RefBlog

2011 Regionals Diary - Day... five?

2011-12-21T10:28:00-06:00

As I think I mentioned earlier, I'm actually going to two regionals (or playoffs as they're now officially known) this year; the first I was a skating official, this second an alternate. I really didn't think I'd have anything to write. Really, do you want to hear about how I sat down, watched a game, occasionally walked into the center for an official review or timeout, then told the announcers what it was and the result? I suppose it could be interesting for the first paragraph, but really that's about it. But someone's airline had a different idea: it took this poor guy 28 hours and SEVEN flights to get here from Toronto. He actually got in just before our crews first bout, but by then I was told that I was in. It makes sense in a way, because they don't know what kind of condition he would be in, or warmed up - so they had a drop-dead time and ran with it. Kinda sucks, but I remember dropping a game in my first regional tournament (wow, looking up that old entry really paid off) for someone else who was accidentally shorted - in either case it was no fault of their own. And I knew the guy (I was moved to his crew on the final day of the previous regional playoff); we got on well, and everything seemed cool.

The interesting thing was, I was quite literally the last person picked on the referee crew. I initially had a declination letter, then after someone dropped out was asked if I could be an alternate. I was advised by my league head ref (who had done this before) that even if someone was out on my crew, that the other alternates would probably be put in their place before me. I took the assignment so I'd get my name out, and show that I was willing to do the... unattractive work, and maybe after the assignors knew me would consider me for elsewhere - plus I'd get to watch some very good games and some very good officials. Last week, however, I got noticed. It's really weird being showered with accolades when I feel it's just me working my ass off, doing the outside pack ref equivalent of "running to the corners" (hey look! Soccer content!). I know I've been down on soccer for a little while (not, I might add, without good reason), but I know I wouldn't be doing this without it, and without the lessons it taught me.

Now that the game is over (all went well), I'll be back in the alternate slot. But I got a game out of it - not bad. In the four regional playoffs, there are three alternate referees each (total of twelve); I'm only the second to get in this year. Not bad.

2011 Regional Diary Addendum: Comparing Regionals

2011-12-19T15:49:00-06:00

Since in many ways this was my first regionals all over again (new sport), I went back and compared the notes I wrote (literally, on an old Apple Newton) and compared them with my experience this last weekend. And there are several similarities and differences:

Similarities:
* Chance to get better games if you perform well
* High pressure, high stakes games
* Some nice comrade with the other officials

But there were some big differences, too. Since it's comparatively a smaller tournament (even with 21 officials per crew, skating and non-skating, it's a far smaller group of zebras with only three crews), there was definitely more referee bonding than what I had with USYSA regionals. We got feedback on EVERY game (apparently I was observed back in 2006, but I never got any direct feedback). Also, the atmosphere was much looser - not surprising given that in many ways the USSF is more concerned with appearance (and there IS history behind it, to be fair) than ability; many of the best refs in roller derby have visible tattoos, colored hair (or patches of it) and piercings - but the one thing I found, on the first time I listened to a referee meeting (a couple years before I started reffing derby myself), was that the officials are just as professional when they do their job as soccer referees are.

One thing I forgot about was how pissed I was on that second day of soccer regionals; there I took a lecture at a referee meeting as, "if you're fat you're worthless". Damn is that not the case with derby. It's strictly, Can you do the job? If so, have at it. It kind of falls back to the previous paragraph about how stuck-up the USSF is about appearance. But it's nice to be judged strictly by performance here.

2011 Regionals Diary Day Four: on the fly adjustments

2011-12-15T23:28:00-06:00

I'm actually going to two regional tournaments (officially playoffs) this year; I did last year but didn't write anything because it would have entailed "I kept track of score" and "I wrote down penalties on a small whiteboard" and repeated several times. Chances are I'll be skipping writing about the upcoming playoff/regional because I'm an alternate, and as such won't be doing a lot, except watching a buttload of games during the weekend. I say this, because on the crew I'm on in this second regional playoff, the crew's head referee wants us gunning for the 3rd place game. There's a reason for this: each region (of which London sits in the East, in case you wondered, until there's enough teams in Europe for a full region) sends three teams to the championship tournament, so the first place game in the region only determines seeding in the championships - the loser of the 3rd/4th place game ends their championship dream.

As I mentioned yesterday, one crew only works a single game - that was my crew. But there was some reshuffling, and I was moved to a crew that was working two, including that 3rd/4th place match. It's really weird, because you get pretty close to your crew over those first two days (three if you count the meeting day) - not only did we work four bouts together, but also hung out and went over the other games as a group, and then the same time they hear that they're the one crew that works a single game, you've been moved to one that works two. It's the definition of mixed emotion: I liked these people, but I had to say goodbye; on the other hand, this is my first time skating in a Big 5 tournament (the Big 5 are the four regional playoffs plus championships), and to have that much faith put in me is both scary and invigorating. What kind of makes it worse, is that my first crew worked the very first bout of the day, and was done, and could only watch the other two crews do two more apiece. I know there's a reason for all of this, but it does make me feel kind of sad.

In the first game, I'm the new guy (well, one of them - one of the inside pack refs was also swapped into this crew, too), but the crew welcomed me in, said lots of nice things about how I worked my previous two days bouts, and once the game came in we gelled pretty quickly, especially the other two referees that were on the outside pack with me. We got in a rhythm and pretty much rocked the game. The tournament head ref, which is known for being very critical, only had obscenely good things to say about us (the words, "____ [a different referee who was observing us] got a hard on watching you" comes to mind).

The second game, the one that punches a ticket to championships, was nuts. I know I said yesterday that one of the game was batshit in the number of major penalties called, but we had 176 minor penalties, and 206 in total. It's just off the wall. If you took those 176 minors, distributed them evenly you have 44 trips to the penalty box for just accumulated minors (for the record, I didn't calculate this, I just verified it and had my head explode a second time). So when I had issues in the first half remembering how many minors I had called before getting to a whiteboard, there was a reason.

And actually, during halftime we solved that problem. Since we were all dropping off so many penalties (and you'd be surprised how hard it is to remember a four-digit designation plus penalty, multiple times, for 20-30 seconds, while adding a third), we started relaying them ourselves: The referee in front would take the penalties from the behind verbally and bring them into the whiteboard, then return to position. What was an issue (some could say a serious one) became solved in the ten minutes we had to cover everything from the first half.

I'm totally blown away by the experience I had at this tournament. The obvious thing to do is to compare it to the first one I did with the USYSA way back when. But at that time I compared myself to Judge Stone in Night Court: I may have been the last person on the list to get that job, but I was on the list. But I think I made a mark this weekend, and showed what I can do. Physically, I can do this far better than soccer. Not to knock it, but I always worry about how I run doing soccer, and I don't worry about that with skating. The certification speed test has the top marks for a ten-lap speed test as being under a minute and thirty-five seconds (and you can be slower and still pass, just not with top marks) - I hit 1:31 in my test. I can skate, and I can keep up with the best of them (and sometimes I was really really tested this weekend), and not have to worry about keeping up and packing up. I don't want to give up soccer (well, maybe until the next time I'm verbally abused and have my integrity questioned), but I know I can do a higher level and just a generally better job in this. It's not a knock on either; I have short squat legs - not exactly the best thing for running, but they are powerful, and fit the need for roller derby a lot better. And it is nice to be able to do my job, concentrating on my job afterwards, rather than on how well I was or was not able to keep up.

2011 Regionals Diary Day Three: Consolation bracket

2011-12-15T08:37:00-06:00

Wow, this was an interesting day. Some ups and downs, but mostly ups. My crew worked the consolation bracket today, which, while not exactly glory matches, they are extremely important to the teams and demand no less than our best. And good thing, too - because our first match was a doozy. We had 49 majors called in the bout - not trips to the box (where four minors would get you sent there), but majors - from what I gather (I hadn't thought of it before), a typical bout has something like the low to middle 20s. I don't think I've called as many penalties as I did from the outside as I did in just that one game.

We had one really bad fuck-up, though, and I contributed to it. No team is supposed to have all their blockers sent to the penalty box (one must always be on the track), and I sent the last one out. While I feel bad, I don't feel like I completely screwed up, because I did see another blocker from that team on the track, but apparently she was on her way off the track for a major call as well. In other words, it was really bad timing, and aside from not hearing the major call (this venue can get very loud, even with a small number of fans), I did right; if you can't hear the major call, you can't hear the major call - not much can be done at that point. What really turned bad was that another referee ended the jam after that happened (other refs who saw the second blocker going off were beckoning her to return to the track) - and that didn't need to have happened. It sucks, but we're all human, and mistakes happen, especially when you have odd circumstances. I don't mean to brush this all off, because I'm not, but when you have another game in four hours, you need to put it behind you and move on.

So we did, and early on in the second game I took a really bad fall; I was chasing down a player who didn't hear my major whistle and call, when I got pushed (legally - and unintentionally) by another player further outside, and got tripped by a spectator's foot. Because of the direction I was skating, the direction of the push, and the location of the trip, I ended up falling nearly flat on my back. For a very brief moment I had to decide if I was done, or if I could get up. Although in pain, I knew I was OK and it would shake off in a couple of jams. But owwie. Actually, for a change, I'm rather glad this was on sport-court - it's a little more forgiving than concrete for these types of falls.

I'm told by a colleague who knows the high muckety-mucks in charge that he's heard nothing but good things about me - and this was after the first game today. So, so far so good. Tomorrow, the last day of the playoffs, there are only five games scheduled, and there are three referee crews. So one of us will only work one game tomorrow. While I'd still like to work two (I'm learning a lot from reffing at this high a level, and working with these caliber refs), I'd be OK with one. It's been a good tournament - and while I'm vain and would like a perfect one, I'm pretty happy so far. I'm working my ass off, not only because it looks good, but because it's how I want to referee (same reason I won't ref more than two soccer games a day), and be able to work the best games I can. I'm not sure what that level is yet, but when I reach that plateau, I'll at least be happy that it's not by lack of effort.

2011 Regionals Diary Day Two: speed and positioning

2011-12-15T08:37:00-06:00

For the tournament I'm doing Outside Pack Reffing. There's a minor problem with roller derby - it's not that outside pack reffing isn't important; it's just that it could be said that the other positions are just "more equal" than OPR - honestly, it's much like Assistant Referees in soccer; when you have good OPRs things can go absolutely awesome, and the inside refs appreciate the heck out of them and it can turn a well-reffed bout into an awesomely reffed-bout. But on the other hand, if you have a bunch of "eh"-type refs on the outside, but good refs inside, you can get through OK and the fans may not even notice it - but flip it around and you could easily have a disaster. So, outside is usually where new and unproven people get placed. It's also, if you do it right, a crapton of skating - a lot of stop, reverse, quick-turn and sprint. Since you're on the outside, you have to cover more distance than the players, too.

The tournament is on sport court; and I've found that leagues that play on sport court love it, and hate skating on concrete; and likewise leagues that skate on concrete hate sport court and would rather be on the immovable stuff. I fit in the later; I find that sport court has a tendency to pull on my ligaments (specifically my ankles), and it's slow and mushy (although, to be fair, it's slow and mushy for everyone, so it's not like you're moving comparatively slower than anyone else). After skating on it, when I go back to my home practice and game-night facility, everything feels so... much... faster.

Both games we had were pretty good, and I felt pretty good, both individually, and as a crew. I have to admit, that I wasn't happy to be dinged in the post-mortem of the first bout (between the fourth and fifth seeds), for being slightly behind the pack - I actually though I was doing very good; although I also know that I don't do a lot of outside pack, and the ding was for only slightly. And I was told that the ding got crossed out when I lapped the other outside pack refs (there are three of us in a bout) chasing down a skater that committed a major penalty - the kind of canceled themselves out, or maybe put me slightly ahead, because I was told I wasn't seen as behind the rest of the time. In some ways, it kind of bugs me - because I want to know where and why I was "behind", since I thought I was where I should have been the whole time, and really didn't make any conscious adjustments (the lapping of refs was me doing my job, not putting in special effort to show off).

We didn't get the post-mortem on the second bout (between the first seed and the ninth) - we're supposed to get some notes on that tomorrow morning, but we got kudos at half time from the tournament head ref specifically aimed at us OPRs.

I know I get paranoid about these things - especially when I'm interested in upgrading. My application to upgrade will actually go in once I get back home, so I want to know how I did and make sure everything looks good. I know, intellectually, that I'll do the best I can, because upgrade or no, my desire is to do the best I can for the good of the game, and the rest is out of my hands. I know I've got one evaluation where I looked like a yutz at a previous tournament (not really my fault - the head referee thought the coach was challenging another referee and not me - I was going to tell him to overturn my call once he was done with the first challenge, but by then the tournament head ref came out, did the lecture thing at me once they figured out who the coach really challenged - ick), and the referee for that, who could counter that evaluation, hasn't bothered to send in his own eval. I know there's nothing I can do about that - but it still gnaws at me and I tend to get uppity over high-profile games anyway.

But overall, I'm very happy with the tournament so far. I should get another two games tomorrow - just need to wait and see who they are.

Updated Reading of the LOTG

2008-03-17T20:06:00-06:00

I've updated the audio-recording of the Laws of the Game. It's still not a professional recording, there's still bound to be little mistakes (and maybe even big ones - did I mention it's not a professional recording?). If you're like me, and spend a lot of the time in the car (or someplace else where reading isn't practical, but listening is), maybe this will help you.

No update to the ATR yet - the last couple years has seen the USSF tighten up on it's copyright; and although I can't see this as a threat to them, I haven't decided if the greater good is worth more than the possible financial hit.

You can download the updated reading here (44.5 MB).

The New USSF Sock: This End Up

2008-03-25T22:53:00-06:00

OSI is gradually pushing out the pieces of the new uniform, and recently I obtained the final piece of the revamp - the socks. I try to be very honest about the good and the bad about OSI (see this article for a review of the new jerseys), but I've always loved the fit of their socks; and with the revamp of the new socks, the fit of the stockings haven't changed, but the styling has.

Let's be perfectly clear: 90% or more of referees in this country do not need these socks.The standard three stripes along the top will do just fine (or, as OSI/USSF put it, to keep Adidas at bay, "two stripes with a white top"). If you never used the logo socks, you probably won't need these, although these look a whole lot better than the logo socks did. Click here to view the old Logo Socks.

Speaking of logo socks, let's review some of the nicknames I've seen associated with them: logos, smiles, pumpkins, ovals, those *&#! ugly things. Even in it's debut, the logo still came out oval, and even after shrinking the logo, to keep it from stretching as much - it just didn't work on anyone with any type of calf muscle - and c'mon people, were soccer referees! We're going to have calf muscles! So, the best news out of this is that OSI is no longer selling the logo socks, but just like the old uniforms, they can still be worn.

Gone along with the logo is anything along the top. The design, which mirrors the new jersey in that it has two stripes, one thin and one fat, is located below the bottom of the calf muscle, on the lower half of the sock; between the stripes is the OSI logo. If I were to hazard a guess, the black top, in addition to being what's becoming a standard look on the international scene, rids us of looking sloppy if the tip of the sock starts to slide down, or if someone wears a different make of sock.

Different make of sock? There's no logo on this sock, so could other companies make the same design (sans Official Sports logo)? Maybe. Would there be a market for it - that's up to the people who have to put up the money.

The strangest thing about the sock, however, is the foot. On the upper portion of the foot, where you'd lace up your boots, are the words "US Soccer Referee". Why? Text isn't enough here - picture my hands up next to my head looking really perplexed, "Why???" I have only one possible thought to this, and it goes back to the logo socks again. I found that most people did not put on their logo socks correctly: they'd just slap them on, and the logos would be cockeyed or at the front-and-back, instead of at the sides - I even saw it happen at a professional game. So, given that problem, OSI must have put those words there as a polite way of saying "This End Up" - if the words aren't centered, neither is the logo. This theory fell apart on my first time trying on the socks, but who knows, maybe it'll help.

So will the socks become popular? It will by the people who either have to, or want to, buy anything new that comes down the pike for referee gear. Should you buy it? I'd say the socks, like the jerseys, should get bought for the same I cut my hair short for regionals, as it was told to me several years ago: "You don't have to cut your hair, but they don't have to give you games." If you want those games, get the socks - if you don't care, then don't.

Here are some pictures of the new sock (total of four).

Product Summary:
U.S. Soccer Referee Sock
$12.95

Positives: Far better looking than the old Logo socks. Since there's no visible logo, you could use it, if approved, in high school soccer or other leagues. Same quality as OSI's Pro Socks (which feel better than any this reviewer has tried).

Negatives: Yet another expense that's necessity is highly questionable. Without approval, it can't be used outside of the USSF. Costs $2 more per pair than the same sock with three stripes.

Refblog.com OS X Dashboard Widget

2007-12-22T20:44:00-06:00

OK, so I'm a geek: aside from the owner, I'm the only one in the company I work for that doesn't have kids, so I'm stucking working all week (except for Tuesday), so instead of going elsewhere to visit family, I'm here playing around with utilities in the latest version of OS X, in this case, DashCode.

So, with little fanfare, I submit a Dashboard Widget for you Mac users that brings up this humble little blog. I have no graphical abilities, so I won't claim it's pretty, but it does work, using this existing RSS feed. You can download it here.

The following is required by Apple to have the widget listed on this site:

Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger is required. If you�re using Safari, click the download link. When the widget download is complete, show Dashboard, click the Plus sign to display the Widget Bar and click the widget�s icon in the Widget Bar to open it. If you�re using a browser other than Safari, click the download link. When the widget download is complete, unarchive it and place it in /Library/Widgets/ in your home folder. show Dashboard, click the Plus sign to display the Widget Bar and click the widget�s icon in the Widget Bar to open it.

First Look: The 2008 OSI/USSF Uniform

2008-02-11T20:37:00-06:00

Note: When you click the (more) link to view the entire article, you'll want to increase, if not maximize, the screen to see both the text and pictures.

I won't kid you about buying the jerseys so I can review them on the site - no, I bought them because I want to do Regionals again, I want to do semi-pro games again - I want to do good games. Before the first time I went to Regionals (and what a neat thing it is to say that), I was told by one of the assessors who was going with us, the equivalent of, "Good, you have Official Sports jerseys - that's what you're supposed to have"; he then went on to say that since Regionals is a USSF sponsored tournament, and OSI is a USSF sponsor, you should wear OSI gear.

I'm sure OSI loves to hear that, because even with holiday "specials" going on, you're going to shell out over $500 if you decide to refit your entire wardrobe.

This review won't go into the shorts - aside from the new logo, there's no change (you can see the original review here); it'll also pass on the socks, because I don't have them yet. Another thing this review won't cover is how well they work while actually reffing in them; partially this is because I haven't worn them (except for in front of a mirror), and partially because it looks like the same fabrics as the previous jerseys. That's probably my biggest disappointment; I would have gladly shelled out half-a-g if I wasn't going to be as uncomfortable during hot and muggy days, like kits from Adidas or Diadora, but that's not the case.

So what's left? The look and fit. Since the fit may be the only tangible positive to this review, let's go to the look, where I'll stay as neutral as possible.

A few days after MLS Cup, where the new jerseys were announced, the USSF said that both old and new jerseys could be worn on matches together. I don't know if this is a bone thrown out to all the people who were unhappy about purchasing new gear, or because third-party manufacturers (like Law 5 and Olympus) won't have time to update their lines before the start of many of the country's seasons, but clearly the two styles, while not a match, won't be awful looking, like some of the combinations you see at USA Cup. The big changes, of course, are the change in stripe patterns (nicknames to differentiate the new jersey from the pure pinstripe version on the right, such as "fatties" have already taken hold on SocRef), the number of them, and the stripes on the sleeves. Both shirts have 12 stripes, although in the new one, six are the thick variety, and six thin.

One thing to notice are the stripes between the pockets: on the old jersey there are two, and on the new one, there are none. This really isn't a big deal aesthetically until you see the new black. The picture doesn't really do it justice, but when you put it on, the furthest stripes both left and right are really on your side, and it looks like you have instead a large black stripe going across your chest, where advertising would go if we were wearing a professional player's jersey. Perhaps the inclusion of a badge will lessen this, but since the predominant color of the badge is black (except for those few wearing white), I don't think it'll help much. Even though all five colors have the same design, it took the contrasts of the black jersey to see this rather odd configuration, and to my eyes (of what colors I've seen), only the black seems to suffer for it.

Now to the fit. After showing these to my wife, who makes Renaissance Faire costumes, she pointed out one potential positive to the new jerseys: the sleeves. Now, if you ask her, she will tell you that fitted sleeves, like on the old jerseys, look better than raglan sleeves; but the problem is that, in the cookie cutter world that is uniforms, not everyone looks good in fitted sleeves, and I have to admit seeing a lot of jerseys with the sleeve well off the shoulder and past the armpit. The nice thing about raglan sleeves is that you don't have this problem, and for those of us who are not as broad-shouldered as OSI's models will see an improvement in fit.

Raglan sleeves are also much easier to make, it's just a simple straight cut of fabric to sew on, rather than on a curve. Except that OSI did something a bit odd to my wife's eyes. To the left is a good example of a typical raglan sleeve, with the seem going straight up the arm to the collar. Now look at OSI's which has an s-curve to it. One of the things she noticed (that I didn't) was they they seem to bunch around the armpit. A positive for the women, is that she thinks they may look better on women because of it.

The most important thing I can say about these shirts is that unless you're in a similar boat as myself, do not feel obligated to buy these shirts. The USSF has yet to announce when the classic pinstripe jerseys will be retired, and even when they do, I'd give it at least a few years.

Product Summary:
USSF Stripe Pro Shirt
$46.95 - $47.95 depending on size, economy versions range from $24.95 to $25.95

Positives: A possible better fit for women and men with narrower shoulders. The new design does not clash with the old one (like the stripes did with the fuschia jerseys).

Negatives: No improvement in material, some questionable design choices, a full kit is obscenely expensive.

Regionals Diary 2007

2008-01-28T00:24:00-06:00

I was privileged enough to be invited back to participate in the US Youth Soccer regional tournament; all those who won their respective State Cups, or got in from winning the Regional League come here to fight for a berth to the national championship. It's tremendous soccer, and plenty of the joy of victory and the agony of defeat for referees as well.

Diary entries from 2007. Simply click to read:

Day One: Travel, Rain, and Lightning

Day Two: Rain, Mud and Saved Asses

Day Three: Close Games

Day Four: Out of Gas

Day Five: Semis

Day Six: Final thoughts

Diary entries from 2004:

Day One: Travel

Day Two: Training Day

Day Three: Let the Games Begin!

Day Four: I'd Like to Package That and Bring It Home

Day Five: My Last Games?

Day Six: Spectator

Day Seven: Finals

10 Best of 2006, The List

2007-11-10T01:17:00-06:00

Below are my totally subjective list of the best entries I wrote in 2006. I've also tossed in, just in case you want to want to see how things have changed, added the "Best Of" lists for 2005, 2004, and 2003 ..

Best of 2006:

I didn't have to mock him (USA Cup Diary)

My own playing paradox

Why the ref just won't believe you

A terrible way to end a game

Why it's difficult for us to card dives

Some pondering on red cards

More adults behaving badly

Following through on a threat

More reasons I hate the NFHS

A cop already? (USA Cup Diary)

Best of 2005:

soccerisnotlife.com commercials

Is there anything more tense than a 1-0 playoff game?

USA Cup 2005 Day 4: Incident reports

Revenge! Revenge! Revenge!

USA Cup 2005 Day 7: Almost my turn

Week of the living wingnuts

Referees make the worst players, and now it's my turn

Simple rule of soccer: if you want to keep playing, don't say "Fuck You" to the ref

Overconfidence?

One call out of a hundred

Best of 2004

How to Complain About Referees

Refs We've Lost

The John Runk Saga

The consistency myth (aka boo freakin' hoo)

Just keep makin' up the rules, Monkey Boy

Why refs slag on coaches

If Refs Were Sportscasters

Three drug-induced events

The Economics of "Referee Capital"

On foul throws, coaches, and red cards

Best of 2003

What if refs evaluated coaches?

When is a red card not a red card?

The High School Rules Meeting

The call I blew

The stupid things parents say... made stupider!

The Ref Vents Upon Other Refs

Why are fans so lazy?

I don't know a ref who likes this venue

Fictionalized Laws

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

Review of the Timex O.V.A. (Optimum Viewing Angle) Watch

2007-04-20T17:57:00-06:00

Reffing, like soccer itself, is pretty simple in its requirements: you need to be there, know the Laws of the Game, and have the instruments to enforce it. The bare essentials of the later requirement are a whistle (to get people�s attention), cards (to administer misconduct, and in some places that can be flexible), a place to write down important facts about the game (including the score), and a watch (to keep track of the amount of time in the game).

I�m pretty picky about watches, although my requirements are few:I want them to be comfortable, and I want to be able to read them easily. I�ve gone through several watches over the course of my days as an official, and a variation of the old standby is proving to be quite interesting.

The watch I�d love to wear is the OptimumTime Football Watch. This watch was designed for refereed: the watch face is huge, there�s a button for added time, and the default countdown time is 45 minutes. And if you get the cloth band like I did (I had to ask about for it � the normal band is the typical rubber you see everywhere), it�s very comfortable too. The downside, and I�ve verified this with two other people I know who either have or have had the watch, is it breaks down a lot. I went through a couple in less than a year, and even though it was under warranty I couldn�t trust it enough and it went into the bin.

For the last several years I�ve used a combination of Timex Ironman on my left wrist (also with a Velcro/fabric band), and an Addidas watch that apparently wasn�t supposed to be sold in the United States � how I found it in a now out-of-business sporting goods chain? I have no idea. But it�s been my favorite watch for years, because it was comfortable on my right hand.

The problem is, the watch bands are wearing out, and even after multiple washings, I�ll be nice, they reek. I�ve never had any watch last as long as the fabric bands, let alone with the type of abuse they get, but there you go. Unfortunately, you can�t get them any more because, as I said, they tend to smell horribly over time (and that time is pretty short). So, when I saw an article about the Ironman OVA watch, I was intrigued and purchased a watch.

Here�s the OVA�s gimmick: Instead of sitting on the top of your wrist, like a regular watch, it sits on the inside side of your wrist. The idea is that you cut out one of the two motions to view the time on your watch; instead of raising your arm and then turning your wrist and/or elbow, you just raise the arm and look at the time.

And it works. Moreover, it�s awfully comfortable sitting there, on either wrist. I found myself, after wearing it during training for an hour or two a day, getting annoyed with my regular day-to-day watch. I�m impressed.

The face of the watch is almost identical to the standard Timex Ironman. The two differences is the Start/Lap button is on top of the watch, instead of the bottom (strangely enough, it takes some getting used to), and the numbers are slightly slanted from left-to-right. The idea behind the slant is that it makes the watch more readable on your left wrist (which is where most people wear their watches); if you want a straight number, you don�t have to turn your arm � just bring it straight up. This, of course, means if you�re a referee who wears two watches, one on each arm, that the numbers are actually turned slightly away from you on your right arm. If you use your right-watch as your primary timekeeping device, this watch probably isn�t for you, but in my case, the right watch has always been my backup, so the comfort took a higher priority; the angle is not so much that it makes the watch unreadable, or even difficult � I really couldn�t tell you if it even helps.

What will help is when you�re running lines: when wanting to check the time on the watch, one need simply look down instead of look and then crook the flag.

There are two downsides to this watch: the first is the lack of a cloth band. I find cloth bands with velcro attachments much more comfortable, especially on hot days when swelling of certain areas (such as your wrists) is an inevitability. I�ve also found that rubber tends to chafe on those already uncomfortable days; Timex seems to have heavily vented this band, so we�ll just have to see what happens come the dog days of August. The other downside is the size of the face � because of the smaller surface area on the side of your wrist, the numbers are smaller (smaller than the standard Ironman); I haven�t noticed any issues either while training or in the few games I�ve used it on, but if you live on large faces, you may want to pass this one by.

Like all the stuff I�ve reviewed on this site, I�ve worn it, and will continue to, and if things change for me mid-season, I�ll alter this review as necessary. But for right now, I plan on wearing two watch that face each other when my arms go straight out.

Timex Ironman Triathlot O.V.A. Watch
Retail Price: $70.00, but you can find them for $45-60 at various online locations.
Pros: Comfortable, convenient, small learning curve in retraining where to look on your arm.
Cons: Smaller face, angled numbers may be a problem for people who wear it on the right wrist, molded wristband only.

A small cavalcade of watches:
The Coleman stopwatch from Target, which I bought this when I first started, probably for $20. Once I decided I liked reffing, it went into my bag as an emergency spare. Since then, it's only come out at Regionals when my OptimumTime Football Watch died.

The Timex Ironman Triathalon - if there's a standard stopwatch, this is it. It's comfortable, although the cloth band has really started to smell, despite washing it. The backlight broke early on, but I decided to turn it into a feature: if I can't read the watch, it's too dark to play.

I don't know how this Addidas watch made it to a U.S. sporting goods store, but it did, and I'm happy for it. Until now, this has been the most comfortable watch I've used on my right wrist. I've searched many times for a matching pair, but they all include shipping charges from Europe. The face is very big and readable, but on hot days it tends to turn black making it unreadable.

This is the new O.V.A. watch, from it's front (meaning your side) and here is the same watch from its side, or the place you normally look for the watch face.. You can see how it requires a little bit of readjusting your expectations on where the watch should be.

Here is the Ironman and the Ironman O.V.A. side-by-side. This picture shows the differences in the designs: you can see the slight tilt in the numbers on the O.V.A. watch, and the Start/Lap button on the top rather than the bottom of the face and the smaller numbers. And if it looks like the button is angled away, you're right, the watch face forms a "L" to stay on the top of your wrist.

How to Become a Better Referee

2007-10-31T07:45:00-06:00

As I was editing How to Become a Referee, several things came to mind on things that you can do to become a better referee. This is my all means not an exhaustive list, but something I've pick up over the years, after I decided that I wanted to keep blowing the whistle, and that I wanted to become better at it. Feel free to add suggestions.The first few items on this list will be things to read - I'll venture to say they'll be necessities if you want to advance.

There is no first and foremost, but there are two things that should be on your must-read list if you want to become a better referee. The better you want to be, the more often you should read them. The first is the USSF's Advice to Referees - while the Laws are pretty simple, after a year or two you realize there are a lot of grey areas, this is where the ATR comes in.
Buy For the Good of the Game by Robert Evans and Edward Bellion. You will learn a ton more about the ins-and-outs of being a good referee and how to improve yourself. If the ATR gets you up-to-speed on the Laws, this gets you up to speed on being a referee. I cannot recommend this book any higher. You must buy it - must, I tell you. BTW - overseas this is knows as The Art of Refereeing - if you have trouble getting For the Good of the Game in the U.S. (I'm told it's out of print), try the other title on a Europeans book seller's site. The content is exactly the same.
Subscribe to Referee Magazine - better yet, join the National Association of Sports Officials and get a little extra insurance while you're at it; it's included with the membership, and it's tax deductible.
Find a way to vent. Some people hang out with other refs and tell war stories, I write - in any event, it's something to keep you sane.
Start pushing up the ladder: If you're not getting the kind of games you want, ask for better ones. You'll frequently be on the lines to begin with, but that'll change over time, if you're ready.
Start pushing up the ladder: Work at your State Tournament and/or State Cup. In this state, the top level teams have a tournament to see who can play in the national tournaments. the lower level teams have another one to see who can be promoted to the next division. Work them, work hard, you will be noticed.
Work the USA Cup: you'll be exposed to a number of different playing and refereeing styles. Yes, the pay sucks, but it's an experience like no other.
Start dressing up: When you first started reffing, you bought the minimum, now complete the set. Again, you don't have to buy Official Sports (although if you get noticed and start working invitation-only tournaments, you'd be, for better or worse, well advised to get them), but buy that blue jersey. Get long-sleeves for you're entire set, too (it's nice on those cold days).
Play like Imelda Marcos (aka: get a shoe collection): Get different shoes for different conditions: flats, turfs, and cleats - maybe more than one pair for bad weather (or a shoe dryer).
Get more socks: Or, specifically, the USSF logo sock. If you want my opinion, it's poorly designed (I don't think the USSF logo looks good in oval, which it what it ends up being on most men's calves), but some officials in higher-level games like them. Assignors frequently ask their senior officials about newer referees if they're ready to be pushed up a notch - and no the socks, jerseys, or shorts affect your performance on the field, but it does tell us how serious you are.
Work High School: Make the jump from junior-varsity to varsity. No, it's not USSF, but most high school referees also work USSF. I've met USSF assignors though high school games that have helped me go up notches on the totem pole, and they've certainly given me lessons to learn. If nothing else, it expands the number of games you work, and people you meet.
Get a trainer: If you're like me, you're not blessed with a naturally athletic body. I've had people who tell me that they don't need to do anything about the upgrade physicals, which just ticks me off, because I have to work my butt off for it. I'll tell you this, even if it's just for the off season, a personal trainer helps - it's their job to make you better physically (even if not prettier). As for how you select one, I have no idea - I just signed up for one at the YMCA, and found that I liked the one I drew.
Upgrade: Nothing spells commitment like upgrading. The games you get from existing assignors may not be all that different, but considering how few referees (about 2%) go beyond Grade 8, it will get your name out there. Pick a goal: mine is to get a State Badge (Grade 6) - mostly to prove that I can, and for when I retire from the whistle, I can stay in the game and assess. However, if you want to be the best darn Grade 8 you can, more power to you.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but in my own humble experience, it's helped people notice me, in a good way, as a referee. I'll never claim to be a good referee, because I have a long way to improve; but I will claim to be a referee that gives a damn, and the above steps help make that claim more than mere rhetoric.

How to Become a Referee

2007-03-07T15:16:00-06:00

Becoming a referee is not a terribly difficult process - but let's be totally honest here - staying one is. Not having a ton of experience, I can't help a whole lot with the later, but here's a quick summary of what to do for the former (OK, and a little of what I've learned - take with salt).Different states have different ways of administrating referees: some have regional associations, some are assigned by individual clubs, some, for all I know, are organized by Elvis. But if you want to become a ref, probably the easiest thing to do is to contact a soccer club and ask if they have any information. There's a chronic referee shortage, so if the person who you talk to doesn't have information available immediately, it's very likely s/he'll have information on who to talk to. Should the club have more referees than they know what to do with, contact the USSF, CSA, or whatever your national governing body is ASAP so they can share their secret - if they're just clueless (more likely), you can try searching the web for the state SRA or SRC (State Referee Administrator, Association and/or Committee); if they don't have a list of clinic times and locations, they'll certainly provide one via email.

Myself, I found a flyer at an indoor soccer facility over the winter and called. But I've never seen any others before or after. Hmmmmmmm.

One thing I should mention is that there are two major youth soccer organizations in the US (this, making the assumption that you live in the US - your own country may vary): US Youth Soccer, which is broken down into State or region (for those big states) organizations, and the American Youth Soccer Organization, or AYSO. The AYSO is, theoretically, less competitive than US Youth Soccer, with an "everybody plays" atttiude. I also understand that the refs don't get paid - which is fine until you get your very first hellish game (then you realize why refs get paid even for the easy games). I don't know the formal process for becoming a ref in the AYSO; it seems most areas are either one of the other, so much so that the USSF now allows cross-certification. High and Middle Schools are another matter altogether - contact a school and get information from them.

When you first become a referee, you have to have a 16 hour class, usually split over two days in a single weekend, followed by a test. I don't know if all the tests are the same, but it's pretty basic, and if you've read the Laws of the Game with some degree of concentration, you should be just fine. Following that, you have a 5-8 hour clinic each year, and very possibly the same test forever onward. Do yourself a favor, sign up for the grade 8 (entry level) referee course, rather than the linesman - you don't have to do games you're not comfortable with, and you won't have to re-take the full course just to become an eight.

Ta daa! You're a referee - now what?

At my clinic, there was an assignor just waiting to pick up the newly minted referees - this was a very smart woman. Unfortuantely, it doesn't always work out this way, so sometimes people are left with their new badge, wondering what the heck to do now. My suggestion is, if you remember it, ask the instructor(s) before they leave the room; it's possible the clinic was sponsored by a local club to make sure their local pool of referees will contine to whistle. If you forget, go back to that club you initially talked to and find out who their assignor is (the club may not have their own assignor, but they definately deal with one - again, this goes back to how things are assigned in your area). Otherwise, hit the internet and talk to a bunch of clubs, one will be able to help you. Still having problems? Remember that referee association we talked about four paragraphs up? They'll often have a list of assignors on their website - if not, email them - it's their job to help out in referee issues, and getting work is one of them.

If you're serious about refereeing - and I mean, "I want to be a good referee" which can include, but is not synonymous with, "I want to referee MLS games or the World Cup", you'll notice quickly that the Laws of the Game are vastly different than the rules we're used to with other "American" sports, which are pretty compendious tomes full of sections, paragraphs, sub-paragraphs, and so on. Soccer's Laws are pretty simple, deceptively so, and you'll find out pretty quickly that refereeing is more art than science. There are some additional books you should read, and things to do, and need to do, if you want to take it seriously: In the USSF's website, in the Referee section, go to the Referee Development link. You'll see, among other usefull stuff, the USSF's a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for New Referees. Also check out FIFA's Questions and Answers to the Laws of the Game.

Secondly, join SOCREF: it's a huge number of referees, that argue and bicker about nits, discuss trends, provide wonderful insights, and, especially when you're new, help you understand that you're not alone. There's also some high-level referees and instructors on the list. It's massively helpful.

Third, go to the USA Cup. I have a problem with most tournaments, but there are exceptions. This is a big exception. Yes, it's in Minnesota, yes, it's an entire week, and no, they don't pay well - but it's the best darn experience you can get as a new referee. You get a chance to work with refs from all over the world who really care about the game, as well as with teams from all over the country, and occasionally, the world, too. I'm not kidding - it's extremely rare to have a totally local officiating team (or, as likely in your case, two from Minnesota and you) - and pretty darn common to get at least one from another country. Brand spankin' new refs are often paired with FIFAs. I know of many refs who look foward to this all year long, and I'm one of them.

On a practical side, what do you need to buy for this job? Keeping in mind that this might turn out to be a short-term deal, you don't want to spend a lot of money, so here's what I consider a minimum list of equipment:

Jerseys: buy three jerseys, a yellow, a black, and a red. Many people just tell you to get yellow and black, and if you're working in-house games where the assignor works for, and knows all the teams, that's fine. But if you work travel leagues, please do the rest of us a favor and get a red jersey, too; a good many of us hate wearing black, especially when it's warm out - and it's becoming very common for teams and goalkeepers to wear those colors as well - officially they're supposed to change before us, but if that was the case, the USSF wouldn't have four jersey colors, would they? You may well be saying, what about blue? Unless your assignor recommends it, skip it until you decide you really want to keep reffing. As for the make of jersey, it really doesn't matter, but make sure you get one with flaps over the pockets - so if you get jerseys from Official Sports, get the good ones, otherwise get Olympus jerseys. They're just as good, they're cheaper, and you don't have to worry about looking like a dork because the contents of your pocket just scattered all over the field. There is a time and a place for getting the full Official Sports kit, but this isn't it.
Shorts: Go to a soccer store and try some on - most of the styles are exactly the same, so it'll depend on the fabric you like. Official Sports has some sportier and lighter shorts that I really like, but because I couldn't find a vendor that had them in-stock, I had to take a chance, bought one to try it out, then bought a bunch of others when I decided I like (some don't, so don't take my word on it). Some vendors make referee shorts specifically for women, too.
Socks: Don't go cheap. In fact, I will recommend a specific brand: get The Ref Sock from Official Sports. Now. Here's the URL if you don't believe me: http://officialsports.com/socks.htm. All of the store-branded referee socks I've tried have sucked, but these are cushy, comfortable, and stay up. Keep at least one spare pair in your bag at all times, for when you do multiple games, or if the weather is bad. You don't need to USSF Logo Sock, and ignore the striped socks in colors other than white (they're used in college games).
Shoes: Go with something comfortable. If it's in your budget, have a second pair in case the weather is bad, and you have games the next day. Keep in mind that referees in the center don't need the torque that players do, so you don't need cleats unless the field is very soft - I usually use flat-soled shoes (used in indoor soccer, when on astroturf) in the middle, and turf shoes (the ones with 50 or so little nubs on the bottom) on the line. Keep in mind that turf shoes can be real pains to break in.
Whistles: Whistles are cheap, get a bunch of them. OK, get two at least. Fox 40's are incredibly popular because they're very very loud. However, if there are games going on next to you, keep in mind that they're very very popular, and you want the players on your field to be able to tell the difference between your whistle, and the one from the field next to yours. Most soccer stores that also have referee gear will let you try them out, too.
Cards: They're plastic, they're cheap, get some spares in case you misplace them. Get yourself some write-on cards, too. You may not care for them for day-to-day use (I don''), but they work better than paper when it's raining out. I would recommend against any write-on cards that require a pen to use - they get messy, and not just on the card, on your shirt. I love these write-on cards from Custom Cards which uses a pencil instead.
Pencils or Pens? Pencils. No ink blotches on your shirt, and if you accidentally transpose which team scored a goal, it's more easily corrected. Keep two on your person, a few more in your bag.
Watches: Get something that's comfortable, and keep two. Most of us hard-core people wear both, but some put their second in their pocket. Avoid stopwatches that hang around your neck - it looks stupid when you run with them.
Flipping coins: Use something unique or impressive. Quarters or pennies look dorky and unprofessional (seriously - if the captains think you don't care, they will communicate it to the rest of the team) - go to the bank and get a 50-cent piece: it's big, easy to see, and most of the kids haven't seen them. Foreign currency is good - and flipping coins are a common give-away at certain tournaments.
Flags: Go cheap, but not über-cheap. You'll appreciate something that swivels on windy days, as opposed to something that was stapled to a dowel (that only lasted me one game).

A few things not to do

There are a few things that you really should avoid doing. The good news is that this list is small - we've all made mistakes, and chances are we've all made, or will make, the same ones at one time or another. But if you heed these, you'll save yourself some trouble, and some injuries, and some real headaches (and most of these are from my experience).

First, be aware that assignors are often desperate for officials; some are better than others, and most won't have you do more than back-to-back games (two total); beware anyone who wants more. If you like doing weekend tournaments, really really really beware those. It's not that they're bad, but almost all tournaments I've run will try to milk you for 5-6 games or more. Don't do it! It does a disservice to players and fans, cause you to injure yourself, and maybe burn out of the game. The assignor will beg, saying they don't have enough officials to go around - this is not your problem - this is the problem of those who abuse officials, and the 80-90% attrition rate (per two years). I suggest this: limit yourself to no more than two games, and be firm about it. If you can do more, then next time do a little more - but remember that the goal of a good referee is to work his or her butt off in service to the game. I tell assignors that I'll do no more than three hours work - if that's three hours of U8, that's fine; if it's U17 or higher than it's two games, either way I'll be bushed. If you're still not convinced: think if the weather turns really crappy (like when I worked five games in my second year in near freezing weather, and didn't realize I pulled a ligament in my foot until the next day, when it thawed out and I woke up screaming in agony and unable to walk), you can do your job and go home; if the weather is not crappy, and still feel up for something else, I bet they'll find one for you.

Second, don't do varsity high school on your first year. Hopefully you'll have someone to tell you this - I didn't, so just in case nobody else does, I will: don't do varsity high school on your first year of reffing, even if they'll take you. It'll be hideous, trust me. The rules are different, the attitudes are very different, and the level, style of play, and expectations are very different. If you want to do high school, contact your nearest high school, and ask about reffing their junior-varsity squads for the season. Trust me, I wish somebody told me this - I'd have one less police escort in my life, and I'd never have to tell a reporter who ran onto the field, "No comment." Am I getting through?

Third, turn down games you're not comfortable with - but do it to your assignor if at all possible. It'll make their life easier, and your life easier. If you can't reach your assignor, and you surrender your middle to another official for the good of the game, then tell your assignor later. I once lined a game for a center referee who said he turned down almost all his high school middles that year, because he wasn't comfortable doing them, but decided to keep the playoff center because the assignor asked him to. My guess is that the assignor didn't know he had barely done any middles. That would be the second time I'd had a police escort after a game (by the way, if you poo-poohed the last paragraph, please note both times I've had police escorts were at high school games).

What all three of these really come down to is, don't overreach yourself. The goal of your first couple years of reffing is to get out onto the field, and decide if you really like doing this thing. If you do, then start pushing outward - trust me, there's a demand for good, experienced officials, if you put the effort into it, you'll be noticed.

Mostly, have fun, ask questions and for advice - don't let the coaches get to you.

Originally written in July 2003, updated January 2007.

USA Cup Diary 2006

2007-09-03T15:04:00-06:00

Even with some flaws this year, it's still the best run, and one of the most memorable, if not the most optimistic, tournaments in the nation. As usual, the good, the bad, and the ugly - with the ugly being more spread out this year, but not quite as intense as last

.

Day One: Like you thought it wouldn't be hot

Day Two: A cop already?

(there were no games on days three and four)

Day Five: a farce of a game

Day Six: Obnoxious coach, almost like a normal day

Day Seven: Some inherent injustice

Day Eight: I didn't have to mock him

Day Nine: More adults behaving badly

10 Best of 2005, The List

2006-12-31T15:18:00-06:00

Below are my totally subjective list of the best entries I wrote in 2005. I've also tossed in, just in case you want to want to see how things have changed, added the "Best Of" lists for 2004 and 2003.

Best of 2005:

soccerisnotlife.com commercials

Is there anything more tense than a 1-0 playoff game?

USA Cup 2005 Day 4: Incident reports

Revenge! Revenge! Revenge!

USA Cup 2005 Day 7: Almost my turn

Week of the living wingnuts

Referees make the worst players, and now it's my turn

Simple rule of soccer: if you want to keep playing, don't say "Fuck You" to the ref

Overconfidence?

One call out of a hundred

Best of 2004