Onside and Offside

One week ago Sian Massey was on top of the world.  Well, she should have been.  However, a great no-call in the Wolverhampton-Liverpool match was widely ignored as the story soon turned to the controversy surrounding the comments made by Richard Keys and Andy Gray, who work(ed) for Sky Sports. 

This was Massey's second game at the EPL level, the first being back in December.  I didn't watch the game last weekend, but when I did see the replay of the "incident", for lack of a better word, I was struck that there was a female running the line.  Let me clarify before I go on: I was not shocked that a female could run the line, only shocked because out of the many EPL games I've watched this is the first where I've seen a female as a referee.  The only other time I have seen a female this high in the ranks was when Amy Fearn took over for her male counterpart when he came down with an injury.  She was only on 20 minutes, but was very good from the articles I've read.

Now, let me say this first, I enjoy watching the NBA over the WNBA, MLS over the WUSA (and EPL over both), basically men's sports over womens - when I'm watching.  But this is not an issue of the athleticism and talent of the players, but an issue of the competency of the person, male or female.  As a referee we are called on to make the proper calls.  What is so upsetting about this whole debacle is that neither Keys nor Gray had enough common sense to think "she's obviously here for a reason, she must have plenty of experience and have been tested several times before to get to this level". 

I had the opportunity to go to Regionals last year in Baton Rouge.  In total, for all of the Southeastern Region (region 3), there were approximately 15-20 female officials, maybe slightly more.  Sadly, none were from South Carolina.  In the past 3.5 years of reffing I have worked with 3, maybe 4 female refs.  So when I got to regionals I was amazed at how many solid female refs there are, all tested and proven.  I got to work with one who was fantastic, Kathryn Heidke, and ended up sending of 2 guys in a U18 match.  I'm 26 and would not have had the balls to do what she did, especially at Regionals.

Having had the experience at Regionals my view of last weekend's incident became much more clear.  Sian Massey was not there to appease some feminist group - she was there because she was good, and in that high level game she was great.  The offside call is one of, if not the, hardest calls in all of soccer, no matter what level.  That call in particular was extremely difficult as the defender was moving up the field and the attacker towards the goal.  When two players are traveling in opposite directions like that the gulf between them widens so quickly, but that did not phase Massey.

An Instructor relayed a story a couple weekends ago about a gentleman who wanted to become a ref.  As they were talking on the phone the guy said he didn't want to do women's game, apparently not competitive enough for him.  Almost immediately this instructor said, well, you can call these guys, but I'm not helping you anymore. 

The game of soccer is a game for both men and women, especially in the US where women's soccer has done so much to grow the game.  Being a referee and being a woman are not mutually exclusive.  In the past we would see a woman's name on my line and think, "Oh boy, here we go", but now, after seeing how women have benefited this game and that they are beyond capable of refereeing a quality and fair game, we must reach out and encourage these women to stick with reffing.  Watch Sian Massey's call again and put yourself in her shoes.  Given that speed and the direction of the players, not to mention the English atmosphere at the park, I more than likely would have screwed that up.  Not to mention she has to be in top shape just to make that call!  The saddest part of all of this is that she has now been pulled off of two games for making the RIGHT CALL.

Next time you're on the pitch and you have a female referee make sure to go out of your way to help them, encourage them, learn the game from a woman's perspective.  Cheers to Sian Massey for reaching the top of English football.

Reffing a different game

Well, I've finally given in, I'm going to certify to be a college referee.  I did High School a few years ago, but due to my main job had to cut back and ended up giving up HS entirely.  But now I've been suckered in to the college game.

No doubt these will be much faster games than the youth games I've done, but along with that comes much more travel and time away from home.  With a new baby at home that may be hard to do, but I also know that the money I get will help make up for that time away from home.

I certainly look forward to the challenge but at the same time I feel comfortable doing youth games, so this will take me out of my comfort zone.  What also worries me is the rule differences between USSF and NISOA.  That only became more clear during the college playoff season with a series of mishaps involving referees.

Also, I hate drama.  Little drama, big drama, all drama.  But it seems that college soccer is filled with it - just go back to the massive thread on Big Soccer's referee forum which discussed college soccer.  Politics run rampant and it seems coaches have huge pull in the sport.

What I am glad about, though, is that the guys I will be reffing with I trust very much, from my assignor to my fellow refs.  I've had several discussions with them about this move and they have been extremely helpful and really set my mind at ease.

What are your thoughts on the college game?  Do you have any advice for a newbie to the college game?

Live blog of the Fulham-Wigan game

90:00 - And there is the final whistle.  A draw for Fulham when they really could have easily dropped all three points versus a lesser team.  Good game for Anthony Taylor; I thought he did very well through, maybe one or two less cautions, but it could have easily gotten out of hand too, with some of those tasty challenges.  The AR also made a great call to take away Dempsey's goal - spot on!

89:00 - And finally a goal for my Cottagers!  Andy Johnson is slightly lucky that the ball ended up in the net but it is deserved as Fulham have been the real aggressors in this game.

And on the other end Rodallega is called for a handball, just as he has an attempt on goal.  In real time I wasn't sure what the referee was calling but upon replay it was an excellent call.  He even got a yellow for it which is quite right as it was clearly an intentional handball.  And another caution for Di Santo for dissent towards the AR.  Things getting a bit out of hand here as the players would rather jaw at each other than play.

76:00 - Not much happening here, both in the game and with respect to refereeing.  Wait, no a goal is called back as Dempsey puts the ball in the net but as he's running away notices the AR with the flag up.  The referee immediately runs over to the AR as the AR is getting mobbed by Fulham players.  Great call by the AR, especially since he had to be 35 yards away from the handball.  Although I would have wanted Fulham to score Dempsey did use his arm to bring the ball down.

And now the referee decides to not call anything with Dempsey going down.  Upon replay I have to agree with him - I think Dempsey realized he was in bad shape and decided to just go down since he had been touched a second earlier.  Taylor has had a very good game today.  Only 9 minutes plus stoppage to go for him.

57:00 - We have our first goal of the game as the Fulham defense completely falls apart.  Rodallega produces a perfect touch over the goalkeeper, well weighted and well taken.  Game on!

50:00 - And our first big call of the second half as Figeroa take a nasty lunge.  Easily a yellow card and the referee is right on it.

45:00 - Our second caution of the day goes to Alcaraz of Wigan.  Maybe deserved, but I think it looked worse than it really was.  Halftime here at the DW as both teams play pretty squarely in the first half.  Not much attacking football and hopefully we will see better come the second half.

36:00 - Oh, and one of a referee's top ten worst nightmare's just happened.  Not only did the referee get hit with the ball but square in the noggin'.  He was roughly 8-10 yards away and the kick happened fairly quickly.  Luckily, it was in the midfield and really didn't affect the game, unlike when I got hit in the butt with the ball from a kick from team A, the ball bounced to team B who proceed to march right down the field and score within 20 seconds of the ball's contact with me.  Yeah, probably my most embarrassing moment as a referee.

31:00 - A great chance for Fulham does begging as Duff passes the ball directly at the goalie.  A great ball by Dempsey sprang Duff  towards the goal all alone, only for Duff to squander the opportunity.  A great no-call by the AR as Duff timed his run perfectly.

29:00 - A little bit of confusion here as the referee has whistled for a foul but strangely it was for Fulham, whereas I though Dempsey was the one who committed the foul.  Dempsey certainly barged in on the challenge but it goes the other way.  No harm done as the ball goes harmlessly out for a goal kick.

25:00 - Finally some controversy!  A yellow card is produced for Pantsil.  I'm not sure whether it was for the challenge, which was pretty light honestly, or for the reaction of Pantsil.  Either way, it might be a harsh caution especially since there has been nothing really to this game in terms of physicality.

Oh!  And now a header off the post for Wigan.  So close.  A very good buildup by Wigan, good passing and an excellent cross.  Now it's all going wrong for Fulham as Stockdale, the keeper for Fulham, drops a cross and almost gives a goal right into the lap of Wigan.  This game is finally heating up.

21:00 - Not much to this from a referee's perspective.  Taylor has made five foul calls, so roughly one every four minutes.  And now another on Fulham in the 23rd. Overall I think there is a pretty good flow to this game, though neither team is really taking the game by the scruff of the neck.  A lot of play in the middle of the pitch.  No hard tackles to speak of and so far, I think Taylor is doing really well in the middle.

9:15 - First real call (or no-call in this case) of the game at 9:15 in.  It looked like Pantsil took a knock to the head after his bad touch.  Referee doesn't flinch and play goes on leading to a shot off target by Rodellega.  There was no close-up of the play but it looked like the referee made the right decision.  Gotta better than a small knock in the EPL.

Kickoff - We are at the DW Stadium today and the referee is Anthony Taylor.  To be honest I'm not too familiar with him.  Wigan is sitting second from the bottom of the table and Fulham is 14th, but only a single point about the relegation zone.

Wigan are in the blue stripe and Fulham in a hideous green kit.

Today I'll be live-blogging the Fulham-Wigan game at 10am EST.  Why this game?  Well, Fulham are my team, so this is kinda like killing two birds with one stone.  Remember, you can watch this game and any other on www.atdhe.net.  I hope you'll follow along with me.