Who's happy for the winter break?

[Ref Flunkie]

For those that do not have the good luck to live in a climate where there is no winter, are other referees as happy as I am that soccer season is almost over for the next 5 months? Usually by this time of the year I've had my fill of annoying parents, coaches, and players and look forward to the break. Granted I will miss the $$ associated with refereeing, but I find an offseason to be refreshing.

[GKbenji]

Winter, Schminter. League and HS play here will still be going until mid-November, and pre-season tourneys and friendlies start up again in February. The real downside is that it overlaps with the indoor season, which starts at the end of October and lasts until April!

A sticker seen on soccer vehicles around here: "Soccer: The Never Ending Season." :)

[IASocFan]

I really enjoy the fall, and it's over too quickly. However, indoor starts in November after the outdoor season ends in late October. Fall's not nearly as hectic for me, because high school is in the spring. I generally have about 4 or 5 days of soccer during the spring. So summer's usually my down period.

Except for Iowa games and a few other events.

[Ref Flunkie]

Yeah I don't do indoor (probably should). I stayed busy through the summer with men's league games, so I haven't had a break since last March. Really, it's too cold here to do anything outdoors until March, so I have quite a break.

[Englishref]

Winter break? I should be so lucky! Nope, I'll be out in the freezing cold, sub-zero temperatures, pooring rain, muddy pitches... :(

Although I don't know how you cope with refereeing in the summer with the temperatures you get! :eek:

[HoldenMan]

In australia high level soccer, including pro soccer (the National Soccer League) is played from around November to Feb/March I think (don't forget - that's summer down here!), with the other local comps being played over winter (around march - end of september). As the winter here is comparitively mild it's not an issue - although I feel sorry for the referees in the colder parts of the country!


But by the end of the season I've usually had enough myself (Made worse by the fact that there was not a single washout this season so I didn't have any weekends off) and I'm grateful for the break, but by the end of the offseason I'm usually having withdrawels from refereeing!

[Crowdie]

What break?

Our club season promotion/relegation matches have just finished and the national leagues are just about to start. The club players are now starting seven a side leagues while the national leagues are on. The national referees acadamies (training camps) are also on in December. The national youth league (U19) starts in January so that will keep me amused until the club season starts again in March.

I am getting burnout and I am not an extremely overpaid European. What is the story?

[Ref Flunkie]

But by the end of the season I've usually had enough myself (Made worse by the fact that there was not a single washout this season so I didn't have any weekends off) and I'm grateful for the break, but by the end of the offseason I'm usually having withdrawels from refereeing!


Yup I'm exactly the same...that is until I actually DO my first game of the season...then the reason I needed the break becomes clear again.

[ArgylleRef]

I've got two more weeks of high school, then a few tournaments I'll travel to in warmer climes.

But to answer the title of the thread, two words....

MY WIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!