Another High School Match...
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Another High School match and still no problems...
Got called today to fill-in last minute for a Varsity/JV game. Interesting that they played the varsity match before the JV match. Makes since from a fatigue factor (for those on JV also playing varsity), but makes the end of the day sort of ant-climactic. I'd like to have the JV match second if I were the coach, but not if I were the fans.
The other two referees were great guys, but interesting to note their techniques. The Varsity center was USSF and NFHS, and the other AR was only NFHS. Both were older than me and well experienced. The center did a great job and I was comfortable with all his techniques. The other AR had few techniques that I hadn't seen before. He runs the sideline with his flag furled, and only opens it when signaling. He keeps the substition signal up until the substitutions are completed (I drop the flag when acknowledged by the referee, but I eventually just mirrored the other AR on this). He also has an intersting posture when corner kicks are taken on his end - he bends his knees, put his hands on his knees (flag furled), and then straddles the line. Probably works fine, but it sure doesn't look like a soccer referee pose. Looks like a tennis referee watching the line.
I did the JV match and everything went pretty well. One attacking player was about a second away from a dangerous play call, but the game ended before he could attempt it again. What he was doing was this... If a defender close to him had possession (either from him losing the ball or not), he would chase after the defender and then throw his leg in front of the defender right as the defender was kicking (or passing) the ball. The defending team maintained possession, but the attacker would of course get kicked and then fall to the ground and complain of a foul. Because of his actions, he got the fans on his side. He tried it three times (once in the box), but his fourth would have been a foul and yellow card. Thinking back on it, I probably should have called a foul to prevent the progression. I definitely should have if it was a Varsity match.
Interesting also in the JV match... The Varsity center (now JV AR) did not mirror the other AR's substitution technique. He held his flag behind his back until substitutions were over.
All in all, it was an enjoyable game and beautiful weather.
Got called today to fill-in last minute for a Varsity/JV game. Interesting that they played the varsity match before the JV match. Makes since from a fatigue factor (for those on JV also playing varsity), but makes the end of the day sort of ant-climactic. I'd like to have the JV match second if I were the coach, but not if I were the fans.
The other two referees were great guys, but interesting to note their techniques. The Varsity center was USSF and NFHS, and the other AR was only NFHS. Both were older than me and well experienced. The center did a great job and I was comfortable with all his techniques. The other AR had few techniques that I hadn't seen before. He runs the sideline with his flag furled, and only opens it when signaling. He keeps the substition signal up until the substitutions are completed (I drop the flag when acknowledged by the referee, but I eventually just mirrored the other AR on this). He also has an intersting posture when corner kicks are taken on his end - he bends his knees, put his hands on his knees (flag furled), and then straddles the line. Probably works fine, but it sure doesn't look like a soccer referee pose. Looks like a tennis referee watching the line.
I did the JV match and everything went pretty well. One attacking player was about a second away from a dangerous play call, but the game ended before he could attempt it again. What he was doing was this... If a defender close to him had possession (either from him losing the ball or not), he would chase after the defender and then throw his leg in front of the defender right as the defender was kicking (or passing) the ball. The defending team maintained possession, but the attacker would of course get kicked and then fall to the ground and complain of a foul. Because of his actions, he got the fans on his side. He tried it three times (once in the box), but his fourth would have been a foul and yellow card. Thinking back on it, I probably should have called a foul to prevent the progression. I definitely should have if it was a Varsity match.
Interesting also in the JV match... The Varsity center (now JV AR) did not mirror the other AR's substitution technique. He held his flag behind his back until substitutions were over.
All in all, it was an enjoyable game and beautiful weather.
It just starts to flow...
Monday, September 08, 2008
Filled in for a U11 girls game today. Wanted to post
today because it brought up a few interesting points.
Even though I was only filling for the center referee, I thought one of the ARs that was scheduled might want to take the center. Turns out that they didn't, because the head coach of the home team was also their high school head coach. The match ended 1-0 and it was a good thing an adult was in the center. The away team was from one of the top clubs in the country. The coaches/parents were ok, but in my opinion a little to rough on the other players and referees for that age. Read More...
Even though I was only filling for the center referee, I thought one of the ARs that was scheduled might want to take the center. Turns out that they didn't, because the head coach of the home team was also their high school head coach. The match ended 1-0 and it was a good thing an adult was in the center. The away team was from one of the top clubs in the country. The coaches/parents were ok, but in my opinion a little to rough on the other players and referees for that age. Read More...
Ay, that's the way I do it.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
U12 Girls AR today. Took this game, because I wanted
to get a close look at this referee. He's an
experienced referee (>15 years), and grew up in
Europe. He only referees one game per day, just to
stay in the game. I heard mixed feelings about him,
so just wanted to see for myself.
Game went pretty well, with the more skilled team winning 3-1. Just a few things of note... PK was awarded in the first 5 minutes (to the losing team - accounting for their lone goal). I didn't think it was PK worthy, but game turned out fine. What I found interesting is that this same referee pulled a red card within 5 minutes in a different game. That red card happened to one of my players when I coached the U13 boys. I still think he's still a good referee... just interesting note.
Also to note he has been doing substitutions incorrectly for the whole season. The other AR mentioned it to him, and he changed, but grumbled a little about rule changes. Make sure if you don't recertify in a class that you still review changes before the start of the season.
Game went pretty well, with the more skilled team winning 3-1. Just a few things of note... PK was awarded in the first 5 minutes (to the losing team - accounting for their lone goal). I didn't think it was PK worthy, but game turned out fine. What I found interesting is that this same referee pulled a red card within 5 minutes in a different game. That red card happened to one of my players when I coached the U13 boys. I still think he's still a good referee... just interesting note.
Also to note he has been doing substitutions incorrectly for the whole season. The other AR mentioned it to him, and he changed, but grumbled a little about rule changes. Make sure if you don't recertify in a class that you still review changes before the start of the season.
Second High School Match(es)
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Well, why not take another high school assignment
after the first one went so well? This match was
between two medium-sized schools and included a JV
and Varsity girl's match. To tell the truth -
everything went well again! Am I just lucky?
The other two officials were, again, well-experienced. One of the officials was involved in last year's state finals, so I was anticipating learning a lot from him. In my first high school match, there was no discussion on who was the center - the more outspoken official just took control. In this match, they pushed me to center the JV match claiming it would be easy and good experience. So, I took up my whistle and headed out. The JV match was played with only 30 minute halves and with a running clock. I stopped the clock only for one long injury that resulted in an indirect kick in the penalty area for the attacking team. The more experienced official came on to the field to make sure I knew to take an indirect kick. Nice of him to do that, but I knew what needed to happen. All in all, it was a good experience. The JV match was defintely easier than most U14+ USSF matches. Read More...
The other two officials were, again, well-experienced. One of the officials was involved in last year's state finals, so I was anticipating learning a lot from him. In my first high school match, there was no discussion on who was the center - the more outspoken official just took control. In this match, they pushed me to center the JV match claiming it would be easy and good experience. So, I took up my whistle and headed out. The JV match was played with only 30 minute halves and with a running clock. I stopped the clock only for one long injury that resulted in an indirect kick in the penalty area for the attacking team. The more experienced official came on to the field to make sure I knew to take an indirect kick. Nice of him to do that, but I knew what needed to happen. All in all, it was a good experience. The JV match was defintely easier than most U14+ USSF matches. Read More...