When you feel like you're calling on acid
Although my games last week were pretty tame, I did have one problem, and I have absolutely no idea on how to fix it. I had a consistent problem where a couple times each game, people just looked at me like my out-of-bounds calls were just totally whacked. This are short-sided games, only one official, so in the event of close calls I'm not 100% sure of, wait an extra second to observe body languages - but just the ones that I'm also unsure of, and much of that is because there are more important things for me to watch that who touched the ball last.But when I am sure, I call it; and a couple times each game, I was getting stares from both teams. From an officiating standpoint, I can't afford to let it get to me, because all too often I have to make a crucial call, and I can't be doubting myself, or trying to please both teams. People may think refs are obstinate, and maybe we are, but too many people try to take advantage of situations like that. For example, the first game that night, after one of those calls were I see it one way, and every player on the pitch sees it another, another ball went clearly off an orange player's foot, some two minutes later - I'm standing off the touch, no danger of distraction by the rest of the play, and see it right in front of my eyes - but the player decides to use it to make a federal case, mumbling and groaning all the way to his bench (I didn't card him or even talk to him, it would have made the situation worse - he went on his own).
Whatever the hell rugby did for their referees, I will gladly donate money so that it happens in soccer.
On my third game, in what was probably the most competitive of the night (for the first half, anyway); I had a ball that I would bet money was saved by the keeper and went over the goal-line for a corner kick - still would - and got the equivalent of "what have you been smoking?" Fortunately for me, both teams had had me before, and had been reasonably happy with my performance in prior weeks, so I was able to diffuse the situation with by quipping to the keeper, "Hey, maybe it's the acid I took before the game, but I swear to God that I saw it go off your fingertips." His response was, "Man, I told you to stop doing that!" and the game went on. I will never - EVER - say this in front of teams that don't know me (let alone sanctioned matches!), but it diffused the situation enough that people figured out that in the grand scheme (unless they scored), it was a minor thing.
I think I had that happen once before (a series of calls that both teams found absurd); but what can you do but trust your eyes and judgment?