Not a good strategy for blowing for full time...

[intechpc]

So I was working a line on a U17B Premier match this weekend. Good game, red dominated possession for most of the game but failed to capitalize on numerous opportunities in front of blue's goal. They've got one player in particular who does a great flip throw and puts throw-in after throw-in into the PA and blue has a hard time handling it but red just can't put it away. Red does finally go up 1-0 early in the second half on what was ultimately a lucky mis-play by blue that allowed the ball to slowly trickle over the line. However, late in the second half red gives up two goals in less than 10 minutes, both times caught sleeping by the blue team.

So we're into stoppage time now, the CR indicates he's adding 2 minutes for an injury we had earlier in the half. As my watch rolls past the two minutes, red has an attack on and I see that the CR is going to allow this to play out. The ball goes long out of play near the corner flag. CR says throw in for red but players start arguing it's a corner for red. CR responds that it's not going to matter anyway :eek:. Oh no, I see what's coming, do you? Coach from blue asks how much time is left, CR just points to the center circle. Oh god, he isn't going to do it is he? Red finally collects the ball and here comes the flip throw. As the ball goes into the air the CR raises his whistle and blows full time just as the ball enters the PA. DOH, he did it and the red team is not happy at all!! A couple of players surround him and as I rush out to help break it up he deftly backs away and red's coach gets his players under control.

First thing I say to him is "You've either got balls of steel or your stupid" to which he laughs. I suggest to him in the future that in a case like that where you know the game is over and that the ensuing throw will be into the PA, just end the match with the ball out of play. Where do referees get the idea that the ball has to be in play to blow full time?? I explain to him how he could have avoided all the trouble by just ending the game when it was truly over. Luckily he's a good guy and took my suggestions to heart and I think he understands now that his course of action may not have been the best.


On the bright side from this weekend I got to use a tactic I've heard about so many times. Running CR on a U14B Premier match earlier in the day and have a coach going nuts about the direction I called for a throw-in. He had already gotten on my nerves at half-time by suggesting that I was allowing more time than appropriate for half out of bias to the other team. Anyway, he's going absolutely nuts so I blow the whistle to hold up the throw and as I approach him I launch with the infamous "Coach do you have an assistant, if so you better start warming him up because you're about to be headed to your car if this continues". He sat down, shut up and put his head down. Didn't hear another peep from him the rest of the match. After the match he apologized for getting caught up in the heat of the moment and said he actually felt the game was very well called. He also thanked me for not sending him packing :D Now I don't endorse using that particular tactic in many cases but this was one time where from previous experience with the coach I knew that not only would he take it well but it would actually be effective (sometimes a little humor helps).

[hradilv]

... just end the match with the ball out of play. Where do referees get the idea that the ball has to be in play to blow full time?? I explain to him how he could have avoided all the trouble by just ending the game when it was truly over.

Absolutely! Why cause trouble? Death wish? Makes no sense...

----------------
Now playing: Grateful Dead - 1974-05-21 Scarlet Begonias (GDRADIO.NET - Streaming Grateful Dead and More!) (http://www.foxytunes.com/artist/grateful+dead/track/1974-05-21++scarlet+begonias)
via FoxyTunes (http://www.foxytunes.com/signatunes/)

[IASocFan]

I've blown several before corner kicks were taken. If my allotted time is up before the kick, it's better to blow before the kick than when it's in the air or in the middle of a goal area scramble. If a team hurries to take the kick, they have a better chance to get it off. Several times I've had teams slowly set up for a corner when they're tied or a goal down and let the first half or game clock run down. **TWEET-TWEET-TWEET**

The rationale for waiting for the ball to get back into play is that if it's 20 yards beyond the goal, you have the players wanting to go get it. If you blow for halftime, who gets the ball? The referee, because all the players rush to the bench!

[FIFARay007]

"Coach do you have an assistant, if so you better start warming him up because you're about to be headed to your car if this continues".

Part of me hopes I never have to use this... yet another part of me hopes I can. ;)

Well played.

[IASocFan]

..."Coach do you have an assistant, if so you better start warming him up because you're about to be headed to your car if this continues". He sat down, shut up and put his head down. Didn't hear another peep from him the rest of the match. ...

Part of me hopes I never have to use this... yet another part of me hopes I can. ;)

Well played.

I had an incident with a U12 a couple of weeks ago, where I thought of this line. Two defenders tentatviely were waiting for the ball to come down, an attacker comes flying through the air and gets to the ball first as he flies into the two defenders. I called the foul coming out and the coach went ballistic, "my player got to it first!" "Yes, but the other players were going straight up, and your player landed on them." More noise! I started walking over to the coach, gave an emphatic safe sign and yelled, "ENOUGH!." My AR, who knows me pretty well hustled up the line to see if he were needed, but the coach made a less audible retort and kept quiet the rest of the game - including afterwards! And I was ready with assistant warming up comment - particularly since he had none.

[Ref Flunkie]

I've blown several before corner kicks were taken. If my allotted time is up before the kick, it's better to blow before the kick than when it's in the air or in the middle of a goal area scramble. If a team hurries to take the kick, they have a better chance to get it off. Several times I've had teams slowly set up for a corner when they're tied or a goal down and let the first half or game clock run down. **TWEET-TWEET-TWEET**

The rationale for waiting for the ball to get back into play is that if it's 20 yards beyond the goal, you have the players wanting to go get it. If you blow for halftime, who gets the ball? The referee, because all the players rush to the bench!

That's why you wait until they get close to the touch line before blowing the whistle...avoids the headache of blowing it after it is in play and avoids you chasing after the ball 20 yards away :).

[intechpc]

Part of me hopes I never have to use this... yet another part of me hopes I can. ;)

Well played.

The one thing I would say is make sure you know who you're saying it to. In this case, I've worked other games with this guy as the coach and I knew he could take it. Say it to the wrong coach, especially someone with connections, and you could be in for a world of hurt. This just happened to be the right situation where I knew I could use that line and have it be effective.

[2wheels]

On the bright side from this weekend I got to use a tactic I've heard about so many times. Running CR on a U14B Premier match earlier in the day and have a coach going nuts about the direction I called for a throw-in. He had already gotten on my nerves at half-time by suggesting that I was allowing more time than appropriate for half out of bias to the other team. Anyway, he's going absolutely nuts so I blow the whistle to hold up the throw and as I approach him I launch with the infamous "Coach do you have an assistant, if so you better start warming him up because you're about to be headed to your car if this continues". He sat down, shut up and put his head down. Didn't hear another peep from him the rest of the match. After the match he apologized for getting caught up in the heat of the moment and said he actually felt the game was very well called. He also thanked me for not sending him packing :D Now I don't endorse using that particular tactic in many cases but this was one time where from previous experience with the coach I knew that not only would he take it well but it would actually be effective (sometimes a little humor helps).

At the risk of changing the thread and a 'me too', I have used a similar, but comparatively dry, statement after the AR had already talked with the coach with audio-visual effects that had also infected the subs when I added 4 minutes in 2nd half of a scoreless end-of-season match:
"Coach, if I do not see improvement in your behaviour, and the bench, I will issue appropriate sanctions for misconduct."

I admire your (i) variation and (ii) use of humour as it most definitely lightens the tone of authority considering that you have already established a rapport.

[MOREFFIN]

Anyway, he's going absolutely nuts so I blow the whistle to hold up the throw and as I approach him I launch with the infamous "Coach do you have an assistant, if so you better start warming him up because you're about to be headed to your car if this continues". .

I used this last winter in an indoor match, in the first 90 - 120 seconds into the game coach (U12 Girls B Division) comes "unglued" about a dangerous play call against them at the top of their PA. I walked over to the bench as he is ranting loudly about that being a bunch of CRAP! Asked which of the two other adults on the bench was his assistant to which he pointed one out. "You might start warming him up, if you don't calm down and get control of yourself, you are going to need him". Then I again explained the play and the call.

"WELL, THAT'S STILL A BUNCH OF CRAP!"

He sat quietly in the bleachers with the rest of the parents for the rest of the game and then apologized to the facility management afterwards.

[MOREFFIN]

First thing I say to him is "You've either got balls of steel or your stupid" to which he laughs. I suggest to him in the future that in a case like that where you know the game is over and that the ensuing throw will be into the PA, just end the match with the ball out of play. Where do referees get the idea that the ball has to be in play to blow full time?? I explain to him how he could have avoided all the trouble by just ending the game when it was truly over. Luckily he's a good guy and took my suggestions to heart and I think he understands now that his course of action may not have been the best.

I too have wondered about this, I have heard many discussions about the game ending on a live vs. dead ball and some of the ensuing conversations with coaches from some high level referees. In the rest of the sports world, time is time, the buzzer goes and that is it. Granted they all stop the clock for injuries and such.

I too agree that allowing a corner kick to proceed simply to blow the whistle immediately after the kick is taken is not only ballsy but you are putting the players at risk for absolutely nothing.

This is a good post and one of the many that I will now carry with me on the pitch as advice.

[davidjd]

A littel twist to the timing of ending a game.....I had an U14 rec match that was very lopsided. 8-0 and it could have been worst. The ball was traveling across the face of the goal about 2 yards out going right to an attacking player. Time was up and I called the game. There was probably some added time in there somewhere, but it was an obvious goal and the losing team had had enough.

The winning coach is upset because the player the ball was going to was the worst kid on the team and it was probably the his only chance to score all season. I had little sympathy.

- Davidjd