What have I gotten myself into?
I am a USSF grade 8 ref. I got started as a soccer ref a few years ago since I volunteered to work my son's soccer games as a Center Ref from U8 - U10 Rec. I enjoyed it even though it was true 'volunteer' (i.e. no pay) work for the following reasons:
- Due to my schedule, I can't commit to coaching or even assistant coaching
- I'm contributing to the kids' soccer growth by teaching them to play by the Laws.
I enjoyed it enough so I figured, why not become a 'real' ref? My perception is they always need refs, especially more, ah, 'mature' ones to work the older kids' games. OK. So I attended one of the 17 hour USSF Grade 8 trainings offered in my area. There were about 30 attendees, 2/3 of which were under 18, the rest of which were about my age (minimum age is 14). I left the training feeling comfortable going into my games since, well, I've done it already! Honestly, if all I had to do was attend the USSF training and then was assigned to any game, I'd really struggle with my first few games. I think the USSF training should also include a bit of 'outdoors' practice, but I understand that's easier said then done.
The U8, U9, and U10 games taught me the Laws. I did have to attend about 5 total hours of training for these games, and the instructor did a great job discussing the Laws and proper positioning. In these games, you will see every throw-in violation known to the Laws and then some. You learn all about what to do when the GK doesn't leave the penalty area and how to handle intentional pass backs to the keeper. Yes, you even get to learn how to handle coaches, including the one from your own team. So I know the Laws, but that is not the same as knowing the Fouls. You will call a handful of fouls in any U8-U10 game and 99.9% of them are 'careless' anyway. So my learning curve is going to be all about managing the fouls.
In Colorado, being USSF G8 qualifies you for working High School games (JV and/or Varsity depending on your USSF experience). All you need is a 2 hr training session and pass their test, and you're good to go. That's a slightly different animal all together, one I'll post about later. So you may see me at your local HS soccer game.
So then I signed up for the assignment website. Oh, added the multiple groups too, which can get confusing. Then I received a blast email from an Assignor for a preseason tournament that needed refs. I went to the proper website, entered my availability for that group, and figured I'd get one or two games.
Um no. 4 games. All CR. U-14 boys, 2 U-12 girls, and one U-11 girls. All in a row. At least they are all on the same field! They are also all on a Saturday which is group play day.
YIKES. I know I have the game experience, but in the USSF world my 'experience' doesn't count. I am real, real surprised they gave me a U-14 CR game...and that's my first game!
The Assignor then emailed again needing more refs. I have limited time on Friday late afternoon, so I offered to work another game. 5 min later (literally) I have a U-12 girls AR assignment. Whew. So at least I'll quickly learn about handling a tournament game before working 4 games in a row the following day. I will still show up 'incognito' early on Saturday to watch a U-14 boys game so I can get a feel for the game and, more importantly, the infractions.
This should be interesting.
BTW - 'CR' is Center Ref. The person that does all the running. 'AR' is Assistant Ref, the ones you see on the touch line with the flag.
