Don't know how long this series will be, but let me go day by day, so possibly 3-4 entries. We set off as a group of 4 down to Birmingham. 725 miles is a long way to go to ref some soccer matches but it was fun. We arrived late that evening and had to work 2 games on that Thursday through Sunday.
On Thursday I had the chance to work the National League games, U16 boys. Did an AR and got to do my first 4th official. I enjoyed that one. It was cold, but under the lights, it was fun. One coach did not know the rules and tried to have a kid reenter the field of play during the same half, which was a no-no for this event. He also tested the limits of what was acceptable the whole time but was a good handful, if you will.
In the second half of that match (center was a 5, AR1 was a 6 and AR2 was an 8), AR1 is deep in his own half and a ball goes out of play close to me on the sideline. I clearly see if go off of white for a blue throw (10 minutes left in a 1-1 game) but AR1 points the other way. I silently indicate to the center that it should go the other way as a way of suggestion. He comes over and verifies (I was 5 feet away, so it made sense) and goes with my call (against the chatty coach and so he goes ballistic). 3 minutes later, similar thing happens, but I point the other way, again silently, and the center does not see me, so the coach goes crazy one more time.
Being the 4th basically was summed up as letting them vent and then putting them back in their place (not stepping onto the field and sitting down after giving instructions, etc).
So that way day 1. More to come on the other days soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment