RefBlog

Why are fans so lazy?

Nothing has set me off lately, but it's something every referee deals with on a regular basis, and it seemed to be a good time to just reflect on what's probably the biggest hinderance to both referees, players, and coaches: ignorant fans. It really shouldn't be this way, especially with the later two, but it's gotten to the point that one columnist calls it "Parental Terrorism" - so that even a successful coach has to fear for his job because Johnny/Susy isn't getting enough playing time. Just think about the pressures a struggling coach goes through.



And we wonder why coaches sometimes go bezerk over a throw-in call.



Let's look at the roles here: the coach's primary job is to know about the game; the parent's are to raise their kids to hopefully be respecable members of society, but too often the parents take the game more seriously than the kids. The coach, I can understand - it's his/her job, but the parents? Too often the parents don't know squat about the game; what's worse, they don't even understand what their kids want out of them.



As a referee, I can't do much on getting the fans to lay off the coaches - as a referee, I only deal with fans on gameday. But I wonder if the vicious circle that encumbers referees also affects coaches (referee abuse means the referees that continue long-term are those that handle abuse first, with ability being secondary; which pisses people off about refereeing more, leading to more abuse, causing refs who haven't learned to cope to leave, leaving referees that deal with abuse as their primary ability and ability their secondary; which pisses people off.... and so on); and I wonder how this affects the coach-referee relationship - which, generally speaking, is bad (more)

29 September '03 - 17:16 - theref - default| No comments yet - § ¶

Reasons I'll never be a National Referee

(I know I said I was going on vacation - I'm actually leaving tomorrow. But it's not really a vacation, no soccer fan I know of would schedule their wedding during the Women's World Cup.)

Last month, when I took my 2004 recertification clinic, there was some discussion about what it takes to make the upper levels of refereeing in the US; and it was very apparent that I will never, ever, be one of those referees.

The first two primary reasons are simple: I'm not fit enough, and I'm not that good of a referee. But the other reasons I find a bit distrubing, mostly because they're questions of lifestyle, not ability. While male players can have long hair,facial hair, and a glass of wine with dinner, referees can not. Yes, one of the stories involved a referee crew, for a professional-level match, having a drink the night before a game (a single drink), and being taken off their game. I also recall two years ago, at the College Cup final, several remarks that it was the first time they remembered seeing a referee on television, in the US, with more facial hair than a mustache (he had a goatee).

Let me be the first to say, "What the fuck???"

Now, it's very clear that certain things are not standards: race, creed, gender (although have you seen any women referees in the MLS since the WUSA opened?), and height. But the look must be "All-American" - no tatoos, long hair, crew cuts (I know of one National that has a crew cut, but I haven't seen him do MLS yet), piercings (except for women), etc. Pierluigi Collina would not get a job reffing MLS matches if he started out in this country.

Maybe I'm taking it personally; I do happen to have long hair - I do some (not-for-profit) acting, and it's much easier to cut your hair on short-notice for a part, than it is to grow it out on short-notice; besides, my girlfriend is very fond of it, and she IS more important than reffing. Sorry.

I take a lot of pride in my physical appearance. I always bathe before games (unless I'm coming from work, in which case the shower happens in the morning prior to work), my uniforms are always clean, and I keep my hair in good condition. But its long, and what's worse, I have a goatee as well. The goatee, of course to make sure I look manly - and yes, it's an absolute requirement than "manly" be said in a deeper-than-normal voice, and when written, placed in bold lettering - it just is, OK? So, even if I suddenly became the best referee in the world, masterful in my craft, by my instructors (indirect) admission, I'd never be allowed on the pitch. Something is skewed here, people.

Oh, yeah. This site - this site will keep me from getting a National badge. OK... I agree with that one.

25 September '03 - 12:57 - theref - default| - § ¶

Even a team made of water can explode...

I had done this school twice previously (they were assigning referees directly, because of their distance away from the city, and I had taken three games, this being my third); they only had a girls team, and it was only their second year. The entire conference was pretty new, so they were able to pull a few wins out; but aggressive was not a word I used to describe them. They had a pretty good midfield, but their defense was suspect, and their goalkeeping very basic (not someone who was going to throw herself in front of a striker on a breakaway). But, kapow, the team made of water found the team made of sodium, and fireworks errupted.

I had worked with the center many times over the last three years, and we were comfortable working together; the third worked with myself at the same school last week. We flipped to determine who would center, and I lost - the winner really wanted to center a boys game, and I think we came pretty close to the agression level of boys here. It had it all, late fouls, hip checks (many), elbows thrown, late slides, and that was in the first half! We were all a bit suprised; none of us had done the visiting team before, but both teams were dishing it out (although the visiting side was far more "effective" in giving, rather than taking, the punishment). We decided to tighten up the second half, and the center did a very good job in doing just that.

With three minutes left in the game, the home coach comes over a says (I was AR 1), "Oh, yeah, did I mention that when we get together it becomes a hockey game?" Yeah, we kind of figured that one out. :) But at least we know for next year, too. There really needs to be a BBS for referees, so we can have some reconnaissance on the teams we'll be working with.

24 September '03 - 14:35 - theref - default| - § ¶

Going on Vacation

I'm leaving for vacation (not to Columbus, though, darnit) in a few days, so posting here may end up taking a back seat to actually having everything ready. I should be back in about a week.

23 September '03 - 15:16 - theref - default| - § ¶

Can you see it? Yup, the ugly train's on its way

Philosophy time: can a referee prevent cards? It's a yes/no question that varies depending on where you are on the food chain. Coaches, if you believe the rules meeting I was at, feel that red cards are just as much our fault as the player's and coach's. Ref's, as a rule, feel that we're enforcers of the law, and much like the police aren't at fault if someone gets themselves caught robbing a gas station, we're not at fault if someone tries a mugging on the field of play. We can try to work the teams to minimize the amount of cards, but like trying to prove a negative, it can't be proven if it helps.



Now the reason for the ruminating: Weekend high school game, featuring, depending on the week, a team ranked number one to number three (and defending state champions), versus a team that, while generally competitive, still won't have a winning record by the end of the season. Being that we're at the home of the ranked team, a rout is the expected outcome. So, as the referee crew, we're looking for fouls designed to slow down the attack (shirt pulls, pushing, and late challenges mainly) and frustration fouls (from either the outcome of the game for the visiting team, or as retaliation from the home side). There is also one other thing that can come into play that's specific to the high school game: because the time is kept by the scoreboard, instead of on the field, and because the NFHS requires that the clock stop at certain points (goals, cards, and other times as needed), there's no way to end a team's misery early - this comes into play later (more)

22 September '03 - 09:22 - theref - default| No comments yet - § ¶

An amusing time as a fan

I fully admit that after I became a referee, my take as a fan totally changed. For one, actually reading the rules (as I called it then, Laws as I call it now) changed my perspective, and then actually taking heat over games brings an even greater shift in perspective. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, to save a wretch like me! I once was a lout, but now I'm a ref; was blind, but now I tweet!

(OK, a lot of people would still think I'm blind)

I decided to take in a college soccer game last night. I feel really awful about it, because not only is it division I soccer (women's - the men's team is only a club team), but the stadium is only three miles down the road from me. Unexpectedly having the night free, I decided to head off on my own to watch the festivities; now I am not from this state, so when it comes to college sports, there's only two schools I really care about: Michigan, because I was born there; and Syracuse, because that's where I graduated from. It's unlikely I'll ever see either team where I am now, so I went there just looking for good soccer - this is still unusual, because when I watch the local professional team, I am a fan, even if I see things differently, I still want calls to go our way - in this case, I was as neutral as the referees.

And dang is was amusing - the game was OK (2-0 to the visitors, taking advantage of several gaping defensive lapses), but it was downright funny to listen to the fans. One (non) call in particular, which I thought was brilliant by the center referee, had everyone else up in arms: home had a breakaway, and the visiting defender caught up, did a slide tackle perfectly - a clean toe-poke of the ball away before making contact with the attacker. It was subtle - if the center blew the whistle, I probably wouldn't have blamed him; but since it was a non-call, the extra time (and my lack of emotional involvement allowed me to process it correctly, rather than instantly focusing on the penalty kick. But just try telling that to the fans, who were on top of the ref for the remainder of the game.

I found the most amusing thing was that, prior to the game, you had the standard NCAA admonition that fans direct their vocalizations toward supporting their team, not at the other team. Apparently verbally abusing the referees is OK. I wish I had gone to these games earlier, I can sit a lot closer than at the pro game, allowing me to get a better look at what they do - Bravo, guys!

20 September '03 - 13:39 - theref - default| - § ¶

And the pitch became softer and softer and softer...

Rainy day again yesterday (as I get back onto a more serious footing; as much as I enjoyed writing the last piece, I just couldn't in good conscience leave it up top for long), and the games didn't prove to be a whole lot of problem, either with the boys or the girls games (the later of which I centered).

We had a steady rain all day, and it alternated between a light rain and drizzle for the four hours we were out reffing, combined with a strong wind to make things rather chilly (although once you started running, things weren't so bad). I joked with both teams about playing the game indoors, with each capitan facing off on a Playstation. The home school wasn't very large, and had a difficut time in each game with possession; the visiting side with the boys had a lot of height, and some very good skill players - although I think they would be shredded by some of the bigger-name schools, because of what seemed to be a lack of teamwork and/or communication throughout the game. There was one yellow card, near the end of the game, but I'm not sure what it was for - in high school, you need to report what the card is for to each coach (I keep forgetting that this year, although in my game, there was one card, and it was painfully obvious what it was for, and it was right in front of the benches); I don't know what it was, but the center whispered it to each coach, and the visiting coach (it was their team that picked up the card) was not a happy camper at the player who recieved it.

After the boys finished softening up the ground in time for the girls game, the rain picked up a bit in time to make it sloppier. Where the visiting boys team had height, the girls team was very small (almost diminutive), but they had a couple of speedsters on their team, and got burned by them on four goals (a couple more were added later). I wonder how many teams have underestimated them, just based on their sheer size (or in this case, lack of it). The girls actually kept us running much more than the boys did, which, considerign the weather, was a good thing (good for me, anyway, regardless) - although the field, which looked in decent shape to begin with, became more and more of a mush - I was thankful to get through both games without taking a tumble, myself.

More on WUSA
Dan Looney writes a good article about the WUSA on CyberSoccerNews.

FlashMan from BigSoccer gets the credit for finding this article that says investors are contacting the WUSA about reviving the league. I hold out hope.

19 September '03 - 12:32 - theref - default| - § ¶

Some Potty Humor

Over the last three years I've spent reffing, I've found many different varieties of chemical toilets (aka Biffys, Satelites, Porta-Johns, and several other less flattering names), if various shapes, configurations, and states of disrepair,and yesterday, I think I found the crème de la crème of the Privies.



Before I descibe this marvel, let me go into a pet peeve about Biffys - people leaving the seats up. I don't mean, in the way men typically leave the seat up like they do in their homes, risking the ire of their female companions who fall though into - such a thought of that happening in a plastic pooper is just too much that even the most course male would remember to place down the U-guard! My gripe is the the actual cover. Some of these facilities aren't cleaned that often, and the last thing I want to see, going into a Porta-Potty, is Harvey the Privy Monster. If nothing else, it cuts down the smell a bit.



I've been going to some different schools this year, including a brand new school, with the very first use of their stadium; since in high schools, I usually have a long drive, and have to skip out of work early, so I tend to need to use the facilities, permanent or otherwise, a little more often than in the summer. Was I the first to "use" the stadium? I certainly was in the plastic stall I chose: no grafitti, no splotches where some other guy "missed" even though the cover was it, it didn't bother me - it reminded me of a "Weird Al" song (see verse nine).



But yesterday, oh, man - they actually addressed my pet peeve - IT HAD A FLUSHER!! This means a lot to me, people. For some reason, it seems that locker rooms for other referees in high school is a given (at least by what I read in Referee Magazine), but that's not the case with soccer - a couple times where I couldn't change at work, I've had to beg to find a room where I could change for high school games. God forbid I have to choose between stripping to my skivvies in public versus a Biffy.

19 September '03 - 10:06 - theref - default| No comments yet - § ¶

The call I blew

I've been reflecting over a game I had, not so recently, where I called something I, in retrospect, shouldn't have.

There seems to be two distinct schools of thought when it comes to calling penalty kicks: one is that if it's a foul outside of the penalty area, it's a foul inside the penalty area (and any direct-kick foul in the PA by the defense is a penalty kick); the other is that, given the likelihood of a goal via the penalty kick, that the any foul called inside the penalty area must be worthy of the probable consequences.

Gee, what could I have called? I wrote about something similar not too long ago, where, given the game situation, I declined to issue a PK (and, because of the nature of the foul, a red card), but this was a little different: I misread the lines and blew the whistle too soon. Most high school games are played over their school's football field, and when I saw the foul (and it was a foul), I thought it was outside of the penalty area. But it wasn't, and I don't think I would have called it, if I observed the field correctly, and saw it was in the penalty area. This left me in an interesting situation:

* Award the PK (remember, it was a foul), and take a hard-line on further fouls in the PA. This could set a bad precident for the remainder of the game (it was early in the second half).

* Call the whistle "inadvertant" (referee-speak for mistake) and restart with a drop ball or indirect kick (per NFHS rules). Also, not a great situation, because, as the hard-liners would point out, I'm breaking the laws by nullifying a legitimate (even if weak) call; the players and coaches know that, too (more)

18 September '03 - 10:50 - theref - default| - § ¶

Pretty tame game

I'm doing a few games out in the boondocks this year - an assignor I take games in the summer was asked to recruit some - they pay very well, probably because it's very hard to get anyone out there to referee. I was told this was a second-year program, but I think the entire conference is new to soccer - at least according to the other people I've worked with. It's interesting, as I've done new programs before, but usually all the skilled players stay with their old schools, with the end result that the new program gets the pants beat off of them every game for at least a season (usually two); but this team had a couple nice ball-handlers. In the two times I've reffed them, they got beated soundly once, and last night, they beat their opponent just as soundly. It's a nice change, because it's not as much of a drag on the morale of the team, when they can pull out a tie or occasional win here and there.



Only one issue (and a minor one at that), striker slides into the goalkeeper late - barely late, and no contact. Defender screams: "You've got to call that!" The flip ref answer is, "no, I don't." But instead I said, "Keep, hold the ball, I'm going to chew this one out" - trying to put into practice a National referee suggested, of making sure that everyone knew I was dealing with the issue - and then motioned the keeper could put the ball back into play. When I had a second, I trotted over to the defender in question, and told her, if I blew the whistle you'ld have to play the ball on the ground, but by not doing it, she could throw, punt, or ground-kick it. That was followed by the lightbulb look, that suddenly things made sense, and the game went along fine from there. It probably would have anyway (there were barely 10 fouls the entire game, and most of those were brain-farts), but hopefully it's be good practice for when the game is more hotly contested.



More WUSA Links

I found some more links today about the WUSA's demise. Some sad, some hopeful, some poignant. Here are the links, and a brief description of what you'll find:



USA Today: This article talks about the difference the WUSA made in our National Team, both in how it kep players playing longer, revivived careers, and found players that would have otherwise been forgotten.



USA Today: What's Next? Assuming the leage isn't revived following the Women's World Cup, which starts this week, it brings up the options of the Women's Premiere Soccer League and the W-League.



CBS News: Two things say it all about this article, the title (Girls Get Booted, We’re All Gypped) and this excerpt: "American companies are all to happy to prey on young women as fashion victims, as potential smokers and beer drinkers, as consumers of botox and breast implants, as dieters, hair-dyers and ditzs. But not as athletes." Please read.



Milford Daily News: Talks about the end of girls' dreams of playing professionally, like their brothers do. Ashley Knowlton says in a quote, "I just lost my dream."



USA Today: How the folding of the WUSA will affect the National Team, with quotes by both April Heinrichs and Bruce Arena.



The Mercury News: "Maybe Oprah ought to start a Sports Club."

17 September '03 - 14:23 - theref - default| No comments yet - § ¶

More on the demise of the WUSA

Despite the already obvious motive of this website, that being to allow me to vent safely, and maybe as a consequence have you learn a little about what its like as a referee in the US, there are things that go beyond the coach-referee paradigm. Ultimately, coaches, players and referees, are all fans of the game. Coachs are referees both qualify as fanatics of the game; coaches because they imerse themselves in it, referees for taking the crap we do. So when something like this happens, you put aside your differences, sigh repeatedly, and wonder what'll happen to the players (both on the field, and those who look to them as role models).



The WUSA was more than soccer, but about women, women's equality, and the chance to strive for the same glory on their own. The American Basketball League was overtaken by the WNBA, not because of the quality of play of pay (they were better than higher in the ABL), but because of the marketing bucks the big boys of the NBA decided to shove their way. The WUSA was much like the ABL, in that it wasn't the little sister to the MLS, but women striking out on their own; the championship, the Founder's Cup, was a testiment to the great women who won the World Cup for the US in 1999.



I think everyone knew how many problems there would be for the new league: no women's sports league has let to make it long term (the USL's W-League has only been semi-pro at best), and the WNBA only made it beacuse of large cash infusions by the NBA parent clubs, and even then it's seen more as a marketing tool to gain fans for the men's teams. Women's sports are a niche market, and soccer a smaller niche at that - but to play the sport you love at the highest level, it's worth a try.



There were some marekting mistakes - most notably with television: the initial channel carrying the WUSA, CNN/SI, was only in a handful of markets, and the channel shut down after the first season. The following two years, on the PAX network, was little better in terms of households reached, was beset by an even smaller mindshare (the UPN Network is better known), and the game times conflicted with ESPN2's broadcasts of Major League Soccer. Only having one VCR myself, I had to pick-and-choose, but the result was that the soccer market was split (where it didn't have to be), and the WUSA's ratings were abysmal (PAX's syndaicated fishing program drew better ratings).



But the games were great to watch; yes, there are people who don't like the women's game, but I am not one of them. Women play the game differently, but no less intense. The USSF used the 1999 Women's World Cup as examples of misconduct - watch that, and you'll see what I mean. The last Founder's Cup was a thing of beauty, full of passion, great skills, and a phenomenal ending. Truely, the WUSA played The Beautiful Game, living up to the term. I hope there shall be more to watch soon, for until then, they shall be missed.

16 September '03 - 12:10 - theref - default| No comments yet - § ¶

A say day indeed

I meant to write about a weekend highschool girls varsity game, but something sadder's come up. The end of the Women's United Soccer Assocation. They produced some great soccer, but money for women's sports is in short supply. I will mourn their loss for quite some time.

15 September '03 - 16:52 - theref - default| - § ¶

Wet and Loving It

Absolute downpour last night - and it was great! There had been so many hot days lately - it had alternated between humid and dry, but each was draining - that being soaked was such a wonderful change. Despite the slippery conditions, I was able to keep up with play without worrying about what would happen in the next 40/30/20/10 minutes - I just knew I would it wasn't going to be an issue.

I wasn't sure if it was going to start up - I arrived early enough to watch the second half of the JV game preceding ours, and there was a lot of standing water, including some ankle deep, and some areas where, no matter what velocity, the ball was just stop dead. The center for the JV game and I talked, and we both had reservations about proceeding with the varsity match. However, faithful readers (I always wanted to say that), you'll know by now that the NFHS has its own method, and that field conditions are the responsibility, and the call, of the athletic director up to game time. I, as the referee, have absolutely no say in the matter, even if a volcano erupted in the center circle and half the field was covered in lava - if the athletic director says the field is playable, it's playable. The tables turn immediately after the whistle is blown, assuming I could evade the molten rock that replaced the pitch to blow said whistle, I could immediately suspend the game. It wasn't that bad here, but it was worth looking for the AD to go over the field with him - after a fruitless search ("You won't find him here. He's the football coach; he could care less about soccer." - coach said it, not me), I decided that the home coach, as the represenentative of the athletic department, would make the call (technically, this is untrue, it's not addressed in the NFHS rules book - and if it's not there, it cannot happen.). We, and the visiting team's coach, walked the field, and I pointed out my areas of concern, and the coaches decided to go ahead and play it (more)

12 September '03 - 08:56 - theref - default| - § ¶

A quick recap

With high school games starting early, ending late (and added travel time - I tend to get them about an hour away from where I live), thing are awfully busy. So here's a quick recap of some of the things that have happened lately:

Boys with be boys - I overheard this at before the boys game that I wrote about on the 9th (singing): "I've got to poop! Poop! Poop! Poop! Poop! Poop! Poop!" - and yes, it was for all to hear.

Thanks for the Red Card Dept.- I did a last minute fill-in for a girls vasity team; I already did the boys once, handing out a red card on my first vasrity center for the year. He hoped I would come back later and center another game. It produces a nice warm fuzzy feeling that, even when the calls go against a coach, they still think you did a fine job.

Votes for the Dumbest Dissent - Filled in last minute (again) for the unaffiliated league over the weekend. Full field, single referee (and I'm expected to call offside). I do three 50-minute games (25-minute halves). League has really tried to crack down of dissent as it's apparently gotten really bad this summer - I give my first DT card five minutes into the opening game, and then four in the third. Odd thing was, the fouls weren't that hard, but they were just whiners - complaining about people in offside positions who didn't become involved in the play, and people playing the ball while on the ground (and no other people nearby - not a dangerous play for those who wonder). My line: "Before you spout off about my not knowing the rule, I suggest you read them first." Sheesh.

09 September '03 - 11:06 - theref - default| - § ¶

This is why we referee

It was one of those games that afterwards you feel honored being a part of it - just an outstanding, marvelous game. I still smile when I think about it, even though it's been a few days since the game.

It was the second game of a double-header. The boys just finished, with the home team, despite being down five or six players (one red card suspension, the rest for internal discipline), won handily. I've had a string of ARs lately (which does happen - especially when schedules change, and you're willing to fill in when necessary), and this game wasn't an exception. Funny thing about high school soccer: most schools now realize that the game is better with a wider field, but most don't have a lot of room to make it wider, so they push it as far as they can - a laudable goal, except they forget about the officials. I'm not griping here - they only deal with us on gameday, while the team has far more exposure, I am 100% positive it's not a slight, but it can cause issues with the officiating. In this case, I was supposed to run the line in what was essentially a drainage ditch, and it just wouldn't be very comfortable even if there weren't little hills at random intervals. I found myself jumping into the field, and having a very difficult time side-stepping (watch a WUSA or MLS game - you'll see the ARs, especially when the ball is deep, always face the field, stepping side-to-side). At halftime, I asked the center referee if I could do something potentially unorthodox (I have no idea if it is or not, but I figured it would be best to ask), take another step back and run on the track. I figured I could, if necessary, step back into the drainage ditch if a ball was close to the line, but otherwise, run along the track, where it was flat, and also level with the touchline. It worked out marvelously.

Good thing, too. Because the girls game just wiped the floor over the boys in excitement, speed, and physical play. The home girls team is a perennial favorite for the high school championship (and yes, that means they're a private school), (more)

07 September '03 - 15:31 - theref - default| - § ¶

Great game, lousy coach

Soccer is an odd sport - unlike basetball, baseball, football, even hockey, there are different ways of playing the game - it's perfectly acceptable (to some, anyway) to call a game tight or loose. I've heard on more than one occasion that the best two women referees, Rachel Woo and Linda Hunt call very different games - but do so very well and very fairly. In other sports, a foul is a foul is a foul - in soccer, not only are you explictly allowed (and encouraged) to ignore the "trifiling foul" (or, the point of the game is to play it, not to blow your whistle), but it's prefectly acceptable to allow different levels of physical contact and aggressiveness, as long as you establish what the boundaries are, and reign them in if necessary.



Varsity boys game - fantastic game. The only thing wrong with it was that it ended in a tie, but oh, what a tie! Visiting team is getting some great shots on goal, and the home goalkeeper is making some big-time saves in responce. Visitors play a tight defense, but a lapse in the penalty area puts them behind 1-0 at half. In the second half, they drop another, and it looks like it'll be one of those games where you don't have as many chances, but they what you had were put away. Two minutes left in regulation, the visitors just pile everyone in the penalty area - keeper makes several more great saves in succession, but ends up having to go backwards to get one more, but takes the ball past the goal line. After the goal, the onslaught continues, and one minute later, another goal! Even though there was only one minute left in regulation, the momentum had shifted so dramatically, that I thought the visititors might pull it off. It didn't happen, the break between regualtion and overtime allowed the home side to reorganize, and the OT was much more even between the teams.



I recall at our rules meeting that the high school association (that manages both referees and coaches) was emphasizing that coaches refreain from yelling at refs. Didn't happen here. IMHO, the center referee did a great job - but the coach kept yelling about lopsided yellow cards (it's because his team had their mouths going at full-speed and were committing harder fouls - duh). He's all but calling us crooked - does he think this is going to change our calls? Does he think this is going to endear us to him? Does he think we won't believe that he's a perfect example of the inverse ratio between the size of the mouth and size of the brain???



I half expected, despite his team's amazing comeback, that he'd forget to congratuate his team just in order to make more half-assed comments, and keep trying to "game" us . This is the reason I place my bags as far away as possible from the benches (of course, he tromped over during halftime anyway - which he's not supposed to). It's also twits like this that keep me from listening to coaches - because it's people like him that keep me from trusting them, keep me asking, with regards to their intentions, "what if?"

03 September '03 - 13:12 - theref - default| No comments yet - § ¶

Little slow over the long weekend

I did my first JV game ever on Friday. The game itself, while fun to watch, really isn't worth writing about a whole lot. I pulled out one yellow card in the second half for persistent infringement, which I should have did ten minutes earlier, but that was it. We ran a duel, and I was running my tuchus off trying to do it properly (which means going into the field and past the center line), while the other guy pretty much ran it like an AR in a three-man crew. What he did is typical, partially beacuse there's little training in the two-man crew (for all it's use, which is increasing because of lack of funds for three refs), but he also said at half-time that he didn't want me to come up so far. Considering I was able to get back into position as needed (again, this is not like the DSC where the AR is always supposed to be in position, the Dual is a giant kludge). I was more in it the second half, because the game turned pretty one-sided. There actually was a single training session on the Dual this year, but I was unable to make it (so I've resigned myself to reading about it a whole lot), but while, knowing the instructiors, it was probably very well done, just one won't help the 95% of the rest of us who couldn't make it because of other appointments (like myself) or the distance was too far away to make it feasable.

Now, as for why it was my first ever JV game. Most of the time, high schools want you to do their JV games before you move up to varsity - partially because the game, at least here, is much more physical than what you get in club soccer. This is partially because there's a much wider range of skill levels, and the lower you are, the quicker you are to go physical to counter the skill deficit (I certainly do!), and also because there's a much larger age difference (up to four years) than what you normally get in club soccer (where you might, in very rare circumstances, see someone play up a year or two, but not a good chuck of the team). So why? Mostly, because I was stupid. One of the referee groups was so short-handed they were taking people without experience, and my not knowing any better (although I had done club that summer) jumped in, swam with the sharks, and got bitten several times (last year, too). Unless you got a good mentor, don't do what I did.

02 September '03 - 12:38 - theref - default| - § ¶