The never ending game

One of the many reasons I enjoy being a soccer ref is you generally know how long your game is going to last.  Youth games last 60 to 90 min + 5 min half, HS is 80 min + 10 min half, except we have 2 5 min extra time "golden goal" periods in Varsity regular season.  Simple, right?

It's in the cards

Lots of fun from the Mile High pitches of Colorado.

• I issued my first red card!  It was at a "C" HS game (i.e. frosh/soph).  For those of you who've read my blog, you know we generally work a 2 whistle system for sub-varsity games.  That means anyone can issue a card.  (Well, that's true for our Varsity games too).  My counterpart issued a kid on the white team a yellow for UB in a scrum that I did not call a foul (he did).  Well later in the 2nd half the same kid commits a late challenge from behind, not coming close to the ball.  I blow the whistle, tell him "come here."  He knew it.  So I issue the Yellow, check my book, and voila - he already has a Yellow!  So now he has a Red.  Never tell me I don't issue Red cards. :)

Too many badges

So far I've had a mere 8 games - 3 CRs, the rest ARs.  This is solely based on my availability as I could easily get a lot more.  My games have been mostly smooth and no cards at all.

Two items of interest:

• U15 Girls.  There's a one-on-one battle for the ball between Team A's attacker and Team B's defender.  I'm in a terrible position - right behind the play, trying to get to an angle.  Team B's player falls.  From my angle, I could not tell if she tripped or was pushed.  My AR (and the parents) saw a good push.  I make no call.  My AR kind of raises his flag, thinks I tell him to drop it, then ultimately a goal is scored by Team A.  I run over to my AR and we decide to disallow the goal since there was a foul on Team A.  The coach for Team A wasn't too happy, but was ultimately satisfied with the explanation.  In the long run, it didn't matter - Team A won handily.  Lesson learned - make sure the AR is definitive and make sure I am!

• U14 Girls "SuperLeague."  I'm the AR on a corner kick.  Girl kicks the ball towards the goal, keeper mishandles it, goal scored.  NOPE.  I'm right on the goal line, I see the ball cross over the line in flight, therefore I raise my flag.  CR picks up my flag, blows whistle, then I signal GK.  Of course, this happens right in front of our field mentors and another team who plays the next game.  It's the absolute correct call - even a few players from the other team say to me "great call ref."  I saw the coach for the team who didn't get the goal throw his hat down, but never says a word to me as he knew I was right there.  Always pay attention as an AR!

Like I said, kind of uneventful start.

So we kick off Fall State and President's Cup this Labor Day weekend.  Still awaiting my assignments (if any).  We start HS this Thursday.  ALSO - I picked up some College Club team games (NCCSA).  Just AR for now as I don't know what I'm getting myself in to (and the Assignor wants me to AR a few games before picking up CR).  Although the NCCSA games don't count towards USSF certification, they should still be a great experience for me since these will be the first U18+ games I'm working.  All that means is I have 3 badges to carry with me - USSF, HSSO, and NCCSA.  Oh and 3 separate sets of Laws/Rules to keep straight!

Until next time...

It's Fall!

The calendar may read August (well end of July), but it's time to start the Fall soccer season!

• I start with 3 games next weekend in an early season tournament.  I could easily pick up 3x that if I wanted to work on Thu/Fri afternoons and Sunday.  My day job is preventing me from that on Thu/Fri, and my fitness concerns along with a desire to stay out of the heat are preventing that on Sunday.
• I participated in our HS Boys' 'draw' this time.  This is the first time the 'draw' has been entirely automated - or so they tell me - so I'm sure there will be lots of grumbling about said 'draw' at the Pre Season clinics that we have to attend for HS.  My schedule for HS is almost maxed out already.  Most of my games are Varsity, which should be interesting for Boys season.  I'm somewhat used to working this age group from State Cup.
• By the end of the Fall, I will have the CR games to qualify for Grade 7.  The State folks have already asked me when I'm going for my 7.  I think I'll do it - I'd like to be able to work some advanced Youth games.  Originally, I had dreams of becoming a 6, but given the amount of U18+ games you must work as CR, it's just not going to happen (unless I feel like ignoring my family).  Oh well.

I enjoyed watching the Euro games and some Olympics, along with almost any match I can find on Gol TV.  Why?  I watch the CR.  Where are they?  What are they calling?  Would I make that call?  I know the TV does not have the angle they have, but it's still interesting to watch.  At least for me.

Otherwise, I'm injury free and my fitness is reasonable.  So I'm ready to go!

All about the Angles

Had just one CR assignment this weekend for a U-13 F Premier-1 (i.e. best of the U13 girls in CO) game.  It was a decent morning (finally was comfortable enough to wear ref shorts!) but the wind was blowing.  Which of course means positioning on GKs and keeper 'punts' is challenging.  I had two notable non-calls in the 1st half of said game related to my positioning and angle to the play:

1. I was in perfect position to watch a 2 handed push during a header challenge on a punt.  I was only 4 yards away!  And...and...and...my whistle never met my mouth.  My Senior AR asked me at half about that saying "well did you see..." and I finished "oh the 2 handed push that for some reason I didn't call?"  He laughed and said "well, at least you saw it, and yes, that's happened to me too."
I hate when that happens. :(


2. The 2nd non-call.  Normally when there's a GK or 'punt' I take position based on USSF guidelines adjusting for actual physical ability and tendencies.  I try to catch the initial kick contact out of the corner of my eye to make sure there's not a short kick or something crazy and then of course I focus on the field since the player movement will bring me to the ball.  Well this kick the wind caught the ball and was bringing it right at me.  So I got out of the way as quickly as possible but that left me parallel to the play.  So I saw a challenge that to me appeared OK.  Well...if I was where I *should* have been and had a more perpendicular angle, I would've seen one girl more or less climb over the other girl which would've been an easy charging foul call.  Bad angle!

Fortunately, I was much better in the 2nd half.  My SAR even said "you got all the calls right."  Well at least according to him. :)

In other news...