Entering the game half-way
Really odd game yesterday; actually the game was fine - lots of running, not too many fouls, and I came out feeling pretty good. The odd thing came out of the assigning of the previous game.My assignor for high school games was given a number of short-notice games, and was trying to fill them up; now as I've mentioned before, they like me, because I don't mind traveling, and I got a call on Wednesday asking if I could fill in for a 5pm game. I said, yes, but I already had a center scheduled at 7pm, so they would need to either re-schedule me, or start the other game late, because there was no way I could make it from one location to antoher (about a half-hour drive) in time for the second game. She said she would try to find someone else, but asked if I could keep myself available just in case. I did, and she couldn't. Yesterday afternoon, I got a call asking if I could do both games, and she would contact the schools in the second game, saying I would be late.
(Two words: referee shortage - next time you complain about reffing, I will personally look up a training class for you, but you have to go, and have to ref)
First game, where I'm an AR, goes fine - good, tight game, until the last twenty minuets when the home team goes up 2-0. So after the game, I tear out and start driving to the second location. I get there at about 7:15, and the game is already underway. I check with the coaches and the near-side ref (they're running a dual), and they all knew to expect me late. I drop my bag, and get the tools of the trade out (new score sheet, whistles, spare cards, flags for the soon-to-be ARs), and my timing is apparently good. Home team scores, providing me with a seemless way to enter the game, and for the ref crew to change from Dual to DSC . But after I started the game, I realized that I had to approach this game carefully, because the variables were far different then when I start a game in the center.
When you start a game from scratch, the center referee often tries to establish what his style of calling will be, so the players and ARs will know what to expect, and what punishments to expect when crossing the line; in this case, the pace and style of the game (now 13 minutes underway) had already been set, and more importantly (to me), was the players expectations of the refereeing. Now they had a new referee to try to figure out .
As a rule, I like to let them play - I do try to emphasize a few things (like fouls at the back), but I don't discourage physical play (this can change if the game becomes a blowout). This was the third time I had centered one of the teams, and they seemed pretty comfortable with my being in the middle (the coach even liked me after the first game, after handing out a second caution), and I had been an AR on the other team once, and was comfortable with their tactics (they have some great players on the team, and can play through minor to moderate fouls exceptionally well, so I was liberal in giving them Advantage calls - their only drawback is that they don't play as a team, and are frequently fighting their own players for the ball, and miss the easy pass for their own low-percentage shot). The game was being played at a fast pace - the home team, in addition to the skills, have some very fast players, who can just burst into open space to pick up cleared balls; the visitors were having a hard time clearing past the center line, and home's defenders kept sprinting up to put the ball back into the mixer. Being so big and physical, I blew a few fouls in short order for pushes on the back of their opponents; I have to admit, I have a loud voice when I want to, and made it very clear after the second foul: "Stay off the back!" I don't know if it was the anouncement, or the fact that the visitors took the second free kick for a goal that worked - but it did. Home team stuck to their assents: size, speed, skill, and wholloped the visitors. Well, almost. They held a massive advantage in possession, but their predilection for personal, over team glory resulted in a number of outside shots that were easy saves for the goalkeeper. They still won 3-1.
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Anyone see China versus Canada last night (my timing was good - just after I showered, I was able to watch the entire game); a great contrast in styles: China's unrivaled ball control, versus Canada's physical style, to attempt to disrupt it. China's been off all tournament, and just coulnd't put together a good attack. Also a very good job by the referee attempting to balance the two teams. It was a good example of how the physical game is allowed, but where it is to be limited as well. Too bad Charmaine Hooper, after that great goal in the 7th minute, had to have a spaz after a good call, and get that dissent card.