Yeah, when I coached 10U (down to 7 v 7 and slightly smaller PA, but still BOL), it occurred to me that the best tactic on a CK would be to simply kick the ball over the goal line for a GK. But I had this silly idea that I was supposed to be teaching them how to play and enjoy the game, not trying to game the system. While I initially was a bit skeptical about how the BOL would play out, I think it did a lot to improve those young games.
Tonight I joined the ranks of the true center circle referees. Had back to back solo HS games, JV boys followed by 10th grade girls both between two of the larger schools in the state. Ran my butt off in the boys game, no real issues not even very tired. About 18 minutes into the girls game there is a counter and I take of running and both calves decided to cramp up at the same time. Ugh. Managed to stay on my feet but didn't move at anything more than a moderate walk for the rest of the game. Fortunately the teams were playing clean, the turf field contributed to the ball going out of play frequently, they subbed a lot, and the lines were straight and visible. I did get caught far from play a couple times, once right after a dropped ball at the top of the PA, but otherwise I got away with not running at all for the last hour of the game. Not that I want to do that again mind you. I'm just glad the boys game was first.
In true MBB style, the preseason referee meeting is being held at a bar. "[The bar] will extend Happy Hour thru our meeting on drinks and grub"
Wasn't there some study once that said throw-ins go to the opponents within 10 seconds 60% of the time?
Indeed. That's where the managers' meetings and referee meetings for our largest men's league are always held, especially since one of the players in the league owns the bar.
This from the MLS 2018 season https://www.americansocceranalysis.com/home/2018/11/27/game-of-throw-ins "A successful throw-in is one that “goes to a teammate directly without a touch from an opposition player”. This doesn’t mean that the team retains possession from a throw-in, just that the thrower hit one of his or her teammates with the throw. While a successful throw-in is generally a good thing and occurs 81% of the time, if a throw-in is too hard, to the head, or to a player under pressure it may not be retained by the throwing team. I looked seven seconds after the throw-in was taken to see if there were any possession changes. If the team kept possession for these seven seconds, the throw-in was retained, which occurred for 60% of throw-ins. The choice of seven seconds was somewhat arbitrary, but watching some video leads me to believe that this is in the right ballpark. Thus there are four types of throw-in results: Successful with possession retained (51% of throw-ins) Unsuccessful with possession retained (9% of throw-ins) Successful with possession lost (30% of throw-ins) Unsuccessful with possession lost (10% of throw-ins)" I know I read somewhere the average number of touches in MLS after a throw-in until the opponents gain possession, but I can't seem to find it. IIRC, it was less than ten.
New accomplishment today. I got further downfield as the trail in a dual than my partner. Granted it was his third year doing it, so I cut him some slack! He didn’t have a clue
not a "best," but it was a first for me - video review used in a game I was on. I've done a dozen or so where the technology was present, but this was the first time we've had to go to the monitor. It was interesting to hear the center call out the instructions to the video person to find the incident and hear him talk to us about what he was seeing on the video while we monitored the players on the field. (Nothing came of the review)
Not so best story. Actually, a first time dismissing an AR. I worked some games back in my home city, which is notorious for warm weather. I was working with an AR who I guess the weekend prior had some type of extreme heat exhaustion (said he stopped sweating and that he had to be escorted off the field with blurred vision). This match was a men's college match. Both smaller size colleges, predominantly ethnic squads, so I was anticipating a fast match. When he told me this info I was a bit concerned, but he warmed up and seemed generally fine. First 10 mins I could tell something was wrong. His movement was slower than usual (he is late 60s and not in very good shape). During the 1st water break he was saying he had trouble breathing, so I asked the other officials from the first match to hang around. Got him some water and wet rag to Cool him down. He took a couple puffs of his inhaler and seemed better (thinking it was his asthma). Continued the match and didn't notice much because the game was starting to get heated. During the second water break I noticed he was still struggling for air and was hunched on his knees. I told the other referees who hung around to get ready. But he was adamant he finish. Needless to say he cooled off some more and caught his breath and continued. 5 mins after the 2nd water break (around min 35-40) I noticed he was walking odd and seemed disorientated. I halt the match immediately, (to the bewildered players) walk over, beckon for the training staff, and dismiss the AR telling him that if he doesn't get into the shade, I am abandoning the match. He reluctantly agrees. It was close enough to the halftime both teams agreed to get off the field (Law 18 doh.). During the halftime the trainers check him out and agree it was a good decision to get him off the field. He's generally responsive and seems to be in good spirits even though he is mad he had to leave. We continue the match with our substitute assistant referee (who was also monitoring the AR). At the end of the game I offer to give him a ride home and he declines, feeling much better after some sliced apples I gave him, a clif bar and some water / sports drink that the training staff gave him we all depart. The next day I happen to run into the substituted AR, he mentions "check this out, I text AR1 from yesterday, asking if he was feeling better and that he had us all worried!" he responds saying "my wife admitted me to the hospital last night, my blood pressure was 80/48, and my kidneys may have started shutting down!" In hindsight this AR had no business on the field especially after the heat exhaustion prior. I wish I would've gotten him off earlier but he was adamant and what do I know, im just some dumb referee. (LoL) Crazy to think he could've died.
Wow....that’s a tad scary. Had a match once where I was an AR and the referee started wandering about, and using Lacrosse signals. It had been over 90 with intense humidity. We got him out of there late first half. It was a tournament so there were EMT’s present. Still scary. I USED to be a long distance cyclist. On one of my first ever century rides, I rode the first 40 miles or so at a ridiculous pace. I do not remember the last 30 miles at all. The new wet bulb technology we use in HS works. Live to play and ref another day, except for the pointyball guys. You have to drag them off the field!
We've had a couple of scares like that. One ref managed to pull over to the side of the road before he blacked out on the way home. We had another who called up to ask if he had worked his third game because he couldn't remember. He had. It's only getting worse for us since we use lots of plastic fields that up the heat levels dramatically. We've had 4:30 games with field temps above 110. Water breaks every 10 minutes only go so far in helping deal with that.
It's really tough admitting you're not well when you're trying to do your day of work. We've all been dehydrated, injured, or just not in the right head space when we've gone to do a game sometimes. It can't be emphasized enough, first comes you and your well being, then your teammates, then the players, then the coaches, etc. First responders make sure they are safe before trying to save others.
You talking about turf fields, right? Cause i have 3 turf games in a row this Sunday as my 5-7th matches ever as an AR. I've heard stories of shoes's bottoms melting... yikes
Did someone just put a soapbox down for me to stand on and spruik? (Yes it's a word) The turf field, the plastic fantastic savior of maintenance woes the world over. They don't produce oxygen They don't absorb CO2 They harbor and house bacteria. The kind that requires antiseptic spray. Statistically cause more injuries than playing on grass. Hotter than freeway asphalt They need to be "washed" rather than watered. Yet we (as a society) are told they are greatest thing since sliced bread. Which begs the obvious question. What was the greatest thing before bread came pre-sliced. So...No...not a fan of the plastic stuff.
While I agree with everything negative said about turf fields, the critical advantage they have is resilience. Grass (especially when it gets wet) simply can’t handle the work load. I think it is indisputable that a good grass field is better (and I’d say a lot better) than a good turf field. But that’s not the choice most places have. They have the choice of a decent turf field that they can play a lot of games on, or a crappy dirt and grass field that they can play fewer games on. So in places with limited field spaces, it’s a necessary evil.