RefBlog

Feeling better about my games

I know it takes time to get back into shape, but it would be nice if it was sooner. That being said, I felt pretty good about my last set of games, which were my last in the tournament. I now have another week before I do any more games - hopefully my legs will stay in it, what "it" is, until then.

The format was the same at Saturday: center-line-center, except that both centers were 16 boys, including one of the teams I reffed on the first day; and unlike last time, it was they who were being out-played, and quickly fell behind, dropping a goal in the sixth minute. They were quite fortunate to come out with a 1-0 deficit at half, too; the other team had a player that was wonderful to watch, holding the ball against two defenders, then finding a way to split both of them, and keep the ball leaving them in the dust. It really should have been 3-0 or more (three if you count all the balls off the cross-bar).

Momentum started to shift in the last five minutes of the half, and then it totally changed in the second. I think the team that was ahead became too confident, and mid-way through the half allowed a goal they should have stopped, leaving the game tied. At that point, they tried all-out to reclaim the lead, re-asserting their dominance - but it came at such a pace that the team I had reffed before had little choice but to bunker and steal out a point, which they did.

The line was for 14 boys, and I felt much much better than I had the previous day. Yes, there was a two-year age difference, but I'll take it. I was better able to shuffle as needed and keep up with play, giving my legs a change to remember what they need to do for when they go back to older players (which they will - the next game I have is a college-aged team's line).

I knew the coach for one of the teams in my final game - we've reffed together before, and I've also reffed the team he's coached. Unfortunately for him, his team had a real rough go of it, losing 7-0. The other team was so very dominant, that there were only a handful of possessions for them that left their half of the field; it frustrated them, and they resorted to what I do when I play a team that overmatches me by a mile - they got physical. The other team, aside from a couple of reminders that they had more to lose if they lost their cool, wasn't a problem, but I'm sure it looked like a one-sided game from the referee. Of course, it was - because it was mostly one team committing the fouls, and the infraction in the penalty area (this was just insult to injury, as they were already down 5-0 at the time - fortunately for them, the keeper was able to stop the PK). One player picked up a dissent card, and was very fortunate that the halves were shortened, because he was looking ripe for a second caution, probably for another dissent.

There really want's a whole lot I could do in that situation. There really weren't any calls that were "iffy" or 60/40 in my books - they were all pretty obvious calls, but I can't help them play better.

I think I was especially fortunate not to be on the field one over from us. Apparently a fan called a player, another 15 or 16 year-old boy, a "spic", and he proceeded to go back into the fans and take it out on him. At that age, a boy who just had his racial heritage impugned is going to do that, and I can't say I blame him. Unfortunately, as referees we can't do anything with the fans, at least not directly (about the most direct thing I can think of is ask the home coach to clear the field of fans, because you fear the situation might erupt into something worse, and if he can't do that, terminate the game); but we're obligated to send-off the player for the violent conduct. Apparently one of the assistants heard the slur - so I can only hope that the center referee writes up a report so that the team with the racist fan gets some sort of punishment, otherwise that red card is no justice. I don't hold out much hope, however - I've worked with that center, and I don't think he has the gumption to perform the necessary paperwork. But I can hope.

25 April '06 - 17:36 - - default| - § ¶

"And I'm going to use that excuse all weekend"

Dang are my legs sore. Three games, although they were only 60 minutes each, they included two centers, and my legs just aren't in game-day shape yet.

Of the two centers I had, the games were good. A fourteen boys, an eighteen boys, and a line for a 16 boys. The first center was, like the last 14 boys, played very clean, and featured a very nice comeback by a rural side (although it's quickly becoming suburban). The city side carried most of the play in the first half, can went into the bread with a two-nil lead. The other team started gaining some momentum near the half, then in the second caught the city-side sleeping; first scoring a goal on a bloop (much like yesterday) that caught the keeper out of position, a second that beat the keeper on a dive, and a third and winning goal... off a PK. It was a pretty clear PK, nobody complained, but it was at the extreme side of the penalty area: a defender stepped into an attacker and tripped him. Although it was almost as far away from goal as possible and still be in the PA, it's still the penalty area, and FIFA hasn't changed the shape of it, and likely won't for some time. I try to make sure that there's no lightweight fouls when it's going to be a penalty kick, and this was pretty obvious - it's possible that the defender didn't realize he was in the penalty area, but nonetheless, a penalty I gave, and a penalty was converted.

The line surprised me - I had issues keeping up with play. Maybe if I had a few more minutes to recuperate after the game, but the tournament (add this to the reasons I dislike them) schedule the game so tightly, you would start on-time, and still fall behind in the schedule. Normally I can do lines without much of an issue, but I was beaten soundly and regularly. Unlike yesterday, however, I didn't give up.

The final center saw my first card of the season. Ironically it wasn't for the team that was committing most of the fouls (or complaining simultaneously about getting and not getting calls), but midway in the second half, with the game still scoreless, there was a good foul on a player, still 30 yards from goal, but moving toward it really hard. No complaint about the card, but they scored on the free-kick, and that's how the game ended.

I did manage to get some levity from the complaining team from time-to-time. Deep in their offensive third, I whistled for a foul, for them, and their player started complaining. I stopped him, explaining that the call was in his favor, and jokingly said, "You've just gotten so used to my calling it against you, right?"

"Yeah, I think this is the first one." I actually called another foul in his team's favor just a minute prior.

"Oh, no no no. I think you've three or four this game."

There was another when the ball went out in front of their bench, and they all said the ball brushed up against one of their opponents. I didn't see it, my AR (on the other half, but instructed to look all the way down the line) didn't see it. "Sorry guys, I was looking for it, but didn't see it. You were all much closer than I on that one." Right away, the same scenario played out, but this time I did see it; all the bench's arms rose the same way. "Yup, I saw that one!" Then I added, "You know, this is like a pre-season game for you, it is for me too," this brought a chuckle from the coaches, "and I'm going to use that excuse all weekend when someone disagrees with my calls."

It didn't end things, but it was a couple moments that hopefully reminded the coaches that we're getting back into game-shape, too. Heck, if the announcers on ESPN can use that excuse for the MLS, I can for my game, surely.

22 April '06 - 17:31 - - default| - § ¶

"Ask them how I choose my captains"

Over the winter I've run, reffed indoor, run some more, and it's still not enough when you get your first outdoor games. I felt like I was in the best pre-season shape I've been in, but for the first ten minutes of my first game, I was sucking wind. Good thing the first game didn't present any problems in those ten minutes - there really wasn't any problems during the entire game. It was played pretty cleanly; one foul in the first game, four in the second, and some good humored joking by the coach before the game. "Ask him how I choose the captains," he told me, when when I did ask those selected as captains... keep in mind this is a U14 boys team... the answer was, "it's who farts."

I couldn't place the division of each team (all the teams are checked-in ahead of the game, so all I do is toss the coin and get the games started), but they were skilled enough to be dangerous, but missing the touch needed in the offensive third (sort of like me playing Subbuteo). One team was able to beat the keeper, and was maybe two yards from goal, but just bobbled the ball enough to allow a defender time to catch up, and while he couldn't immediately clear the ball, bogged the guy down for other defenders to do the job. The chance for the other team would have been special, if he converted - the start of a slip, that he stepped into to produce a bicycle kick, just very very low to the ground. The ball went wide, but he got some well-deserved kudos for the effort.

If the 14 boys was the warm-up, the 16 boys were the test (yes, I centered both games). One of the problems with indoor is that you tend to get closer to play than you should when you switch outdoors, and when you put two teams going hard and fast into each other (instead of at the play), you have to try to cancel the last six months of induction, and get to the proper position. There were far more skilled than the 14s, and also far more physical - something else you don't see as much indoor: slide tackles (which are illegal indoors), and just good hard challenges. There were a couple fouls that were technically clean but stepped over the line into reckless, and several verbal exchanges that I had to get into the middle of to start off, too. Fortunately, the last one happened right in front of the benches, so both teams were able to hear give the warning that they need to talk to me, not to each other. After that, I think the coaches took control (yea!) and we had a pretty fair game.

I'm now going to say something I've never said here before. I don't know if it'll happen again, but please take note: there was one point where a coach went nuts, yelling about a call, and I think he was totally justified about it.

Whew. Hold on, let me get my breath back. OK, I think I'm ready to continue.

I realized after the first game, that another reason I don't care for tournaments is that the assignors don't know the referees, and by consequence, often get refs that just aren't right for the games they were given. For the record, I'm not talking about me - I've been fortunate enough to have assignors that have tried to build me up from a reffling, to whatever kind of ref I am now (OK, I like to think I'm good, but I've also had enough games go south that I still want to work hard rather than coast). I hate to say it, because he was such a nice guy, but one of my ARs was just not ready for the level of game he was working. He had a fundamental flaw that, in my completely unqualified opinion, should have kept him off the game: he was lazy. He just would not keep up with the second to last defender, and would frequently stop at the eighteen, and at the first half, trailing half-a-dozen players by fifteen yards, was called up on to call a tightly contested ball in the corner and decide goal versus corner kick... he wasn't even walking.

He was a nice guy, very personable, and there's lots of things I can excuse, (such as signal crispness, going to the goal line for all goal or corner kicks calls, being a bit out of position, etc.) but the guy was also in better physical shape than me. It bugs me, as a center referee it puts me in a hole, and it really disrespects the participants in the game. So the coach let loose, and I don't blame him. Actually, I have a great deal of respect for him, because when I asked him to quiet down, he did. He asked that I deal with it - I did as best I could, telling the guy that, "As much as I hate to say it, the coach was 100% right," and then went asked him to keep up with the second-to-last defender - and the he was quiet. The AR was marginally better in the second half, but he clearly could have ripped into him again, and he chose not to. I really do appreciate it.

The game finished 2-0, both goals scored against the run of play. One was a blooper that caught the keeper out of position - everyone thought it was going over the net, but surprise! It went just under the crossbar. The other team pressed to equalize all through the second half, and ended up giving up a goal on a counter-attack, a cross from the bottom of the penalty area to a waiting teammate in the goal-area - the keeper didn't have a chance.

I feel good, though. I feel sore, wish I could have run better (although my positioning got better as the second game went on, and often, especially when the teams are skilled and there's some midfield play, good positioning can make up for lack of speed), and I get wake up in eight hours to start this all over again. I look forward to seeing how I do.

21 April '06 - 21:45 - - default| - § ¶

Anticipation

I should be running today - I'd been doing pretty well after getting over the cold/flu combo last week; but I had a hellish day at work, didn't get to eat until after 4pm, and I just don't have the energy. The real downside about my work is that while my schedule is extremely flexible, it sometimes is totally out of my control: I went to one client before eleven, looked like a fixed a minor problem, then saw what was before, a warning about failing equipment, turn into failed equipment. I think fast food and adrenaline might have carried me though had I had a game or two tonight, but since I didn't, my body simply said, eat, read, write, go "duh." I'll probably make a trip out to the grocery store and do some light chores, but strenuous physical activity is definitely out.

I've also been doing my pre-season organization. Courtesy of my wife and some inexpensive shelving at the Home Despot, I now have a separate closet in our basement, close to the washer (since I really dislike wearing uniforms that haven't been washed), complete with a rod for all my wearables, and shelves for shorts, flags, undies, socks, braces, and everything else. I look forward to putting it to use (and maybe even adding a few more jerseys before the year is over).

And I'm getting close to the day: this weekend marks my first outdoor games of the summer, and I've been looking forward to them with great anticipation. I've been reffing in my mind for the last week, everything from positioning, to mechanics, to how to deal with questionable (and no so questionable) coaches. Hopefully I won't have many of the later, but unfortunately, I know all too often that while it's not high school, thinking that a coach will let me do the best job I can, unimpeded and unmanipulated, is just a pipe dream. So, in my head, I've been working on ways to diffuse situations, as well as if there's a way to remove a coach without him having a fit (so far, I never have).

I'm starting by doing something I normally hate doing: a tournament. I think I should make a clarification, by calling it a team-sponsored tournament. I love tournaments that aren't run by clubs: State Cup and other association-based tournaments (although the final one of last year made me a bit wary), USA Cup, Regionals (if I can get there again). But in my experience, tournaments that are run by clubs, or youth clubs as they seem to be the ones doing them, really put reffing as a second tier. Yes, the kids are the priority, but good reffing is part of a good and fair game (something they usually claim to want); too often they'll take refs who say they'll work all-day (how much can they put into a game if you're doing six or more?), and if you request a limit of games, they'll ignore you.

But this is the first chance to work outdoors, a full two-weeks ahead of last year. It's a chance to work out the mental cobwebs, make the running more fun, and just get outside and enjoy more of spring. What's better, the assignor actually seems to have listened when I said no more than three hours of work per day. They might ask me to do an extra game, and if I'm up for it, I can say yes, but it also means I can put more into the games I am scheduled for. And if they don't ask, then I have some free time.

I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully the weather will hold out.

19 April '06 - 18:08 - - default| - § ¶

Not dead yet

But I get my first outdoor games in a week. I still have a cough (and it won't go away), and feel like my running has gone down to square one, but I'm still here. Just not much to write about.

14 April '06 - 11:26 - - default| - § ¶

Thoughts while sick

Even though I said this was going to be a dead period, I thought I was going to write more - but I got sick (of course, just as the temperature gets warm), and have spent most of the last week feeling generally awful.

I did get a chance to watch last week's opening games (some of them, anyway) of the MLS season. The biggest discussion for referees, was the free-kick goal by the New York Red Bulls (formerly NY/NJ Metrostars); the biggest suprise to me was how nonplussed I was regarding how cynical it was. The setup was simple: a free kick well beyond the penalty area, but New York put two attackers on either end of the goal area - a good 15 yards in offside positions. A beautiful free kick was taken that went into the net; meanwhile the offside attackers did not move a muscle. There were no protests on the field (although apparently a coach went nuts), and my first thought was that there was no problem: the players didn't get involved in the play, weren't obstructing the keeper, let it go. The referee (World Cup 1992 veteran Brian Hall) concurred and the game resumed with a kickoff.

It was a non-issue for me, and I went on and watched the rest of the game, and then another between rounds of my drug regiment. After the game was when the controvery errupted: the MLS originally said that the goal was OK, but were persuaded to send it to FIFA for review, and they said it should not have counted. Discussions on socref ranged from the implications (I had been told in recerts past that in those situations, keepers are trained to igonore players in offside positions, and if they do, it's their problem, not the ref's), but after a few days, I realized the biggest thing I missed in the whole event was my not registering the cynicism in the entire event: there was no reason for those two players down there except to attempt to distract the keeper. The goalkeeper, to his credit, said that they didn't (a nice show a class on something that could have given him an easy and plausible excuse), but that's beside the point; the type of behavior is cynical in the extreme - trying to find a loophole in the Laws instead of trying to just play the game as intended.

On a related note, the MLS has made several statements, admit the controversy, that they're trying to get players to be fast-tracked to professional-level referees. Why would a player when he retires from the professional game give up the lucritive post-career coaching? The USSF (and MLS) must stand up for this current crop of referees from the continued abuse on the field by players and show that taking the whistle is a valid and respected method of continuing your on-field career. I haven't seen that from the MLS yet.

08 April '06 - 15:43 - - default| - § ¶