My State Championship Experience

So now with 4 days gone since my trip down to Newport News, I finally find myself with some time to discuss the AAA Virginia HS State Championships.

I am going to start with how the assignments came about. I was told the Sunday before that I was selected to go to Newport News for the AAA finals and that I would be on the boys bracket. The other options would have meant either the girls finals or going to Radford, VA for the AA or A state finals for boys or girls. I was also told who I would be going with from my association - CSOA (Commonwealth Soccer Officials Association) - and that I needed to get in touch with him. So I tried getting in touch with him. Nothing happened. As I was doing the radio show, that fix, I was sent my first assignments - AR for both Semi-Final games and then 4th official for the final. This was Thursday and I had previously decided that I was going to go down on Thursday, spend the night, instead of driving Friday morning and arriving tired. At dinner that night, before heading out I got a call from the CSOA assignor. He said the guy who I had been assigned with was actually going to be unable to go - thus I got his assignments and they found a replacement for him. His assignments included a 4th for a Semi and then a Center for the other, along with AR for the final. MAJOR UPGRADE... haha - it was great news, although I will say I was happy to go either way.

Ill be very frank. And it may sound weird. Before the previous game I posted on - the Gar-field HS vs Forest Park HS - I was nervous. There was some doubt there. Yet, for even when I got the new assignments my nerves were very calm. This season has given me a lot of confidence.

The first game was at 11 am on Friday and I was there around 9:15-9:30. The replacement referee, Mel, had gotten there only moments before. We did not know our other two referees yet but soon met them around 10. Keith and Jim soon arrived and we went to a locker room to change and go over a pregame from Keith. Keith handled the game with class and Osbourne Park won going away 3-nil.

We had about a 30 minute break before my game. I let them get some water - it was hot, I felt I was getting burned just standing while being the 4th Official. I went and talked to the coaches, just some small talk. I had refereed TJ HS before and the coach remembered me and told me how much they had improved. I wasn't sure about that but I was about to find out. I then went back to the press box where our gear was and got ready. I gave my limited instructions to Mel and Jim (My ARs, Jim is actually a National Referee for USSF and had to leave early saturday from the Championship games in order to get back for a pro game). I gave Keith my limited instructions for 4th official. We did our international lineup (Everyone walks out together lead by the referees) and only then did I get a little nervous.

With the game underway I felt good. I wasnt hesitant in blowing my whistle, which is one of my harder problems. Making a decision is always the first step. But I was talking to players and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. The game was much more scrappy than the previous game and the teams were well evened. I kept everyone under control but I showed one caution to a player I had already talked to, for kicking the ball away. It seemed to be timed well because it calmed some down and brought everyone into half time in good condition. My fellow referees were giving nothing but good feedback.

The 2nd half saw some more action. 2 more cautions, both well deserved and a decisive goal. The goal which I have already linked to was a blast from about 17 yards out that was just way too quick for the keep to catch up to. The cautions were both for reckless tackles. I should have given a caution to another player but lack of communication on my part let that one go. I wasnt sure of the number and I should have asked my 4th official who was right there. Oh well, everyone lived and I will make sure next time. Overall the game was a good one and I enjoyed every moment of it. It was a good last game in the center for HS and I think this season was a boost of confidence in many ways with my ability in the center of the pitch.

The next day would test me on the line. Jim was the center and everyone was at the field by 11, 2 hours early, to get things together with pregame instructions. We all got our uniforms together along with any last second questions. We made sure all the balls were pumped up to the same psi and that the field was in good condition - there had been a lightening storm the night before. We then warmed up together, with some jogging and then individual stretching. We did the international walk-out, no introduction of the referees though, which was just as good because I was on the line with fans and they were going to talk to me no matter what, better if they didnt know my name. As The AR already wrote, the game was handled very well by Jim and it was fun being on the line. I felt good about the calls I made, including one foul which was pulling on the jersey. At the end of the game I had to run at the buzzer to get out of the way of the fans running onto the field for the celebration. It was a good end to a great trip.

My overall favorite moment had to be during my game. The TJ fans traveled about 300 plus strong and were all wearing red. The stands were about 5 yards behind the touchline opposite the bench. And to call a foul against TJ in front of their stands was something else. To have 300+ people yelling at you was funny especially for how stupid the foul was and how easy it was to call. So I smiled and moved into position for the restart, knowing you cant please everyone.

So overall I drove 375.9 miles. Spent about 90 on the hotel and about 40 on food. We will see how much I get paid for the games and how much they actually reimburse me. But it was fun end to a great season.

Some Spring 2007 Statistics
35 yellows, 2 reds (one was 2 yellows -> red)
30 centers (4 2-man games), 26 lines
*to go against my 1.+ yellows/game there were 12 games that I was center where there were no cards but also two games which had me show 5.