A two week absence on the blogs thanks to a crowded life with work, home and golf all being fitted around my latest challenge of obtaining the Level 7 Ref's qualification.
Two matches to report on and it's funny how a game can leave you feeling. The first, Barnton Grange away, it was my first time in the middle since the weekend of referee tuition and my head full of laws of the game, suggested positioning, and general professionalism in the field of play. I reckon I was thinking too much - it just didn't seem comfortable at times - I found myself questioning a decision or two after making the call and when the Dads and Coach also challenged, I seemed to have lost a little of my conviction. Can you take it too seriously? Did the ball swing out of touch from the corner that lead to Barnton's first goal? I couldn't be sure, so to allow the goal was the right call. A quickly taken throw in - feet over the line - in an open age match, definately a foul throw, but at this level? Just enthusiasm? Let it go...... GOAL!! Oh cripes? On balance, I believe I made the right calls, but funny how it preys on your mind that afternoon. Egerton lost 1:2 and both Barnton goals left me with something to think about. At the end of the day, be honest to yourself, relax, enjoy the experience. You may get some calls wrong, but always done with the very best of intentions and integrity.
I was keen to get back in the middle the following saturday, and a completely different experience. Assured of my decisions. Using some man management to help with the tricky calls. The very first action for the temporary keeper involved him catching a ball, holding it for a few moments, dropping it, kicking it and then picking it up again. Open age? What should I do? ....... Award an indirect freekick from where he picked it up second time. U10's, learning the game? Talk to the opposing Manager, explain what I plan to do, and see if he agrees - let the keeper get an explantion and play on. That's what we did, and it felt right. Wrong in Law, right in pragmatism. If it happened again, it would be dealt with to the letter of the law. I thoroughly enjoyed the match. Good spirit, my award of a penalty in the final 5 minutes, was accepted with good grace by the defending team, and spectators -then again, they were 4:1 up at the time!
Last night - a really important night in my refereeing life. The examination night. As nervous as I am taking Chartered Insurance Institute exams............. result; a pass! Phew. I'm now the proud owner of the full Cheshire County FA badge adorning my new ref's kit. Now for the real challenge - open age football, offsides, and no doubt, a little more than the U10's present to me. 6 matches over the next few weeks and then that's it, I'm out on my own.
Your man in black.
by the way, the answer to the last blog : Answer, the kick is retaken. The ball remains dead until it leaves the penalty area - it didn't as it went straight over the goal line before leaving the box.
Friday, 8 October 2010
Sunday, 19 September 2010
From the referee's classroom......
I've spent 14 hours of the weekend in the company of very experienced referee's and 17 hopeful's including yours truly. Now more than half way on the road to gaining my Level 7 ref's qualifications. I've read, and re-read the rules of the game, completed DVD learning and now had two days classroom and on the field tuition. So what am I learning...... well here's the first of the regular 'questions of the week'.
A free kick is awarded to the defending team within the penalty area and the goal keeper takes the freekick. Attempting to pass to a defender stood level with him at the side of the penalty area, the ball fails to reach the player, or indeed the edge of the area and instead, rolls out over the goal line, between the goal post and the penalty area edge. How does the game restart?
a) An indirect freekick to the attacking side from where the goalkeeper took the kick
b) An indirect freekick from where the ball left the field of play
c) A corner
d) The goalkeeper is asked to retake the freekick
Answer next week.
A free kick is awarded to the defending team within the penalty area and the goal keeper takes the freekick. Attempting to pass to a defender stood level with him at the side of the penalty area, the ball fails to reach the player, or indeed the edge of the area and instead, rolls out over the goal line, between the goal post and the penalty area edge. How does the game restart?
a) An indirect freekick to the attacking side from where the goalkeeper took the kick
b) An indirect freekick from where the ball left the field of play
c) A corner
d) The goalkeeper is asked to retake the freekick
Answer next week.
Thursday, 16 September 2010
Egerton U10 v Weaverham
Well, no such thing as a gentle return to the season. The U10's first game of the season saw me in the middle sporting new boots, new shorts and a new streamline appearance - yep, I wore all black, which does, apparently shave a few pounds off your outline. News of my impending ref's course made it to some of the spectators, I received a few comments of encouragement suggesting that getting some training was a rather good idea. The lads started off very brightly and were quickly testing my pre season fartlek training. An early decision when I awarded a freekick on the edge of the area despite both players ending up in the box was greeted by a friendly...."Big call ref". Not really, I was convinced of where I saw the foul committed. We had a bounce off the bar quickly followed by a question from another interested dad wanting to know my views on goal line technology. Thanks for that question. I'm actually against it. The referees decision is final in opinion, not law, and whether the balls has crossed the line is one of those great 'opinion' debates that contributes to the game we love. I know it may mean incorrect outcomes can sometimes occur, but I don't want a sterile, black and white, rules driven game. I want banter, opinions and good honest endeavour.
Anyway, back to the game. U10 is certainly a step up. Shoe lace tying appears to have been almost universally mastered now - just one incident which actually led to the individual being substituted to re-tie them. Progress indeed!
The game was a thrilling one, full of action, played in a really good spirit. Egerton dominated the first half, 4-1 up, but the heads of the worthy opponents never dropped and when getting a second back early in the 2nd half, they found early season energy and fought back to a tremendous 5:5 final score. Some noteable patches of sweat on my 'shelf' signalled a need to step up my training. 15km in the preceeding two days at the gym. The season has well and truly started, and I'm looking forward to more time in the middle very soon.
your man in black.....
Anyway, back to the game. U10 is certainly a step up. Shoe lace tying appears to have been almost universally mastered now - just one incident which actually led to the individual being substituted to re-tie them. Progress indeed!
The game was a thrilling one, full of action, played in a really good spirit. Egerton dominated the first half, 4-1 up, but the heads of the worthy opponents never dropped and when getting a second back early in the 2nd half, they found early season energy and fought back to a tremendous 5:5 final score. Some noteable patches of sweat on my 'shelf' signalled a need to step up my training. 15km in the preceeding two days at the gym. The season has well and truly started, and I'm looking forward to more time in the middle very soon.
your man in black.....
Sunday, 29 August 2010
New Season, New Goals.....
Well, a summer of heroes and villains in the middle with goal line mistakes and World Cup final glory for an English referee. Inspired by other men in black, a desire to improve, or simply a means to get fit, whatever the reason, I have written the cheque and secured a place on the Cheshire FA Referee's course which commences 6th September. If all goes to plan, I will take an exam mid September, and be subject to a weekend assessment followed by 6 11 'a' side matches with me in the middle. If that all goes to plan, I'll attain L7 Referee status towards the end of the year.
I'm looking forward to seeing our Egerton team progress into Under 10 football with the big kick off next saturday. Not sure if I'll have the whistle or not, but just in case, the training regime has begun again after a six week enforced layoff following the IoM Parish Walk, blisters have gone, and toe nail is growing back!!
2010/11 season reports to commence next week and I'll also give you a quiz question each week based on my studies on the laws of the game. I bet you can't wait!
Your man in black.
I'm looking forward to seeing our Egerton team progress into Under 10 football with the big kick off next saturday. Not sure if I'll have the whistle or not, but just in case, the training regime has begun again after a six week enforced layoff following the IoM Parish Walk, blisters have gone, and toe nail is growing back!!
2010/11 season reports to commence next week and I'll also give you a quiz question each week based on my studies on the laws of the game. I bet you can't wait!
Your man in black.
Monday, 14 June 2010
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Guest report from Matt @ Weaverham (Away)
RESISTING THE TEMPTATION
The game itself was fairly uneventful. I managed to avoid any controversy which is always a positive result. Not too many dodgy decisions although I was admittedly not concentrating in the first 30 seconds and was done by the colour clash. Manager Hargreaves gave me a bit. Fair enough.
The hardest thing about reffing Saturday’s game was resisting the temptation to give advice to the boys. The boys were fast asleep and weren’t responding to Lee’s instructions. It can be difficult to hear from the sidelines…
In the middle of it though I reckon I could have got us a win. Tom would have cleared the ball for the first goal with me in his ear “empty it!”.
When they had the ball I was mentally willing the boys to track back and pick up the runner that was causing the damage. No good. Uri Geller I clearly am not.
When we had the ball I’m thinking “lift your head up and pass it”, the boys are thinking “I wish I was still in bed….”
I think it was just one of those days. I’m used to it because I coach the Lions U13s. Sunday mornings with them is like a grassy version of the shopping centre on Dawn of the Dead. As I said to Lee afterwards “welcome to my world”.
With Special Thanks to this week's referee..... Matt Sproston
The game itself was fairly uneventful. I managed to avoid any controversy which is always a positive result. Not too many dodgy decisions although I was admittedly not concentrating in the first 30 seconds and was done by the colour clash. Manager Hargreaves gave me a bit. Fair enough.
The hardest thing about reffing Saturday’s game was resisting the temptation to give advice to the boys. The boys were fast asleep and weren’t responding to Lee’s instructions. It can be difficult to hear from the sidelines…
In the middle of it though I reckon I could have got us a win. Tom would have cleared the ball for the first goal with me in his ear “empty it!”.
When they had the ball I was mentally willing the boys to track back and pick up the runner that was causing the damage. No good. Uri Geller I clearly am not.
When we had the ball I’m thinking “lift your head up and pass it”, the boys are thinking “I wish I was still in bed….”
I think it was just one of those days. I’m used to it because I coach the Lions U13s. Sunday mornings with them is like a grassy version of the shopping centre on Dawn of the Dead. As I said to Lee afterwards “welcome to my world”.
With Special Thanks to this week's referee..... Matt Sproston
Friday, 12 March 2010
Puma's & Panthers v Davenham (Away)
A second successive double header for me to referee when the home team were unable to field a parent to take up the role. So, two matches totalling 40 minutes for me to pace myself through. I have to say the pace of the teams is beginning to test me -I watched the Man Utd v AC Milan game on Wednesday this week, when I saw the pace of that game, and what the ref had to do,I concluded that I may have only a season or so left in me - chasing the ball around at U9 level is fast enough for me.
Now, the Egerton parents didn't seem overly impressed with my latest 'must have' accessory. I'm not talking about the slimming 'Boro' training jacket, or the new stop watch. Did you not notice the difference with my new eyes? Three weeks ago I had laser eye surgery, responding to previous 'feedback' from the touchline that I should have gone to specsavers! It was this 'better than 20:20 vision' that gave me the edge awarding three penalties over the two games - none of which, apparently were seen by some of the Dads on the line - I recommend my surgeon at Ultralase Manchester!!
Despite the three penalties, both games were played in a really good spirit. The players are toughening up, and I thought it was the sort of hard but fair game that the they could do with once in a while. I tried to keep the game flowing but some shirt pulling & deliberate pushing led me to have words with a few players. We are starting to come up against some verbals as well "nice save keeper... not" was heard. The team will have to learn to live with 'sledging' it's going to get worse! A high foot which brushed the face and caused a cut led to me immediately blowing up when the attacking team were cleary flowing forward, but head injuries demand an immediate cessation of play. An important lesson in the first game - after the ball was picked up by the keeper from a back pass I awarded an indirect free kick in the box. Learning from the recent Premier League incident, I prevented a quick free kick and gave the defence ample time to get ready - I made it very clear to all players what was awarded - the defence didn't make the most of the time I allowed and conceded an easy goal - Worth watching the referee after a whistle is blown to make sure you understand exactly what has been awarded and then quickly prepare yourself for the next action.
Thoroughly enjoyed the game - My friends on the touchline, witnessed their first aggregate defeat in 35 games. They had to blame someone, and the Big man in black is a far better target than the Manager, kitman, or kids. It's OK, I can take it!
I try to base all of my actions on the field on honest interpretation of what I see and to referee to the best of my ability - maybe my new eyes need running in (like a new motor), but I can only act on how my brain interprets these new, crisper images!! Thanks for the banter at the end, makes me feel part of the entertainment. I look forward to reciprocating at a game very soon.
Looking forward to the next outing..... unless I've been dropped!
your man in black.
Now, the Egerton parents didn't seem overly impressed with my latest 'must have' accessory. I'm not talking about the slimming 'Boro' training jacket, or the new stop watch. Did you not notice the difference with my new eyes? Three weeks ago I had laser eye surgery, responding to previous 'feedback' from the touchline that I should have gone to specsavers! It was this 'better than 20:20 vision' that gave me the edge awarding three penalties over the two games - none of which, apparently were seen by some of the Dads on the line - I recommend my surgeon at Ultralase Manchester!!
Despite the three penalties, both games were played in a really good spirit. The players are toughening up, and I thought it was the sort of hard but fair game that the they could do with once in a while. I tried to keep the game flowing but some shirt pulling & deliberate pushing led me to have words with a few players. We are starting to come up against some verbals as well "nice save keeper... not" was heard. The team will have to learn to live with 'sledging' it's going to get worse! A high foot which brushed the face and caused a cut led to me immediately blowing up when the attacking team were cleary flowing forward, but head injuries demand an immediate cessation of play. An important lesson in the first game - after the ball was picked up by the keeper from a back pass I awarded an indirect free kick in the box. Learning from the recent Premier League incident, I prevented a quick free kick and gave the defence ample time to get ready - I made it very clear to all players what was awarded - the defence didn't make the most of the time I allowed and conceded an easy goal - Worth watching the referee after a whistle is blown to make sure you understand exactly what has been awarded and then quickly prepare yourself for the next action.
Thoroughly enjoyed the game - My friends on the touchline, witnessed their first aggregate defeat in 35 games. They had to blame someone, and the Big man in black is a far better target than the Manager, kitman, or kids. It's OK, I can take it!
I try to base all of my actions on the field on honest interpretation of what I see and to referee to the best of my ability - maybe my new eyes need running in (like a new motor), but I can only act on how my brain interprets these new, crisper images!! Thanks for the banter at the end, makes me feel part of the entertainment. I look forward to reciprocating at a game very soon.
Looking forward to the next outing..... unless I've been dropped!
your man in black.
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