Saturday, November 20, 2010
Baby
Well, no Turkey Bowl tonight - because my son is on the way! There will always be other games. Can't wait to meet Miles!
Live blog of the Arsenal - Tottenham match
9:41 - It's all over here and Spurs gain three points on the road at the Emirates. A tale of two haves today with Arsenal completely falling apart in the second half. Good attacking soccer today and a very entertaining game. Hope you enjoyed.
9:36 - Kinda surprised at the decision in favor of Bale in the corner. Looked like Bale was making the most of it and was just simply beat on that play. Really one of the only decisions I've disagree with him on.
9:35 - Five minutes of extra time here and I'm not quite sure why. Gallas was injured and he had a couple cards, but five minutes worth? I was thinking between 3 and 4 at the most.
9:30 - And on the ensuing kick Tottenham have taken the lead! 3-2 Tottenham. The cross in is flicked on and into the corner. Nothing Fabianski could do as Kaboul vaults his team into the driver seat. Unthinkable at halftime but Spurs have pulled ahead.
Van Persie nearly has an opportunity but misplays the ball.
9:29 - 84th minute - And here is a yellow card for Koscielny for a poor tackle on Bale. Quite right to book him here.
9:25 - Very surprised that Denilson was spared a caution there. Somewhat late, but light, challenge on an attacking Spurs player. Denilson has been called for at least two other fouls which is why I'm surprised no card was shown to Denilson.
9:17 - I forgot to mention that Robin Van Persie has made his appearance, on for Chamakh. And here come Crouch (Crouchy's having his nachos) on for Pavlyuchenko. Walcott looking to come on for Arsenal in the next few minutes.
9:11 - And our first big call this game. Phil Dowd makes a call for Tottenham about 8 yards outside the box, a foul on Sagna. On the ensuing free kick VDV strikes it just over the wall. Before the ball can get over Fabregas decides to stretch his arm over his two teammates in the wall, why is beyond me. He handles the ball two yards inside the box for an obvious penalty kick. VDV takes that and buries it. Now afterward Dowd approaches VDV and shows him a yellow, for what I don't know. The announcers had said quite rightly that VDV was walking a tight rope and maybe he had used up his third strike.
Things getting very heated now and Dowd having to make a lot of calls, on both teams. Wenger, of course, not to happy about this, but I think Dowd has had a very good game up to this point. 20 minutes to go. Good offside call by the AR to take away a goal for Arsenal.
9:00 - Good advantage play by Dowd to let Modric take that shot from about 25 yards out. Modric nearly put it on frame too.
8:55 - 50th minute - a good goal by none other than Gareth Bale. Poor defending by Arsenal but they completely butcher it. And Tottenham are back in it because of that mistake. Expect the intensity to ratchet up here - how will Arsenal respond? Van der Vaart making a meal out of a relatively small challenge here.
Halftime - 18 fouls so far in this one, but only one card. Lots of fouls but I think it's been a pretty free flowing game - both teams want to play quickly and with Arsenal stealing an early goal Tottenham have no choice but to play attacking football trying to get back into the game. Good play by both teams so far in this one and good decisions by the referee crew.
8:29 - I don't much like Efan Ekoku but he's gotten it right here - that was the final warning for Van der Vart. Twice he's left his feet and not had any real idea of playing the ball. Neither were particularly worth of a caution but now that they're adding up he's in danger of picking up a yellow. I think a good warning from Dowd, letting the player know where he stands.
8:24 - About 38 minutes in now, 2-0 Arsenal. Does anyone else think the Tiger Stripe Nike goalkeeper jerseys look awful? It seriously looks like a print you should see on a handbag or underwear, but a soccer kit? Not to mention Fabianski is wearing the gayest of gay with his pink outfit.
8:13 - And another goal nearly 20 minutes later. Wow, end to end stuff here and since we're focusing on the referee I have to say that it's really due to Phil Dowd that Arsenal have their second. Dowd had the opportunity to call a foul just outside the center circle for Tottenham, but seeing that Tottenham could keep moving up field with the ball he played advantage. An excellent call, but when Tottenham lost the ball Arsenal were able to counterattack and did so very well. Lots of space and Chamakh made the most of it. Good strike by Modric there but Fabianski equal to the task. We are now a half hour in.
8:04 - Good call by Phil Dowd on VDV. You could see on the replay that VDV made no attempt to play the ball, but looked at the man in the air the entire run up to his jump. Easy call for the referee. Dowd is making his presence felt - a card already and a stern talking to for VDV's challenge. I think that is a good approach to this game especially. He knows, and has seen, that this game will be very intense and he is making sure it doesn't get out of hand. Good refereeing so far, now about 20 minutes in.
7:58 - And our first card here as Phil Dowd chooses to book Sagna. Yikes, what a challenge, very hard, but lucky for him he kept his foot down and was relatively close to playing the ball. Very good call and caution from Dowd. He also uses the opportunity to possibly calm the game down early whereas some refs in the EPL may have just talked with Sagna and allowed that kind of challenge to happen the rest of the game. Very physical game so far and I don't see that letting up too much.
7:55 - And a goal already in the 9th minute! Samir Nasri makes a great run inside the left back. Great no call by the AR. Gomes came out very late, kind of confused by that, Nasri manages to get by Gomes and puts it in from an impossible angle. This match will be end to end for the full 90 and I wouldn't be surprised to see some tasty tackles throughout the game.
7:53 - 8th minute and already 5 fouls from the two teams. Can you tell this is a hotly contested derby? Ref is in for a good one today.
7:47 - You know you're in for a doozy when a captain refuses to shake the other captain's hand.
7:45 - And here we go. Should be an entertaining match as both teams are attacking teams. Hopefully we'll get lots of goals here. Henry is in the house. Philip Dowd is the man with the whistle.
It's time for the North London Derby and I'll be providing a live blog of this match, mainly from the refereeing standpoint but also commenting on the play of the two teams. Please watch along with me and provide comments throughout.
9:36 - Kinda surprised at the decision in favor of Bale in the corner. Looked like Bale was making the most of it and was just simply beat on that play. Really one of the only decisions I've disagree with him on.
9:35 - Five minutes of extra time here and I'm not quite sure why. Gallas was injured and he had a couple cards, but five minutes worth? I was thinking between 3 and 4 at the most.
9:30 - And on the ensuing kick Tottenham have taken the lead! 3-2 Tottenham. The cross in is flicked on and into the corner. Nothing Fabianski could do as Kaboul vaults his team into the driver seat. Unthinkable at halftime but Spurs have pulled ahead.
Van Persie nearly has an opportunity but misplays the ball.
9:29 - 84th minute - And here is a yellow card for Koscielny for a poor tackle on Bale. Quite right to book him here.
9:25 - Very surprised that Denilson was spared a caution there. Somewhat late, but light, challenge on an attacking Spurs player. Denilson has been called for at least two other fouls which is why I'm surprised no card was shown to Denilson.
9:17 - I forgot to mention that Robin Van Persie has made his appearance, on for Chamakh. And here come Crouch (Crouchy's having his nachos) on for Pavlyuchenko. Walcott looking to come on for Arsenal in the next few minutes.
9:11 - And our first big call this game. Phil Dowd makes a call for Tottenham about 8 yards outside the box, a foul on Sagna. On the ensuing free kick VDV strikes it just over the wall. Before the ball can get over Fabregas decides to stretch his arm over his two teammates in the wall, why is beyond me. He handles the ball two yards inside the box for an obvious penalty kick. VDV takes that and buries it. Now afterward Dowd approaches VDV and shows him a yellow, for what I don't know. The announcers had said quite rightly that VDV was walking a tight rope and maybe he had used up his third strike.
Things getting very heated now and Dowd having to make a lot of calls, on both teams. Wenger, of course, not to happy about this, but I think Dowd has had a very good game up to this point. 20 minutes to go. Good offside call by the AR to take away a goal for Arsenal.
9:00 - Good advantage play by Dowd to let Modric take that shot from about 25 yards out. Modric nearly put it on frame too.
8:55 - 50th minute - a good goal by none other than Gareth Bale. Poor defending by Arsenal but they completely butcher it. And Tottenham are back in it because of that mistake. Expect the intensity to ratchet up here - how will Arsenal respond? Van der Vaart making a meal out of a relatively small challenge here.
Halftime - 18 fouls so far in this one, but only one card. Lots of fouls but I think it's been a pretty free flowing game - both teams want to play quickly and with Arsenal stealing an early goal Tottenham have no choice but to play attacking football trying to get back into the game. Good play by both teams so far in this one and good decisions by the referee crew.
8:29 - I don't much like Efan Ekoku but he's gotten it right here - that was the final warning for Van der Vart. Twice he's left his feet and not had any real idea of playing the ball. Neither were particularly worth of a caution but now that they're adding up he's in danger of picking up a yellow. I think a good warning from Dowd, letting the player know where he stands.
8:24 - About 38 minutes in now, 2-0 Arsenal. Does anyone else think the Tiger Stripe Nike goalkeeper jerseys look awful? It seriously looks like a print you should see on a handbag or underwear, but a soccer kit? Not to mention Fabianski is wearing the gayest of gay with his pink outfit.
8:13 - And another goal nearly 20 minutes later. Wow, end to end stuff here and since we're focusing on the referee I have to say that it's really due to Phil Dowd that Arsenal have their second. Dowd had the opportunity to call a foul just outside the center circle for Tottenham, but seeing that Tottenham could keep moving up field with the ball he played advantage. An excellent call, but when Tottenham lost the ball Arsenal were able to counterattack and did so very well. Lots of space and Chamakh made the most of it. Good strike by Modric there but Fabianski equal to the task. We are now a half hour in.
8:04 - Good call by Phil Dowd on VDV. You could see on the replay that VDV made no attempt to play the ball, but looked at the man in the air the entire run up to his jump. Easy call for the referee. Dowd is making his presence felt - a card already and a stern talking to for VDV's challenge. I think that is a good approach to this game especially. He knows, and has seen, that this game will be very intense and he is making sure it doesn't get out of hand. Good refereeing so far, now about 20 minutes in.
7:58 - And our first card here as Phil Dowd chooses to book Sagna. Yikes, what a challenge, very hard, but lucky for him he kept his foot down and was relatively close to playing the ball. Very good call and caution from Dowd. He also uses the opportunity to possibly calm the game down early whereas some refs in the EPL may have just talked with Sagna and allowed that kind of challenge to happen the rest of the game. Very physical game so far and I don't see that letting up too much.
7:55 - And a goal already in the 9th minute! Samir Nasri makes a great run inside the left back. Great no call by the AR. Gomes came out very late, kind of confused by that, Nasri manages to get by Gomes and puts it in from an impossible angle. This match will be end to end for the full 90 and I wouldn't be surprised to see some tasty tackles throughout the game.
7:53 - 8th minute and already 5 fouls from the two teams. Can you tell this is a hotly contested derby? Ref is in for a good one today.
7:47 - You know you're in for a doozy when a captain refuses to shake the other captain's hand.
7:45 - And here we go. Should be an entertaining match as both teams are attacking teams. Hopefully we'll get lots of goals here. Henry is in the house. Philip Dowd is the man with the whistle.
It's time for the North London Derby and I'll be providing a live blog of this match, mainly from the refereeing standpoint but also commenting on the play of the two teams. Please watch along with me and provide comments throughout.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Big day tomorrow - Turkey Bowl
Tomorrow is a big day around the Campbell household for one, maybe two reasons.
First things first though, I'm going to try to live blog the Tottenham - Arsenal game tomorrow morning starting at 7:30am. Please tune in and watch with me, it's on ESPN2 I believe. I may also catch some of the later games on atdhe.net.
I live pretty close to Bob Jones University so I ref a good bit of games over there. They don't have varsity sports and only have intramural. However, they can produce some good soccer players. Well, tomorrow night is the championship game, called the Turkey Bowl. It used to be played on Thanksgiving Day but they have moved it to the weekend before. You may ask why this game would be more interesting than other game I would do, but the kicker for this one is that the whole Bob Jones community turns out for it. I did the game two years ago, AR2, and I would say there were maybe 3-4,000 people there. What other games can you do where there are thousands of people there? The game won't be the highest level game but it will be pretty exciting to be a part of a game like that.
However, the other thing that could happen tomorrow is the birth of my son. We've been waiting for the last week for Miles to join our family but he's decided to take his time. If he does come tonight or tomorrow the Turkey Bowl will be out - no big loss - but I really hope I can do both.
Speaking of big games I am hoping to participate in the SC State Cup games in December. Will let you know how that goes when we get there.
Tune in tomorrow for the live blog
First things first though, I'm going to try to live blog the Tottenham - Arsenal game tomorrow morning starting at 7:30am. Please tune in and watch with me, it's on ESPN2 I believe. I may also catch some of the later games on atdhe.net.
I live pretty close to Bob Jones University so I ref a good bit of games over there. They don't have varsity sports and only have intramural. However, they can produce some good soccer players. Well, tomorrow night is the championship game, called the Turkey Bowl. It used to be played on Thanksgiving Day but they have moved it to the weekend before. You may ask why this game would be more interesting than other game I would do, but the kicker for this one is that the whole Bob Jones community turns out for it. I did the game two years ago, AR2, and I would say there were maybe 3-4,000 people there. What other games can you do where there are thousands of people there? The game won't be the highest level game but it will be pretty exciting to be a part of a game like that.
However, the other thing that could happen tomorrow is the birth of my son. We've been waiting for the last week for Miles to join our family but he's decided to take his time. If he does come tonight or tomorrow the Turkey Bowl will be out - no big loss - but I really hope I can do both.
Speaking of big games I am hoping to participate in the SC State Cup games in December. Will let you know how that goes when we get there.
Tune in tomorrow for the live blog
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Week in Review - week 32
Let's review US Soccer's Week in Review for week 32.
First, here is the link: http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Referee-Programs/2010/11/2010-Referee-Week-In-Review-32.aspx
The first clip in this is in reference to dissent. Dissent is essentially actions or words directed at an official (not another player - that is UB) that are unsporting. The first thing we need to realize is that different referees have different tolerance levels. What I may be able to handle is different than what a 14 yo kid who just got his badge can handle. And that is perfectly fine! However, what US Soccer wants is some consistency on this call. A goalkeeper running 20-30 yards while screaming at the ref, then the AR, then the ref is too much. What's more is that the keeper is not the captain. I could understand if the captain comes running over at the MLS level and wants to protect his players. However, a player who is not a captain should not be allowed to literally get in the face of both officials and scream at them.
In my local meeting last week we also went over this clip, which I believe is from South Africa: http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1584889
This is completely inappropriate and the player should have been red carded for abusive language. Instead the Ref and AR did nothing. When you do nothing in this situation you make it that much harder for the next ref who has this guy as this guy now thinks he can get away with it all the time.
Clip two is about a technical issue. Small? Yes, but still important. The referee must card a player who has been injured. Common sense needs to prevail here so instead of carding a player while he's down (insult to injury) we should wait until he's up again or figure out a way to administer the caution (or send off) in a way that is not demeaning to the injured player. We also need to do so before the player leaves the field. In this situation the player is up and coherent so the referee shows the yellow to him then. What if the player needs to be stretchered off? In that situation I would get some distance away from the injured player, say 6-10 yards, point with one hand to him and hold the yellow up in the other hand. Again, you should not be standing over him to do this. Another option I have seen used is to pull the captain over, show him the yellow card while pointing to the injured player. No matter what the card is for the injured player, the one who committed the foul.
Clip three is important as it reviews the importance of which side a corner is taken. The coach is upset because the corner is taken from a side that allows a deadly crosser to maximize his team's goal-scoring potential. That man is David Beckham. The corner is taken from the right side, which means the ball is swerving out from the keeper, making if very difficult for the keeper to make a play on the ball.
What is important about this clip is positioning. Notice how the referee is fairly close to the action but he is also anticipating where the ball is going to be played. He is getting ready for the next phase of play. As the ball comes across the box he is on the 18 slightly to the left of the center of the field. He can clearly see where the ball went out and quickly and correctly makes the indication that the corner is to be taken from the right corner.
What are your thoughts on this week's Week in Review? Did any situations like these happen in your games?
First, here is the link: http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Referee-Programs/2010/11/2010-Referee-Week-In-Review-32.aspx
The first clip in this is in reference to dissent. Dissent is essentially actions or words directed at an official (not another player - that is UB) that are unsporting. The first thing we need to realize is that different referees have different tolerance levels. What I may be able to handle is different than what a 14 yo kid who just got his badge can handle. And that is perfectly fine! However, what US Soccer wants is some consistency on this call. A goalkeeper running 20-30 yards while screaming at the ref, then the AR, then the ref is too much. What's more is that the keeper is not the captain. I could understand if the captain comes running over at the MLS level and wants to protect his players. However, a player who is not a captain should not be allowed to literally get in the face of both officials and scream at them.
In my local meeting last week we also went over this clip, which I believe is from South Africa: http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1584889
This is completely inappropriate and the player should have been red carded for abusive language. Instead the Ref and AR did nothing. When you do nothing in this situation you make it that much harder for the next ref who has this guy as this guy now thinks he can get away with it all the time.
Clip two is about a technical issue. Small? Yes, but still important. The referee must card a player who has been injured. Common sense needs to prevail here so instead of carding a player while he's down (insult to injury) we should wait until he's up again or figure out a way to administer the caution (or send off) in a way that is not demeaning to the injured player. We also need to do so before the player leaves the field. In this situation the player is up and coherent so the referee shows the yellow to him then. What if the player needs to be stretchered off? In that situation I would get some distance away from the injured player, say 6-10 yards, point with one hand to him and hold the yellow up in the other hand. Again, you should not be standing over him to do this. Another option I have seen used is to pull the captain over, show him the yellow card while pointing to the injured player. No matter what the card is for the injured player, the one who committed the foul.
Clip three is important as it reviews the importance of which side a corner is taken. The coach is upset because the corner is taken from a side that allows a deadly crosser to maximize his team's goal-scoring potential. That man is David Beckham. The corner is taken from the right side, which means the ball is swerving out from the keeper, making if very difficult for the keeper to make a play on the ball.
What is important about this clip is positioning. Notice how the referee is fairly close to the action but he is also anticipating where the ball is going to be played. He is getting ready for the next phase of play. As the ball comes across the box he is on the 18 slightly to the left of the center of the field. He can clearly see where the ball went out and quickly and correctly makes the indication that the corner is to be taken from the right corner.
What are your thoughts on this week's Week in Review? Did any situations like these happen in your games?
Monday, November 15, 2010
What a weekend
Nine games scheduled, nine games completed. Still no baby!
The entire weekend I ran with my phone in my breast pocket just waiting for a call from my wife. Had the ringer on as loud as possible...and nothing happened. I did get one call from my mom, just about half way through my last game of the weekend. My ring is the Godfather theme song, so once I heard that I knew it wasn't my wife as she has her own ringer. I'm sure one or two of the players were surprise when a cell phone started going off.
Most of my games this weekend were blowouts, including the U18 girls final last night. 4-1, after being 1-0 at the half. It was nice though, pretty easy games especially with so much on my mind. Only 5 yellows in my games as center, not too bad for 4 games.
In a follow up about my shoes post - I've now worn my shoes for 10 games and I still like them. Did my feet hurt last night - absolutely. But it wasn't the shoes, it was 9 games over a 48 hour period, 6 of them were full 90s and the other 3 80 minute games. I did have one blister on my middle toe, left foot, but it was not painful at all. Other than that my feet are in good shape and my legs, although tired, feel pretty good. Definitely a good buy, and I feel much better than I would have had I been wearing my turf shoes.
So, what happened during your weekend games? Anything out of the ordinary? Did you watch any pro games this weekend? What about the referee sparing Dema Kovalenko in last night's Galaxy - Dallas ballgame? Could have easily been a second yellow before the break, but Jair kept him in it. Good decision?
I'll try to have a post later today bout US Soccer's week in review from last Friday. Send me your thoughts!
The entire weekend I ran with my phone in my breast pocket just waiting for a call from my wife. Had the ringer on as loud as possible...and nothing happened. I did get one call from my mom, just about half way through my last game of the weekend. My ring is the Godfather theme song, so once I heard that I knew it wasn't my wife as she has her own ringer. I'm sure one or two of the players were surprise when a cell phone started going off.
Most of my games this weekend were blowouts, including the U18 girls final last night. 4-1, after being 1-0 at the half. It was nice though, pretty easy games especially with so much on my mind. Only 5 yellows in my games as center, not too bad for 4 games.
In a follow up about my shoes post - I've now worn my shoes for 10 games and I still like them. Did my feet hurt last night - absolutely. But it wasn't the shoes, it was 9 games over a 48 hour period, 6 of them were full 90s and the other 3 80 minute games. I did have one blister on my middle toe, left foot, but it was not painful at all. Other than that my feet are in good shape and my legs, although tired, feel pretty good. Definitely a good buy, and I feel much better than I would have had I been wearing my turf shoes.
So, what happened during your weekend games? Anything out of the ordinary? Did you watch any pro games this weekend? What about the referee sparing Dema Kovalenko in last night's Galaxy - Dallas ballgame? Could have easily been a second yellow before the break, but Jair kept him in it. Good decision?
I'll try to have a post later today bout US Soccer's week in review from last Friday. Send me your thoughts!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Games this weekend
Alright gang, how many games do you have this weekend?
South Carolina's Challenge State Cup is going on this weekend where I live so I have four State Cup games on Saturday and three on Sunday. I also have a local college's intramural playoff games, one Friday and one Saturday, bringing the total to NINE games. All the while my wife is about to give birth to our first child. Aye yi yi!
South Carolina's Challenge State Cup is going on this weekend where I live so I have four State Cup games on Saturday and three on Sunday. I also have a local college's intramural playoff games, one Friday and one Saturday, bringing the total to NINE games. All the while my wife is about to give birth to our first child. Aye yi yi!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Looking for better shoes?
A few months ago an avid runner looked at my feet as I had been complaining about them for a while. She recommended I look into custom orthotics. I looked into them and got them just before the Youth club season began. I worked into them over a few weeks and eventually used them for all my games. The foot doctor also recommended that I look into different shoes, mainly because my feet are wide and could benefit from a wider shoe, especially in the toe box.
So, two weeks ago I visited a well-known running store called Fleet Feet. He helped me find a good shoe, and honestly at this store I'm sure all the shoes were good as this isn't just a Dick's store where they carry all kinds of running shoes. I got the Asics GT-2150, width 2E. I took out their insole and put in my orthotics and wore them in a game for the first time last night. Although it was only a U14 girls match and I was only the AR, they fit pretty well. My assessment after one game is that they were a really good fit, very comfortable and the extra width makes a huge difference. The space inside the shoe feels very roomy, but at the same time the shoe still stays on my foot.
For clarification, these are just running shoes, not turf shoes. I would not recommend wearing these in the rain, but last night on pretty dry grass they performed well.
This is only one game, but I like the shoes so far. I have nine games this weekend so, come Monday, I will be able to give a better opinion on them. Cost at Fleet feet was roughly $90 after tax.
Are there any shoes that you can recommend to me?
Here are Bill's shoes:
So, two weeks ago I visited a well-known running store called Fleet Feet. He helped me find a good shoe, and honestly at this store I'm sure all the shoes were good as this isn't just a Dick's store where they carry all kinds of running shoes. I got the Asics GT-2150, width 2E. I took out their insole and put in my orthotics and wore them in a game for the first time last night. Although it was only a U14 girls match and I was only the AR, they fit pretty well. My assessment after one game is that they were a really good fit, very comfortable and the extra width makes a huge difference. The space inside the shoe feels very roomy, but at the same time the shoe still stays on my foot.
For clarification, these are just running shoes, not turf shoes. I would not recommend wearing these in the rain, but last night on pretty dry grass they performed well.
Are there any shoes that you can recommend to me?
Here are Bill's shoes:
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Interesting things on and off the pitch
So, after the Tottenham-Bolton game this morning (see previous blog entry) and some work around the house I had two Premier games to referee. My center was a U15 boys match and my AR duty was on a U16 boys match with top of the table implications.
I wasn't feeling very up for my game, not sure why, but I was kinda dragging, mentally and physically. Luckily it was a very easy match, not really because of anything I did but the game just didn't take on that persona, so to speak. The players pretty much decided the game on their own without me having to get involved too much.
When I got done with my game I waited for my ARs to join me in the middle of the field. As AR2 got there we chatted for a moment, the usual "good job", "thanks for the help" kind of stuff, but then he tells me "let's go". As I get my head up I realize the ref on the field next to ours is getting his a** chewed out by the coach. The coach was yelling literally inches from the ref's ear. We run over and provide support to the other ref crew, trying to intervene and get the parties to their proper places.
One error the referee (and his crew) made was not getting the coach and referee separated. The coach went on yelling at the ref for a solid minute, and even though the crew was right there, they should have gotten that coach away from the referee. Second, one the coach started using the language he did as well as elevating his voice to unacceptable levels (I mean he was giving it to the referee) the center should have told him to go the parking lot. There is a time and place to let the coach go on, but what happened today was just inappropriate.
Our second game was intense. The first place team in the table was playing the 4th place team. Both had two games in had on the 2nd place team, meaning they could both finish in the top 2, and this game would go a long way to deciding who would finish first. Well, the 4th place team won 2-1 as we had 4 minutes of extra time in a youth game - don't see that too often - but it was well deserved. The referee took a lot of risk throughout the game but it flowed smoothly and these 16 year olds decided they could play through most anything.
After the game is when it got really interesting though. We're finishing paperwork on the sidelines and then all hell breaks loose. I see the coach doing some imitation chest compressions, nothing serious, not like CPR or anything, but he's trying to help a player who's laying flat on his back. Apparently the guy is about to pass out, but at the time we thought it could be much worse, such as an asthma attack or other problems with breathing. A lady calls 911 and has me do the talking. The ref who got yelled at in the first game on the other field is an EMT so he comes over to help and there is a doctor around. The paramedics come, give the kid oxygen and puts him on the bus. The rumor was that he had had the flu and probably didn't have enough fluids in him. Whatever the case, he ended up being okay and it made for a very interesting afternoon.
Thoughts, suggestions? Let me have 'em! I'll try to do a review on USSF's Week in Review tomorrow. Until next time.
I wasn't feeling very up for my game, not sure why, but I was kinda dragging, mentally and physically. Luckily it was a very easy match, not really because of anything I did but the game just didn't take on that persona, so to speak. The players pretty much decided the game on their own without me having to get involved too much.
When I got done with my game I waited for my ARs to join me in the middle of the field. As AR2 got there we chatted for a moment, the usual "good job", "thanks for the help" kind of stuff, but then he tells me "let's go". As I get my head up I realize the ref on the field next to ours is getting his a** chewed out by the coach. The coach was yelling literally inches from the ref's ear. We run over and provide support to the other ref crew, trying to intervene and get the parties to their proper places.
One error the referee (and his crew) made was not getting the coach and referee separated. The coach went on yelling at the ref for a solid minute, and even though the crew was right there, they should have gotten that coach away from the referee. Second, one the coach started using the language he did as well as elevating his voice to unacceptable levels (I mean he was giving it to the referee) the center should have told him to go the parking lot. There is a time and place to let the coach go on, but what happened today was just inappropriate.
Our second game was intense. The first place team in the table was playing the 4th place team. Both had two games in had on the 2nd place team, meaning they could both finish in the top 2, and this game would go a long way to deciding who would finish first. Well, the 4th place team won 2-1 as we had 4 minutes of extra time in a youth game - don't see that too often - but it was well deserved. The referee took a lot of risk throughout the game but it flowed smoothly and these 16 year olds decided they could play through most anything.
After the game is when it got really interesting though. We're finishing paperwork on the sidelines and then all hell breaks loose. I see the coach doing some imitation chest compressions, nothing serious, not like CPR or anything, but he's trying to help a player who's laying flat on his back. Apparently the guy is about to pass out, but at the time we thought it could be much worse, such as an asthma attack or other problems with breathing. A lady calls 911 and has me do the talking. The ref who got yelled at in the first game on the other field is an EMT so he comes over to help and there is a doctor around. The paramedics come, give the kid oxygen and puts him on the bus. The rumor was that he had had the flu and probably didn't have enough fluids in him. Whatever the case, he ended up being okay and it made for a very interesting afternoon.
Thoughts, suggestions? Let me have 'em! I'll try to do a review on USSF's Week in Review tomorrow. Until next time.
Live blogging the Tottenham-Bolton game
I'll be watching and commenting on the Tottenham-Bolton game this morning. Specifically I'll be looking for referee calls and situations and how Chris Foye, our referee today, faired with those decisions.
Also, as an American, I'll be cheering on Bolton a little bit. Provide your thoughts as well!
9:09 - I missed the first 15 or so minutes due to some house work, but now that I've tuned in I've heard Stuart Holden's name about 10 times. The commentators are really talking him up.
Also, had three games last night at a local college. Pretty easy games, my center was 7-0 and I think I called maybe 10 fouls, maybe. Today I have two youth premier games, one of which will help to determine the champions for this season.
9:18 - Both teams in it so far - and wow what a cross by Steinnson and a good save by Gomes for the corner in the 30th minute. No choice tackles so far but with these two teams I'm sure they're coming. Good goal by Kevin Davies int he 31st! Goal Goal Goal.
Ok, seeing th replays it looks like Davies was offside. By less than a yard but it was pretty clear that he was off. Good finish none the less, he buried it with pace and accuracy. I've only seen one replay but it seems like the AR possibly wasn't ready for a transition right before the goal. Spurs had possession but a nice tackle by a Bolton player put the ball to another Bolton player (sorry, haven't seen the replay to tell you who. The 2nd Bolton player played it directly to Davies, but Davies looked to be off by a good step or two. Still have only seen one replay.
Oh, first tasy challenge - Kevin Davies tackles Gareth Bale. Surprising that it's not a yellow - we're a half hour in - plenty of time to give a yellow for that kind of challenge. They just said the referee has not given a red card in his last 22 matches. Impressive? Yeah, I guess so. As long as it's for preventative refereeing then it's great.
Halftime - Definitely offside for Kevin Davies. At least a yard or so. I didn't get to see what the AR was doing but I know that sometimes I'll be sucked into watching the game instead of watching my line. My guess is that he was watching the tackle and was not in perfect position to see that Davies had slipped behind the 2nd to last defender. We should still be at 0-0, but alas, we're not so it should be an interesting 2nd half.
Not many fouls in the 1st half but Bale was on the receiving end of a few challenges. It looks like Bolton has targeted their best player and made sure he's going to be feeling some bumps and bruises tomorrow morning. I would suspect that if this keeps up we might be seeing some yellow cards for Persistent Infringement. Otherwise it's been a pretty calm match. I don't expect that to keep up. As a referee you must be thinking ahead now, and realize that the temperature of the match is going to skyrocket. You must be ready to deal with misconduct and at the same time try to keep a flow going. Foye had a good first half but must keep it up in the 2nd as the game gets more intense.
Alright, time for the 2nd half, the players are on the field and we are ready to go. One change for Tottenham as Pavlyuchenko (spelling Eastern European names is not my forte. Enjoy!
9:54 - Harsh call on C.Y. Lee in the corner. AR2 didn't flag for the foul but the referee called it. AR2 is only a mere 7 yards away while the refere is nearly 20-25 yards from the play. Very slight contact, probably not enough to bring a Premier League player to the ground.
Yikes, the mountainous Crouch just elbowed Knight.
9:57 - First booking of the game on Bolton's Robinson. Small tackle, nothing too bad, and honestly not even as bad as Davies tackle on Bale in the first half.
What a strike by Bale though, just off the woodwork.
10:02 - Another for Wanderers. Steinsson nets it this time after good play for Bolton this 2nd half. They are really taking it to Tottenham. 2-0 Bolton.
10:08 - Great no call by Foye on the penalty shout by Bolton. The Spurs defender definitely got the ball.
10:20 - A flurry of activity by Wanderers here as Matthew Taylor hits the post and Muamba just puts one into the side netting.
And now a penalty! Foye calls the push on Lee in the box. And Davies buries it. Good call in my opinion. Lee did well to position himself with his back to the defender. Then the defender goes right through Lee's back. Great call by Foye, 3-nil Bolton and well deserved.
10:26 - Spurs pull one back with a goal from Hutton. Well taken and a great strike. Too little, too late?
Foye has done well so far in this game. I count one card so far, very well refereed game with little confrontation. Did I just see a bad throw called? Petrov on now.
10:30 - Shout for a penalty by Tottenham and now another by Bolton on the other side. I think both were excellent calls. Why? Both players had their hand next to the bodies in a normal stance. Their hands weren't out from their bodies and they didn't intentionally handle the ball as the law says.
WOW! What a goal by Pavlyuchenko! Wonderful strike from a tough angle. 3-2 now with only minutes on the clock.
And now a stomp by Huddlestone on Elmander. Should be a straight red card for me. The referee was a little ways away and really should have been closer. What's unfortunate is that theere has been nothing in the game to warrant such a play. The FA will be certain to deal with that play this week.
10:37 - Petrove tries to outdo Pavlyuchenko but only barely misses. 4 minutes of extra time. Spurs hanging by a thread in this one.
10:40 - I told you this one was going to get interesting. Petrov puts another in the back of the net on a breakaway run. 4-2 Bolton and surely this is it.
This game had everything, penatlies, penalty shouts, yellow card, brilliant goals, red card stomps, and plenty of creative play on both sides, but Bolton really taking the game by the scruff of the neck early in the 2nd half. With the exception of the bad no-offside call on the first goal and the missed red card late in the 2nd the referee crew had a pretty good game. Certainly this game was decided on the field as Bolton out-classed Spurs on the day.
Hope y'all enjoyed it as much as I did and I look forward to your comments.
Also, as an American, I'll be cheering on Bolton a little bit. Provide your thoughts as well!
9:09 - I missed the first 15 or so minutes due to some house work, but now that I've tuned in I've heard Stuart Holden's name about 10 times. The commentators are really talking him up.
Also, had three games last night at a local college. Pretty easy games, my center was 7-0 and I think I called maybe 10 fouls, maybe. Today I have two youth premier games, one of which will help to determine the champions for this season.
9:18 - Both teams in it so far - and wow what a cross by Steinnson and a good save by Gomes for the corner in the 30th minute. No choice tackles so far but with these two teams I'm sure they're coming. Good goal by Kevin Davies int he 31st! Goal Goal Goal.
Ok, seeing th replays it looks like Davies was offside. By less than a yard but it was pretty clear that he was off. Good finish none the less, he buried it with pace and accuracy. I've only seen one replay but it seems like the AR possibly wasn't ready for a transition right before the goal. Spurs had possession but a nice tackle by a Bolton player put the ball to another Bolton player (sorry, haven't seen the replay to tell you who. The 2nd Bolton player played it directly to Davies, but Davies looked to be off by a good step or two. Still have only seen one replay.
Oh, first tasy challenge - Kevin Davies tackles Gareth Bale. Surprising that it's not a yellow - we're a half hour in - plenty of time to give a yellow for that kind of challenge. They just said the referee has not given a red card in his last 22 matches. Impressive? Yeah, I guess so. As long as it's for preventative refereeing then it's great.
Halftime - Definitely offside for Kevin Davies. At least a yard or so. I didn't get to see what the AR was doing but I know that sometimes I'll be sucked into watching the game instead of watching my line. My guess is that he was watching the tackle and was not in perfect position to see that Davies had slipped behind the 2nd to last defender. We should still be at 0-0, but alas, we're not so it should be an interesting 2nd half.
Not many fouls in the 1st half but Bale was on the receiving end of a few challenges. It looks like Bolton has targeted their best player and made sure he's going to be feeling some bumps and bruises tomorrow morning. I would suspect that if this keeps up we might be seeing some yellow cards for Persistent Infringement. Otherwise it's been a pretty calm match. I don't expect that to keep up. As a referee you must be thinking ahead now, and realize that the temperature of the match is going to skyrocket. You must be ready to deal with misconduct and at the same time try to keep a flow going. Foye had a good first half but must keep it up in the 2nd as the game gets more intense.
Alright, time for the 2nd half, the players are on the field and we are ready to go. One change for Tottenham as Pavlyuchenko (spelling Eastern European names is not my forte. Enjoy!
9:54 - Harsh call on C.Y. Lee in the corner. AR2 didn't flag for the foul but the referee called it. AR2 is only a mere 7 yards away while the refere is nearly 20-25 yards from the play. Very slight contact, probably not enough to bring a Premier League player to the ground.
Yikes, the mountainous Crouch just elbowed Knight.
9:57 - First booking of the game on Bolton's Robinson. Small tackle, nothing too bad, and honestly not even as bad as Davies tackle on Bale in the first half.
What a strike by Bale though, just off the woodwork.
10:02 - Another for Wanderers. Steinsson nets it this time after good play for Bolton this 2nd half. They are really taking it to Tottenham. 2-0 Bolton.
10:08 - Great no call by Foye on the penalty shout by Bolton. The Spurs defender definitely got the ball.
10:20 - A flurry of activity by Wanderers here as Matthew Taylor hits the post and Muamba just puts one into the side netting.
And now a penalty! Foye calls the push on Lee in the box. And Davies buries it. Good call in my opinion. Lee did well to position himself with his back to the defender. Then the defender goes right through Lee's back. Great call by Foye, 3-nil Bolton and well deserved.
10:26 - Spurs pull one back with a goal from Hutton. Well taken and a great strike. Too little, too late?
Foye has done well so far in this game. I count one card so far, very well refereed game with little confrontation. Did I just see a bad throw called? Petrov on now.
10:30 - Shout for a penalty by Tottenham and now another by Bolton on the other side. I think both were excellent calls. Why? Both players had their hand next to the bodies in a normal stance. Their hands weren't out from their bodies and they didn't intentionally handle the ball as the law says.
WOW! What a goal by Pavlyuchenko! Wonderful strike from a tough angle. 3-2 now with only minutes on the clock.
And now a stomp by Huddlestone on Elmander. Should be a straight red card for me. The referee was a little ways away and really should have been closer. What's unfortunate is that theere has been nothing in the game to warrant such a play. The FA will be certain to deal with that play this week.
10:37 - Petrove tries to outdo Pavlyuchenko but only barely misses. 4 minutes of extra time. Spurs hanging by a thread in this one.
10:40 - I told you this one was going to get interesting. Petrov puts another in the back of the net on a breakaway run. 4-2 Bolton and surely this is it.
This game had everything, penatlies, penalty shouts, yellow card, brilliant goals, red card stomps, and plenty of creative play on both sides, but Bolton really taking the game by the scruff of the neck early in the 2nd half. With the exception of the bad no-offside call on the first goal and the missed red card late in the 2nd the referee crew had a pretty good game. Certainly this game was decided on the field as Bolton out-classed Spurs on the day.
Hope y'all enjoyed it as much as I did and I look forward to your comments.
Friday, November 5, 2010
EPL tomorrow
Don't forget to see all your favorite soccer and refereeing shenanigans tomorrow on atdhe.net. I'll be watching the 8:30 game tomorrow in between house projects. Think we'll see another Clattenberg call this week?
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Games for the weekend
So we have another weekend before us, which probably means us referees have games on the schedule. Here is what my weekend looks like:
Friday - 3 games at a local college, intramural
Saturday - 2 Premier games U15/U16
Not a terribly busy weekend, but the U16 game will determine the top of the standings, so they are very important. What does your weekend look like? How many games do you usually take?
Friday - 3 games at a local college, intramural
Saturday - 2 Premier games U15/U16
Not a terribly busy weekend, but the U16 game will determine the top of the standings, so they are very important. What does your weekend look like? How many games do you usually take?
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Semi-live blogging part 2
What an awful call by AR2 in the Madrid game. Pipo Inzaghi was at least a yard off, maybe more. How did he miss that call, especially since it was directly in front of him? Maybe he needs to watch Week in Review more often.
Semi-live blogging
Watching bits and pieces of the Real Madrid-Milan game. Did anyone else see Ronaldo completely make a meal of Abate's tug on his neck? I think Webb handled it well, talked to both players and diffused the situation. Anyone notice AR1 running in from his position to establish the "triangle of control" once there was mass confrontation? Textbook stuff.
Your thoughts?
Your thoughts?
Champions League today
Don't forget, it's another champions league matchday. Most interesting game of the day today is AC Milan hosting Real Madrid. What is the game that you'll be watching?
Games start at 3:45.
Games start at 3:45.
Tale of two stats
I caught a little of the Inter-Tottenham game from yesterday. Just after halftime FSC showed a graphic indicating there were only six fouls committed in the entire first half. SIX! For a top-flight football match this is pretty remarkable. That's an average of one foul every 7 1/2 minutes. Over the entire 90 minutes the ref, Victor Kassai, blew for fifteen fouls, ten on Tottenham, five on Inter. The average then comes down to a foul every six minutes, still not bad at all.
That's the first stat. The second stat is that the same referee gave six yellow cards. Three to each team, two in the first half, four in the second. Some of these cards, it appears, were for diving, dissent, maybe even time wasting although I'm not completely sure on the last one. However, it's strange that in a game of so few fouls there were so many cards.
Unfortunately I was not able to watch the entire game, or even most of it. Did any of you get to watch it and what were your thoughts? The good news - there is a whole new slate of Champions League games on today.
That's the first stat. The second stat is that the same referee gave six yellow cards. Three to each team, two in the first half, four in the second. Some of these cards, it appears, were for diving, dissent, maybe even time wasting although I'm not completely sure on the last one. However, it's strange that in a game of so few fouls there were so many cards.
Unfortunately I was not able to watch the entire game, or even most of it. Did any of you get to watch it and what were your thoughts? The good news - there is a whole new slate of Champions League games on today.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Reminders
Here is a video of some decisions between Tottenham and Manchester United. The first is from a few years ago, but the last two are from this weekend. What could the referee CREW have done differently on both calls (or no calls as it were)?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EXnDVV0NvA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EXnDVV0NvA
I may be a bad referee but...
I can honestly say this has never happened to me. This ref must have sucked, I mean there is no way this player should have been red-carded in the first place, right?
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2010/10/26/red-carded-footballer-drove-onto-southport-pitch-and-tried-to-run-over-referee-100252-27541869/
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2010/10/26/red-carded-footballer-drove-onto-southport-pitch-and-tried-to-run-over-referee-100252-27541869/
What to watch for
One thing I think referees need is a passion for the game. We need to know what a good game looks like, not from the referee standpoint, but from a fan's standpoint. Fans want a nice flowing game, end-to-end action with shots, saves, and slide tackles. They don't want a rugby match with thugs on the field and no one can get the ball into the penalty box.
On top of reffing throughout the season good referees must be watching soccer, and not just the MLS. Although I don't get to watch as much as I like, I try to watch 1-2 games during the week, usually a Champions League game from Europe (like the games on today or tomorrow) or an EPL or Bundesliga game on the weekend.
Now, you might be interested to know how I do this while I don't even have basic cable. Good question. I go to a website called www.atdhe.net. No, it is not a subscription or a scam. You don't pay for anything and you never submit any personal information. Every day it will have a list of games, TV shows, etc. that you can stream live. Check the site around 2:30 and you'll see all the Champions League games listed, usually with multiple streams for each, even in different languages sometimes.
To be a great referee you need to see what the big guys are doing on the biggest stage, both their good and bad decisions. You must see how players of that caliber react to being hacked, held, or tackled. You need to take what you see in these games and determine what things you can bring from these games and implement in your games. You need to watch soccer to know how to referee it effectively!
On top of reffing throughout the season good referees must be watching soccer, and not just the MLS. Although I don't get to watch as much as I like, I try to watch 1-2 games during the week, usually a Champions League game from Europe (like the games on today or tomorrow) or an EPL or Bundesliga game on the weekend.
Now, you might be interested to know how I do this while I don't even have basic cable. Good question. I go to a website called www.atdhe.net. No, it is not a subscription or a scam. You don't pay for anything and you never submit any personal information. Every day it will have a list of games, TV shows, etc. that you can stream live. Check the site around 2:30 and you'll see all the Champions League games listed, usually with multiple streams for each, even in different languages sometimes.
To be a great referee you need to see what the big guys are doing on the biggest stage, both their good and bad decisions. You must see how players of that caliber react to being hacked, held, or tackled. You need to take what you see in these games and determine what things you can bring from these games and implement in your games. You need to watch soccer to know how to referee it effectively!
Monday, November 1, 2010
In the realm of Refereeing
Ok, so this isn't exactly soccer refereeing but it is interesting no matter what sport you referee. Here is the link:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=5734373
I find it interesting that in a very popular sport in the US the art of reffing is so far behind the times. I love pretty much all sports, basketball included. When the Cavs had Lebron I was watching nearly every night they were on. I still love my Cavs, but obviously they're not a contender this year. Anyway, I would watch basketball but always it left me feeling that there was something corrupt about it. Fouls were called so inconsistently that it was laughable. And it's not just at the pro level. In high school I can remember one referee who was always out there to get noticed. If you weren't booing by the end of the game he hadn't done his job. I would say that basketball refs are the worst of the big US sports (basketball, baseball, football, soccer, and hockey). This article is basically saying that for decades the league has been reactive when it came to referee development. Not only that but they have retained officials that are nearly dinosaurs.
Soccer, a relatively un-popular sport, though growing all the time, has been very proactive in referee development. Are there things which USSF can improve? Probably. Will everyone be happy? When has everyone been happy? But tools such as advice to referees, Week in Review, ODP camps, Academy games, and Regionals only help develop better, more consistent referees. Will you still have Koman Coulibalys? Of course, but given the international reach of the game it is pretty amazing that every weekend thousands of professional matches take place and generally every game is called the same way.
While at Regionals this year I was able to witness several different referees and their styles. Some were better than others but by and large we all called the same kind of game.
Basketball is finally coming around, and you can see from the article that some aren't so happy about it. I think in the next couple years, however, the fans will appreciate what the NBA is trying to do. Basketball will get better because of this.
Where will soccer go next? Technology? We'll save that discussion for another day?
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/news/story?id=5734373
I find it interesting that in a very popular sport in the US the art of reffing is so far behind the times. I love pretty much all sports, basketball included. When the Cavs had Lebron I was watching nearly every night they were on. I still love my Cavs, but obviously they're not a contender this year. Anyway, I would watch basketball but always it left me feeling that there was something corrupt about it. Fouls were called so inconsistently that it was laughable. And it's not just at the pro level. In high school I can remember one referee who was always out there to get noticed. If you weren't booing by the end of the game he hadn't done his job. I would say that basketball refs are the worst of the big US sports (basketball, baseball, football, soccer, and hockey). This article is basically saying that for decades the league has been reactive when it came to referee development. Not only that but they have retained officials that are nearly dinosaurs.
Soccer, a relatively un-popular sport, though growing all the time, has been very proactive in referee development. Are there things which USSF can improve? Probably. Will everyone be happy? When has everyone been happy? But tools such as advice to referees, Week in Review, ODP camps, Academy games, and Regionals only help develop better, more consistent referees. Will you still have Koman Coulibalys? Of course, but given the international reach of the game it is pretty amazing that every weekend thousands of professional matches take place and generally every game is called the same way.
While at Regionals this year I was able to witness several different referees and their styles. Some were better than others but by and large we all called the same kind of game.
Basketball is finally coming around, and you can see from the article that some aren't so happy about it. I think in the next couple years, however, the fans will appreciate what the NBA is trying to do. Basketball will get better because of this.
Where will soccer go next? Technology? We'll save that discussion for another day?
Indtroductions and such
Hello referee community. My name is Matthew Campbell and I am a USSF certified soccer referee. First, let me tell you a little about myself and then I will get into what I want this blog to be.
I began reffing when I was 14 (I'm now 26) and reffed through high school, but only sporadically. When I graduated I moved from NE Ohio to Upstate South Carolina and re-upped my certification. After nearly 3 years I upgraded from grade 8 to grade 7. I've been a grade 7 since this past May. I have refereed Adult Men's amatuer, premier, academy, all the way down to U11 rec where I'm the only referee on the field. This past summer I got the opportunity to referee at Regionals in Baton Rouge, LA. Quite an experience for which I am extremely grateful.
So what will this blog be about? The obvious answer is what referees go through on the pitch. That is, the calls, the fans, the coaches, cards, positioning, etc. However, you hear about that all the time in meetings, emails, videos, etc. I also want this blog to investigate our preparation, our training (physical, mental, and educational), our equipment, and our debrief or post-game thoughts.
For instance, how many times have you thought: I need some new shoes, but what are good shoes for referees? Hopefully I can give you an idea of my thought process. You may benefit and you may say "what a bloody idiot". Either way I hope to help you make your purchase a quality one.
Lastly, I want this blog to be a conversation. I want the people who read this to comment and bring other points of view to the table. Maybe we're talking about dealing with mouthy players - do you go straight to the book and show the yellow for dissent? Could you pull the player aside and have a quiet chat with him? Do you chew his ass out so that the people on the next field over can hear you? Tell me (and us) what has worked for you.
Hope you enjoy and I look forward to hearing from you.
I began reffing when I was 14 (I'm now 26) and reffed through high school, but only sporadically. When I graduated I moved from NE Ohio to Upstate South Carolina and re-upped my certification. After nearly 3 years I upgraded from grade 8 to grade 7. I've been a grade 7 since this past May. I have refereed Adult Men's amatuer, premier, academy, all the way down to U11 rec where I'm the only referee on the field. This past summer I got the opportunity to referee at Regionals in Baton Rouge, LA. Quite an experience for which I am extremely grateful.
So what will this blog be about? The obvious answer is what referees go through on the pitch. That is, the calls, the fans, the coaches, cards, positioning, etc. However, you hear about that all the time in meetings, emails, videos, etc. I also want this blog to investigate our preparation, our training (physical, mental, and educational), our equipment, and our debrief or post-game thoughts.
For instance, how many times have you thought: I need some new shoes, but what are good shoes for referees? Hopefully I can give you an idea of my thought process. You may benefit and you may say "what a bloody idiot". Either way I hope to help you make your purchase a quality one.
Lastly, I want this blog to be a conversation. I want the people who read this to comment and bring other points of view to the table. Maybe we're talking about dealing with mouthy players - do you go straight to the book and show the yellow for dissent? Could you pull the player aside and have a quiet chat with him? Do you chew his ass out so that the people on the next field over can hear you? Tell me (and us) what has worked for you.
Hope you enjoy and I look forward to hearing from you.
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