Sometimes, not reffing is just as lucrative as actually reffing. I was a backup referee this past weekend and did not get a chance to actually manage any of the matches, but I was basically on call for 5 hours or so each day. I did not expect much in terms of payment because it was not much in terms of work but yesterday I received a check for $125 for such services. Not bad given the fact that I think the check I will get soon, for the 8 mini matches I had the week before, will probably be that much as well, though given this payoff, it should be more. I will give an update when that check arrives.
And I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
First Season in the books
It is done, my first season was completed this last weekend with no matches to referee. All referees that were scheduled for the two fields I was the backup for, showed up. Interestingly enough, I did have to lend out my flags to one of the referees and then lend him some money since he forgot his wallet and did not know that matches had built in breakes in between then (to the tune of an hour and a half between match #2 and match #3 on each field).
I still expect to make around $80 for the efforts and I got to watch some good refereeing by some of those involved. Over the course of the winter, I plan to write up more of my experiences with the equipment itself as well as posting some pictures of the things I use to referee. I would love to hear some of your comments or suggestions on how to make it better.
Also, being the statistical enthusiast that I am, I will post some more details as to how much I made and all the matches I did, once the final numbers are counted.
I still expect to make around $80 for the efforts and I got to watch some good refereeing by some of those involved. Over the course of the winter, I plan to write up more of my experiences with the equipment itself as well as posting some pictures of the things I use to referee. I would love to hear some of your comments or suggestions on how to make it better.
Also, being the statistical enthusiast that I am, I will post some more details as to how much I made and all the matches I did, once the final numbers are counted.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Stand-by in the cold
Oh boy was it freezing this morning. I arrived at 8am at the fields where I was a stand-by referee. I originally was not too happy that I was only selected to be a stand-in instead of a referee with assigned matches, but after feeling the blistering cold, the wind that cut right through you, I was more than happy to be able to sit in the car and wait to see if any of refs outside suffered from hypothermia.
The matches I did observe were well played for the most part. My son's team did very well with a 7-0 win and then an 8-0 win. But the really funny parts were the following:
- The first one was a jolly old referee. He did my son's first match and was a great example of how to work games without taking it too seriously but at the same time resepecting the kids and the parents. He had some dialogue with the crowd as well as explaining all the rules/decisions concisely when needed. And at the end of the game, he was leaving the field with us, so he turns to my daughter and asked her if would like a pencil. She said yes and he pulled out a soccer themed pencil. He gave a couple more out to the kids that were still around. That is why I called him a jolly old referee. Just a fun guy to be around. I am not sure if he ever works U19 matches or if it is mostly younger kids, but those tactics will not fly after a certain age group.
- The other interesting thing was that during the break between the first round of matches and the second, I was able to drive up to Walmart to buy some gloves and a knit hat as I did not have any and it was desperately needed. As I was walking up to pay I overheard a woman talking on the cell and her conversation went very much like this..."the girls played well but they were beaten, I do not remember the final score but it was not close. And the worst part was the referee, he called everything in favor of the other girls..." and then she was gone. I wanted to stop the woman and ask her if she really thought that the referee had that much ill will against a group of girls he does not even know. I think not!
I will have some more tomorrow, but the bad part is that my knee is acting up so I may just have to bite the bullet and go to get it looked at.
The matches I did observe were well played for the most part. My son's team did very well with a 7-0 win and then an 8-0 win. But the really funny parts were the following:
- The first one was a jolly old referee. He did my son's first match and was a great example of how to work games without taking it too seriously but at the same time resepecting the kids and the parents. He had some dialogue with the crowd as well as explaining all the rules/decisions concisely when needed. And at the end of the game, he was leaving the field with us, so he turns to my daughter and asked her if would like a pencil. She said yes and he pulled out a soccer themed pencil. He gave a couple more out to the kids that were still around. That is why I called him a jolly old referee. Just a fun guy to be around. I am not sure if he ever works U19 matches or if it is mostly younger kids, but those tactics will not fly after a certain age group.
- The other interesting thing was that during the break between the first round of matches and the second, I was able to drive up to Walmart to buy some gloves and a knit hat as I did not have any and it was desperately needed. As I was walking up to pay I overheard a woman talking on the cell and her conversation went very much like this..."the girls played well but they were beaten, I do not remember the final score but it was not close. And the worst part was the referee, he called everything in favor of the other girls..." and then she was gone. I wanted to stop the woman and ask her if she really thought that the referee had that much ill will against a group of girls he does not even know. I think not!
I will have some more tomorrow, but the bad part is that my knee is acting up so I may just have to bite the bullet and go to get it looked at.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Limping out the season
Nowhere close to what I was expecting for the rec tournament I did this weekend. The day started off ok, the rain was held in check for Saturday morning and only scattered sprinkles could be felt. Traffic was not bad heading to the matches, but then I did not expect much at 7:15am on a Saturday morning.
Upon arrival, I see that the teams are arriving and I make my way to the field, but I must go on a tangent/rant. Matches were 25 minutes each with 5 minutes in between matches, so each match was expected to be played in 30 minute intervals. It was certainly impossible to keep that going. After the first match ended at 8:37 (already 7 minutes behind schedule), I knew there was no hope in keeping up with the alloted times. In the end, I was 35 minutes behind schedule when I ended my 8th match, and I have to say that I thought I did a good job.
Anyway, upon arriving, the field coordinator states that there is a big interest in getting the matches played but that I was the final say on if the matches would be played. I looked at the fields and saw that there were some minor puddles, but nothing that looked deep and/or problematic, so I said that we would be able to play.
The field was not in the best of shapes to start, and by the end it was a steaming pot of mud. I pity the referee who came after me. As the matches wore on, I could see that footing might be troublesome to maintain.
In the end, the level was not very good, the girls were all U12 and from rec leagues, so the level of play was not fantastic. The field did not allow for much fluid play and in 8 matches, I had a 2-0, 3 1-0 matches and 4 0-0 matches, not exactly brilliant but given the circumstances, understandable.
On a side note, I am now limping thanks to some misstep I took at some moment between the 5th or 6th match that caused me to run around in pain for the last of match 7 and all of match 8. The field probably contributed to the injury. At this point, it does not seem like a torn MCL or anything close, more like sprained. So not having actual reffing responsabilities next weekend is not a bad thing. At this point, I am happy the season is almost over and ready for the holidays to begin in earnest.
Upon arrival, I see that the teams are arriving and I make my way to the field, but I must go on a tangent/rant. Matches were 25 minutes each with 5 minutes in between matches, so each match was expected to be played in 30 minute intervals. It was certainly impossible to keep that going. After the first match ended at 8:37 (already 7 minutes behind schedule), I knew there was no hope in keeping up with the alloted times. In the end, I was 35 minutes behind schedule when I ended my 8th match, and I have to say that I thought I did a good job.
Anyway, upon arriving, the field coordinator states that there is a big interest in getting the matches played but that I was the final say on if the matches would be played. I looked at the fields and saw that there were some minor puddles, but nothing that looked deep and/or problematic, so I said that we would be able to play.
The field was not in the best of shapes to start, and by the end it was a steaming pot of mud. I pity the referee who came after me. As the matches wore on, I could see that footing might be troublesome to maintain.
In the end, the level was not very good, the girls were all U12 and from rec leagues, so the level of play was not fantastic. The field did not allow for much fluid play and in 8 matches, I had a 2-0, 3 1-0 matches and 4 0-0 matches, not exactly brilliant but given the circumstances, understandable.
On a side note, I am now limping thanks to some misstep I took at some moment between the 5th or 6th match that caused me to run around in pain for the last of match 7 and all of match 8. The field probably contributed to the injury. At this point, it does not seem like a torn MCL or anything close, more like sprained. So not having actual reffing responsabilities next weekend is not a bad thing. At this point, I am happy the season is almost over and ready for the holidays to begin in earnest.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Housekeeping
I realized that the links on the left were not working, so I fixed those and added one link to a blog of another ref who has been at it for a long time now and writes quite a bit as well too. His style is one that I can only hope to emulate and there are hundereds if not thousands of entries. I started reading it a couple of weeks ago and still have not caught up (I am on November of 2006). Refblog.com is the site, just in case.
No silver lining
I spoke too soon regarding these last two tournaments. The first one, starting tomorrow, looks to be a doozy with all the rain we may be getting. It is wet now and cold, so I imagine it will stay that way. I am not really looking forward to it, but I am in too deep at this point. At least I have 8 mini games on Saturday (the equivalent to 4 regular matches) and then Sunday I have 4 more (regular matches). I will tally these up as 8 matches total, though 12 results will be had.
As for the following weekend's tournament, I think I am paying the price of being a relative newbie. I was put in as a Stand-by for the fields where my son is to play. Not exactly what I was hoping for, but beggars can't be choosers, so I will take it and run with it. If I get a match or two, I will be happy but at least I will be able to watch my son's matches without any issues that weekend. More to come as it happens but let's say I do not expect much of anything to come from this tournament. So much for going out with a bang.
As for the following weekend's tournament, I think I am paying the price of being a relative newbie. I was put in as a Stand-by for the fields where my son is to play. Not exactly what I was hoping for, but beggars can't be choosers, so I will take it and run with it. If I get a match or two, I will be happy but at least I will be able to watch my son's matches without any issues that weekend. More to come as it happens but let's say I do not expect much of anything to come from this tournament. So much for going out with a bang.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
First Payment
Today I received my first check for services rendered. I was up to about $800 on my watch, in terms of all the leagues, of which there are 5. The check is nothing earth-shattering ($87) but it does represent the first amount that someone ever pays me for blowing a whistle. I am actually proud of myself (even though all the positions I did in this league were AR positions) and cannot wait to get more, but it puts in perspective that there are responsibilities. Today, it is sad in a way, that it went from a hobby and a passion to a job. I just hope that it stays as vibrant as it is now.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Assignments in so many colors
So the season is not dead yet. I had received an invite from an assignor that I never worked with a couple of weeks ago that basically said, call me at 11am today for assignments at the upcoming tournament on the weekend of November 15 and 16. So I did. At 11am on the dot. She was evidently fielding calls from other people already.
When she got to me, she asked me what I had worked already this season and what I felt comfortable with, etc. I got a Saturday with U12 girls and a Sunday with U11 boys. It was just interesting how you get assignments to that tournament. My son played in that tournament last season and the level of reffing was decent, to say the least, so I am hoping to be able to keep up the level. And U11 and U12 is not the oldest (U15 looked to be the oldest) but it was not the youngest either (with U8 being the youngest) and I would imagine that they keep those for the younger referees. I also got the mornings, as I do not mind being at the fields at 7:30, and the wife and kids will not be up until 9:30 or so, that works out well as there would not be that much time away while everyone is awake. The afternoon possibility was better to see championship matches (all the finals are played on Sunday afternoon) but it would also be something of a bigger break if we had any other weekend activities.
And the following weekend, I am part of another tournament, this time, with my son's team in play as well, so there are still some matches to be had even as the season winds down. And to think I am at 30 matches this season already. I will be close to 40-45 when it is all said and done for this first season. Not too shabby.
When she got to me, she asked me what I had worked already this season and what I felt comfortable with, etc. I got a Saturday with U12 girls and a Sunday with U11 boys. It was just interesting how you get assignments to that tournament. My son played in that tournament last season and the level of reffing was decent, to say the least, so I am hoping to be able to keep up the level. And U11 and U12 is not the oldest (U15 looked to be the oldest) but it was not the youngest either (with U8 being the youngest) and I would imagine that they keep those for the younger referees. I also got the mornings, as I do not mind being at the fields at 7:30, and the wife and kids will not be up until 9:30 or so, that works out well as there would not be that much time away while everyone is awake. The afternoon possibility was better to see championship matches (all the finals are played on Sunday afternoon) but it would also be something of a bigger break if we had any other weekend activities.
And the following weekend, I am part of another tournament, this time, with my son's team in play as well, so there are still some matches to be had even as the season winds down. And to think I am at 30 matches this season already. I will be close to 40-45 when it is all said and done for this first season. Not too shabby.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Wacky weekend
Well, this was one of those weekends that all the others have mentioned in their soccer reffing blogs (I plan to link some after posting this) but I never had experienced myself. I was scheduled to do 6 matches this weekend (yeah, my wife was thrilled!). But on Thursday, I get an email that the three games on Sunday had been moved from one site, to three and at all different times. I email the assignor who basically said that she had no control over the changes in venues and she understood if I had to cancel. I did as the games were all over the place. So I was down to 3 matches on Saturday. I emailed one of the assignors and asked if he had any matches. He sends one U13 my way for Sunday, so I was back to 4 matches. Then Friday night, I get the email from my Saturday matches confirming the assignments, and I am not on the list, so I was down to 1 match, man could not catch a break!
I email that assignor and he replies that he sent the wrong spreadsheet and the new spreadsheet did have me, so I was back up to 4. In the end, I did 5 matches as the one on Sunday was preceded by being asked to AR during my son's match, where the scheduled AR no-showed.
So on to the matches...the Saturday ones were all ARs for the local rec league in U16 and U14 formats. There were a couple of close games but what really called my attention was the fact that the local league had boys that were half the size of some of the other team's kids. The interesting match was a 1-0 match that was decided by a shot that hit the goalie's hands, popped back and landed just past the goal line for a goal. I was glad that I had run to the end and was able to see for sure that the ball had gone totally in before being snached again by the keeper. I ran up the line and the center showed his appreciation after the match for my being in position.
On Sunday, I was pulled last minute while watching my son's match to AR for the match right next to it in a U12 match. The only thing of note was the coach of the Orange team that sounded like Bruno Tonioli from Dancing with the Stars. Out of nowhere he starts yelling at me that I had not seen a hand ball. I do not get coaches. He immediately made me angry and I told him in no uncertain terms that it was the last I wanted to hear from him in that manner again. He pipped down after that.
Then I ran to my center match about 30 minutes away and did an awesome match of a U13 game. The level and speed was not something I was expecting. White was whiny (the kids were, the parents and the coaches not so much). Blue was also asking for fouls that just were not there.
We had a 2-1 match in favor of white when at about 4-5 minutes into the second half, I realized I had not started the watch and so I did some math and used a technique I read about somewhere else. If you forget to start the time, announce the time remaining with plenty of time, like at the 15 minute mark, so that no one is surprised when you count it down from 15, 10, 5 and 2 minutes. I like to do that in a close game.
The other was that on a corner, blue heads it and the ball hits the crossbar, bounces down and only my lead AR could see if it was a goal or not. I stopped the match, asked the AR and he said that he was fairly sure that the ball had gone in. He was not in the best position in the world, but he was the only one who could have seen it, so I validated the goal. The game ended 2-2 but I had to card one of the blue players for retaliating on a non-call that he thought he should have gotten. Other than that, it was a good game, an eye opener for me. Hoping to do more of those as they were the full sized field and this was fun!
Next week I am on travel, so I am not sure when the next post will be, hopefully soon.
I email that assignor and he replies that he sent the wrong spreadsheet and the new spreadsheet did have me, so I was back up to 4. In the end, I did 5 matches as the one on Sunday was preceded by being asked to AR during my son's match, where the scheduled AR no-showed.
So on to the matches...the Saturday ones were all ARs for the local rec league in U16 and U14 formats. There were a couple of close games but what really called my attention was the fact that the local league had boys that were half the size of some of the other team's kids. The interesting match was a 1-0 match that was decided by a shot that hit the goalie's hands, popped back and landed just past the goal line for a goal. I was glad that I had run to the end and was able to see for sure that the ball had gone totally in before being snached again by the keeper. I ran up the line and the center showed his appreciation after the match for my being in position.
On Sunday, I was pulled last minute while watching my son's match to AR for the match right next to it in a U12 match. The only thing of note was the coach of the Orange team that sounded like Bruno Tonioli from Dancing with the Stars. Out of nowhere he starts yelling at me that I had not seen a hand ball. I do not get coaches. He immediately made me angry and I told him in no uncertain terms that it was the last I wanted to hear from him in that manner again. He pipped down after that.
Then I ran to my center match about 30 minutes away and did an awesome match of a U13 game. The level and speed was not something I was expecting. White was whiny (the kids were, the parents and the coaches not so much). Blue was also asking for fouls that just were not there.
We had a 2-1 match in favor of white when at about 4-5 minutes into the second half, I realized I had not started the watch and so I did some math and used a technique I read about somewhere else. If you forget to start the time, announce the time remaining with plenty of time, like at the 15 minute mark, so that no one is surprised when you count it down from 15, 10, 5 and 2 minutes. I like to do that in a close game.
The other was that on a corner, blue heads it and the ball hits the crossbar, bounces down and only my lead AR could see if it was a goal or not. I stopped the match, asked the AR and he said that he was fairly sure that the ball had gone in. He was not in the best position in the world, but he was the only one who could have seen it, so I validated the goal. The game ended 2-2 but I had to card one of the blue players for retaliating on a non-call that he thought he should have gotten. Other than that, it was a good game, an eye opener for me. Hoping to do more of those as they were the full sized field and this was fun!
Next week I am on travel, so I am not sure when the next post will be, hopefully soon.
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