Logged a goal prematurely, overlooked stakes of a match & another REFSIX mistake
Logged a goal prematurely, overlooked stakes of a match & another REFSIX mistake
I'm continuing to be a sponge during every match I work, especially the higher-stakes and semi-pro games. Lots of learnings in today's post!
I AR’d a semi-pro UPSL game last night. It was a lively game that ended 3-2 and was a ton of fun.
Here’s what I’ll be taking away…
1. Know the stakes of the game
Before the game, I did look up where both teams were in the standing. The league has 12 teams: one was in 4th and one was in 8th.
When we were doing our pre-game, the other AR mentioned that if the 4th place team won, they’d jump up to 2nd place in the league.
Takeaway: I’m not sure why I didn’t consider looking at what a win, draw and loss would do for both teams in the standings. I honestly just overlooked it. In the future, I’ll need to know this information so our officiating team can understand exactly what’s at stake for both teams.
2. Be aware of the level when it comes to the ball being out of play
We had a pretty experienced 4th Official with us.’
He saw one ball I called out of play and at halftime told me the ball hadn’t gone fully out of play.
I understand the ball has to be completely across the boundary line to be out of play. But because I’m inexperienced working at this level, I’m not as familiar with just how much skill the players have to keep the ball in play.
Takeaway: Be a little more patient before calling a ball out of play. At the semi-pro level, they can save a ball that younger, less experienced players can.
3. Don’t log goals until I’m 100% sure they stand
The game last night got pretty intense and was 3-2 in the 75th minute or so.
The winning team put a cross in the box in and a player scored with a diving header on the far end of the field from me.
The players all went in for a massive celebration and I went to record the goal in REFSIX.
When I looked up from my watch, the ball was flying through the air and players were all running towards it. Wait…what?
I raced back to my offside line and was lucky not to be out of position for a CMI.
We discussed this after the game and the player who scored was simply offside.
Takeaways:
Only log goals when I’m 100% sure the goal was legitimately scored.
Don’t let massive and loud celebrations make me lose my focus on what I need to assess at that time; was or wasn’t the goal allowed.
4. Chasing balls all the way to the goal line
I’ve learned pretty well how to move all the way to the goal line whenever possible to spot if a ball goes out of bounds, signal for a goal kick, etc.
I was told that when a shot is hit hard from outside the penalty box and it’s clear to everyone it’s a goal kick, I should jog to the goal line to signal for it.
This gives all the officials a little breather and is something certain observers want us to do.
Takeaway: Even if the call is clear to everybody, move to the goal line. Do everything the right way, especially the little things.
5. Remember to end REFSIX after 1st half, halftime and end of game
Whoops!
Takeaway: Always end the half/match in REFSIX after running to the referee at the ends of each half. At least I’m getting better with my R6 goofs!
Know a soccer ref? Feel free to share this with them 💙