Refereeing

October 25, 2016

Match Report

Match report 25 Oct 16

This afternoon I officiated the Yeovil Town FC Under 16 trial games at Huis Park. A great afternoon – 6 20 minute games (last two reduced to 15 mins to fit them in), working as part of a team of 3, so had two middles and four lines.

I do enjoy doing the line, but its (mentally) hard work – you have to think both across the pitch for off-sides, but also up and down the touchline for ball in and out etc. Not sure I’ve mastered working in right angles yet!

Was my first time working with NARs (Neutral assistant Referees) which was helpful – although I did over rule one once and was pretty sure they got another (offside) decision wrong, but I went with them anyway, its all about working as a team.

Great experience, helped by having one of my ref course tutors there to offer feedback and advice (on the whole he was pretty happy with what I was doing) and I really enjoyed the afternoon.

October 22, 2016October 24, 2016

Match Report

Match Report 22 Oct 16

Thought I’d try a little experiment and do a short video match report after the game. Might start doing them in the car on the way home, then again, I may not.

Was a good game, enjoyed refereeing it.

Match Stats

Ilchester Reserves 1 Perry Street Reserves 5

Open Age, Yeovil & District League, Division 2

0 Yellows 0 Reds 1 Pen

Match fee: £30

October 16, 2016October 24, 2016

Challenging game

Wessex Youth U16 1 – 1 Milborne Port U16

My most challenging game to date. Not because of aggression or bad behavior, more because of the intensity and importance of the game. A top of the table clash, both sides unbeaten, the game started at 100 miles an hour, and pretty much carried on at this pace for the whole 80 minutes.

Plenty of incident – first goal (Milborne Port) came as I played advantage: that was good. Wessex equalised before half time, breaking swiftly (with the wind) turning a defensive corner into attack, the striker coolly beating the keeper in a one on one.

As the second half wore on, the temperature rose as both sides sought a winner. Disallowed a home team goal: keeper had spilled the ball, but regained it whilst sprawled on the floor. Home keeper kicked it from his hands into the net. The last 15 minutes became a little tetchy as players grew tired and frustrated and mistakes crept into their game. I’m sure I didn’t get everything right (I don’t think you ever would) but do think that I was pretty much on top of the game – both physically in space, but also mentally, imposing my will on the game, despite the occasional howls and cries from the large (20 or 30?) supporters (of both sides) when they didn’t agree with my decision. There were times when it was necessary to take the heat out of the game, delay a re-start a little, just for everyone to calm down.

I think 1-1 was a fair result, either side could have nicked right up to the final whistle. Felt I handled a tough, hard fought game well and as I sit here and reflect a few hours later I don’t doubt any of my decisions and don’t think I missed anything. Feeling the warm glow of the satisfaction of a difficult job well done.

Match Stats

Wessex Youth U16 1 Milborne Port U16 1

Under 16, Yeovil & District League Youth League, U16

0 Yellows 0 Reds

Match fee: £20

September 18, 2016

Yellow Card!

Pic of the week 18/9/16

Issued my first “report-able” yellow card today. Stone wall yellow, with approx 10 mins to go, stripes throw in near stripes goal. Not contentious, no one disagrees. Ball on the deck – stationary – waiting for stripes to come over and take the throw. Red kicks the ball away, beyond the goal line. Silly & unnecessary, call the lad over, ask him what he thinks is going to happen next – says he’s not sure, tell him he’s going to get a yellow, which I then administer. No big drama – a good one to break my duck. No need to ponder it. Think he might have been a little surprised, probably never happened to him before; hope he’s learned his lesson and doesn’t do it again.

On the whole, was not a bad match to ref. Standard of football was quite poor – both sides had yet to register a point, but seemed to be more about 22 lads enjoying a game on a Sunday afternoon, and you can’t fault that.

Fell my ref-ing continues to improve with experience, feel I had a good game today (definitely my refereeing was better than the football being played) and I’m really starting to enjoy it. Still much to learn, but all good. (Except haven’t been paid – yet – for this game. Home team coach was surprised when I asked for match fee. Says it gets paid by club (Somerton FC) he will investigate for me (and I shan’t let i lie either!)

Match Stats

Somerton U16 0 Pen Mill U16 1

Under 16, Yeovil & District League Youth League, U16

1 Yellows (C4) 0 Reds

Match fee: tbc

September 3, 2016

Charlton United v Manor Athletic

Refereed first competitive league game today, Charlton United V Manor Athletic in Division One of the Yeovil and District League.

The game will, perhaps, best be remembered for the rain, which started at kick off and didn’t let up for the whole game.

The standard of football was much lower than the other games I have ref’d, I think that makes it easier, partly because the pace isn’t quite so quick.

Thought I refereed well in the first half, in fact thought I refereed well throughout the game, but it got tougher in the second half. Charlton (home team in Orange) were 3 nil down at half time, but bounced back to 2-3 after about 20 mins of the second half, their first goal being a penalty for handball. Some (inevitable) complaints, but more from the (defenders) left hand side of the box, the handball was on the right hand side. With the game now close, players getting tired and the rain relentless, the heat of the game was rising and I did have to take some affirmative action to calm things down. I wasn’t tolerating any chat, didn’t use any cards, but did use my teacher stare (on grown men with beards!) a few times to good effect. I think I kept a lid on what could have become a quite tetchy affair. Nonetheless, I was pleased when the clock ticked through to 45 mins and I could blow the final whistle – some handbags were close to getting swung.

Felt positioning and fitness was good. Most decisions were right and rapport with players good. Much fewer of the “unsure” decisions and limited to the last 10 mins. On the whole, I think I did well. I certainly think the standard of my refereeing was higher than the standard of the football.

As I write, three hours after the final whistle, having dried off and the criticisms fade into vague memories, I would say that I enjoyed it!

Match Stats

Charlton United 2 Manor Athletic 3

Open Age, Yeovil & District League, Division 1

0 Yellows 0 Reds

Match fee: £30

August 21, 2016August 21, 2016

Yeovil Town FC Ladies Development Squad v Cyncoed Ladies FC

This afternoon I refereed a pre-season friendly game between Yeovil Town FC Ladies Development Squad and Cyncoed Ladies FC from the Welsh Premier Women’s League and it was an absolute pleasure.

My decisions, right or wrong, were accepted with good grace, players didn’t react or flare up when fouled, no back chat, I didn’t hear “in the back, ref” once. A fair way into the first half (first third) I realised I hadn’t yet blown my whistle, so I made a mental note to check the time when I first did: 14 mins into the game, and that was for an off-side!

And the standard of football was pretty good, too, particularly from Yeovil: pass and move, pass and move, rather than hoof and hope found in many men’s games. All capped off with a couple strikes that would have graced the game at any level.

For the record, Yeovil won 8-0.

Match Stats

Yeovil Town FC Ladies Development Squad 8 Cyncoed Ladies FC 0

Open Age friendly, three 30 minute thirds

0 Yellows 0 Reds

Match fee: £25

August 6, 2016August 6, 2016

Westfield FC v Saltford FC

2nd game of the season (& career!) – another friendly between mid-Somerset sides Westfield FC and Saltford FC (both 1st XIs).

Another baking hot day for a 2pm kick (not 2.30 as advertised.) Much more relaxed about the pre-match stuff than last week – now an experienced pro!

Game kicked off and instantly there was a bit more “chat” from the players – I think it was just trying it on, seeing what they would get from me (not a lot!), “In the back, ref” etc. I’ve surprised myself a bit in that I’m not much of a “chatty” ref, just waving appeals away and getting on with the game, rather than into a discussion or explanation. I think this is partly because often I genuinely have no idea what they are appealing for! I put this down to one of two possible reasons:

I’m missing something, and don’t have a good enough understanding of the game or its laws, or
There is nothing and they are just appealing out of habit/hope, to try and influence my decision.

I reckon its a lot like teaching: deal with it (by telling them nothing given) and move on and they soon realise that its not going to work, forget about it and stop doing it themselves.

Westfield (red & black) took the lead on 8 minutes, Saltford equalising on 18. Wesfield took the lead shortly before half time (43 Mins) to edge into half time with their noses in front, but on the whole a well balanced game.

Westfield started the second half briskly and four minutes after the restart netted another, their third and begun to show their dominance. In two minutes, around the twelve minute mark, the home team scored twice and the contest was effectively over. Better organised and more comfortable on the ball they ran the show, scoring again in the 27th, 30th & 42nd minutes to win the game 8-1.

As the game wore on, tiredness begaun to creep in, along with frustration for the Salford side and a little tetchiness started to creep in. On the whole, though, a good game played in a good spirit and I think I managed it well. Would still like a little feedback, particularly on those niggles, nudges and knicks – think I’m getting most of them right, be would welcome an external, unbiased observer’s opinion. Physically I found it much less demanding – partly because I managed my positioning better (in my opinion!) less worried about the patrol path and more concerned with being in the position I needed to be to see what I needed to see.

Enjoyed it!

Match Stats

Westfiled FC 1st XI 8 Saltford FC 1st XI 1

Open Age friendly, 90 minutes

0 Yellows 0 Reds

Match fee: £30

July 31, 2016

Pic of the week 31/7/16

Ref’ed my first non-school game yesterday: Purnells Reserves v Chilcompton, a pre-season OA (Open Age = adults) friendly.

It was a hot day and I discovered that refereeing for 90 minutes is hard work: no resting when the ball gets hoofed up field, as ref you must keep up with play at all times. I’m glad I am as fit as I am now – I think it would be a struggle if not.

Enjoyed it, game went well, no major dramas, neither my parentage nor eyesight was called into question and other than a few inevitable “questions” from disgruntled players the game passed off without incident. Purnells (Orange) won 2-1. Chilcompton (yellow) were the better side, and played some very nice football in the middle of the park, but lacked any real cutting edge and didn’t really often look like scoring.

Their (‘compton) goal (the opening of the game) came in the 11th minute from a free kick on the edge of the area (I think possibly the first free kick I’d given.) There were no complaints about that free kick, but a couple of defenders felt there should have been a foul (to them) immediately before. But I have no idea what they are talking of, and, I think, were just trying it on. Goal was a bit soft – shot, keeper got hands to it, but didn’t hold it (should have done) and it deflected into the net. Can’t really remember too much about the game, but I enjoyed it.

My take away’s from the game:

Positioning. Tried to keep to the Lazy S patrol path, right back to right back, as taught in the course, but this conflicted with the need to be within (say) about 10m of play. In the end, I kept hearing the advice of one of the course tutors who suggested positioning yourself like a sweeper, just behind the player(s) with the ball. This seemed to work a lot better (for me) than the Lazy S patrol path (although I did try to keep the active CAR in sight as well.)
Backing in, niggles and nibbles: not 100% sure I’m getting these right. I.e. when defender has ball under control near his penalty area, loan striker is harassing him, how much do you let go, when do you blow etc? When I have someone to come and watch me, I’ll ask them to focus on this aspect of my game.
I had to work hard to re-establish my concentration at the start of the second half. It was a hot day, a big drink and rest at half time was welcome, but took a few minutes to regain my focus in the second half – one to be aware of for the future.
90 minutes is a long time both physically and mentally. Its not like when you play and you have a breather when the ball is up the other end of the pitch. You’re working for the full 90.
I was surprised how little I blew my whistle. Probably more to do with both teams playing in a positive manner, than me, but I’m not complaining.
A summer in flip-flops, cheap black socks & a hard pitch don’t mix! I’ve now got a whacking big blister on my big toe. Part of my match fee will be going on a pair of cushioned socks!

Match Stats

Purnell Reserves 2 v Chilcompton 1

Open Age Friendly, 90 mins

0 Yellows, 0 Reds

Match fee: £30

January 23, 2016

Yellow Card!

Issued my first, ever, yellow card today.

Great game, Millfield U16Bs, bolstered by some 5ths, v Kings Taunton 2nd XI. Thoroughly enjoyed refereeing it, game ebbed and flowed, finished 3-3 with both sides leading at some time. Millfield grabbed an equaliser 3 minutes from time. A deserved score, Millfield played some lovely, cultured passing football, King’s Taunton were a little bigger, more physical and employed route one. A clash of styles on a slippery surface.

Last 30 seconds of the first half, and KT broke, their speedy left winger collecting the ball outside the area and accelerating towards the byline. “Michael” (we’ll leave it at that to preserve his anonymity) raced across the meet him and scythed him down 5 yards outside the corner of the box.

The tackle was about 2 weeks late, could possibly have warranted a sending off, but probably not at this level. I reached for my cards – but they had stuck together, so I rather gingerly showed him the yellow, conscious that the red was stuck to the back. I feared if I brandished it too vigorously others might see the rear of the card and think that I had sent him off!

Anyway, a first! Perhaps a line in the sand has been crossed and I’ll be reaching for my pocket with regularity in the future …?