rec league player check in

[sluggo271]

I am just curious as to what different referees say to the players during the player check ins in rec. league. Do you say the same thing to each team and different ages? Do you say a joke? I'm looking for ideas.

I say this, "Good morning, afternoon, evening(whatever it is) boys/girls. Listen up! Play hard, play fast, have fun but most importantly please play FAIR. When I blow the whistle, the whistle means to...?(then they all yell, stop). I do protect the keepers so when the keeper has possesion of the ball please DO NOT kick the keeper!! Any questions? Most don't, except for the U10s.

Then I say, " when I call off your first name take a step backwards and YELL out your last name and have fun doing it" The kids love doing this!!

So basically I am interested in hearing othere referees pregame check ins. I have heard some really good ones from the more seasoned referees I have worked with.

I heard one guy telling some U10 girls that he wouldn't allow any running as he was old, tired and fat. The kids got a kick out of that one!

[Ref Flunkie]

I'm lame. I just call numbers and have them tell me their name. No other pregame discussion typically....unless it is an adult women's match, and then I ask them to tell me their names and phone numbers when checking in ;).

[o5iiawah]

I'm lame. I just call numbers and have them tell me their name. No other pregame discussion typically....unless it is an adult women's match, and then I ask them to tell me their names and phone numbers when checking in ;).


Which gives me an idea to scribble my phone number on the back of the winning team's player cards next time...:D

[falcon.7]

I say this, "Good morning, afternoon, evening(whatever it is) boys/girls. Listen up! Play hard, play fast, have fun but most importantly please play FAIR. When I blow the whistle, the whistle means to...?(then they all yell, stop). I do protect the keepers so when the keeper has possesion of the ball please DO NOT kick the keeper!! Any questions? Most don't, except for the U10s.

This is youth rec or adult? In any case...

Easy on the lecture. The players want to play, not to hear some guy blab. SHOW them what you are and are not going to allow. I say "good luck, have fun" to the captains after the coin toss but that's it.

On the other hand, if it's a rec league and it's pretty easy-going it's okay to have a nice conversation about something random. Depends on the age.

Reminds me of a U23 game I did last summer in blistering heat and humidity. Even before the game everyone looked exhausted. When the captains came for the toss I looked at them and said, "guys....what are we doing here?". They both gave me this look like "end it now". Quietest. Game. EVER.

[Gary V]

For ages like U10 or U12, I might ask, "Do you know how to play this game? Do you know how to have fun?" A couple of yesses, and I say something like, "Good, then you'll have fun and I'll have fun."

Sometimes for the jewelry check I'll enumerate necklaces, wristbands, earrings, other piercings in places I don't want to know about. For little girls I might mention engagement rings and see if that gets a reaction.

For the house league we don't have any formal passcards/roster checks/etc. If they're wearing a team uniform, we assume they're on the team. We don't see a game sheet until the game is over. Of course if #17 scores a goal and there's no #17 to record it by, we'll question the coach.

[campbed]

I'm in the less said the better (with a friendly and approachable demeanor) camp. During check in no matter the age (U-1x through U20 or Mens Amateur) my typical shtick is:
- "Game kit everyone please" Kids - "Huh?", Coach - Game Uniform, Jimmy take off your coat".
- "Please don't knock your shin guards, I can see them just fine" (U-Littles). Typical interpretation of the coach = we have a ref who knows what they are doing. Lasts until first call they disagree with.
- "Mr. X" or "Miss Y" on down the roster. Shows respect for the players at any age. U-Littles love it, makes them feel grown up.
- "Thank you" after they show me their jersey number and (for some reason) bottom of their shoes. Football/Baseball/Metal cleats are self evident.
- "Best of Luck (insert team color here), please send your captains over in a couple minutes".
- the end.

Players/Coaches/Fans get how you will call the game by how you are calling the game.

My 2 cents. Your mileage might vary.

[nsa]

...
I heard one guy telling some U10 girls that he wouldn't allow any running as he was old, tired and fat. The kids got a kick out of that one!
Hey! I wasn't joking when I said that.

Didn't they give us a whistle so that we could slow the game down so we could keep up? ;)


I'm in the less said the better (with a friendly and approachable demeanor) camp.
...
- "Mr. X" or "Miss Y" on down the roster. Shows respect for the players at any age. U-Littles love it, makes them feel grown up.
- "Thank you" after they show me their jersey number and (for some reason) bottom of their shoes. Football/Baseball/Metal cleats are self evident.
- "Best of Luck (insert team color here), please send your captains over in a couple minutes".
- the end.

Players/Coaches/Fans get how you will call the game by how you are calling the game.

My 2 cents. Your mileage might vary.

Agreed. Saying Mister or Miz does show some respect for the players and the occasional mispronunciation is worth it. Most of the time I'll say "Let's have fun." instead of "Best of Luck".

Second half of the season I'll start at the bottom of the roster. Ms. Whatever gets a kick out of being first and Ms. Aardvark usually has a pout by the time I get to her. :D

With the adult amateur teams I'll have them come to me with their ID rather than calling the roster. Then I count the players checked in and on the bench since there's always some that slip in late.

[GKbenji]

Rec or competitive youth:

"Good morning/afternoon, ladies/gentlemen. Everyone have shin guards on? Jewelry off? Okay, I need to make sure you all match the roster, so after I mispronounce your name, please show me your number and step aside." :)

[Ref Flunkie]

Yeah I refuse to do names due to my inability to pronounce anything even remotely close to the name. After years of having my name mis-pronounced, I'm sure I have just been emotionally scarred.

[NHRef]

I don't have a standard schtick, it varies depending on the age, gender, mood they are in, level of game etc. With U little rec I start joking around, asking them to explain the rules to me cause I new to this (usually when I do rec they all know me). I have been known to ask them not to run to fast so I can keep up etc.

Older, jokes usually cut back, U15-18 they just think you're lame if you joke around.

[jayhonk]

NHRef: Older, jokes usually cut back, U15-18 they just think you're lame if you joke around.
I 100% agree. No need to toss away ref points during the coin toss. You don't start with very many in this age bracket. Quick, clean and competent is the way to go here.
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Anybody try to quash the cheering from U-12 and U-13 girls?

You know:
Me: Amy Aardvark. Them: YAAAY!!
Me: Brittany Bluebell. Them: YAAAY!!
repeat 13-17 times.

The first time I encountered this it really bothered me, because it extended time required for a tedious task. So I thought of telling them not to do it next time it happened. I may have done that once, but I decided that was being too much the curmudgeon, and they were just being kids.

[NHRef]

It might get annoying, but its a "coached" thing, so why try and stop it, I just laugh and move on.

[meyers]

Sometimes for the jewelry check I'll enumerate necklaces, wristbands, earrings, other piercings in places I don't want to know about. For little girls I might mention engagement rings and see if that gets a reaction.


I usually say something similar; necklaces, bracelets, earrings, noserings, engagement rings, wedding rings, bellyrings....(usually gets a laugh or a giggle) (haven't as yet had anyone lift their shirt to show me a bellyring)

Usually engages them and gets their attention. Then I can say anything else I need to.

[meyers]

-
- "Thank you" after they show me their jersey number and (for some reason) bottom of their shoes. Football/Baseball/Metal cleats are self evident.


The young ones do try to show their shoes/boots. I usually tell them I don't need to see them. They don't metal cleats in size ?3?.