Post-game handshake and promoting health

Take the poll about suspending post-game handshakes. For years now, I have promoted merely tapping fists (dap) with players after games. When one considers Fall starts the cold season and that illness is spread most by hands, then shaking hands with players and coaches several dozen times a weekend is a great way to get sick.

Just think, one sick player, coach, or referee can pass a cold to over 2 dozen person in a matter of seconds. Yuk!

Can we all agree to: (1) give a cheer as a team to the opposing team; (2) wave, smile, say thanks; (3) salute, (4) walk past and give thumbs up [I said thumbs, not finger!]???

What do you think?

Field safety

Had a parent challenge us today about a stationary object on the field, which created a minor indentation in the field. He insisted that the referees fix it. He demanded that the game not be played until it was fixed. He threatened to not allow his son to play the game.

Remember these things: The safety of the field is the referee's perogative. If the referee determines the field is safe, we play! If not, the unsafe thing gets fixed, removed, etc., or we don't play. Any one person who does not want to play, does not have to play. If you ever determine the field is safe, but a team (coach) refuses to take the field, write a report. Include the circumstances and on what you based your opinion that the field was safe. The league will determine what to do. Most often, they should consider that match a win for the opposing team. To do otherwise would be to invite coaches to walk away from matches when they feel they cannot win them, hoping to play another day.

No one person gets to hijack a match or hold it hostage. Just because one person's opinion is that something is unsafe, does not make it so. It's in the referee's opinion that counts.

The man's son did not play. We started and finished the game with no injuries, few fouls and no cards. The man's team won 5:1. He missed a good game, but that was his perogative.

Self critiques --- Week 2

Write up your own self critiqe of any game(s) you had this weekend. What you did well; what you would change; any questions or concerns you ran into.

Include what you would do differently next time.

Come on; you can do it! We all learn from each other.

MLS Week in Review, Wk 26

Check out the clips and explanations on Week 26, week in review. Good info on assessing fair and foul tackles and DGSO.

http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Referee-Programs/2009/09/2009-Referee-Week-in-Review-Week-26.aspx

Heard on the soccer fields

By an old coach, who was doing his first match as a referee, "Wow, this is a lot harder than I realized."

By a parent watching the match, "Hey, foul throw. His foot was on the line."

By a coach after his player committed a foul, "Good call, ref."

Self Critique --- Week 1

So you survived your first weekend refereeing this weekend. Whether you are a newbie or a veteran, we'd like to hear your own self assessment of your game(s). Keep it short, a couple things you thought went well, or even surprised yourself; one or two things you'll work on in your next game.

Include any scenarios or questions that came up. Can't wait to hear some of them. Enter your critiques as comments to this post.

Civility, Sportsmanship, and Accountability

Read about what happened at the US Open tennis match after a competitor berated a line official.

http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/blog/busted_racquet/post/Serena-Williams-berates-official-loses-match-fo?urn=ten,189028

Denying Goal Scoring Opportunity

Check out Week 25 for MLS season, which covers issues on denying goal scoring opportunities.

http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Referee-Programs/2009/09/2009-Referee-Week-in-Review-Week-25.aspx

Violent Conduct off the Ball

Here's a game-critical situation, a point where the AR must take action when she sees a critical incident, like violent conduct.

This one occurs 30 yards off the ball, after the ball as moved up field from the offside line. The RED attacker throws an elbow in the WHITE defender's throat. What's great is the fact the AR saw this incident. From his training and experience he knew to keep his eyes back on these two players, rather than to follow the ball up the field with the ball in play.

Take a look at the clip. What would be the restart, from where would it be taken?

Follow the link to US Soccer's Week 24, for the Week in Review, and scroll down to clip #6.

http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Referee-Programs/2009/09/2009-Referee-Week-in-Review-Week-24.aspx

Fall Season 2009

Welcome to all Referees in the San Gabriel Valley. The Fall season is upon us. It's been a while since I updated the blog, but I'll being doing so more frequently this Fall. I'm hoping to get more of our new Referees in Region 112 to follow the blog and submit their weekly personal critiques.

Personal critiques are a great way to improve our performance.

Good luck next weekend; you're all ready and able!