Referees make the worst players, and now it's my turn
I've said on more than one occasion that referees make the worst
players. We, as a group, tend to want games called the way we want them
them, and tend to get loud and obnoxious when things aren't that way.
In my first two years of being a ref I earned a red card apiece (one
was written up as a pair of yellows - he wussed out, because he showed
a straight red - I think it's because he realized he let things
escalate for a good minute before even bothering to cross the half-way
line), but none since. As a player I
try to give referees the
benefit of the doubt on calls - because so much of it is what angle
you're looking at the play from; as a goalkeeper, I want my players to
not argue with the ref, and instead pay more attention to stopping the
oncoming attack.
So why am I writing about this? I don't normally write about the games I play in. Because I was
flipped off by the referee today.
(more)
29 March '05 - 17:37 - - default| - § ¶
I thought I'd have to seperate them
I've only once had to issue a card for a teammate abusing his own
player... it was a few years ago when the two teammates started arguing
after a goal was scored against them, followed by one shoving another.
Bizarre, yes - but I couldn't let it go, so I booked him. I thought I'd
have to do it against last night, as the players were yelling at each
other (you've never heard the words "Shut up," said with so much
venom), but it didn't get to that.
Like last time, these games pretty much ended gracefully. Which is
quite an odd thing for this league - you usually get people who decide
they want to go out in a blaze of glory; especially since the
discipline program put out by the coodintator is getting axed once the
season is over (which means if someone did get a red card, there are no
more extended consequences for the team - and probably for the player).
I had one playoff game that became one-sided after an early 2-2 tie,
and the rest were blowouts. The only argueing was in that last game,
amost teammates. Considering teams break-up and re-form with different
players on a fairly regular basis in this league, I think it's time for
them to consider who they want and who they don't.
26 March '05 - 16:15 - - default| - § ¶
Correction
I have a correction to make: In
"Can you see it? Yup, the ugly train's on its way" I make a reference to a free kick where the ball was moving, in the kicking team's defensive half.
I was incorrect when I said that the ball doesn't have to be stationary - according to the Laws, the ball
does have to be stationary. High School rules are probably the same (although since I don't have a copy, and since you're not allowed to actually view them - cue rolling eyes), I can't verify it.
Certainly, a referee could classify a slightly moving ball (which this was) in the defensive half of the kicking team a trifling offense; and probably rightly so. It's the same thing with the placement of the free kicks - the further away from the goal, the less referees (and normally, players) care about the placement of the free kick; "are they getting an unfair advantage?" is what referees should ask themselves.
But I was, perhaps more important that hair splitting, I was incorrect in berating the opposing team. Was it still a stupid thing to focus on? Probably. Is it also hair splitting on their part? Yes. Is it more a reflection of yet another high school soccer coach getting a team to focus on legal technicalities rather than actual play on the field? Sadly, it's probable.
But for me, the email was of great help - it helped me correct a mistake in my reading of the Laws that I've had for several years now. Given the placement in that one game, I probably wouldn't have changed anything in that game, but it will keep me from digging myself into a deep hole should a team try to do something similar in their offensive third.
26 March '05 - 00:33 - - default| - § ¶
Getting down to the end
Almost done with indoor... there's a delay between the end of indoor and the start of outdoor... and you just kind of wonder what to do (not like I don't have enough, with this endless house search and wedding to plan). I have my physical to prepare for, but solo running just doesn't have the same appeal... while runners may disagree, to me it doesn't feeling like I'm actually doing anything.
One of the league's I'm working with just had it's last games of the winter, and overall they ended pretty nicely. Good games that focused on the field rather than at excuses. The last of the four was a division championship game where I had to pull out "The only person's opinion that matters around here is mine!". One player asked me to look out for something, then the other team gets indignant, says I need to watch out for
him, and soon... well, the whole thing became pointless. The conversations with me, not the game.
The game itself tooled around quite nicely, ended up 1-1 and going to six rounds of kicks from the mark.
Hard to think that I'll be running on real grass in a few weeks.
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23 March '05 - 08:11 - - default| - § ¶
Happy when fouled harder
I was looking forward to the last game of the night - there were only two this week, but the last one has the markings for a doozy. Not necessarily a good one on the field
like last week's, but a good old-fashioned bad-tempered team versus bad tempered team.
I'd reffed both teams before, and had a pretty good idea what to expect. The white team, the top seed in the playoffs, were quick to complain and whine, and had a few players who were good at antagonizing their opponents; the red team, the lowest seed, were physically bigger, more aggressive, more reckless, and prone to frustration, which usually led to them trying to intimidate their opponents. Games like these are why I do this league: 50 minutes of non-stop man-management. Even games at Regionals, with so much at stake, don't involve the temper and testosterone juggling that befalls the ref who does co-ed rec.
Right away, white started complaining about non-calls for things that were below my foul threshold - far, far below - touch fouls would be exaggerating the severity, and I certainly wasn't going to call them. So, right away I agreed to watch certain players (who I already knew to watch). When the opportunity came up, I took my chance to yell at a player, of the opposite team, who was coming perilously close to fouling, louder than I normally would have, to send a message to both teams: to white that I will call fouls, but only at a certain level, and the red that I know their tactics.
But the real test came just five minutes into the game, when players started swearing at each other. I only heard the second comment, "Go fuck yourself." I barge in, and the player is immediately on the defensive:
"Did you hear what he said?"
To red, "I don't want what I think you said," and to white, "and I don't want to hear what I
know you said!" I could have started throwing cards around, but I thought a good screaming would be better; nobody could (seriously) claim an injustice and would have a harder time defending themselves if four letter verbals started flying. Score one for me, it worked! If anything happened, they kept it between themselves, which makes it not my problem.
The funny thing about the game was how, in the second half, after it was clear white was going to win handily, red started fouling harder (as expected - although later than I expected... I really am a cynical bastard, aren't I?)... and white was happier! White was being knocked to the turf on a semi-regular basis (it quickly stopped when red was too tired to get close enough to foul), and they're happier then when they could run through infinitesimally minor contact.
I don't get it.
(more)
18 March '05 - 17:34 - - default| - § ¶
A couple administrative notes
I moved the audio recording of the Laws to the Feature Articles section to the right. Just leave a comment in that entry so everyone knows what Law you're recording, to avoid duplication of work.
I've also installed a block-list feature to the blog, so hopefully the amount of comment spam will drop (the fuckers).
15 March '05 - 23:05 - - default| - § ¶
Some really fun games
Only a couple weeks left of games left in the indoor season, then I'll have no further excuse about training for my upcoming physical... unless I sprain my ankle again.
Speaking of which, it held up pretty good over the four hours I worked it. Yes, it was wrapped, braced, and medicated (ibuprofen), but other than taking a few corners a little easier than I normally would have, felt pretty good.
It's playoff time again, so games can get a little wacky, and if you're lucky, also be phenomenally fun to watch. The first game went to kicks from the mark; the home team fell behind 2-0, only to come back and tie it 3-3, then to lose in kicks from the mark. It was fun, no major problems, just teams that know they're not in it for the coveted championship t-shirts (all teams are bracketed, even if they're out of the official playoffs, to try to ensure two close games before the session ends), just played hard, clean, and for fun. It was one of those games that I wish could extend to extra time (alas, that's one of the problems of indoor - scheduling).
The second game was also close,
(more)
14 March '05 - 23:59 - - default| - § ¶
A great idea: The Law of the Game, a book on tape!
My parents, who live several states away, have been bothering me to
visit them - I'd like to, but I'm trying to juggle a new job, getting
married, and buying a new house. It's awfully tough to do that, and go
through my normal regimen of boning up on the Laws and the USSF's
Advice to Referees before my re-certification. I thought that maybe I
could read up on them when at my parents, but then realized that for
the impossibility that it would be.
And then I had this great idea: Record the Laws of the Game aurally,
then use it as a book on tape! Perfect for those referees who want to
keep everything fresh in their mind, but may not have all the time they
want to study it. Ideally, there would also be the Advice to Referees,
as well.
It's a big project, and one that I'd love to make collaborative. Simply
put: sign-up for a chapter the Laws (first, things, first - if this
works, let's tackle
Advice), record it to .mp3, then email to me. I'll make the finished product available here.
I'll take the first Law - anyone else willing to chip in?
(more)
13 March '05 - 07:06 - - default| - § ¶
Cursed!
I'm starting to think that I'm cursed - every time I've started to get into a regular rhythm for training for my annual physical, something happens to stop me. First, it was the crud that went around, which sidelined me for a month; now that we had some warm weather, and I could get out on a track (instead of a treadmill), I sprain my ankle.
And it wasn't even an honorable way to go! I had a very good game in goal in the morning, then rolled my ankle walking down the %#! sidewalk, on the way to a concert! Ack! The next morning, because I couldn't get a sub, I tried reffing, and it just wasn't going to happen. The good news, that it being indoor, was that I didn't have to run, the bad news that even walking fast really really hurt. I found someone to take my last game (thankfully everyone played really nice) where I went back to the ibuprofen bottle.
Today, it feels quite a bit better, although I've (and rightly so) called myself out of the games for tomorrow; I think I may be OK in a week.
07 March '05 - 08:49 - - default| - § ¶
soccerisnotlife.com commercials
My fiancé's car broke down, so I gave her a ride to and from work,
prior to my own work; thankfully, my work was at home today, so when it
became a little slow, I was able to indulge in a nap to catch up on my
sleep. Prior to actually falling asleep, I had an idea - actually, I
had two or three ideas, all along a theme, of which I can only remember
the first one. There were a series of TV commercials for a bogus
website, soccerisnotlife.com, about how it would look like if people
acted in the outside world, like they do on the soccer pitch. I tried,
as I said, to piece together all the ideas, but only the first one
stayed in memory long enough for me to expand on.
Here's the rough idea I came up with (those who actually write scripts can tell me how awful my formatting is):
INT: Grocery store, a cross between a Wegman’s and a Lunds; a notch
above today’s warehouse stores, but not carpet covered with
chandeliers. Leave image on the screen for a moment then cut to the
check-out counter. Cashier is running items over a scanner.
Man (angry, anxious): C’mon, c’mon!
Cashier (still scanning, eyeballing man - she scans in a head of lettuce)
Man: That was off by a penny!
Angrily gestures/points at cashier. That lettuce is ninety-nine cents - can’t you see that? What’s the matter with you?!
Cashier: Sir?
Points up to ceiling, camera pans up to large sign that says: Lettuce $1.00
Man (livid - but feining innocence): I never said 99 cents. You know
what? It’s you. You don’t know what you’re doing. You can’t even get an
item on the first scan! You have no business scanning my groceries. I’m
going to find you manager and complain, and you’ll never be allowed by
a cash register again!
Cashier just rolls eyes and continues her work.
Man continues screaming when a woman, juggling a full basket and two
children comes into line. One of the children starts crawling out of
the basket child-seats, she grabs the child, causing the cart to nudge
the Man on rear or back of the leg.
Man (grabs face, writhing in pain, screaming between sentances): Oh,
god! Did you see that? Right in the face! Call the cops! Call an
ambulance! Assassin! Assassin!!
Fade to black, display in a plain white font: What if we treated other people like we did referees?
Fade to black, replace with text: SoccerIsNotLife.com
The second had something to do with comparing referees to cops, and
ref's being able to user tasers, but that's as much as I remember.
05 March '05 - 10:11 - - default| - § ¶
When you want to issue a card, but shouldn't
An interesting set of games; I switched games with the other referee so
he could get a break from a team that's been grating against him for a
while - not really getting on his nerves, but sometimes you just need a
break from each other - and in an indoor league with only two referees,
doing the same team week-in and week-out is definitely going to produce
some friction. The reason he was doing the same team over-and-over
again was because it has my fiancé on it - this would never ever happen
in an affiliated league, but sometimes you have to take the lesser of
two evils, and with full knowledge and assent of the management, I
centered her game.
I should have know it would be a piece of cake. There's a constant I'm
finding in this league: if there's a team you're having problems with,
they'll be on their very best behavior when another referee works with
them. It's nice to know the same applies when I'm not the ref that's
having trouble.
The most interesting thing, which caused a bit of discussion with the coordinator and myself
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03 March '05 - 21:14 - - default| - § ¶
Five Games, no problems
I was scheduled for four games, but agreed to pick up a fifth to help someone out. I had been running pretty hard, but I still felt good (something a little extra special, since I've been dealing with "The Crud" that's been going around for the last month), and didn't mind picking up a fifth.
The last few weeks had some tough games, but these were all a breeze. One of the reasons was that I took an enforced break from the team that I issued a red card to last week. I had a chance to talk to the ref that did their game, which they won despite being short-handed the entire game, and his reaction: "It was tough. They move really fast." It's telling that they beat, albeit closely (3-2), an undefeated team a player down.
The last game provided a little bit of a challenge with man-management. One of the players, right off the bat wanted exact, to the inches, line calls, which just isn't going to happen on a one-ref game. Most players know that, and I tell the captains at it every game, but when two players actively challenge a ball that's sitting on the line - if you can get behind then, to what would be an AR position, maybe, but that assumes that they don't start kicking at it wildly, causing it to bounce around like a ping-pong ball - which is exactly what happened. He griped-and groaned, and I let that go (there's dissent, and there's being pedantic, after all), but let it fly again as soon as the ball went out, for a goal-kick.
I thought about carding him for dissent, which my theory is, that while it may be a gift to issue an early card for a hard challenge, you'll only dig yourself a hole if that early card is for dissent (unless it's obvious to everyone and the next field). So I whistled (in my unhappy whistle), holding up the kick, barked out a simple, "Hey!" to get his attention, and motioned very crispy, very... the word I'm coming up with is staccato, if that even applies to motions, that it needed to end. Fortunately, the keeper backed me up by telling him to shut up, in those words. As a player, I'm willing to take a card (and have been on multiple occasions) to take a dissent card, when I think things are being missed, and other avenues aren't working - but I've always left it at that, and haven't done it for calls the ref is making; if he's calling it tighter than I want, my screaming at him is not going to help matters. I don't know if that's what the keeper was thinking, but it had the same effect.
I actually had to deal with the player again, after a few minutes. He was fouled when attempting to send a long-ball downfield. He got the ball off, so I held my whistle, waiting to see if anything happened with it. He was complaining before the ball came back to the ground, which after the whistle (because the foul did prevent it from going where he wanted it), I said simply that I was waiting to see if anything happened with that ball. The lightbulb seemed to go off, and I didn't hear anything from him until after the game, when he apologized for being overanxious.
I guess my bets paid off that time.
01 March '05 - 11:44 - - default| - § ¶
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