Last Saturday, I had 4 good matches, U10 boys and a bunch of U8 matches as well. Those went fine. I felt confident with them. I also had a U12 girls that ended with one team angry at me that I did not call enough fouls against Blue "17" whom they called a fouling machine. I did call 3-4 fouls on her but they wanted every single call. On top of it, it was a close game, 1-0 for Blue and I had to stop the match twice in the second half for serious injuries (ironically, Blue suffered the injuries).
Anyway, I found myself second guessing after the fact. Should I have called more fouls? I did not see them to tell you the truth, but it bugs me if I did miss something important.
I have three ARs this weekend, two on Saturday, adult league and one on Sunday as well as two Centers on Saturday. Hopefully I can put this match in the past and move forward.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Is this already getting to me?
I had read on other blogs how those people that ref get to a point when they start getting tired. This weekend, it hit me. I was getting tired of these matches! I certainly hope this feeling was a fluke, and maybe it was because I was not feeling well on Saturday, but it is something I cannot avoid. More to come later but I hope to be more positive in the next post.
Anyway, 3 matches this weekend, two ARs and one C. Nothing terrible to talk about, excpept I worked with one ref that I think has a good style, kind of proper, kind of gruff and kind of no-nonsense. Would love to work with him again.
Anyway, 3 matches this weekend, two ARs and one C. Nothing terrible to talk about, excpept I worked with one ref that I think has a good style, kind of proper, kind of gruff and kind of no-nonsense. Would love to work with him again.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Back from a rest
It has been a couple of weeks and I am back. I did not have time to post my wrap-up from two weeks ago, so here it goes, after a break from a little bit of everything (work mostly).
The night before the start of the season, a friend asked me to go see the NCAA finals and we had some drinks. I am a light-weight for sure and the next morning, I was paying for it dearly. It sucked basically. A splitting headache that did not go away till well after the morning matches were over.
Maybe that is why I handed out three yellow cards that morning! Anyway, the games were interesting in the sense that the first match was between U12 D2 boys and they were good. The match ended 2-1 in favor of the local team. Well played, two out of character challenges that earned yellow cards (one for each team) but in general, well played. The first goal was scroed on a borderline offensive foul, the defending coach certainly thought so, but it seemed fair enough to me, so it counted.
In the second match, there was a superior team and an inferior team, but the superior team had 7 players (in U12 it is 8v8) and the inferior team has 4 subs to boot. So one team was always fresh and the other had to run a lot more. Nothing too critical in this match except one of the boys on the 8 boy team fell while the ball was rolling out of bounds for a corner kick and just reach out and grabbed the ball while in play (beside the corner flag). It must have been a brain fart on his behalf, but it was intentional handling, so in the book he went.
The other one was the 7 boy team had a nice play where it was lobbed and it seemed like a one on one but the attacker never got control of the ball, the goalie came out and they collided. It really did not look like a penalty to me or a foul on the attacker. It was a weird case of a collision where both players were going for the ball and were unaware of each other in some weird way. I could not bring myself to call it one way or another, so after the players were tended to, I had a dropped ball. The attacking coach had other things to say, but hey, what do they know, right? In the end that game went 0-0.
This weekend I have 3 U14 matches, two ARs and one center. Should be another interesting set of matches. See you out in the field.
The night before the start of the season, a friend asked me to go see the NCAA finals and we had some drinks. I am a light-weight for sure and the next morning, I was paying for it dearly. It sucked basically. A splitting headache that did not go away till well after the morning matches were over.
Maybe that is why I handed out three yellow cards that morning! Anyway, the games were interesting in the sense that the first match was between U12 D2 boys and they were good. The match ended 2-1 in favor of the local team. Well played, two out of character challenges that earned yellow cards (one for each team) but in general, well played. The first goal was scroed on a borderline offensive foul, the defending coach certainly thought so, but it seemed fair enough to me, so it counted.
In the second match, there was a superior team and an inferior team, but the superior team had 7 players (in U12 it is 8v8) and the inferior team has 4 subs to boot. So one team was always fresh and the other had to run a lot more. Nothing too critical in this match except one of the boys on the 8 boy team fell while the ball was rolling out of bounds for a corner kick and just reach out and grabbed the ball while in play (beside the corner flag). It must have been a brain fart on his behalf, but it was intentional handling, so in the book he went.
The other one was the 7 boy team had a nice play where it was lobbed and it seemed like a one on one but the attacker never got control of the ball, the goalie came out and they collided. It really did not look like a penalty to me or a foul on the attacker. It was a weird case of a collision where both players were going for the ball and were unaware of each other in some weird way. I could not bring myself to call it one way or another, so after the players were tended to, I had a dropped ball. The attacking coach had other things to say, but hey, what do they know, right? In the end that game went 0-0.
This weekend I have 3 U14 matches, two ARs and one center. Should be another interesting set of matches. See you out in the field.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Looking forward to this weekend
It is late, and I am tired after a brutal week at work, but I am excited about the start of the season this weekend. Regardless, I have done some matches already, the day in and day out type start this weekend.
I am happy that my strategy to work with more local people this season seems to be working out. One assignor (the one that assigns for the turf fields 5 miles from home) states that he has me on matches pretty much all spring long. He has me down for 7 of the weekends. And I was just assigned matches for the adult league close by as well. That works for me because the money is great and it is not 35 miles away like I used to do for the other adult league.
Anyway, hope to be able to represent well this season and to pick up the number of matches I do this season.
I am happy that my strategy to work with more local people this season seems to be working out. One assignor (the one that assigns for the turf fields 5 miles from home) states that he has me on matches pretty much all spring long. He has me down for 7 of the weekends. And I was just assigned matches for the adult league close by as well. That works for me because the money is great and it is not 35 miles away like I used to do for the other adult league.
Anyway, hope to be able to represent well this season and to pick up the number of matches I do this season.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Another tournament weekend
This weekend, one of the local clubs had a huge tournament. Advertised as a massive tournament with many teams, it turned out to be more of a fizzle instead of a celebration of soccer. The reason, the weather.
At the start of the day on Saturday, we arrive to see my son's morning match and find out that the start has been delayed 30 minutes because the field (which was really the outfield of a baseball field) had a part that was not ready for play (the small part that was dirt infield along one of the touch lines. The county workers were dropping a ton of sandlike substance that was called something like Game Ready sand and promised to harden soft infields soaked in water. It was not raining, but rather a light drizzle. And to boot, all matches were reduced to 20 minute halves (which was enough as the final score was 6-4).
We went home and then I headed out to my field for my 4 matches. I arrived, met the field marshall and got my assignments and my gift (a shirt from the tournament). I then met up with my counterparts for the four matches, a father/son duo. The father was certainly a stand up guy, very good at maintaining control of matches and an all around good guy. His son was doing his first tournament and he did better than I expected given that it was his first tournament.
To note on the four matches I did:
Match one, I was an AR, and it was nothing terrible, except that I fell due to the field and the line being in such a muddy shape. I actually fell flat on my back and the game had to be stopped for a minute or two while I caught my breath again (it was really embarrasing, but it also hurt too!).
Second match was my first as a center and it was a blow out. 4-0 in 40 minutes of soccer and it was evident that one team was outclassed. Still I got a lot more gamesmanship from the winning team than from the team that should have been looking for an advantage.
Third match I was an AR again, and fell again. It was a weird game, the better team started winning with two goals and then the other team just pushed hard forward and got the tie at the end. At the end of the game, the team that tied had a breakaway and the ball gets stuck in the mud. The attacker, who had a step on the defender, fell on the ball, and the defender caught up. The ref called dangerous play as the ball was under the player and his crown jewels. The coach went ballistic, but the center was right.
Finally, the fourth match was an entertaining 0-0, but the first thing of note was the cards. One player on the red team was good but he threw his body around and around. I cautioned him with 10 minutes left in the first half. He had commited 4 fouls up to that point. 5 minutes into the second half, he took down someone from behind and so it happened, I pulled out my yellow again, and then the red. First time I ever had to do that. Then white commited a couple of stupid fouls, and had to caution them as well, but it was a good game in the end.
To conclude, the field was unplayable by the end of the day. To the point that Sunday schedule for all non-turf fields were cancelled despite being a beautiful day. So one day of soccer ruined fields for all season all over the area. I am sure the organizers of the tournament are proud (the reason it was played to begin with was to not have to refund teams their money).
At the start of the day on Saturday, we arrive to see my son's morning match and find out that the start has been delayed 30 minutes because the field (which was really the outfield of a baseball field) had a part that was not ready for play (the small part that was dirt infield along one of the touch lines. The county workers were dropping a ton of sandlike substance that was called something like Game Ready sand and promised to harden soft infields soaked in water. It was not raining, but rather a light drizzle. And to boot, all matches were reduced to 20 minute halves (which was enough as the final score was 6-4).
We went home and then I headed out to my field for my 4 matches. I arrived, met the field marshall and got my assignments and my gift (a shirt from the tournament). I then met up with my counterparts for the four matches, a father/son duo. The father was certainly a stand up guy, very good at maintaining control of matches and an all around good guy. His son was doing his first tournament and he did better than I expected given that it was his first tournament.
To note on the four matches I did:
Match one, I was an AR, and it was nothing terrible, except that I fell due to the field and the line being in such a muddy shape. I actually fell flat on my back and the game had to be stopped for a minute or two while I caught my breath again (it was really embarrasing, but it also hurt too!).
Second match was my first as a center and it was a blow out. 4-0 in 40 minutes of soccer and it was evident that one team was outclassed. Still I got a lot more gamesmanship from the winning team than from the team that should have been looking for an advantage.
Third match I was an AR again, and fell again. It was a weird game, the better team started winning with two goals and then the other team just pushed hard forward and got the tie at the end. At the end of the game, the team that tied had a breakaway and the ball gets stuck in the mud. The attacker, who had a step on the defender, fell on the ball, and the defender caught up. The ref called dangerous play as the ball was under the player and his crown jewels. The coach went ballistic, but the center was right.
Finally, the fourth match was an entertaining 0-0, but the first thing of note was the cards. One player on the red team was good but he threw his body around and around. I cautioned him with 10 minutes left in the first half. He had commited 4 fouls up to that point. 5 minutes into the second half, he took down someone from behind and so it happened, I pulled out my yellow again, and then the red. First time I ever had to do that. Then white commited a couple of stupid fouls, and had to caution them as well, but it was a good game in the end.
To conclude, the field was unplayable by the end of the day. To the point that Sunday schedule for all non-turf fields were cancelled despite being a beautiful day. So one day of soccer ruined fields for all season all over the area. I am sure the organizers of the tournament are proud (the reason it was played to begin with was to not have to refund teams their money).
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Scheduling smeduling
It was bound to happen, schedules came out for my son's league and now everyone wants to tie down the refs they plan to use immediately. I am amazed at the amount of commitment some of the regular season assignors want. This season, instead of trying to get games all over, and especially get games right before or after my son's matches, I decided to try closer to home. The closest one, basically assigns for one park, and not for a league. It gets really interesting. Anyway, I basically told him that I would give him first crack at my schedule and he already gave me two matches for the 4/5 weekend when everything gets going.
The other assignor I am looking forward to working with has some games on Saturday's, which is good and have taken a couple from him. I am not sure that my strategy will work, but I guess I will noodle it though and figure out if it makes sense. I don't like doing many games in a row, but at the same time, one match only sometimes does not do it either. Time will tell, but from what I see now, it will let me work better for the fall, in the sense that I will know which method works best. If I get to 40 matches, then it will be just fine. If I fall short, I will have gained knowledge on how best to work the system at least.
The other assignor I am looking forward to working with has some games on Saturday's, which is good and have taken a couple from him. I am not sure that my strategy will work, but I guess I will noodle it though and figure out if it makes sense. I don't like doing many games in a row, but at the same time, one match only sometimes does not do it either. Time will tell, but from what I see now, it will let me work better for the fall, in the sense that I will know which method works best. If I get to 40 matches, then it will be just fine. If I fall short, I will have gained knowledge on how best to work the system at least.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Figuring out assignors
So far, for tournaments, I have been able to figure out two of my assignors. They each have a certain method of working with their referees and it is fun to see how they always come to the same results. It must work for them, otherwise, they would change, right? At least the similarities comes into play when determining schedules around my son's games.
The first of two assignors has a bunch of emails going out to a list of people and when everyone replys with their availability, he hands out assignments. What is interesting in these two times I have worked for him, is that he gives me the backup role on the fields where my son plays. I have done two tournaments with him and have yet to ref a match for him. He tends to assign me the backup role. I almost reffed one match this weekend but the ref made it just in time. So 0 for 2 with him. Still, I do not mind being backup as it is paid to watch games basically.
The other assignor has the opposite tendancy. Since she assingns based on time and has no real idea when specific teams play, she intentionally puts me in places where I cannot have my son's games. I guess it works for her. What is interesting is that for this coming tournament, there are a truckload of teams coming to town (at least 250 would be my guess) and she does not appear to work with backup refs. At least I never was asked to back up in her tourneys. Interesting dynamics.
So next week, it is on, 7 matches, 3 centers and 4 ARs. It will be interesting for sure to see if I can keep up with all that reffing. A test of willpower, so to speak.
The first of two assignors has a bunch of emails going out to a list of people and when everyone replys with their availability, he hands out assignments. What is interesting in these two times I have worked for him, is that he gives me the backup role on the fields where my son plays. I have done two tournaments with him and have yet to ref a match for him. He tends to assign me the backup role. I almost reffed one match this weekend but the ref made it just in time. So 0 for 2 with him. Still, I do not mind being backup as it is paid to watch games basically.
The other assignor has the opposite tendancy. Since she assingns based on time and has no real idea when specific teams play, she intentionally puts me in places where I cannot have my son's games. I guess it works for her. What is interesting is that for this coming tournament, there are a truckload of teams coming to town (at least 250 would be my guess) and she does not appear to work with backup refs. At least I never was asked to back up in her tourneys. Interesting dynamics.
So next week, it is on, 7 matches, 3 centers and 4 ARs. It will be interesting for sure to see if I can keep up with all that reffing. A test of willpower, so to speak.
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