Hope for Maple refs

[Fat Bastard]

Today we had young Refs. The Oldest was the Center Official. Maybe a junior or senior in HS.

The side linemen were maybe HS freshman. Was wondering how they would be?

They were great. Called a clean and even game, kept it under control, made sure the subs came in. Didn't make any really questionable calls.

Need more like this.

[Unregistered]

Then again .. you have the game I witnessed yesterday. One of the AR's did not show up and the refree clearly had difficulty making it up and down the field to cover. I've watched this well known referee do plenty of games before but this certainly was not one of his better efforts. Considering he was short an AR, he was well out of position and missed a clear tieing goal late in a 1-0 game. Then he actually ended the game with the losing team on a break away and the ball at roughly the 8. With that in mind I think it is a little premature to praise the overall quality of officiating in MAPLE.

As an aside, who is responsible for ensuring that officials show up? Is it the club or the league? Are there any sanctions i someone doesn't show up?

[Unregistered]

. With that in mind I think it is a little premature to praise the overall quality of officiating in MAPLE.

the post was praising three young refs.........

overall quality??? quality of maple refs is at an all low.....

[Unregistered]

Everyone complains about the ref's but few ever do anything about it. Be sure to thank the ref when they have called a good game. There is a shortage of qualified referee's in the state. Soccer is a fast paced game played between 22 players where a referee is required to make an instant, accurate and fair decision based upon their knowledge of the rules. You will be criticized by sideline parents for missing a call, usually regarding their child. Why not take a course, really learn the rules, get in shape and help out on the field? There are courses scheduled in your area.

http://www.emsoa.org/

Not only will you benefit by a better understanding of the game but you will help reduce the shortage. Still have soccer rule questions?


http://www.askasoccerreferee.com/

Believe it or not, there are occasions where you will be genuinely & sincerely thanked for calling a good match.

[beentheredonethat]

Everyone complains about the ref's but few ever do anything about it. Be sure to thank the ref when they have called a good game. There is a shortage of qualified referee's in the state. Soccer is a fast paced game played between 22 players where a referee is required to make an instant, accurate and fair decision based upon their knowledge of the rules. You will be criticized by sideline parents for missing a call, usually regarding their child. Why not take a course, really learn the rules, get in shape and help out on the field? There are courses scheduled in your area.

http://www.emsoa.org/

Not only will you benefit by a better understanding of the game but you will help reduce the shortage. Still have soccer rule questions?


http://www.askasoccerreferee.com/

Believe it or not, there are occasions where you will be genuinely & sincerely thanked for calling a good match.

The bottom line on the amount of available officials is economics. A soccer official really can't make the same type of money officials in other sports do. I know basketball refs that make $500-600 on a good weekend. The pot has to be sweetened in order to get more people into the officiating ranks.

[Beachbum]

Everyone complains about the ref's but few ever do anything about it. Be sure to thank the ref when they have called a good game. There is a shortage of qualified referee's in the state. Soccer is a fast paced game played between 22 players where a referee is required to make an instant, accurate and fair decision based upon their knowledge of the rules. You will be criticized by sideline parents for missing a call, usually regarding their child. Why not take a course, really learn the rules, get in shape and help out on the field? There are courses scheduled in your area.

http://www.emsoa.org/

Not only will you benefit by a better understanding of the game but you will help reduce the shortage. Still have soccer rule questions?


http://www.askasoccerreferee.com/

Believe it or not, there are occasions where you will be genuinely & sincerely thanked for calling a good match.

Can I add my take on this ...

If you are a coach ... at ANY level ... Take the Grade 8 course. You will really have your eyes opened on what you "thought" the rules of the game were. Even if you never use the Lisc, you will be a better coach, instructor and example to your players and peers in your organization. But if you want to REALLY get it..I am talking "into the light", clouds parting, defining moment.... GET IT...

Go referee a few games after that ... Try to be an A/R watching a group of players on your side for elbowing, shirt grabbing , etc .... while still watching the line to be sure to call an accurate offside ...Oh, and don't forget to watch the ball carefully to be sure you know who it grazed so you can call the throw-in correctly. All at once too....

Oh yeah...BTW you will be running a good amount of the time while doing all this. And may god have mercy on your soul if you screw up,

No pressure though....

Then, if you get the short straw, you can be the center. you will have to look through a mass of bodies and legs and to be sure you see everything that a clear viewed parent or coach see's ... in front of you, behind and to your sides.

Remember though, no one will sub you out and doing 3-4 games a day is a normal workload so be sure to bring some Advil ... for before , during and after the game.

I used to get so frustrated with the referees and was amazed they could not see what was going on... then I got my Lisc

I am REAL quite now. If I see something I may quietly go to the referee's and 1/2 time or end of game but try very hard to muzzle myself as I pace either sideline as a coach or spectator.

My goal in getting a Lisc was that as a coach, if I was going to continue to coach and question plays i had better have a damn good knowledge base for what the hell I was talking about...

But that was only 1/2 the issue and I see that much better now. It is not just really understanding the rules of the game, it is having 1st hand experience trying to handle a game either as a center or an AR.

I have met and gotten to know a number of referees and I can tell you without a doubt that money is rarely the motivator for these men and woman. They have a real love for the game and a desire to be part of it on a youth level and feel this is where they can do that (instead of coaching for whatever reason).

Complain all you want but until you get your bootie out there and try in yourself you should not complain.

And yes, every once in a while when you see a referee call a good match thank him for it.

He may show up again next week and not quit out of frustration....

[beentheredonethat]

One major complaint that I have regarding the officiating in MAPLE is the sort situation that the second poster cited. Games going off without a full set of officials. I actually think that poster was writing about my daughter's game last weekend. The game was materially effected by the absence of an AR. There was a clear goal that was not recognized because the referee was well behind the play and one would hope just couldn't see it. Had the AR been present there is no question in my mind that the game would have at least ended in a tie. Bad calls happen in every sport but if you are playing in what is supposed to be a "premier" level league you should have the right to expect the proper number of officials at a game. No game should be decided because of administrative glitches.

[Unregistered]

All good points.

Further evidence that there isn't much "premier" in MAPLE.

[Beachbum]

No game should be decided because of administrative glitches.

This is an assumption on your part. With the illnesses going around, I know my phone has been ringing each of the past 3 weekends asking if I can fill in for a sick official.

It does beg the question though. Did MAPLE go to 8 v 8 for U-11 (and soon U-12) so they could free up more officials on Sunday or because they finally got it is better for long term development ?

OK, that was cynical.....

[beentheredonethat]

This is an assumption on your part. With the illnesses going around, I know my phone has been ringing each of the past 3 weekends asking if I can fill in for a sick official.

It does beg the question though. Did MAPLE go to 8 v 8 for U-11 (and soon U-12) so they could free up more officials on Sunday or because they finally got it is better for long term development ?

OK, that was cynical.....

I believe that my daughter's team has played games short an AR on more than one weekend this season. It's not a matter of the flu bug hitting. This is where I come back to the economics involved. The pool of officials should not be so thin that it can't handle an illness or two. You have to make it worth a person's time. These type of problems are telling you that it is not.

[Unregistered]

One major complaint that I have regarding the officiating in MAPLE is the sort situation that the second poster cited. Games going off without a full set of officials. I actually think that poster was writing about my daughter's game last weekend. The game was materially effected by the absence of an AR. There was a clear goal that was not recognized because the referee was well behind the play and one would hope just couldn't see it. Had the AR been present there is no question in my mind that the game would have at least ended in a tie. Bad calls happen in every sport but if you are playing in what is supposed to be a "premier" level league you should have the right to expect the proper number of officials at a game. No game should be decided because of administrative glitches.

Stop spending your money on the god clubs and devote it to the league itself.

[Unregistered]

Stop spending your money on the god clubs and devote it to the league itself.

Boy .. that's intelligent!!

[Unregistered]

Which are the "god" clubs? Do they all employ an almighty Director of Coaching? How do us great unwashed find such nirvana? It's all about the kids, and by gosh, I want mine to achieve an enlightened soccer state. So help me....(fill in the most god-like soccer figure here!)

[Unregistered]

The problem is too many games and not enough refs. There are good refs and some truly god-awful ones. Some so bad they should not officiate u10 town games.

It's not surprising that young refs can be good. They actually play the game, are fit and have had recent ref training. The problem is most will be off to college or turned off by rude coaches and spectators.

[Unregistered]

Anybody been watching the World Series. Its so bad that they aren't even showing the replays of pitches. Humans make mistakes. I watch EPL games on TV and refs blow calls. They are kids playing on the field who typically forget about the game long before the parents do. Quit bitchin and enjoy the game. You'll miss it when your kids go off to college and you can't watch them anymore.