Comments for Blow Your Whistle

Comment on To color red or not…. by CSR

CSR — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:50:14 +0000

In my mind, you should have sent her off. There are a couple reasons for this.
First – it sounds like the first caution could have been for PI just as easily as it was for UB after the reckless challenge. This should have sent a message, not only to the offending player but to everyone else on the pitch that day.
Second – She clearly did not get the message after receiving the first caution, as her continued dissent showed. You even gave her another chance to get the hint by saying “no more, I don’t want to hear it”. You drew the line in the sand. . .she crossed it. . .and you caved.

When giving a card, you obviously consider what you want to get out of the card. But. . .I think too few referees (myself included, on occasion) don’t consider what message is being sent when we don’t give a card that really needs to be given. Players will do with what they are allowed to get away with. When you don’t enforce your line in the sand, it sends a conflicting message.

I empathize with the coach, to tell you the truth. Many times a coach will have a “problem child” and will tell them and tell them that they need to control themselves. But many times, especially as the player gets near HS age, the coach’s message won’t sink in until the player gets the message from another source – like a referee. If a player is sent off and has a match or two off to think about it, it gives them a chance for an attitude adjustment.

Comment on To color red or not…. by uthamm

uthamm — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:58:39 +0000

I think the coach is trying to tell you that he does not want to do your dirty work. If you don’t like how the player is playing, why should the coach have to communicate this? I have a player like this on my team. Good kid, just loses his head once in a while. My calls for better behavior fall on deaf ears as he never has to own up to what I am telling him are the consequences of his bad behavior.

On the other hand, I can totally sympathize. Had the same thing last Saturday in a youth game – tried my hardest to keep a player on the pitch (successfully) and still regret it a week later. Taught me a lesson.

Thanks for the time. I like knowing that I am not the only one who struggles with this kind of stuff!

Comment on Not in it for the money? by isualum

isualum — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:00:59 +0000

just to follow up….Worked the game last night and it almost hurt a little to watch it…but I will say it did give me an oppurtunity to work with a few young refs and help the center at halftime.

Comment on Not in it for the money? by SKD

SKD — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:52:16 +0000

I would definitely stay home for this one. More important to be with the family. No one would think you are a jerk for putting family first!

Comment on Working US Club Regionals by CSR

CSR — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:34:05 +0000

I think you bring up an important point – we need to remember and be mindful of the sacrifices made by our families which allow us to do what we love.

Hope to hear about Sunday

Comment on Payday for Referees by Allen

Allen — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:26:35 +0000

I’m pretty sure when I did it years ago they paid us every week.

And they wonder why they can’t find a many good refs when they pull crap like this? It’s annoying enough to put up with all the other things. But not paying you for a season until the season is over is wrong. Teams have to pay money before they play. They should have the money to pay you each time you play a game. That aside, to tell you you’ll get it before date X and fail to get them out for a couple weeks after that is an insult.

Now you may be saying “chill out, it’s not that big of thing”. I disagree. IMHO the actions of an organization reflect the organization’s core values. Unfortunately they don’t value referees.

Comment on Payday for Referees by CSR

CSR — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:14:13 +0000

In Columbus, there’s Mid-Ohio Select Soccer League (MOSSL) which is the largest and entry-level youth league. Referees are paid immediately prior to the match. Buckeye Premier Soccer League works the same way, with half the funds coming from each team. In the MRL matches I’ve done, it’s worked the same way.

My statement on the matter is this. . .it’s a big deal to ALL referees. The entry-level referees generally just want their money. The referees who are serious generally don’t referee for the money – but they don’t want to be jerked around about the money either. When a league or tournament wonders why they have problems attracting quality referees, they generally don’t ask themselves about the factors that would keep quality officials away – inferior competition, inferior pay, getting jerked around on getting paid, ploitical BS. And if they are asking themselves why referees wouldn’t want to work for them, they’re probably not being really honest with themselves on the answers.

Refereeing soccer matches is a tough enough job as it is without feeling like the league or tournament administrator doesn’t take care of the referees.

Comment on Persistent Infringement Card on Offsides Multipule Times by CSR

CSR — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:17:02 +0000

I think the key with cautioning for PI is to ask yourself – is there behavior going on which I need to step in and stop in order to prevent further repetition, escalation and/or retaliation?

Comment on Offside or not….. by isualum

isualum — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:08:39 +0000

“Too many coaches teach offside trapping because it’s easier than teaching proper team defense.”

I couldn’t have said it any better……

Comment on Offside or not….. by CSR

CSR — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:28:49 +0000

Another knucklehead coach who doesn’t understand Law 11. At the time the ball was played over the top, the player in the offside position is not interfering with play, is not interfering with an opponent, and is not gaining an advantage from the position – so she cannot be whistled for an offside infringement. At that point, the AR must adjust his snapshot with the new position of the ball and the SLD – both of which are dynamic and constantly moving.

The question that must be asked is AT THE TIME THE BALL WAS PLAYED BY A TEAMMATE, was this person in the center in an offside position and interfering with play, gaining an advantage, or interfering with an opponent? For the first ball over the top, the answer is no – play continues. Then. . .when the centering pass comes back in, this same player is now onside when she receives the ball – so she is onside and the flag stays down. So you guys did it correctly.

Kaos’ coach’s arguement that “that she can’t receive the centered ball because it is still the same play” is laughable. As I mentioned, play is dynamic and the position of the ball and SLD constantly change and as such a player being in an offside position or not will change second-to-second. This is why being an AR – especially at high levels – requires a lot of focus. Now. . .if the ball over the top would bounce off a defender to this person in an offside position, then yes. . .you’d have to raise the flag because she gained an advantage from the position. I guess you could say that was part of the same play, but otherwise this he needs to better learn and understand Law 11. Also. . .in USSF’s “Lessons Learned” the theme all year regarding raising the flag for offside infringements is to give the benefit of the doubt to attacking soccer.
I constantly find it amazing how many coaches, even at high levels, will live and die by the offside trap – and then to expect the AR to bail them out when the trap is inevitably beaten. Too many coaches teach offside trapping because it’s easier than teaching proper team defense.