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.
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