Summertime

Wow Summer has flown by.  The first major fall tournament in Colorado is during the first weekend in August (actually there are 2 that weekend).  We start competitive play the weekend before Labor Day.  HS Soccer starts Sep 1.  Didn't summer just start?

Few musings from the summer:

• The ECNL Championships were held July 14-16 out here.  For the teams that were here, yes, you brought the humidity from your home state to Colorado.  Fortunately, the biggest monsoon we've had out here for quite some time decided to relax a bit during this tournament.  I only managed to get one game due to family commitments, and mine was called just 10 min into the 2nd half due to lightening.  I think the girls (it was U-17) were tired or affected by the altitude because the play was nothing special.  Well except for the one team's GK who could punt the ball just about to the opposite attacking third.  Tired out the CR for sure.

Impeding Progress

One of the fouls spelled out by Law 12:  An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if, in the opinion of the referee, a player impedes the progress of an opponent.

In one of my games this past weekend, I worked with a CR who's specialty is to call this foul.  I say 'specialty' because I've seen him do it in every game he's worked.  I also say this because he is about the only one who calls this foul.  He is 100% correct in his application of the law, the problem is the rest of us aren't; therefore, when it is called inevitably there is a howl from the coaches.  And in my game the call led directly to a goal, as the attacking team immediately took their IFK and scored (simple touch, then kick by player #2 while the defending team was confused).   A part of Law 12 that I need to watch for in my games, especially U-14 to about U-18.

Managing Coaches

Some observations about a few coaches that were in my games this past weekend...

• For my first game (AR1), one of the coaches was nattily attired in a fedora hat, dress shirt, slacks, shoes, and tie.  Not normally a coach's attire on a warm Sunday morning for a U-12 boys game.  So I had to ask the coach about his attire.  He is a minister/pastor and had to go conduct the 10a service (after the 8a game that is).  Well that's cool.  So I wondered how he would conduct himself on the sideline.  I also wondered when we missed a call if he'd summon some help from the divine entity who's word he was preaching.  The answer:  He was a class act.  Knew when to lean on his players.  Questioned one call, but very professionally ("Oooh, that was close sir.  Unlucky guys (aka players)").  His team did win by a good margin, but I think he generally conducts himself that way.

Penalty!

Three things of note from the big Memorial Day Weekend tournament, two of which involved PKs:

1. In one of my son's games, his team was (correctly) awarded a PK.  So the player took it, ball hits crossbar and rebounds directly to him.  He couldn't quite control the rebound, so all he managed was a weak shot and ultimately the keeper got the ball.  EXCEPT...the CR (and I for that matter) both forgot a minor thing.  Law 14 clearly says "...If, after the penalty kick has been taken, the kicker touches the ball again (except with his hands) before it has touched another player, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team..."

   That makes total sense.  The same player cannot "double touch" any free kick, whether direct or indirect.  Of course, in this case the ball hit the 'woodwork' prior to the player committing the "double touch."  So an unusual double touch, but one nonetheless.
   
   

The Rain in Colorado

Well Mother Nature obviously read my last posting about how our Spring has been dryer than normal.  And She took offense.  So she started the rain (and a bit of snow) machine.  After 4 1/3" of rain in the last week, our fields are soaked.  You have to live along the  Colorado Front Range to know that, for us, THAT'S A LOT OF RAIN (outside of the summer monsoons).  The official rain gauge is at the airport which tends to be 'dry' in their measurements so to speak.  The result of all that rain is a scramble to get the Spring Season finales in knowing that some of the fields have been taken down.  It also results in last minute cancellations and no-show games.

The net result of all of this is that my first game in 2 weeks (other than parent A/R) was a CR for a U-17 game.  I've worked a handful of U-17 as AR, but never CR.  So going in, I was a bit nervous.

Spring Finals

Well our dryer than normal Spring has permitted the following to wrap up this past week, on schedule:

• Girls HS.  Post Season JV tournament.  Had a doubleheader in the 'consolation' bracket on Friday.  Very nearly issued a yellow card to a girl who didn't like the fact I saw her push with both arms the opposing girl.  I just said "don't argue with me!" and she got the message.  Turned out she was given a red card at the beginning of the tournament for dissent.  Otherwise, the soccer was pretty good, with both games - that only counted for pride - reasonably well played.

• Spring Regular Season.  Well almost.  Got some money for nothing (that would be a no-show) and an uneventful U-13 girls' game.

• State and President's Cup.  My U-16 boys game was the conclusion of group play.  In other words, it was meaningless in the standings.  Got to flash some yellow, teach a few others the fine art of dissent, but always felt like I was in 'control' of the game.

Oh but the U-15 Finals.  It would not be President's Cup without some controversy, and this was no different.

Somebody's Watching Me

Yes, this is Rockwell's one hit from the 80s (actually, EVER!) - and it was a hit solely because Michael Jackson provided backing lyrics.

It's also the truth when you are reffing.  Somebody is watching you.   Consider: