Spring Flings

Do you guys ever have those times in your life when things just seem to be going right?  Yes, you still have your day to day inconveniences, you still have to pay the bills and all that, but some things just fall into place.

Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston -
My U18 games will take place here.

The last month has been a whirlwind in the soccer part of my life, but a good whirlwind.  About a month ago I was invited by our SYRA, a guy who has gone well above and beyond to help our state restructure itself, to attend an RTS (Regional Training Seminar).  Being a grade 7 with great interest in upgrading by year end the idea of attending a Pro clinic resonated loudly with me.  Yeah, except that fitness test, but you have heard me complain all about that.

Well, I’m less than 24 hours away from running the test.  I’m very confident today because of all the training in the past month.  I didn’t think a month ago that I would feel so confident a day before the test, but I do. 

A little aside for those of you who might be a grade 8 and you are debating what to do with your career, upgrade, stay an 8, maybe even retire.  I looked at the list of who is attending the clinic and was blown away.  Along with several 7s, 6s and 5s there are several notable attendees: Michael Kennedy,  Abiodun Okulaja,  Andrew Chapin, Bill Dittmar, George Gansner just to name a few.  I have met several MLS quality referees in the past couple years, most at the Regional Tournament, but never have I been involved with so many at one time.  And that’s not even the best part!  The two men leading the discussion will be Herb Silva and Alfred “Lithuania” Kleinaitis.  Spend some time with Alfred and you’ll know why I call him “Lithuania”.  If you are thinking there is no reason to upgrade or go to these events I would like to point out just whom you will be rubbing shoulders with.  It’s a great opportunity to learn from the best and pick the brains of some pretty well-respected people in the referee community.

As I was training for the upcoming fitness test my SYRA, who happened to be training there with his wife, mentioned there may be an opportunity to ref some youth games in Charleston.  These aren’t just any youth games either, they are the youth teams for MLS clubs, all academy teams.  I about jumped out of my shoes!  I just received my assignments today, the U18 boys games at Blackbaud Stadium on Sunday, February 26^th.  I have been to Blackbaud, known guys who have reffed there, but never gotten the opportunity to ref there myself.  What’s also pretty cool is that these games take place the morning after three MLS teams will have played there as part of the Carolina Cup (http://www.charlestonbattery.com/news.asp).  The next weekend, March 3^rd, our local referee society will be taking a bus to Charleston to watch the last two games of the Cup, joining the referee group from the low state.

All in all a soccer-ific  Spring.  I can’t wait to get everything started with the fitness test tomorrow.  Lastly, I want to point out that these things aren’t happening simply because I’m a high-up referee with lots of connections and I’m so good at what I do.  I am a normal grade 7 ref looking to advance.  If you take the time to get involved with your local chapter, show up to your games on time, work at this profession these things will happen.  There are so many opportunities out there but you have to be willing to put in a little extra effort and make a few weekend trips (and have a loving wife who lets you do these things!).  Get out there and make your own opportunities, you’ll be surprised at how many doors open up.

Update on Fitness Test Training

As you guys may remember I began training for the FIFA Fitness test a few weeks ago (http://footyref.blogspot.com/2012/01/fifa-fitness-not-yet.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ReffingTheBeautifulGame+%28Reffing+the+Beautiful+Game%29).  That didn’t go so well to say the least.

The first day I went out, which I chronicle in the link above, I really had no idea what I was doing.  My hopes were to run 30 intervals with modified (read: longer) rest times.  My goal was just to survive really, not necessarily set any world records.  No worries there as I didn’t do either.

To say I was pretty bummed was an understatement.  My mind was racing every time I thought about the test I would have to run at the Regional Training Seminar (RTS) clinic in a very short four weeks.  Would I be ready in that short amount of time?  What can I do to get ready?  What if I don’t get to the point where I think I can pass the test, should I drop out at the last minute and not shame myself or my state by failing the test?  My body wasn’t running fast but my mind was approaching light speed.

Two days after my initial foray into training for the fitness test I went to a local track group’s workout.  This group is led by a fellow referee’s wife, Alisen.  She’s a registered RN and has just gotten into corporate health and wellness, coming up with training plans for employees.  This track group was just what I needed.  I showed up the first night not exactly knowing what to expect.  Whatever expectations I did have were thrown out the window in about the first five minutes.  For the warm-up, the bloody warm-up, we jogged two miles.  It was going to be a long night.

After the warm-up we did some dynamic stretching, some fly work (sprints: 20m, 30m, 40m), and then began the meat of our workout which for me was 4x800 all supposed to be done under 3:36 with 90 seconds rest in between.  Yeah, right.  I hit the first target time.   The next three I added about 15 seconds each time.  If I had any doubts I was out of shape they were forcefully thrown out the window by the end of this workout.  I was so tired I didn’t even think about the one mile cool down run.

Three sore days later I headed out to the track after work to attempt the 30 interval modified test again.  I was determined to finish this time.  One of my problems was that I was trying to finish each 150 meter run in 30 seconds, something that only FIFA centers have to do.  The actual test at RTS would be 35 seconds for the same distance.  I still kept my rests at 45, 50, and 55 seconds, increasing with each set of ten intervals.  Another of my problems that I solved on this night’s run was to start in the middle of the track turn, even with where the goalposts for football would be.  This decreased my time on the curve of the track and increased my time on the straight away which made me reach higher speeds.  These two changes completely improved my performance.  Not only did I hit 30 intervals, about 3.7 miles, but I did so with relative ease.  I still needed to bring my rest times down, but my confidence grew exponentially in just that hour at the track.

I rested the next few days, especially with my legs having taken the pounding on a hard track two nights in the previous week.  The next Monday I went out with the track group again, this time running a one mile time trial for the workout.  Again, they all whopped me, younger, older, male, female, it didn’t matter.  But my confidence was still on the rise.  I knew in just a short couple of weeks my running had improved. 

To the group’s credit they went out of their way to accommodate the referees of the group and agreed to run the FIFA fitness test the next two weeks.  The first night we split into two groups: the first mainly made of the group’s real runners and the second a combo of the group’s refs and one of the regular runners.  Either way, running the test with others was a huge help.  Not only did you feel you were accomplishing something as part of a bigger organization but you were able to push each other on.  This time we ran it in the specified times, 24 intervals, 35 seconds per 150 meters followed by a 40 second recovery of 50 meters.  Every single person, ref or runner, hit every time.  I walked away from this experience knowing I would have no problem with the test.

Last night was the last track group run before this coming weekend’s test.  Again, the refs ran the fitness test, this time with a new participant, a female referee with WPS experience.  She would also be with us at RTS on the weekend, but mentioned her reservations about her fitness and her feelings on her ability to pass the test.  Ha!  She paced the group for the entire 24 intervals!  Not only did our group finish the test without a hitch, but she led almost every single interval, from beginning to end.  So much for those reservations.

We are now four short days away from the actual test.  A mere month ago I was nervous and even debating how I should bow out of RTS should I think myself not able to complete the test.  To say I have a different mindset today may be the biggest understatement I have heard all year.  That and Suarez is a dirty player (sorry Liverpool fans, I couldn’t resist). 

My hope is that you read my experience with training and use it as motivation to hit whatever goal you set for the Spring season.  Maybe it is to pass the FIFA test; maybe it’s to lose five or ten pounds so that you are no longer moving your head more than your legs to get the proper angle on the play since you are out of position.  Whatever your stumbling blocks, know that you can overcome.  Come up with a plan and stick to it.  I would highly recommend, if you hate running as I do, to find a group that you train with at least once a week.  Find some people who will push you beyond what you could do yourself.  You may be amazed at what you can do after four short weeks of training.

FIFA Fitness? Not yet.

Long after all the Thanksgiving turkey and pumpkin pie along with all the Christmas goodies comes the thought that eventually you need to get in shape for the next season.  Well, that time has come and gone for me.  I’ll be attending a Regional Training Seminar (RTS) in Greensboro in mid-February, which means I have to run the FIFA fitness test (http://www.footballwest.com.au/resources/FIFAFitnessTest_E.pdf - They have 10 laps minimum on this but I know MLS uses 12 laps). 

I’ve never run the test before so I must admit to being a little intimidated.  The Cooper test is just a twelve minute run and you have to get something like five or six laps, roughly 1.5 miles I think.  For our local society we also run a 200 meter sprint and a 50 meter sprint (I think it’s 50), but generally it’s a piece of cake.  Like the link shows the FIFA test is an interval test, 150 meters running in 30 seconds followed by 50 meters walking in 35 seconds.  Those times might be different for RTS, but that’s the general gist of the test.

When I first got the email about RTS I knew I had to train.  One problem: I hate training.  I like running after things: usually soccer balls, basketballs, softballs (yes, I’m old now), and players on the pitch, but I hate to just run.  I got out a couple times during the week at 6:30am to run two to two-and-a-half miles.  Certainly not enough but after not training for several weeks since State Cup I had to get my legs under me.  Saturday I finally went out to the track to train more specifically for the fitness test next week.

My mentor for the Youth Regional Tournament last June had emailed me the training program he used to pass the fitness test for the MLS playoffs last fall.  He ran 30 intervals at 30 seconds apiece.  However, other than the difference in laps (15), he also changed the rest time for week one of training to 40 seconds for the first ten intervals, 45 seconds for the second ten intervals, and 50 seconds for the third ten.  Week two he changes the rest times to 35, 40, and 45.  Week three he switches to two sets of 15 intervals at 35 and 40 seconds rest.  Week four he goes 20 intervals with 35 seconds rest followed by 10 intervals at 40 seconds rest. 

The thinking behind this is that your body becomes conditioned for 30 intervals, not just 20 in the case of the website above or 24 in his case.  When the test comes around 24 intervals seems like a breeze.

It’s not a breeze the first time you go out and try it, at least not in my case.  It was pouring outside today where I live but I knew I had to get started with this kind of training.  I stretch, get a quick, half-mile jog in to loosen up my legs and then begin the intervals.  First six or seven were pretty straightforward.  Felt a little winded, but ok.  Got to around eight and was really feeling it.  I know, only got to freaking eight and I was getting gassed!  I was able to keep going to ten before I really felt like crap.  I took a longer break after the first ten to recover.  At the very least I wanted to keep running the 150 meter distance to get more used to it.  Well, I could only make it four more intervals. 

The total distance covered was 1.69 miles.  I’m currently ten intervals short of the required 24 and obviously way off the time required to pass.  Am I a little scared?  Heck yea.  Am I more encouraged than ever to do whatever it takes to pass.  You better believe it.  My goal is going to be to make it out to the track three times a week, maybe not always doing the training I’ve mentioned above but doing some sort of sprint training.

If you have any tips out there I would love to hear them and I would also like to hear if you will be attending any of the RTS around the country.