My strengths and areas for improvement & the pinky bash
My strengths and areas for improvement & the pinky bash
I duplicated what I saw a PL referee do just a few hours later, learned what it's like to not have the AR support I'd prefer and really started nailing down my strengths and weaknesses...
I worked 6 games in 2 tournaments this weekend! (3x B17, 3x B14).
Here’s what I’m taking away…
Saw a Premier League referee do it in the morning and I used it in the afternoon
I was watching the final day of Premier League yesterday morning and saw a referee do a hand motion I’d not seen before.
Two players collided at one point and the referee clearly thought it was shoulder-to-shoulder.
He put both his hands up in front of him, both palms directed towards his face, and put his pinky fingers together a couple times to signify this.
I thought it was a nice gesture and easily gets across what he saw for those who can’t hear him on the field.
I used the same hand motion in an afternoon game and it came across well. Felt right too.
Takeaway: Add the pinky bash it to my toolkit.
Life is harder with green ARs
I was centering a BU14 Memorial Day tournament game yesterday with very green ARs. It was a mentoring event to give new refs some experience and feedback.
I gave a pretty minimal pre-game so as not to overcomplicate things for them and just keep them focused on the basics.
But at the end of the day, the ARs just didn’t do enough to gain my trust or help the officiating team perform up to my standards as a whole.
I’m not writing this to bash new, inexperienced officials. We have a referee shortage and need all the refs we can get!
I guess I mention it to say it made the game harder on me in the middle. I had to cover more ground than I usually would and take even more accountability on my shoulders to protect them.
One game, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. But this happened over 3 games so I was spent at the end.
Takeaway: Value quality ARs when I have them and continue to strive to be the AR who makes the referee’s job easier and helps control the game and players.
I definitely have strengths and weaknesses
I’ve been observed enough times now that I’m really starting to understand my strengths and areas for improvement as a referee.
My strengths are:
Player management
Foul recognition
My areas of improvement are:
Prediction of play
General positioning
I was told by an observer that my positioning and play prediction could use some work.
I totally agreed with him.
At the same time, I also know that I’d worked 3 games the previous day so I wasn’t at 100% when it came to my fitness. This left me a step or two behind where I would be if I’d be rested.
So glad to get the feedback and add to the pattern of what I’ve received before. But I also know if he’d seen me fresh, the feedback would have been better.
Takeaway: Continue to rely on my strengths as a referee because those are what will differentiate me in taking my game to the next level. I also have to improve my weaknesses so that they’re not hindering my progression or ability to be a quality referee.
Know a soccer ref? Feel free to share this with them 💙