It's been a while . . .

since I posted; a WC hangover I'm slowly getting over.

Like the Ref, I also have begun my fall refereeing season, though with decidedly less competitive games. Last weekend, when the Ref's games were washed out, my games were played: a couple of centers at the U11 and U13 level (the U11 was a solo) and lines at the U13 and U14 level. Nothing particularly striking about any of these games, aside from the absence of vocal complaints about calls or noncalls from any of the participants! I think everyone was too wet to complain (it spritzed through the first 3 1/2 hours I was out there; the sun made a brief and surprise appearance for the last half hour of the final game, drying me off for the car ride home).

Yesterday, I was part of a 2-ref team at a private school JV boys game. Again, nothing remarkable about the game. There were only a couple of fouls all game, one team play fairly well and the other relied on counterattacks that were few and far between, several ending with offside calls when balls were played to players totally unaware of where they were in relation to the defense.

Just one other comment for now. Let me preface this by saying that I think I do an OK job as a ref. Foul recognition remains a work in progress, as is knowing when to use cards and when to use words to deal with problem players. But the one thing I do pride myself on is the effort I bring to each game, no matter the level. I try to stay up with play and will run as hard as I can to be in position to make calls. From first game to last game. So it grieves me no end when I work with folks who don't make the effort. When I am in the center and have an AR who is constantly behind the play, it makes it hard to rely on him/her for the offside call. Same thing in a 2-ref game: both refs need to keep an eye on the offside line as well as watch play when it moves to the other half of the field. And don't think the players, coaches, and fans don't notice.