the best entries I wrote in 2006. I've also tossed in, just in case you want to want to see how things have changed, added the "Best Of" lists for 2005, 2004, and 2003 ..

Best of 2006:

I didn't have to mock him (USA Cup Diary)

My own playing paradox

Why the ref just won't believe you

A terrible way to end a game

Why it's difficult for us to card dives

Some pondering on red cards

More adults behaving badly

Following through on a threat

More reasons I hate the NFHS

A cop already? (USA Cup Diary)

Best of 2005:

soccerisnotlife.com commercials

Is there anything more tense than a 1-0 playoff game?

USA Cup 2005 Day 4: Incident reports

Revenge! Revenge! Revenge!

USA Cup 2005 Day 7: Almost my turn

Week of the living wingnuts

Referees make the worst players, and now it's my turn

Simple rule of soccer: if you want to keep playing, don't say "Fuck You" to the ref

Overconfidence?

One call out of a hundred

Best of 2004

How to Complain About Referees

Refs We've Lost

The John Runk Saga

The consistency myth (aka boo freakin' hoo)

Just keep makin' up the rules, Monkey Boy

Why refs slag on coaches

If Refs Were Sportscasters

Three drug-induced events

The Economics of "Referee Capital"

On foul throws, coaches, and red cards

Best of 2003

What if refs evaluated coaches?

When is a red card not a red card?

The High School Rules Meeting

The call I blew

The stupid things parents say... made stupider!

The Ref Vents Upon Other Refs

Why are fans so lazy?

I don't know a ref who likes this venue

Fictionalized Laws

Can you see it? Yup, the ugly train's on its way

Review of the Timex O.V.A. (Optimum Viewing Angle) Watch

2007-04-20T17:57:00-05:00

Reffing, like soccer itself, is pretty simple in its requirements: you need to be there, know the Laws of the Game, and have the instruments to enforce it. The bare essentials of the later requirement are a whistle (to get people�s attention), cards (to administer misconduct, and in some places that can be flexible), a place to write down important facts about the game (including the score), and a watch (to keep track of the amount of time in the game).

I�m pretty picky about watches, although my requirements are few:I want them to be comfortable, and I want to be able to read them easily. I�ve gone through several watches over the course of my days as an official, and a variation of the old standby is proving to be quite interesting.

The watch I�d love to wear is the OptimumTime Football Watch. This watch was designed for refereed: the watch face is huge, there�s a button for added time, and the default countdown time is 45 minutes. And if you get the cloth band like I did (I had to ask about for it � the normal band is the typical rubber you see everywhere), it�s very comfortable too. The downside, and I�ve verified this with two other people I know who either have or have had the watch, is it breaks down a lot. I went through a couple in less than a year, and even though it was under warranty I couldn�t trust it enough and it went into the bin.

For the last several years I�ve used a combination of Timex Ironman on my left wrist (also with a Velcro/fabric band), and an Addidas watch that apparently wasn�t supposed to be sold in the United States � how I found it in a now out-of-business sporting goods chain? I have no idea. But it�s been my favorite watch for years, because it was comfortable on my right hand.

The problem is, the watch bands are wearing out, and even after multiple washings, I�ll be nice, they reek. I�ve never had any watch last as long as the fabric bands, let alone with the type of abuse they get, but there you go. Unfortunately, you can�t get them any more because, as I said, they tend to smell horribly over time (and that time is pretty short). So, when I saw an article about the Ironman OVA watch, I was intrigued and purchased a watch.

Here�s the OVA�s gimmick: Instead of sitting on the top of your wrist, like a regular watch, it sits on the inside side of your wrist. The idea is that you cut out one of the two motions to view the time on your watch; instead of raising your arm and then turning your wrist and/or elbow, you just raise the arm and look at the time.

And it works. Moreover, it�s awfully comfortable sitting there, on either wrist. I found myself, after wearing it during training for an hour or two a day, getting annoyed with my regular day-to-day watch. I�m impressed.

The face of the watch is almost identical to the standard Timex Ironman. The two differences is the Start/Lap button is on top of the watch, instead of the bottom (strangely enough, it takes some getting used to), and the numbers are slightly slanted from left-to-right. The idea behind the slant is that it makes the watch more readable on your left wrist (which is where most people wear their watches); if you want a straight number, you don�t have to turn your arm � just bring it straight up. This, of course, means if you�re a referee who wears two watches, one on each arm, that the numbers are actually turned slightly away from you on your right arm. If you use your right-watch as your primary timekeeping device, this watch probably isn�t for you, but in my case, the right watch has always been my backup, so the comfort took a higher priority; the angle is not so much that it makes the watch unreadable, or even difficult � I really couldn�t tell you if it even helps.

What will help is when you�re running lines: when wanting to check the time on the watch, one need simply look down instead of look and then crook the flag.

There are two downsides to this watch: the first is the lack of a cloth band. I find cloth bands with velcro attachments much more comfortable, especially on hot days when swelling of certain areas (such as your wrists) is an inevitability. I�ve also found that rubber tends to chafe on those already uncomfortable days; Timex seems to have heavily vented this band, so we�ll just have to see what happens come the dog days of August. The other downside is the size of the face � because of the smaller surface area on the side of your wrist, the numbers are smaller (smaller than the standard Ironman); I haven�t noticed any issues either while training or in the few games I�ve used it on, but if you live on large faces, you may want to pass this one by.

Like all the stuff I�ve reviewed on this site, I�ve worn it, and will continue to, and if things change for me mid-season, I�ll alter this review as necessary. But for right now, I plan on wearing two watch that face each other when my arms go straight out.

Timex Ironman Triathlot O.V.A. Watch
Retail Price: $70.00, but you can find them for $45-60 at various online locations.
Pros: Comfortable, convenient, small learning curve in retraining where to look on your arm.
Cons: Smaller face, angled numbers may be a problem for people who wear it on the right wrist, molded wristband only.

A small cavalcade of watches:
The Coleman stopwatch from Target, which I bought this when I first started, probably for $20. Once I decided I liked reffing, it went into my bag as an emergency spare. Since then, it's only come out at Regionals when my OptimumTime Football Watch died.

The Timex Ironman Triathalon - if there's a standard stopwatch, this is it. It's comfortable, although the cloth band has really started to smell, despite washing it. The backlight broke early on, but I decided to turn it into a feature: if I can't read the watch, it's too dark to play.

I don't know how this Addidas watch made it to a U.S. sporting goods store, but it did, and I'm happy for it. Until now, this has been the most comfortable watch I've used on my right wrist. I've searched many times for a matching pair, but they all include shipping charges from Europe. The face is very big and readable, but on hot days it tends to turn black making it unreadable.

This is the new O.V.A. watch, from it's front (meaning your side) and here is the same watch from its side, or the place you normally look for the watch face.. You can see how it requires a little bit of readjusting your expectations on where the watch should be.

Here is the Ironman and the Ironman O.V.A. side-by-side. This picture shows the differences in the designs: you can see the slight tilt in the numbers on the O.V.A. watch, and the Start/Lap button on the top rather than the bottom of the face and the smaller numbers. And if it looks like the button is angled away, you're right, the watch face forms a "L" to stay on the top of your wrist.

How to Become a Better Referee

2007-10-31T07:45:00-05:00

As I was editing How to Become a Referee, several things came to mind on things that you can do to become a better referee. This is my all means not an exhaustive list, but something I've pick up over the years, after I decided that I wanted to keep blowing the whistle, and that I wanted to become better at it. Feel free to add suggestions.The first few items on this list will be things to read - I'll venture to say they'll be necessities if you want to advance.

There is no first and foremost, but there are two things that should be on your must-read list if you want to become a better referee. The better you want to be, the more often you should read them. The first is the USSF's Advice to Referees - while the Laws are pretty simple, after a year or two you realize there are a lot of grey areas, this is where the ATR comes in.
Buy For the Good of the Game by Robert Evans and Edward Bellion. You will learn a ton more about the ins-and-outs of being a good referee and how to improve yourself. If the ATR gets you up-to-speed on the Laws, this gets you up to speed on being a referee. I cannot recommend this book any higher. You must buy it - must, I tell you. BTW - overseas this is knows as The Art of Refereeing - if you have trouble getting For the Good of the Game in the U.S. (I'm told it's out of print), try the other title on a Europeans book seller's site. The content is exactly the same.
Subscribe to Referee Magazine - better yet, join the National Association of Sports Officials and get a little extra insurance while you're at it; it's included with the membership, and it's tax deductible.
Find a way to vent. Some people hang out with other refs and tell war stories, I write - in any event, it's something to keep you sane.
Start pushing up the ladder: If you're not getting the kind of games you want, ask for better ones. You'll frequently be on the lines to begin with, but that'll change over time, if you're ready.
Start pushing up the ladder: Work at your State Tournament and/or State Cup. In this state, the top level teams have a tournament to see who can play in the national tournaments. the lower level teams have another one to see who can be promoted to the next division. Work them, work hard, you will be noticed.
Work the USA Cup: you'll be exposed to a number of different playing and refereeing styles. Yes, the pay sucks, but it's an experience like no other.
Start dressing up: When you first started reffing, you bought the minimum, now complete the set. Again, you don't have to buy Official Sports (although if you get noticed and start working invitation-only tournaments, you'd be, for better or worse, well advised to get them), but buy that blue jersey. Get long-sleeves for you're entire set, too (it's nice on those cold days).
Play like Imelda Marcos (aka: get a shoe collection): Get different shoes for different conditions: flats, turfs, and cleats - maybe more than one pair for bad weather (or a shoe dryer).
Get more socks: Or, specifically, the USSF logo sock. If you want my opinion, it's poorly designed (I don't think the USSF logo looks good in oval, which it what it ends up being on most men's calves), but some officials in higher-level games like them. Assignors frequently ask their senior officials about newer referees if they're ready to be pushed up a notch - and no the socks, jerseys, or shorts affect your performance on the field, but it does tell us how serious you are.
Work High School: Make the jump from junior-varsity to varsity. No, it's not USSF, but most high school referees also work USSF. I've met USSF assignors though high school games that have helped me go up notches on the totem pole, and they've certainly given me lessons to learn. If nothing else, it expands the number of games you work, and people you meet.
Get a trainer: If you're like me, you're not blessed with a naturally athletic body. I've had people who tell me that they don't need to do anything about the upgrade physicals, which just ticks me off, because I have to work my butt off for it. I'll tell you this, even if it's just for the off season, a personal trainer helps - it's their job to make you better physically (even if not prettier). As for how you select one, I have no idea - I just signed up for one at the YMCA, and found that I liked the one I drew.
Upgrade: Nothing spells commitment like upgrading. The games you get from existing assignors may not be all that different, but considering how few referees (about 2%) go beyond Grade 8, it will get your name out there. Pick a goal: mine is to get a State Badge (Grade 6) - mostly to prove that I can, and for when I retire from the whistle, I can stay in the game and assess. However, if you want to be the best darn Grade 8 you can, more power to you.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but in my own humble experience, it's helped people notice me, in a good way, as a referee. I'll never claim to be a good referee, because I have a long way to improve; but I will claim to be a referee that gives a damn, and the above steps help make that claim more than mere rhetoric.

How to Become a Referee

2007-03-07T15:16:00-05:00

Becoming a referee is not a terribly difficult process - but let's be totally honest here - staying one is. Not having a ton of experience, I can't help a whole lot with the later, but here's a quick summary of what to do for the former (OK, and a little of what I've learned - take with salt).Different states have different ways of administrating referees: some have regional associations, some are assigned by individual clubs, some, for all I know, are organized by Elvis. But if you want to become a ref, probably the easiest thing to do is to contact a soccer club and ask if they have any information. There's a chronic referee shortage, so if the person who you talk to doesn't have information available immediately, it's very likely s/he'll have information on who to talk to. Should the club have more referees than they know what to do with, contact the USSF, CSA, or whatever your national governing body is ASAP so they can share their secret - if they're just clueless (more likely), you can try searching the web for the state SRA or SRC (State Referee Administrator, Association and/or Committee); if they don't have a list of clinic times and locations, they'll certainly provide one via email.

Myself, I found a flyer at an indoor soccer facility over the winter and called. But I've never seen any others before or after. Hmmmmmmm.

One thing I should mention is that there are two major youth soccer organizations in the US (this, making the assumption that you live in the US - your own country may vary): US Youth Soccer, which is broken down into State or region (for those big states) organizations, and the American Youth Soccer Organization, or AYSO. The AYSO is, theoretically, less competitive than US Youth Soccer, with an "everybody plays" atttiude. I also understand that the refs don't get paid - which is fine until you get your very first hellish game (then you realize why refs get paid even for the easy games). I don't know the formal process for becoming a ref in the AYSO; it seems most areas are either one of the other, so much so that the USSF now allows cross-certification. High and Middle Schools are another matter altogether - contact a school and get information from them.

When you first become a referee, you have to have a 16 hour class, usually split over two days in a single weekend, followed by a test. I don't know if all the tests are the same, but it's pretty basic, and if you've read the Laws of the Game with some degree of concentration, you should be just fine. Following that, you have a 5-8 hour clinic each year, and very possibly the same test forever onward. Do yourself a favor, sign up for the grade 8 (entry level) referee course, rather than the linesman - you don't have to do games you're not comfortable with, and you won't have to re-take the full course just to become an eight.

Ta daa! You're a referee - now what?

At my clinic, there was an assignor just waiting to pick up the newly minted referees - this was a very smart woman. Unfortuantely, it doesn't always work out this way, so sometimes people are left with their new badge, wondering what the heck to do now. My suggestion is, if you remember it, ask the instructor(s) before they leave the room; it's possible the clinic was sponsored by a local club to make sure their local pool of referees will contine to whistle. If you forget, go back to that club you initially talked to and find out who their assignor is (the club may not have their own assignor, but they definately deal with one - again, this goes back to how things are assigned in your area). Otherwise, hit the internet and talk to a bunch of clubs, one will be able to help you. Still having problems? Remember that referee association we talked about four paragraphs up? They'll often have a list of assignors on their website - if not, email them - it's their job to help out in referee issues, and getting work is one of them.

If you're serious about refereeing - and I mean, "I want to be a good referee" which can include, but is not synonymous with, "I want to referee MLS games or the World Cup", you'll notice quickly that the Laws of the Game are vastly different than the rules we're used to with other "American" sports, which are pretty compendious tomes full of sections, paragraphs, sub-paragraphs, and so on. Soccer's Laws are pretty simple, deceptively so, and you'll find out pretty quickly that refereeing is more art than science. There are some additional books you should read, and things to do, and need to do, if you want to take it seriously: In the USSF's website, in the Referee section, go to the Referee Development link. You'll see, among other usefull stuff, the USSF's a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for New Referees. Also check out FIFA's Questions and Answers to the Laws of the Game.

Secondly, join SOCREF: it's a huge number of referees, that argue and bicker about nits, discuss trends, provide wonderful insights, and, especially when you're new, help you understand that you're not alone. There's also some high-level referees and instructors on the list. It's massively helpful.

Third, go to the USA Cup. I have a problem with most tournaments, but there are exceptions. This is a big exception. Yes, it's in Minnesota, yes, it's an entire week, and no, they don't pay well - but it's the best darn experience you can get as a new referee. You get a chance to work with refs from all over the world who really care about the game, as well as with teams from all over the country, and occasionally, the world, too. I'm not kidding - it's extremely rare to have a totally local officiating team (or, as likely in your case, two from Minnesota and you) - and pretty darn common to get at least one from another country. Brand spankin' new refs are often paired with FIFAs. I know of many refs who look foward to this all year long, and I'm one of them.

On a practical side, what do you need to buy for this job? Keeping in mind that this might turn out to be a short-term deal, you don't want to spend a lot of money, so here's what I consider a minimum list of equipment:

Jerseys: buy three jerseys, a yellow, a black, and a red. Many people just tell you to get yellow and black, and if you're working in-house games where the assignor works for, and knows all the teams, that's fine. But if you work travel leagues, please do the rest of us a favor and get a red jersey, too; a good many of us hate wearing black, especially when it's warm out - and it's becoming very common for teams and goalkeepers to wear those colors as well - officially they're supposed to change before us, but if that was the case, the USSF wouldn't have four jersey colors, would they? You may well be saying, what about blue? Unless your assignor recommends it, skip it until you decide you really want to keep reffing. As for the make of jersey, it really doesn't matter, but make sure you get one with flaps over the pockets - so if you get jerseys from Official Sports, get the good ones, otherwise get Olympus jerseys. They're just as good, they're cheaper, and you don't have to worry about looking like a dork because the contents of your pocket just scattered all over the field. There is a time and a place for getting the full Official Sports kit, but this isn't it.
Shorts: Go to a soccer store and try some on - most of the styles are exactly the same, so it'll depend on the fabric you like. Official Sports has some sportier and lighter shorts that I really like, but because I couldn't find a vendor that had them in-stock, I had to take a chance, bought one to try it out, then bought a bunch of others when I decided I like (some don't, so don't take my word on it). Some vendors make referee shorts specifically for women, too.
Socks: Don't go cheap. In fact, I will recommend a specific brand: get The Ref Sock from Official Sports. Now. Here's the URL if you don't believe me: http://officialsports.com/socks.htm. All of the store-branded referee socks I've tried have sucked, but these are cushy, comfortable, and stay up. Keep at least one spare pair in your bag at all times, for when you do multiple games, or if the weather is bad. You don't need to USSF Logo Sock, and ignore the striped socks in colors other than white (they're used in college games).
Shoes: Go with something comfortable. If it's in your budget, have a second pair in case the weather is bad, and you have games the next day. Keep in mind that referees in the center don't need the torque that players do, so you don't need cleats unless the field is very soft - I usually use flat-soled shoes (used in indoor soccer, when on astroturf) in the middle, and turf shoes (the ones with 50 or so little nubs on the bottom) on the line. Keep in mind that turf shoes can be real pains to break in.
Whistles: Whistles are cheap, get a bunch of them. OK, get two at least. Fox 40's are incredibly popular because they're very very loud. However, if there are games going on next to you, keep in mind that they're very very popular, and you want the players on your field to be able to tell the difference between your whistle, and the one from the field next to yours. Most soccer stores that also have referee gear will let you try them out, too.
Cards: They're plastic, they're cheap, get some spares in case you misplace them. Get yourself some write-on cards, too. You may not care for them for day-to-day use (I don''), but they work better than paper when it's raining out. I would recommend against any write-on cards that require a pen to use - they get messy, and not just on the card, on your shirt. I love these write-on cards from Custom Cards which uses a pencil instead.
Pencils or Pens? Pencils. No ink blotches on your shirt, and if you accidentally transpose which team scored a goal, it's more easily corrected. Keep two on your person, a few more in your bag.
Watches: Get something that's comfortable, and keep two. Most of us hard-core people wear both, but some put their second in their pocket. Avoid stopwatches that hang around your neck - it looks stupid when you run with them.
Flipping coins: Use something unique or impressive. Quarters or pennies look dorky and unprofessional (seriously - if the captains think you don't care, they will communicate it to the rest of the team) - go to the bank and get a 50-cent piece: it's big, easy to see, and most of the kids haven't seen them. Foreign currency is good - and flipping coins are a common give-away at certain tournaments.
Flags: Go cheap, but not über-cheap. You'll appreciate something that swivels on windy days, as opposed to something that was stapled to a dowel (that only lasted me one game).

A few things not to do

There are a few things that you really should avoid doing. The good news is that this list is small - we've all made mistakes, and chances are we've all made, or will make, the same ones at one time or another. But if you heed these, you'll save yourself some trouble, and some injuries, and some real headaches (and most of these are from my experience).

First, be aware that assignors are often desperate for officials; some are better than others, and most won't have you do more than back-to-back games (two total); beware anyone who wants more. If you like doing weekend tournaments, really really really beware those. It's not that they're bad, but almost all tournaments I've run will try to milk you for 5-6 games or more. Don't do it! It does a disservice to players and fans, cause you to injure yourself, and maybe burn out of the game. The assignor will beg, saying they don't have enough officials to go around - this is not your problem - this is the problem of those who abuse officials, and the 80-90% attrition rate (per two years). I suggest this: limit yourself to no more than two games, and be firm about it. If you can do more, then next time do a little more - but remember that the goal of a good referee is to work his or her butt off in service to the game. I tell assignors that I'll do no more than three hours work - if that's three hours of U8, that's fine; if it's U17 or higher than it's two games, either way I'll be bushed. If you're still not convinced: think if the weather turns really crappy (like when I worked five games in my second year in near freezing weather, and didn't realize I pulled a ligament in my foot until the next day, when it thawed out and I woke up screaming in agony and unable to walk), you can do your job and go home; if the weather is not crappy, and still feel up for something else, I bet they'll find one for you.

Second, don't do varsity high school on your first year. Hopefully you'll have someone to tell you this - I didn't, so just in case nobody else does, I will: don't do varsity high school on your first year of reffing, even if they'll take you. It'll be hideous, trust me. The rules are different, the attitudes are very different, and the level, style of play, and expectations are very different. If you want to do high school, contact your nearest high school, and ask about reffing their junior-varsity squads for the season. Trust me, I wish somebody told me this - I'd have one less police escort in my life, and I'd never have to tell a reporter who ran onto the field, "No comment." Am I getting through?

Third, turn down games you're not comfortable with - but do it to your assignor if at all possible. It'll make their life easier, and your life easier. If you can't reach your assignor, and you surrender your middle to another official for the good of the game, then tell your assignor later. I once lined a game for a center referee who said he turned down almost all his high school middles that year, because he wasn't comfortable doing them, but decided to keep the playoff center because the assignor asked him to. My guess is that the assignor didn't know he had barely done any middles. That would be the second time I'd had a police escort after a game (by the way, if you poo-poohed the last paragraph, please note both times I've had police escorts were at high school games).

What all three of these really come down to is, don't overreach yourself. The goal of your first couple years of reffing is to get out onto the field, and decide if you really like doing this thing. If you do, then start pushing outward - trust me, there's a demand for good, experienced officials, if you put the effort into it, you'll be noticed.

Mostly, have fun, ask questions and for advice - don't let the coaches get to you.

Originally written in July 2003, updated January 2007.

USA Cup Diary 2006

2007-09-03T15:04:00-05:00

Even with some flaws this year, it's still the best run, and one of the most memorable, if not the most optimistic, tournaments in the nation. As usual, the good, the bad, and the ugly - with the ugly being more spread out this year, but not quite as intense as last

.

Day One: Like you thought it wouldn't be hot

Day Two: A cop already?

(there were no games on days three and four)

Day Five: a farce of a game

Day Six: Obnoxious coach, almost like a normal day

Day Seven: Some inherent injustice

Day Eight: I didn't have to mock him

Day Nine: More adults behaving badly

10 Best of 2005, The List

2006-12-31T15:18:00-05:00

Below are my totally subjective list of the best entries I wrote in 2005. I've also tossed in, just in case you want to want to see how things have changed, added the "Best Of" lists for 2004 and 2003.

Best of 2005:

soccerisnotlife.com commercials

Is there anything more tense than a 1-0 playoff game?

USA Cup 2005 Day 4: Incident reports

Revenge! Revenge! Revenge!

USA Cup 2005 Day 7: Almost my turn

Week of the living wingnuts

Referees make the worst players, and now it's my turn

Simple rule of soccer: if you want to keep playing, don't say "Fuck You" to the ref

Overconfidence?

One call out of a hundred

Best of 2004