It's that time again to count up the numbers and figure out what and where all of it went. The season was a busy one, with some weeknight matches with the high-school kids and all the weekend work. In total I did 60 matches this season, the most I have done so far. I do not see myself getting to this number any time soon due to the fact that Sunday is when most of the matches are played and now both of my children are in travel, my son playing U11 and my daughter U9. Finding time to ref in between all that is going to be a challenge for me and for my assignor(s). My estimates are that my weekend work is going to come down dramatically, especially when both of my kids are playing away games.
Still, for this season there were 35 centers and 25 ARs. I include the two-man centers in the regular centers (there were three of those). I recall handing out about 10 yellow cards, and I recall 2 red cards (both in the same match, more on that in my next post as it was in the last match of the season). I should have had more matches but I was forced to miss this past weekend's tournament due to travel for my regular job. Still, 60 matches is not something to scoff at and it will be my personal best for some time to come given the reduced time that I will have for the foreseeable future.
I have been asked by a couple of you out there that are thinking about turning this into something more than just an occasional thing, and the possibility is there. You have to be willing to take some of the junk assignments at the beginning or come to the aid of a desperate assignor even when it is not convenient for you, just to get your foot in the door. I did that at the beginning of this season, where I traveled 45 miles out of my way, just to do one match as an AR. Normally, I would have not taken such as assignment, but I guessed that the assignor would notice, realize and be appreciative of the such a sacrifice. I believe it paid off because I was offered more high school matches than I would have thought were normally given to first year refs.
In the end, it all comes down to how much dedication and time you can give. The more you give, the more you get. And even if you do not know your assignor from Adam, it is possible that they notice and reward you for helping them out, or hanging in there, or for being that last gasp help that they so desperately need.
More on my last match and the World Cup in some of my future postings, since there is a break on the local stuff for a couple of months. Till the next time.
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