Year in Review

Wow its been 3 months since my last blog post!  My how time flies.

So the summary and a look ahead:

• Worked a 1st round 5A HS playoff game as a Side Referee.  Disappointed I wasn't chosen to work a later round game.  This could be caused by the fact I had to turn back a 4A playoff game - or maybe not.  Or I had a few low game ratings (even though I ran CR on only 3 games - all 3 were 5A).  I'll have to find out.
• My overall game count for this calendar year was 70 Youth Games (33 as CR), 47 HSSO games, and 5 College Club games.  Given all the constraints on my schedule (work, kid playing soccer, other family obligations) that's about the most I will work.  I also generally limit myself to 3 games max per day, even in tournament season.
• I have come a long way in how I work games.  I still have lots to learn with coach management.  Parents/spectators are straight forward - either ignore them all together or remove them.  My player management improved too.  Can always work on it of course.

The bigger news for me is I am in the process of upgrading to a Grade 7.  That process has been less than smooth so far.  First, there was a disagreement with the number of games that 'count'.  Obviously REC games don't.  However, they were also ready to disqualify my pre- and post- season tournament games.  I fought back - arguing these are 'certified' tournaments using DSC.  They initially argued "well 3v3 tournaments are certified too."  Then I said "3v3 doesn't use DSC.  Also, we rarely log if a reg season game was suspended due to weather - does that count too?"  So they agreed to accept my games.  Then they told me to sign up for the fitness test - which oh BTW was happening in 4 days.  YIKES!  I was in decent shape, but not fitness test shape.  After two training sessions I took the fitness test.  The next surprise is that they asked me to run the distance for a Grade 6 at my age, not Grade 7.  Or I totally misunderstood the distance I should have trained for.  I barely - and I mean by 5 meters - passed that part.  The speed tests I passed far more easily since, well, I can still run.  I've already passed the recert test and I've completed most of my intermediate training (I still need a few more hours apparently).  So - all that remains is the on-field assessment.  To be continued...

Happy New Year!

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. :)

The next generation

As I've said many times, parents on my son's team know I'm a referee.  They ask me about every controversial call.  Mostly I have to bite my tongue when I think the CR (or AR) has made an incorrect call.  Or I'll say something generic as "well they have a totally different angle then we do, and they are the closest." Which is code speak for "no way in hell was that the right call."

There is however a difference between a referee making the wrong call and a referee which clearly needs mentoring.  Which brings me to what happened during kickoff weekend.  Fall kickoff is a double header weekend the weekend before Labor Day.  The teams usually play 1 game Saturday and 1 game Sunday.  The good news is there is no Rec/Option 1 games to further dilute the number of available referees.  The bad news is, in many cases, this is the first action for our newly certified referees.

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!

The State of the Cup

I had a lot of State Cup Assignments this year.  Part of the reason I'm sure is I'm more experienced.  Another part is I'm being observed and obviously passing these informal assessments.

Since I'm still fighting my nagging plantar fasciitis injury from last year, my fitness level isn't where I want it to be.  It's good enough for normal reffing, but for State Cup you need to be better than normal.  To try to compensate, I've consumed the Gatorade "Prime" Pouch about 30 min before my CR games.  As far as I know, that does not contain caffeine, but it seems to put me on 'edge' - a comment I've received on 2 separate occasions from my more experienced ARs.  I know all the supplements in the world are no substitute for good fitness, so I'll just have to work on getting healed and improve my fitness level.

So onto the more interesting highlights.

1.  Life as a 4th ref.  For State Cup QFs onward we have 4ths.  I was a 4th for a QF and a 4th for a U17 Finals (which was recorded!).  Interesting job.  I've seen 'active' 4ths that are constantly helping the CR, and 'passive' 4ths which just handle subs, record goals/cards, and keep the technical areas (especially the coaches) under control.  So I'm not sure really how to do this job.  One would think it is easy, but in actuality the person with the 'easiest' job in a 4 man team is AR2.  Except for the parents.

2.  AR for Prez CupU14 Finals.  Oh I learned a lesson here!  Ball is on my end near the goal line, I see the ball go across the goal line, raise my flag to indicate I have information for the CR (ultimately a GK), CR never looks over.  So I'm wondering "what do I do?"  I'm now way out of position.  So I drop my flag thinking play is leaving my half.  Nope.  Ball is turned over and a quick goal is scored.  FORTUNATELY, AR1 and our 4th notice I had my flag up so they tell the CR "go talk to him."  I told the CR the ball went out but you never looked over.  We correctly rule "no goal" and restart with the GK.  Of course, our SDA is observing us.  After the game, he asked me what I saw, and what I should've done.  He did compliment us (the CR and me) for getting the call correct; otherwise, we had a Misapplication of the Laws situation, which is protestable.  Now I know.  Stand there with your flag raised all night if you have to. :)

New content from USSF

USSF seems to be in the process of updating their website with more video modules for refs.

Check out the new "Ask, Tell, Dismiss" guidance Here:

MLSsoccer.com also hosts a weekly "Instant Replay" series that reviews some of the notable calls (and non-calls) from MLS Action.  The link is here.  I don't always agree with Simon Borg's conclusions, but it is pretty cool to review.

Finally, we should follow this rugby ref's lead in dealing with Dissent on the field.  The dissent is at :08, the ref handles it at :38.