NM Soccer Referees

NM Referee Orion Stradford heads to El Paso for PDL match

2011-05-23T12:37:00.004-06:00

On Saturday, May 21st, I went to El Paso, TX to center my first PDL match. The game went really well without any issues or major problems. The game was between the Chivas El Paso Patriots vs. the Baton Rouge Capitals. It was an exciting contest from start to finish, with the Chivas able to secure a spot in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open cup with a victory. The fun started early, as I called a PK for Baton Rouge in the 18th minute. The PK was saved and on the restart from the goalkeeper, El Paso went down the other way and was able to score less than a minute later! The rest of the match went very smoothly, I only had to issue 2 cautions to Chivas and 1 to the Capitals, all late on in the game. The final was 1-0 for the Chivas.

Here's a photo of the crew:

RTS 2011

2011-04-16T18:21:00.000-06:00

Orion and I are in Dallas for the Regional Training Seminar, a two day training session for Professional Referees put on by US Soccer. Yesterday we had training from US Soccer staff with a heavy focus on the MLS Points of Emphasis and video analysis.

This morning we had to complete the fitness test which includes 6x40 meter springs and the interval distance test (12 laps of 150 meter intervals with 50 meter recovery). After the test we returned to the classroom for more instruction and video analysis. We finished the day off with a review of the FIFA AR test (hint, if you don't know the answer always guess that it's not an offside infraction). The rule of thumb for AR's now is if you are not completely sure, keep the flag down.

Both of us passed the fitness test (and the AR test, but that doesn't matter) so we'll be eligible for PDL games this summer. Four other NM Referees arrived today for the Dallas Cup tournament (Santos Toquinto, Oscar Toquinto, Mark Merritt and Steve Schafer).

More updates to come...

Mentoring

2011-03-21T12:45:00.000-06:00

Spring is definitely upon us (sneezing, wind and soccer). If you have been working games this year you probably have noticed some new people around. There were several new referee courses at the beginning of the year and many of those referees are out doing games now. Do you remember what it was like being new? Ever wonder why you stuck around?

More than likely if you have refereed for a number of years you have been mentored by at least one referee. Think about giving back to our new referees by helping out with mentoring. If you have the time, feel free to ask your assignor where you can help out. Also, Bob Croft is always interested in having mentors for youth referees.

Let us know if you have any questions.

Comments

2011-02-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

I always appreciate and encourage people to comment on the articles posted on here. It's a great opportunity to start a discussion or add clarification. All I ask is that you are respectful of your peers.

Some people misuse the comments section, thinking they are speaking on the condition of anonymity. People forget that administrators have access to more information than the average user and "anonymity" is difficult to attain. More importantly, snide comments on a blog might be a good way to blow off steam but they do nothing to solve any issues.

If you really have an issue that needs to be addressed please bring it to the attention of a member of the SRC instead of cravenly posting comments on this blog. If you lack the intrepidity to bring up the matter in a constructive manner, I think it's best to just let it go.

Thank you.

ODP Championships 2011

2011-01-30T18:03:00.001-07:00

A group of nine New Mexico referees represented our State at the 2011 Region IV Olympic Development Program Championships held January 15-18 in Phoenix, Arizona. These good folks all missed two days of work to participate in this event, which indicates their commitment to our referee community and the service of youth soccer. Many thanks to each for contributing so much to the effort.

All of our referees performed well at these matches. The days were fairly long, with each referee covering three games per day, usually a center, a line and a 4th official, followed by meetings in the evening. CJ Merrit had even longer days because as a member of the Region IV Referee Academy he had homework to complete, in addition to the meetings.

One issue that surfaced concerned the fact that not enough time was allowed to complete matches and allow teams to enter and exit the fields in an orderly fashion. Consequently, there was much rushing about before matches, checking in teams off the field, doing coin tosses, followed by much congestion as teams tripped over each other coming and going, etc. 4th Officials had to work extra hard at these moments.

Again, thanks to the officials who traveled to this event.

~ Bob Croft, SYRA

SYRA Change

2011-01-24T11:03:00.000-07:00

It's been official for a little bit now so I figured I should update this blog, too. Bob Croft was kind enough to take over the SYRA position after I stepped down at the end of 2010. I've been doing the SYRA gig for a little while now and although it was a lot of work at times I really enjoyed myself. I think it's time to move on and I know Bob will continue to move the program in the right direction.

You'll of course continue to see me around and feel free to continue to reach out to me. All I ask is that you give Bob the respect that you have shown me over the years.

There will be a few changes to the blog and the newsletter as we transition Bob into his new role. Bob and I are working closely together to ensure the transition is a smooth one.

Keep an eye out for the first newsletter edition of 2011 with some pictures from the recent ODP tournament.

Recertification Opportunity

2010-12-06T19:53:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed that it's December already? If you still have a badge that says 2010 you need to recertify if you want to do games next year. The next opportunity is Saturday December 11 from 12-5pm at CNM Brasher Hall. See the NMSRA website for more details or click here.

Also, if you need to complete your fitness test you can do so on Sunday December 12 at 8:30am. Meet at the Highland High School track and be ready to run at 8:30am sharp.

NBA Referees

2010-11-01T09:31:00.000-06:00

I know, it's the wrong sport, but we can learn a lot from other referees (even if they get to stay warm while we freeze out in the cold).

ESPN recently took a look at some changes in the NBA referee program. I found it interesting to hear how they face similar challenges to us; how to call the game, balancing "flow" against calling fouls and the process of assessment. You can watch the video below and read the article by clicking here.

WIR #18

2010-08-09T11:46:00.000-06:00

US Soccer has put out the Week in Review for Week 18, which you can read here. There was a section on there that reminded me of a discussion had at the Annual Clinic this past weekend.

The article centers around three classifications of fouls: Careless, Reckless and Excessive Force. We should all be familiar with what these teams mean and the criteria used to decide if a foul is careless, reckless or used excessive force. But we need to do more than just understand the criteria.

You start by understanding these terms, watching video or live games to get a "feel" for what separates the categories and then practice on the pitch. But when you're in the game, three more things come into play: feel for the game, proper positioning and seeking assistance.

Feel for the game is tough to learn right away. It comes from experience, both as a referee and at that level of game. Proper positioning is also not something you can do overnight. You have to work on fitness, have experience to read the game/players and, quite frankly, sometimes you just have to be lucky. The final piece of the puzzle is quick to implement, though: Seeking assistance.

The referee crew has to work together on classifying a foul. Soccer is a game of angles, so what you see might be completely different from what your AR saw. Sometimes you have to get a card out quickly for game control, yes, but you still need to make eye contact with your AR beforehand. Giving a yellow card (or no card) when it is clearly a send-off could be considered missing a game critical incident.

I know that I've had to work on making eye contact before pulling the card out quickly. Also, as an AR we need to work on ensuring our feedback gets to the referee. Even if they decide to ignore us, we must make sure they understand that we are asking for misconduct.

Running Group 8/04/2010

2010-08-03T12:31:00.000-06:00

NMSRA Running Group will meet this Wednesday August 4 at ADO Field #1. Please meet there by 6:00pm.

Don't forget the fitness test is this Sunday!

View Larger Map

Anchor Goals

2010-08-02T11:09:00.001-06:00

Have you ever checked a goal to find that is not anchored properly? We always check the goal nets for holes, but do you always check that the goal itself is secure? After watching this video, I know I will definitely pay more attention to this.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=2896814n

Note: Never assume that the crew before yours checked the field properly. Things unrelated to player safety (boundary lines, etc) aren't a big deal, but anything that could endanger the safety of players MUST be corrected before the game begins.

High School Information

2010-07-30T11:00:00.002-06:00

Attention: Important information has changed. Carefully go over this document again!

This information is for referees registered for HS and comes from Jeff Eschenburg and Mark Merritt. If you have questions, please email Jeff or Mark.

High School season is just around the corner; unless you are a new referee you should already have paid your dues to NMAA. If you have not, please do so immediately if you plan on getting games! There is a lot of important information in this post so please read it carefully.

Finishing reading "High School Information"

Website
The High School website can be access by clicking here. You will find a lot of valuable information on there, including announcements, maps to the fields (don't rely on Google maps to get you to a game!), policies and important dates. All regions have been invited to have their own section on the website but so far only the NE and Central regions are taking advantage of this.

Exam
***UPDATED***
~~The NFHS exam will again be online. Please use this~~ ~~link~~ ~~to take the test when the date is announced.~~

NFHS Officials will now see two additional groups on their Arbiter login page:

Newe Mexico Central hub
NFHS Main

You will need to log into the New Mexico Central Hub with the normal username/password and select "Testing" from the menu. Referees have until September 15 to complete the test and you have one allowable attempt at it. We're not sure if that means one and done, or if you get another try if you fail. Try not to test that theory out and just pass the first time.

On the NFHS Main site you can select the soccer icon on the right side and find rules and other resources on the left hand pane. Please review this info before taking the test.

Any questions on the test go to NMAA.

Payment/Forms/Etc
Please make sure that all of your information is correct on Arbiter, as this effects your timely payment for games. You must complete a new W9/Contract, which can be found in the file cabinet on the website. Central region referees must be current ASRA members to get assignments.

Important Dates
The Central clinic will be held during the ASRA meeting for August (08/10/2010) at 7:00pm. If you are new HS referee this year you must attend a clinic on the Dual System of Control. Haven't done that yet? Well, you only have one more opportunity: Los Lunas HS August 14th, 8:30am and 11:30am slots. Please contact Jeff for information (also an opportunity to be observed in the middle for higher level assignments).

There will be continuing training throughout the season. Of the available sessions you must attend at least six; the District Clinic will count as two sessions towards the total of six required. There are HS meetings on Monday August 30, September 27 and October 18; ASRA meetings also count towards your total (Second Tuesday in September, October and November).

Again, if you have any questions about the above information please reach out to Jeff or Mark. Although I've done my best to ensure this information is accurate, you are responsible for ensuring you meet the requirements to maintain your certification and eligibility for the state tournament.

On And Off The Pitch

2010-07-22T12:54:00.000-06:00

On And Off The Pitch:

Watch what you do

We talk a lot about how to conduct yourself when showing up to the fields, during the game, at tournaments, on travel or when you see teams/coaches away from the fields. We talk about these things because our competency as a referee is being scrutinized from the first moment teams and coaches see us and, therefore, the impression we give is vital to our success.

This concept is true even when at home.

A quick Google search will lead you to thousands of stories of employees being punished for content on popular social-networking websites. Many will argue that it’s unfair for them to be held accountable for things that, perhaps, weren’t posted with their permission. Or, they say, what they do on their own time has no bearing on their performance at work. These are valid points but it all comes down to one issue:

Perception.

We of course have the right to have fun away from refereeing. Clearly no one can say that because you referee soccer you can’t have a night out on the town. But remember that regardless of whether you feel it is fair or not, information posted on social networking sites often is out on the public domain for all to see. People (coaches, players, administrators, assignors, fellow referees) will most certainly come across this information and make assumptions about you based on what they see.

I always tell people to assume that whatever you post on a social networking site is public domain, that everyone you know will eventually see it. Adjust your privacy settings to ensure that you limit what can be seen by other people. And finally, use common sense when you post things. Not only can it impact your refereeing career; but it can also have negative effect on your normal career as many employers scan social networking sites as part of their hiring screening.

Ultimately no one can tell you not to post things on your website. Free speech is a wonderful right we enjoy, just don’t have it come back to haunt you. Just be smart!

Patriot Games

2010-07-22T10:14:00.001-06:00

Orion Stradford talks about his travel to El Paso, TX to do PDL games. Bob Croft and Kris Grano also traveled to cover these matches.

On July 8th and July 16th I was assigned to work on PDL games in El Paso between the Chivas-Patriots and the Dallas-Ft Worth Tornadoes and the Chivas-Patroits vs the West TX Utd Sockers. The PDL is considered the bottom division of the professional ranks of US Soccer, and is a developmental league for MLS scouts to find players. Although most of these players are not paid, the atmosphere of the games is of a professional caliber. The expectations of the referees are also to perform at a professional level.

In the games that we did, we arrived two hours before kickoff to inspect the field and meet with the referee liason. In the pregame conference with the referee, much of the topics covered were reviewing the USSF Directives, and discussing how to handle key players. In our warm up for the game, we did an organized warm up together for 20 minutes. At both games, the center referee had requested that we all wear matching black shirts to show teamwork.

During the games, I did notice a high level of play and that our our discussion over the Directives was very important, as these games had many incidents that related to them. I had to draw on my knowledge of AR involvement, injury management, and mass confrontation.

In both games we were assessed. The assessors at this level do not miss anything. Everything that happens in the games are open for discussion afterwards. Each correct or incorrect decision is dissected and brought up and talked about.

Overall the experience of doing these games was very rewarding and I hope for more opportunities to do games at that level.

Orion Stradford

Fitness: Are you ready?

2010-07-19T09:24:00.000-06:00

Many of us have been staying active during the "off" season this summer. Remember, just doing a few Coed games doesn't really count as staying in shape. The fitness test is just around the corner!

More importantly than the fitness test is the fact that HS and other games are starting up soon, too. If we train just to barely pass the fitness test we are doing a disservice to the game. The players deserve our very best effort; if we're out of breath twenty minutes into the match we're not going to be making very good decisions.

Now is the time to get out there and put some miles in so we're ready! Until this heat wave settles out I would suggest getting your workout done indoors or early morning/late afternoon or even evening.

FWR Photos

2010-06-29T15:45:00.000-06:00

Once again a big thank you to all the volunteers that made this possible. Our referees performed extremely well; five of them received assignments on Championship matches! We should be very proud of our referees. If you would like to attend FWR next year make sure to stay tuned as information goes out around December or January. Remember that final selections are usually made in late April so you want to get started on it early.

NM Referees on Championship Games

Santos Toquinto - Oscar Toquinto - Kris Grano - Christian Sanchez - Orion Stradford

FWR 2010

2010-06-28T08:04:00.000-06:00

The tournament is over and, while the newly crowned champions are still catching their breath, the many volunteers who made the tournament possible are breathing a sigh of relief.

A big thank you goes out to everyone who volunteered! We had people hauling water, refereeing games, babysitting the fans and mowing fields late into the night. Everyone who helped was vital to the overall success.

Stay tuned for some more updates once I have time to get pictures uploaded from the tournament.

NMSRA Group Run

2010-06-06T16:29:00.000-06:00

This week's group run will be at the Merritt residence, located here. We will be running at 6:00pm and then have dinner afterward. If you would like to eat please bring $10 to help defray the cost of food.

It is very important for FWR Referees in Albuquerque to make an effort to attend this run.

See you there!

Terry Vaughn: The 4th Official

2010-06-05T08:28:00.000-06:00

Being a 4th Official is not an easy job. This is especially true for those of us in New Mexico, since we don't have the opportunity to practice the position very often. Referees going to FWR should pay special attention to this but it is helpful to everyone. If you have any inspiration to move up in the world of refereeing you'll need to master the role of 4th Official.

Terry Vaughn on 4th Official

Thanks to Steve Schafer for calling attention to this article...

Off the Pitch

2010-06-05T08:15:00.000-06:00

Off the Pitch
Steve Schafer, DRA-East

Road warriors, listen up. This one is for you. In our office we had one guy retire, another guy left the company, and another guy decided to have a baby (his wife anyway). Suddenly, we had fewer people covering meetings. I ended up traveling 5 weeks in a row during March and April. Traveling for work makes it much more difficult to maintain fitness for weekend refereeing. The following are some of the workout strategies that I use when I’m on travel.

First, I try to fly out later in the morning or afternoon. That way, I can get in a workout, in familiar territory, before I leave town. Second, I research hotel locations that are workout friendly. I repeat at hotels that I have stayed at previously and already have figured out a good running route or workout routine. Some hotels have relationships with local gyms that can expand your workout options over the little workout room at the hotel. Finally, a lot of my meetings are on military bases which have really nice gyms on base that are available for use.

A big challenge while on travel is keeping in good habits. Making yourself get up early and workout is hard when you don’t get a goodnights sleep in the unfamiliar hotel bed. Working out when you get back to the hotel at the end of the day is harder than going to the free happy hour. You can do little things too while on travel. I try to take stairs as much as possible rather than elevators. I also have done walking tours of many airports rather than sitting waiting for connections.

Thanks for listening. See you on the pitch.

Schafer

State Cup 2010 Pictures

2010-06-03T18:55:00.000-06:00

Pictures from State Cup are posted, feel free to take a look by clicking here.

I tried my best to get pictures of as many people as possible. However, since I also had games to do I'm sure I've missed a few people. Everyone should be proud of our performance during the tournament. A big thank you goes out to the following people:

Sonny Singh (mentor)
Bob Linebaugh (mentor)
Paul Quan (extraordinaire)
Craig Vencill (filmed championships)
Gary Webster (mentor)

Please email me if you would like a high quality version of your picture.

Week in Review: Week 9

2010-06-02T10:56:00.000-06:00

The latest publication of Week in Review is available on US Soccer's website, or by clicking below:

Week in Review

A lot of discussion has come up lately related to situations at State Cup and other summer tournaments. One of the critical elements of being a successful referee is to become a student of the game. There are constant changes at play in how the Laws of the Game are applied and we must adapt by staying current on the updates and applying them to our matches. Week in Review is just one way we can stay on top of it all.

Do not think that you can rely solely on your instructors or assessors to convey this information to you. First of all, we don't have enough time to cover every item during the recertification clinics. Second, consider the fact that its "too late" if the assessor is having to remind you of a change in application during your post-game debrief.

If you feel like you need clarification on anything mentioned in WIR articles please don't hesitate to ask. Frank Serianni can take requests if you feel that a subject would be good to review at an ASRA meeting, as well.

Brian Hall Interview

2010-04-30T10:08:00.000-06:00

This is an interesting article of an interview of Brian Hall.

Interview

Thanks to Mark Merritt for bring this to my attention.

Week in Review: Week 3

2010-04-16T08:29:00.000-06:00

Another edition of the WIR has been published on the US Soccer website. There is a lot of information this week, including some detailed discussion on Interfering with the Goalkeeper, Free Kick Management and Game Flow.

Click here to read the article and watch the videos. Remember to keep up with WIR now that the MLS season has started again. If you have questions about how to apply any of the concepts mentioned in the articles, feel free to reach out to Kris.

Interfering with the Gloalkeeper's Release of the Ball

2010-04-16T07:37:00.000-06:00

This is one of those situations that doesn't happen often but when it does we need to deal with it correctly. As I've said in past posts, US Soccer is big on giving us "criteria" to use when making decisions on the pitch and this is no different.

We should all know that a player is not allowed to prevent the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands. The part that is tricky is what is considered " releasing the ball." Per US Soccer, the goalkeeper is considered to be releasing the ball from the moment they have control to when the ball is clearly released into play. This includes:

bouncing the ball
running with the ball
in the process of dropping the ball in preparation for kicking it
throwing the ball

The idea here is that the GK gets to release the ball without any inteference. No opponent may not stand or move so close as to restrict the release. I've found that proactively managing this situation is the best approach. As the center, when the GK takes possession its a good idea to keep an eye out for any opponents near the GK that might be a problem. If you feel that there is the possibility for interference you may choose to stay close enough to verbally manage the situation, if needed. As the AR you also need to be aware of interference and be prepared to assist the Referee, especially if he or she has already moved upfield.

In this particular case (see below) the correct procedure would've been to disallow the goal and restart with an Indirect Free Kick for Philadelphia, at the spot where the interference occurred. You can read the whole article from US Soccer by clicking here.

NMSRA Group Run

2010-04-14T22:25:00.000-06:00

Orion has been organizing the group run for some time now. Today we went on a "long" run along the Bosque trail. Check out the route:

View NMSRA Group Run 04/14/2010 in a larger map

If you'd like to join us in the future let Orion know. We try to vary our days and activities to make it interesting. All fitness levels are welcome!

Tactical Foul

2010-04-13T08:32:00.003-06:00

Part of the Game Management model from US Soccer includes 100% Misconduct. This means that when we are faced with a case of 100% Misconduct (a "mandated" caution/send-off) we must give it. I know this gets confusing because there is a lot of talk about allowing physical play, even trying to minimize the number of fouls we call and cards we give. There are times when we can be flexible in our application of misconduct but we have to recognize when we don't have that option.

First, please review the Directive on 100% Misconduct: Tactical and Red Card Tackles. Now, let's take a look at the following video keeping in mind the elements of a tactical foul.

This foul hits several of the criteria listed in the directive:

Attacking end of the field
Numerical advantage
Quick attack means that there is less time to defend
The defender knows he is beat and must foul to prevent the ball from advancing

Do you agree that this is a tactical foul? For me, its important to be familiar with the criteria that US Soccer puts out for tackles like this one because then when you see the foul the decision is easy, its practically been made for you. The same can be said for DOGSO, reckless/excessive force tackles, elbows to the face (FIRE), etc. Know the criteria and when you see it happen, react appropriately. But when you don't have all the criteria met you know there is some flexibility that you can work with to decide whether to caution or just give a stern lecture.

This particular foul was all around pretty easy to get right. If it wasn't tactical, the reckless nature of the foul would make it an easy target for a caution anyways. But I want you to think about the criteria and how to apply it. If an assessor asked me why I gave this player a caution, I can say: "Per the USSF Directive on 100% Misconduct he committed a tactical foul that requires a caution."

The final thing to think about is positioning and whistle. This foul happened on a quick attack and I should've been positioned more towards the attacking end of play at the taking of the throw-in. This would've been more proactive and I wouldn't have had to sprint as hard to be close to the foul. Fouls in the "red-zone" - like in front of the bench - require us to be close to play and ready to take action. You can hear how the players, coaches and fans reacted to the foul. This is an indication that a long, hard whistle is needed to show your presence and tell everyone a card is coming. I chose to have the card out at my side immediately to calm everyone but that's not always needed. In this case, I think it quelled the angst of the attacking team's bench quite quickly.

Anything that I should have done better here? What do you guys do to ensure you get the required cautions right in your games?

WIR April 1

2010-04-02T11:17:00.003-06:00

US Soccer has released the latest Week in Review, which also happens to be the first one for 2010.

Check it out by clicking here.

Remember that it is important to stay up to date on the Week in Review. Make sure to read them often so that you are familiar with the information and can apply it to your games as needed. Many assessors (especially at Regional events) like to reference WIR articles, so be prepared!

Off the Pitch

2010-03-29T09:28:00.002-06:00

Steve Schafer, DRA

A pet peeve of mine is stretching. Most referees never stretch. Even I don’t stretch enough. Always make sure you warm up your muscles before stretching. A few minutes warm up followed by some basic stretching before a match will help you avoid muscle injuries. A session of post match stretching will help with recovery and prepare you for your next match. If your legs feel tight and you can’t seem to fully extend your legs in a sprint, you might need to do some extra stretching to work out tight muscles. Right after or during a hot shower is a good time to do extra stretching.

I recommend you develop a basic stretching routine that you memorize. Muscle groups to cover in your stretching include hamstrings, quadriceps, hip, calf, groin and back. Google ‘stretching’ and you will see many options for stretching routine images and books. Click here for an example of one stretching routine.

I can show you the stretching routine I use. If you have bad knees, ankles or hips, I recommend you talk to a physical therapist or doctor about what stretches you can do and what to avoid.
See you out at the complex.

-Steve

Fitness Resource

2010-02-09T15:38:00.002-07:00

Does it seem like a lot of information has been provided on fitness? Well, you are correct! This is because fitness is an important part of being a good referee. Not only are you more likely to be in the right place to get the call correct, you'll also be thinking less about how much you hurt and more about "was that a red card?" Being in proper shape before the season starts can reduce the chance of an injury, as well.

Mark Merritt was nice enough to pass along one of the best fitness training guides geared for referees I've ever seen. Take some time to go through the various workouts and you'll see how valuable a resource this is.

Weekly Training Plans

Its never a bad time to start focusing on your fitness. Just remember to build a "base" before going full-out into a new workout regime. If you would like some company on your run email Orion Stradford, as I'm sure some of these workouts will find their way into the running group.

Thanks again for finding this Mark!

Running Group to Continue!!

2010-02-01T09:31:00.002-07:00

The NMSRA Running Group is scheduled to continue in Mid-March, so watch your e-mail for updates! We will be running on Wednesday evenings during the season. If you'd like to be added to the list, please contact me at ostrad625@comcast.net

NMSRA Group Run

2010-01-28T07:58:00.003-07:00

We'll be meeting for a run this Saturday at 10:00 AM on the dam that is on Juan Tabo, between Montgomery and Spain.

View Larger Map

All ability levels are welcome! Tournaments start up next weekend, so time is running out to make sure your fit and ready to go. Email Orion Stradford if you have questions.

See you there!

ODP Championships 2010

2010-01-22T15:44:00.003-07:00

A select group of eight NM Referees started their season a little early this year. Once again we had a great group of referees attend the Region IV ODP Championships. The tournament was again held in Phoenix, AZ, at the beautiful Reach 11 Complex.

We drove down as a group on Friday morning, taking our time and even stopping for a nice lunch in Gallup. Once we were checked in at the nice hotel, we had dinner and talked about what to expect at the tournament. The next few days would go by quickly; early mornings and long hours at the field finished with evening meetings will do that to you. We had instruction from National Referees, National Instructors and even a FIFA AR.

After some rain on Monday we finished finals on Tuesday with only partly cloudy skies and fairly dry fields. Overall, the tournament was a success and we learned a lot.

Referees in Attendance:

Orion Stradford
Wilfido Mendez
Oscar Toquinto
Clayton Merritt
Mark Merritt
Amanda Forletta
Bob Croft
Kris Grano

Far West Regional Championships 2010

2010-01-21T10:37:00.003-07:00

By now everyone should know that New Mexico is hosting the Regional Championships this June. All parties involved are very excited for this great opportunity! Planning has been going on for months now and there is still a lot to be done. We'll need all the help we can get to make sure NM is well represented at this event.

The tournament will be held June 21-27 at the State Farm Soccer Complex. For information on the tournament you can click here to check out the Region IV website. We are looking for "soccer buffs" to help out with the field marshal volunteering; if interested please email Jeff Eschenburg and let him know you'd like to help out. If you are interested in representing NM as a referee, read on for the details...

2010 FWR Referee Requirements

As the host state for FWR we will have the unique opportunity to provide extra, or "standby", referees for the tournament. These referees will be in addition to the normal group that is selected to go to FWR so it gives us more slots and more opportunity for you to get the experience of a Regional-level event! Although you will not be guaranteed game assignments as a standby, you will be held to the same requirements as any referee selected for FWR. This means a dedication of time and effort leading up to the tournament. Please do not apply if you are unable to meet the requirements.

There will likely be 10-15 standby and 10 normal referee slots available. If you are unsure about the process by which referees are selected to go to FWR you can read the earlier blog about how it works here. Some new things this year:

All referees who would like to be considered need to email me (Kris Grano) by April 1st.
After I have verified you meet the basic requirements you will receive an email with an application to complete and return.
Final selection as standby or normal referee slots will be dependent on experience, grade level, performance and attendance of meetings/training sessions. I will not hold it against you if you are not able to attend meetings because you are not in the metro area.
All referees within the metro area will be required to attend a combination of at least six of the following meetings: Game of the Week, NMSRA Running Group, FWR Referee Meeting or other training sessions made available for this purpose.
Referees selected to attend FWR will be required to be available throughout the tournament. This means you can't apply and only want to do morning games, etc.
Referees out of the Albuquerque area will be provided a hotel room free of charge.

Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any more questions about this process. I would ask that you review this document fully before emailing me questions as the document should cover most of the frequently asked questions.

Off the Pitch

2009-12-15T07:56:00.002-07:00

Steve Schafer, DRA - East

With soccer season taking a winter break, your challenge is to maintain your referee fitness. Waiting until the spring soccer season to workout is a recipe for disaster. What to do with snow on the ground?

Several referees I know downhill ski (or snowboard). While it’s not quite the same cardiovascular wise as refereeing, downhill skiing is still a good workout. Just walking in those boots from the parking lot should count for something. Along with the ski areas, several stores in ABQ rent ski equipment. You should probably take a lesson if you have never skied before. Also, realize downhill skiing is not cheap. Along with the equipment, ski area lift tickets typically cost >$40 for the day.

I do a lot of cross country skiing. While it’s not as fast as downhill skiing, it is less expensive (no lift ticket) and can be more of a workout. A more advanced form of cross country skiing, skate skiing, is a huge cardiovascular workout. Going up the road to Sandia Crest (536), you can ski on the trails starting at 10k, Ellis, or the Crest parking lot. Note, there is a $3 parking fee. REI has information on trails, rental equipment and lessons.

I also do a lot of snowshoeing. I use the same trails as for cross country skiing. Snow shoes today are made of modern materials (aluminum and Kevlar), are reasonably priced (~$100) and are much smaller than traditional (wood and gut) snowshoes. Snowshoeing requires little skill or coordination (that’s why I can do it). You don’t need lessons to snowshoe. Just walk or jog with a wider stance to avoid tripping yourself (okay, some coordination is needed). REI has rental snowshoes available.

Tell me your workout ideas. What do you do off the pitch (besides 12oz. curls) to stay in shape?

You can email Steve Schafer with workout ideas or questions about this article.

Teamwork

2009-11-23T21:25:00.003-07:00

This video is a great example of teamwork between the AR and the Referee. Let's look at a few things that they did correctly in this example:

Position. The referee is in a good position and close to the point of contact. Although the ball starts to go upfield, the referee makes sure to keep facing the two players who have the potential to make contact. Note that the camera starts to follow the ball. We as referees must keep our eyes on the two players for a few seconds to make sure there isn't contact after the ball leaves.
AR Focus. The AR also does a good job to stay focused on the players in front of him. In the case of a long ball and fast break, the AR has to take on more responsibility. Fight the urge to "watch play" and turn your eyes away from players.
Eye Contact. Before the AR puts up his flag he makes eye contact with the Referee and assesses if there is a potential for advantage. Should the AR see the possibility for advantage, he can choose to not raise his flag unless there is serious misconduct.
Making the Call. When the decision is made that a foul occurred, the Referee correctly acknowledges the AR's flag and stops play for the foul. At this time the AR would communicate with the Referee should further action be needed (caution). In this example, the simple foul is sufficient due to the nature of the contact.

Good work Clayton and Seth!

Last One?

2009-11-21T20:47:00.003-07:00

The long season got even longer for three NM college (NISOA) referees this past Friday. Orion Stradford, Steve Schafer and myself drove in the middle of the night to Denver for a NCAA match between Grand Valley State (MI) and Northern Kentucky. The game before ours went to overtime and then kicks from the mark, so we started pretty late. By the time we completed our overtime periods and started the kicks it was nearly dark! It was a nice game and great opportunity. Our local 4th Official was nice enough to join us for a big steak dinner before we started another late night drive home. Orion and I had games the next day... talk about dedication!

NCAA Playoffs

2009-11-18T22:50:00.005-07:00

Talk about a long season! A good year for NM area college teams means extra opportunities for the local referees. This year Ft Lewis (men and women) and UNM (men) made it to the NCAA tournament. Doing games this late in the year in Colorado can only mean one thing... SNOW!

Bob Croft and myself braved the cold and snow but much like New Mexico weather, this snowy scene was quickly replaced with blue sky and sunshine not much more than 20 minutes after this picture was taken. It was a good thing it stopped because we could barely see the lines!

Big Games Ahead

2009-10-29T08:20:00.002-06:00

As different as MLS is from what we do every week, it is still fundamentally the game of soccer and therefore has some similarities. Many of us are winding down the season and preparing for the last few tournaments before we kick back for the winter. Others are getting ready for the State HS tournament or post-season college matches. Guess what? MLS referees are getting ready for the post-season, too.

Read the Week in Review 31 and see how each referee gets ready. Note that they prepare regardless of whether or not they know they are getting an assignment. Kevin Stott notes that "the idea of continuing to strengthen the referees must continue whether you are directly a part of the match or not." So get out there and provide feedback and, most importantly, support your fellow referees. Try not to be upset if you don't get the final match you had set your eyes on; instead, congratulate those who get the opportunity!

Maintain During the Off Season

2009-10-28T18:51:00.002-06:00

Seems like it was only a few months ago that the season was just beginning. Well, we are fast approaching the end. With the HS State Tournament ending next week and season play for other leagues drawing to a close, you might find yourself with more free time. Rest will be needed for many of us with injuries but take care not to rest too much.

You've worked hard during the season and established a fitness "base" even if you were only getting fitness from your games. The hardest part of working out is getting past the first few challenging runs where your legs hurt and lungs burn. Don't lose that base! Taking the time to exercise a few times during the week will ensure you are ready to go next year. Try some of these tips:

Balance some recovery time with your workouts. With as many games as you've likely done this season you need to have a few off days.
Mix it up. Add some bicycling, hot yoga, swimming or another low impact workout to your routine. Lifting weights can help strengthen your muscles and prevent injuries. Plus, don't different activities makes working out more enjoyable.
Find a friend. If you find a workout buddy you're more likely to get a good workout and actually get out there to do the workout. Motivate each other to work hard!
Set a goal. Maybe you want to better your fitness test results from last year or just feel better at the beginning of the spring season. Whatever it is, set a goal and work towards it.

A little work during the off season will pay off next year! If you are looking for some workout ideas geared towards soccer referees, click on this link. On Page 7 you'll find the article Fitness Workouts to Increase Speed and Endurance by Greg Dugas.

Focus on the Basics

2009-09-29T13:33:00.002-06:00

This time of year is busy for almost all soccer referees in New Mexico. Aside from our personal lives, there is a virtual overload of games to be covered between August into early November. Youth and adult league games, high school and college games demand a lot from the limited referee pool we have available. As if that wasn't enough to worry about we also have a lot of newly certified referees hitting the pitch for their first set of games.

All those factors create a tough environment for us all. What can we do to make sure we're at our best?

Manage Time

This is especially important if you referee more than one league. Make sure you do your best to plan ahead of time so that you can honor your assignments. Communicate conflicts quickly and work to avoid them by setting "blocks" with your assignors beforehand. Remember, you can't perform at the top of your game if you are doing four games a day seven days a week. Balance recovery time and make sure you see your family once in a while!

Prevent Injuries

If you feel an injury coming on get it taken care of. Continuing to work games when you have a minor injury can cause it to get worse. Remain hydrated and eat right to keep your immune system running smoothly. If you have an injury or illness, talk with your doctor and take some time to rest if needed. Taking an assignment when you're injured and not at 100% is a violation of our code of ethics as referees.

Get Feedback

This one is important for both our new and returning referees. Make an effort to get feedback from your peers after every match. If you're new, talk with your assignor to see if someone can watch you on a game and mentor you. If you've been doing this a few years its still a good idea to have some mentoring, especially as you start to do higher level games than you have in the past. For example, if you've never done a Varsity game but have one coming up, ask a referee you trust to watch and give you tips.

Give Back

When you get the opportunity to work with new referees make sure to help them out. Think about how you felt when you were new and what would have helped you. Keep things positive but constructive, too. When you have free time there are a lot of new referees doing youth games across the state that could use some help. Contact the assignor and let them know you are willing to mentor or maybe be an AR for a newer referee.

Contact with Officials

2009-09-14T09:51:00.002-06:00

It is said that soccer is a "contact sport" and that's certainly true for the players. But is it true for us as referees, too? Unfortunately, there are times when this is true. Where is the line; how much is too much?

Referees should work at all times to avoid contact with players. It doesn't look good for a referee to put their arm over a players shoulder when talking to them (especially to the opposing team). However, not all contact made by players towards an official is misconduct. There are times when a player might pat your back, for example, for a job well done. But there are several behaviors that are not acceptable. Types of physical contact that should never be tolerated is that which:

involves force or aggression (grabbing, pushing, slapping, bumping, stepping on feet, and so forth)
the official has sought to avoid by moving away and by making a gesture which clearly indicates any further approach is unwelcome (continued pursuit by a player, if performed in a threatening manner, is included here even if physical contact does not result)
is initiated from an unexpected direction and unaccompanied by any warning
is delivered in a context which clearly includes disapproval, lack of friendliness, or anger
restrains or prevents an official from withdrawing from the contact (e.g., by blocking retreat or holding)

By avoiding physical contact with players we can show that we don't touch them, they shouldn't touch us. Physical contact that meets the above criteria would warrant a red card for Violent Conduct. Consider the nature of the conduct and if it met the level of referee assault. Make sure you include all the details of the event in your match report. Although the above criteria apply mainly to players, substituted players and named substitutes, the same concept is true of coaches and staff. Under no circumstances are we to allow coaches to "chest bump" or grab an official on or off the filed.

For coaches in USSF games we would not show the red card for Violent Conduct, unless your league rules specify that you show a card. However, a coach who makes physical contact with a referee would be immediately dismissed for irresponsible behavior and you must include all the details in the match report. If you are doing a High School or College match, however, a card can be shown to a coach and would be shown in this case. Do not make excuses for this behavior. If a coach enters the field of play (not during halftime or post-game) to confront an official we must have the courage to dismiss them!

If an event like this occurs seek input from your AR's or another erferee you respect as to if you need to file a report for referee assault. Take a look at the videos below for examples of inappropriate contact with officials.

Hand Slap

Grab and Spin

Chase

To hopefully avoid these situations take the following steps when you see trouble brewing:

Take a few, quick steps away (back) from the situation to show that you are not initiating contact. Hold you palms facing outward, close to your chest and use your voice/whistle to indicate further movement toward you is not allowed.
Stand your ground once you have created this space (you should not, in most cases, have to run across the field to avoid the player)
If the offender continues to pursue contact or the discussion than deal with it in accordance to the action

Week in Review 25

2009-09-14T09:25:00.002-06:00

Another WIR is available for your viewing pleasure on US Soccer's website. Make sure to read it and watch the video clips.

US Soccer has begun moving away from the term "Risk Taking" in their game management model. This week they show the altered model and discuss why they are changing the term to Foul Selection/Recognition. I think this is a good move on their part as the new term is more familiar to referees and less confusing. The overall idea, however, remains the same: What fouls you decide to call and when, due to the circumstances of the match.

The latter part of the WIR deals with some recent MLS games where red cards were given that weren't justified. This is an important discussion because we often discuss what IS a yellow card or a red card but forget to mention what IS NOT misconduct. As referees we have to work to set a "bar" for what consitutes a caution or send-off at that level of play. This is a fluid concept that we must always adjust as we progress in the level of games that we do. Even more difficult is the fact that we probably do different levels of games throughout the week and in some situations apply different criteria depending on the match.

How do we develop this standard? How do we avoid giving an unwarranted send-off? First, you must study the Laws of the Game, WIR, USSF Memos and other referees. Understand, for example, the 4 D's of denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. Watch video clips to learn what to look for in a Serious Foul Play tackle. Don't be scared to give the card when needed but understand the serverity of your decision, too. But one of the best things you can do is learn from your peers.

Let's say that you have not done any Men's 1st Division centers yet but you (and your assignor) feel that you are just about ready to start. Go and watch a few of these games to get a feel for the speed and intensity of play. Watch how players react to the fouls called (and not called) and pay attention to any misconduct that results. Get on a few games as an AR and talk with the center to see what you need to watch for. This will help you start to develop a working foul recognition and tolerance for that level of play. You'll want to start out calling more fouls for control but will be able to slowly adapt as you are more comfortable with the level. Ask for feedback throughout this process from fellow referees. Also, gauge the player's reactions as you adapt.

Since you have set the bar for misconduct you can act quickly when the situation presents itself with as little emotion as possible. So maybe you'll see a situation like we saw in this week's WIR and say to yourself "all the D's are not present" and keep the red card in your pocket.

Off the Pitch Training

2009-09-05T11:04:00.002-06:00

Steve Schafer, DRA for East Albuquerque, talks about more training ideas for staying in shape off the pitch.

Off The Pitch

I’ll bet you weren’t expecting me to write about swimming as training for being a soccer referee. I swim once a week for about 45 minutes. Swimming is a great low impact, total body workout. The upper body does most of the work, but the legs do a lot too. Most of my workout is freestyle lap swimming. I also do a few laps with swim fins to stretch the ankle joint and strengthen the legs. Finally, I finish up with a few laps of breast stroke. The frog kick of the breast stroke really works the inside of my legs, helping me avoid injuries from AR side stepping. Also, my bad shoulder (bike crash) no longer hurts when I raise the AR flag.

I swim at the KAFB pool. I have also swam at several of the city pools http://www.cabq.gov/aquatics/indoor-pools . All of them cost less than $3 to swim. Check with each pool for lap swimming schedules (they usually change during the summer).

A resource I have found very useful is total immersion swimming http://www.totalimmersion.net/ . Their ideas about swimming really simplified things for me. I also recommend their book http://www.amazon.com/Total-Immersion-Revolutionary-Better-Faster/dp/0743253434 .

See you on the pitch,

Steve Schafer

Refereeing on a Small Field

2009-09-03T14:11:00.000-06:00

There has ben much said about the size of the fields at the new APS Socer Complex. From the referees perspective, what adjustments have you made to your game when working on a smaller field?
In my first few games at the APS complex, I have noticed that I have to focus much more on positioning. On a large field, you have a lot more time to read play and decide where to move next. However, on the smaller fields I've found that your decision making must be much quicker. There will only be one small space to move into, and it must be done quickly. This requires you to be mentally focused at all times. Remember the ABC's of positioning as it will definately apply to your games:
A= I can see play and the potential problem area
B= I can see my AR
C= I am not occupying space the player need
Another thing I've noticed about refereeing on smaller fields is an increased use of back-pedalling. On the small field, you need to be close to play because the players are in such tight spaces that there will be a lot more body contact to manage. I've found that the quickest way out of close quarters is to back-pedal out of the situation, instead of using the added time of turning my body away from play and running away and taking my eyes off the ball.

Info for the 2009 HS season

2009-08-21T13:03:00.003-06:00

As you may already know, the NMAA has developed a statewide rules interpreters program for all sports for the first time this year. The purpose of the rules interpreters program is to assist our officials in the consistent application of rules throughout the state and to ensure that coaches and officials are on the same page relative to soccer rules. In addition, the four individuals serving as rules interpreters will be the go-to contacts for rules interpretations for our coaches and officials. Their contact information is supplied at the end of this memo.

Our office staff met with the soccer interpreters last week and the group came up with a number of items for clarification and emphasis. They are as follows:

LIGHTNING POLICY:
The following procedures will be put in place for lightning disturbances or other weather related issues (NMAA Handbook 7.17.1E):

E. Inclement Weather – If less than one half of the game has been played, the game will be replayed from point of interruption. The head referee should note who had possession of the ball, on what particular part of the field.

Lightning Delay Procedures (Guidelines for Officials):
1) Use the NFHS Rulebook as a guide to implement lightning delay procedures (NFHS Soccer Rulebook 5-3-2e). The head referee shall have authority to suspend play or terminate the game whenever the elements, spectators or other cause require.
2) From the NFHS Rulebook, “When thunder is heard or a cloud-to-ground lightning bolt is seen, the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location. Suspend play and take shelter immediately.”
3) Adhere to the 30-minute rule before resuming play, regardless of the point of interruption (first or second half).
4) Communicate with host school administration, visitor administration (if present), and with head coaches of both teams as conditions or decisions change.
5) Attempt to finish contests, if at all possible, once lightning disturbances subside.
6) Contests can be delayed up to two hours using the 30-minute rule.
7) After a two hour delay, it is ultimately the responsibility of the game officials in communication with the host site administration as to whether to suspend the contest or extend the delay additionally.
8) Officials should contact Robert Zayas, NMAA Director of Soccer (505-977-5386) or Dana Sanchez, NMAA Commissioner of Officials (505-977-5388) for clarification if needed.

NOTE: The lightning delay procedures (specifically relative to delaying for up to two hours) are for varsity contests only. Sub-varsity or junior high contests are at the discretion of game officials and host site administration.

TIE GAME PROCEDURE:
The tie game procedure for all regular season district and non-district games can be found in NMAA Handbook Section 7.17.1J. It is as follows:

1) If the game is tied upon completion of two forty-minute halves of play, a maximum of two ten-minute sudden victory overtimes will be played to determine a winner. Should the two overtime periods not determine a winner, a shoot-out will be held, in conformance with the procedures in the NFHS Soccer Rulebook, until a winner is determined. This applies to all regular season district and non-district contests held in New Mexico.

2) If the score remains tied after each team has had five kicks from the penalty line:
a. Each coach selects five different players than the first five who have already kicked to take the kicks in a sudden victory situation, the teams kicking in the same order as determined by the coin toss. If one team scores and the other team does not score, the game is ended without further kicks being taken.
b. If the score remains tied, continue the sudden victory kicks with the coach selecting any five players to take the next set of alternating kicks. If a tie still remains, repeat step #3 for regular season contests and other applicable games in which a winner must be determined through a progression.

Clarification on Tie Game Procedure:
1) The only people allowed at the center circle are the five selected to take the kicks from the mark. After the coaches/captains are brought to the center of the field to review the tie game procedures with officials, only the five taking the kicks are allowed to stay at the center. Everyone else retires to their respective team areas after the procedures are explained. After the first round of kicks, if additional kicks are necessary, the first five kickers retire to the team area and the next five come to the center circle.
2) Once it is determined that a team has won and that the other team cannot catch up, no further kicks need to be taken.
3) The coach can pick any players off the bench for subsequent kicks from the mark after the first round of kicks.
4) There must be 10 different kickers for the first two sets of kicks. After the first two rounds of kicks, a coach can choose to repeat kickers from the initial 10 or can choose from his/her players on the bench. If a team has fewer than 10 players, the coach will use five players in the first round and then four new players plus one from the prior round to make the second five.
NOTE: This is a departure from FIFA rules. There is no requirement for the goalkeeper to take a kick from the mark under NFHS rules. If you coach or officiate FIFA and NFHS, please note this rules difference.

PLAYER UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT:
As a reminder, it is the responsibility of the head coach to ensure that all of his/her players are properly and legally equipped for each contest. The head coach assumes that responsibility through signing off on the materials on the NMAA District Clinic online. Please note that teams need not be formally lined up for an equipment check prior to games. Clarification on several often asked questions about player equipment is provided below.

1) Splints, casts and braces - If a player is wearing a splint, cast or brace, the coach must have a doctor’s note for that individual. No exceptions! If a player arrives wearing a splint and he/she removes it to play, the player will be disallowed from participation.
a. Shin guards – As a reminder, by 2012, the NOCSAE seal must be stamped on the shin guards.
b. For Coaches: Shin guards are to be two inches above the ankle (no higher). If players are taping shin guards high, they will be asked to remove them and re-tape them. Failure to comply results in a yellow card to the coach for illegally equipped participants.
c. For Officials: As a preventive officiating tip, it is good to work with coaches on this issue prior to the match. Do a nonchalant check of all equipment, including shin guards, in pre-game and talk to coaches about it then. Address the issue before you have to issue cards, if possible.
2) Jerseys – Players need to start every period of play with their jerseys tucked in and all subs should have their shirts tucked in. As a guideline, shirts shall be tucked in at the beginning of every period of play and subs’ shirts shall be tucked in prior to entering the field.
3) Hair Control Devices – NO bobby pins or metal barrettes and no hard plastic devices are legal. However, if a player is wearing ribbons or other soft hair control devices, if they are not posing a danger to the player or his/her opponent and they are worn as a symbol of school spirit, they are legal.
4) Face or Body Paint– Face paint or other decorative paint is permissible as long as it is not inappropriate or objectionable in any way. If the paint is in the promotion of school spirit and is not unsportsmanlike, it will be allowed.
a. NFHS Rulebook (page 25), 4.2.1 Situation B – Team A appears on the field ready for play with faces and/or arms pained in an objectionable manner. RULING: Illegal. The referee will require that the objectionable markings be removed or covered prior to allowing participation.
5) Items Worn on Players’ Wrists – If a player wears an extra hair band or rubber band on their wrist for their hair, it is permissible. Pieces or yarn or “Livestrong” type bracelets are deemed as illegal equipment.
6) Home Jerseys and Stockings - It is the responsibility of the home team to switch jerseys if the visitor shows up to a game in white. The visiting team has an equal responsibility to wear dark colors, but in the event of an issue, the game should be played and the official should report the incident to the NMAA office.
7) Soccer Balls – If a ball is being used without the NFHS Authenticating Mark, allow the team to play but send a game report to the NMAA office informing them that the balls did not have the NFHS mark.

CLARIFICATION OF “DISSENT”
Dissent can be clarified as comments by coaches, players or bench personnel that contain any one of the three “P’s” – Personal, Provocative or Public. If comments by coaches, players or bench personnel contain any of these elements, the result will be a card for dissent.

INFORMATION FOR OFFICIALS:
1) Emphasis on Player Management – Remember as interscholastic sports officials, you are part of the educational process. Help players and communicate with them about infractions. It is okay to warn a player and explain things to him/her before carding them. This is part of game management and preventive officiating.
2) Pre-Game – In pre-game with coaches, be brief, succinct and mention sportsmanship/Pursuing Victory With Honor.
3) Post-Game – It is okay to wait after the game for a post-game handshake with players. However, use your discretion and leave the field immediately if you believe that the game was problematic or hostile. Always have an “exit strategy” in mind.
4) Facility Issues – If there is a situation that cannot be corrected relative to field markings or other equipment, make sure to file a game report with the NMAA office. You should play the game as long as the field and equipment are safe for all participants.
5) Officials’ Uniforms – As a reminder the Pursuing Victory With Honor patch is the required patch while officiating for the NMAA/NMOA. It can be worn on the chest of the shirt where the existing Velcro is located.
6) Reporting to Coaches Regarding Cautions – Remember that communication is key, however, it is up to the discretion of the referee to disclose the reason why a caution was issued. It is discouraged when the reason is clearly understood. If a coach asks, he/she is entitled to an explanation. As a rule of thumb, legitimate questions from coaches require a response. Statements do not.
7) NFHS Signals – While the prescribed NFHS signals may be helpful to communicate your decisions to players and coaches, they should not be seen as replacing a few well chosen words when a player is clearly confused by a particular decision.

The soccer rules interpreters for the 2009 season are:

Central Region:
Phil Davis
(505) 242-1904
(505) 331-5175
Email: davisp@swcp.com
AND
Orion Stradford
(505)238-1706
Email: ostrad625@comcast.net

Northern Region:
Joe Fawcett
(505) 672-1767
(505) 469-0624
Email: JJoeF@aol.com

Southern Region:
Nigel Holman
(505) 216-0632
(575) 646-4033
(575) 640-0036
Email: nholman@nmsu.edu

If you have rules questions, you are asked to call or email the individual in your region of the state for clarification and interpretation.

Thank you for your attention to this information. If you have questions or if you need additional information on the rules interpreters program, please feel free to contact us. Have a great season!

Week in Review 21

2009-08-19T08:26:00.003-06:00

The latest Week in Review has been released. Read the full article by clicking here.

Most of the discussion was centered on AR Involvement which means when you should intervene and when you shouldn't. US Soccer already put out a great article on this subject which you should already be aware of. If not, read it.

To me this WIR comes down to two main points; participation by the AR is critical to get decisions correct and AR involvement must be at the right moment. Think about a time you were the referee and your AR gave you information that was vital. It made the whole situation work out better, right? Now think about a time when your AR insisted instead of assisted. Was the situation made better or worse?

Being the AR is often time seen as the easier job, the less important job or other negatives. Maybe you thought that you should be in the middle of that "big game" and are pouting about it. Or you just sit back and cruise through a game because you're just the AR. That's not the attitude to have at all. The AR position is a very important part of the crew and your involvement is vital for the success of the team.

Of course, your primary duty as an AR is offside decisions. From there you can expand your view to include assisting with in and out of touch decisions, fouls, misconduct and even player management. Look at the diagram and remind yourself of the area that you need to cover. When there is a game critical situation that's out of the view of the referee you can still make the call, even if its out of your area. But in those situations you need to make sure the referee didn't see it and that your call will help not hinder.

Take the job of being AR seriously and participate when you should. But also think about a time when your AR was over involved and remind yourself not to make the same mistake! Often times we are just providing information to the referee; its up to the referee to decide to call it or allow play to continue. Once you have provided the information let him or her make the final decision. If you still disagree the time to debate that is after the game when you can privately make a comment or two.

Week in Review 20

2009-08-10T20:34:00.002-06:00

If you haven't found your way over to US Soccer's web page lately you're in a for a pleasant surprise. Well, at least I think it's going to be a pleasant surprise. That is, after you get used to the new layout of the web page.

One thing that is surely welcome is the introduction of another Week in Review. This time, thanks to the new layout, we get to see videos that are of slightly higher quality. No longer are we watching a video the size of a postage stamp! We can now (gasp) even put the video to full screen if we're feeling a little wild. Enough with the sarcasm, just go check out the new layout already.

The WIR for Week 20 looks at several situations that involve various forms of 100% Misconduct. The review is much needed and good to have. However, note the theme in many of the situations. We, as referees, must have the courage to administer punishment when required of us by the LOTG. But we must always be in control of our emotions when doing this. Of course you need to be firm and resolute, but at the same time don't be rude, shout or curse at a player. Demand respect while showing that same respect back to the players!

Look at the referees in the clips. Do you often see the card displayed straight up, high above the head? Not very often do you see the card "flung" towards the the player, almost "in their face." That's because shoving a card in someone's face is, simply put, rude.

So let's continue to focus on being professional out there. I hope everyone is ready for the season to start!

Statewide Clinic

2009-08-10T20:25:00.002-06:00

Once again the Statewide Clinic was a success! This year our guest was Sandra Hunt, former FIFA referee. She gave a great presentation to a full room of referees on Saturday. Written testing followed the instruction that day, with the physical testing bright-and-early on Sunday morning. After that there was some more instruction from Sandy specific to Assessors, Instructors and State Referees.

All of the people I spoke to said they learned a lot from the meeting. I know that being able to pick the brain of a referee who has been to the top (FIFA) is a rare opportunity and I never want to pass that up. Even more rare is having a FIFA referee in our own state! I hope everyone who was able to make it had a great time. Those of you who didn't make it, remember that we'll have one of these meetings again next year around the same time of the month. There is never a clinic fee for the Statewide Clinic and Dave Vehar does a great job bringing in "big names" to do the instructing.

If you haven't recertified for 2010 that means the clock is ticking. Keep an eye on the website calendar to see when you can take that pesky test to retain your badge.

Week in Review - Week 19

2009-07-31T10:14:00.003-06:00

The latest version of Week in Review is available for viewing on USSoccer.com. You should read up on the full article if you haven't already by clicking here.

While reading up on the events I was drawn to the section on Dissent. For most of us the Fall season is looming ahead. That presents a new, fresh start for many teams. We will be doing a wide variety of matches from youth up to collegiate levels; many with a high level of intensity. Players and coaches are under a lot of pressure to perform so, occasionally, emotional outburst will occur. How to do we handle them? Here are some tips from the article to gauge these situations and deal with them accordingly. The time to set the tone is early on!

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Dissent: More than an Emotional Outburst

The 2009 U.S. Soccer Referee Directive entitled "Dissent" outlines several important factors for officials to consider when deciding whether comments/actions from players or non-playing personnel require official sanction or action. There is a spectrum of potential actions and each requires a different response by the referee. Actions can range from “emotional outburst to dissent to offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures.”

Emotional Outburst: Verbal Admonition
Usually a one time factor. It is said and over. Normally, not specifically directed at an individual. A brief, quick reaction to an incident.

Referee Response: Attempt to manage with personality and presence. Send a strong verbal and visual message to the player.

Dissent: Yellow Card
Use the “personal, public and provocative” criteria provided in the "Dissent" directive to determine whether the comments and/or actions were disrespectful to “any referee.” Normally, words, tone, body language and facial expressions which demonstrate a negative and condescending attitude toward a match official. The actions are usually more extended in nature and persistent than those used in an “emotional outburst.” Consider gestures, directed at an official, that show disgust or disrespect. Look for aggressiveness directed at an official.

Offensive, Insulting or Abusive Language and/or Gestures: Red Card
Considering the “personal, public and provocative” criteria, the referee must judge the severity of the actions (verbal and non-verbal). The more aggressive or directed the action, the further up the scale (toward a red card) the referee must consider. Each situation and its context within the game must be addressed and evaluated individually using the “personal, public and provocative” criteria. However, if a player’s or non-playing personnel’s actions exceed the boundaries of the “personal, public and provocative” standards, the player must be sent off or the non-player dismissed.

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You can see that we have methods to handle Dissent that don't start with a Caution. Also think how the severity of the player's or coach's reaction compares to the intensity of the situation. A strong reaction may be acceptable during, say, a penalty kick. The same outburst is not acceptable when debating a decision of who gets the throw-in at midfield. Try to keep a level head when dealing with emotional situations to show your control.

As a side note if you have issues viewing the videos on the Week in Review due to the small frame size, you can download the videos to your computer using the newest version of Real Player (download here). During the setup process ensure that you leave the box checked regarding the "download" link in browser windows. Once the program is installed you will then see a Download to RealPlayer link near the US Soccer videos. Once downloaded the videos can be played through RealPlayer and a fullscreen option will be available. Not the best quality, but certainly easy to to see.

Note: Download programs at your own risk! I am not responsible for anything that results from the download and use of any program.

Some of the preceding content is from US Soccer and is subject their Terms and Conditions viewable on http://www.ussoccer.com

Training While Commuting

2009-07-25T10:04:00.004-06:00

Steve Schafer, DRA
Albuquerque - East

Off the Pitch - Bicycling

I ride bicycles a lot. It’s a great way to keep you in shape to referee. The following are some ideas on how to incorporate bicycling into your referee fitness plan.

Commuting on a bike kills two birds with one stone. You get to work and home, plus get a workout during a time you would normally be sitting in a car. You save gas money and lower your stress level by not fighting rush hour traffic. It takes some planning on your part. Planning a route that is bike friendly is the first step (the city has bicycle route maps or I can help). I pack my work clothes and lunch in a backpack, wear weather appropriate cycling clothing (more in the winter, less in the summer), and leave earlier to get to work on time. I really like my end of the day commute as it gives me a chance to unwind from work stress.

I recommend mountain bikes for first time riders. They position you upright and the fatter tires give a more comfortable ride. Put ‘slime’ (liquid stop leak) in the tubes and mountain bikes are almost maintenance free. While you can ride a mountain bike on paved roads, I really enjoy them on the dirt. Mountain bikes make me feel like a kid again, taking jumps and skidding in the dirt. Albuquerque has some great off road trails to ride along the foothills or along the river paths.

Road bicycles are about going fast. Your position is bent over the handlebars (more aerodynamic) with skinny, high pressure tires (less rolling resistance) underneath. If you ride a road bike, you need to carry all the equipment (spare tube, tire levers, and pump) to fix a flat tire and know how to use the equipment. Albuquerque has some great roads to ride on (Tramway, Chelwood, Morris, Moon, Constitution, Comanche, etc.) and some roads to avoid (Juan Tabo, Eubank, Wyoming, Central, Lomas, Menual, Montgomery) on a bike. For a training ride when you have more time, the east mountain area has many quality riding roads.

Communication

2009-07-22T13:44:00.003-06:00

Hopefully you were able to catch the classic rivalry of Chivas USA vs. Galaxy or, like me, recorded it and watched it later. As I was watching it I put myself in the referee's shoes. You know coming into that match that it's going to be a tough fought match and has the potential to blow up on you. We've probably been in a game like that before. Sometimes I think it is harder to handle a game that you know is going to be hard because you can get overly nervous thinking about the game and make mistakes.

So what do you do? Well if you watched Ricardo, a FIFA referee, in this game he chose to set the tone early on. I was impressed by his communication with the players; especially when I saw his "use your head" gesture early in the match. I could tell the player understood and it was a beautiful way to get a message across to not only the player involved but the whole field. I was so happy to see that US Soccer highlighted that moment in the Week in Review. Make sure to click here to read the whole article.

But you don't have to have that big white badge on your shirt in order to be able to effectively communicate with players. Visual gestures, your voice and body language help you control players during the game. Using these tools properly mean you rely less on your whistle and more on your personality to achieve game control. As we have been saying more game control means you can have more flow through risk taking. Overall this means a smoother game for you, more fun for the players and more entertainment for the fans.

All three of those guys watching your summer league game from the park bench will thank you!

2009-07-10T13:30:00.002-06:00

If you are not getting the monthly NMSRA Newsletter and would like to sign up please click this link:

NMSRA Newsletter Registration Form

Also, spread the word to your fellow referees! If someone you know would like to sign up you can give them the address or have them contact me by clicking here.

Match Report Writing

2009-07-09T10:20:00.003-06:00

Bob Linebaugh, Chair of the State Referee Committee, gives us a great "How To" article on the necessary elements of report writing.

Nobody likes paperwork. But sometimes it is inevitable, especially when a team official is dismissed; a red card is issued to send-off a player; or for referee abuse/assault. It is not only important that you promptly and properly complete the paperwork, it is required. It's part of the referee’s job.

The following information is furnished because it is important and needed to mete out discipline. One of the frustrating things for those involved when it comes to deciding disciplinary action is send-off reports that are poorly written, and don't provide the complete and accurate information needed.

You are to complete and forward to the appropriate authority a report of any send-off you have in a match within 48 hours of the incident. When you are involved with a tournament, you need to complete the report as soon as the match is completed, if possible. Not only is timeliness important for administrative purposes, but the sooner you complete the report after the incident, the better your memory is of the specifics.

Who are the "appropriate authorities"? In New Mexico if it is for referee assault/abuse it is the SRA. First let us define referee assault and or abuse by citing the USSF Policy Manual.

Policy 531-9 -- Misconduct toward Game Officials

(3) (a)(i) Referee assault is an intentional act of physical violence at or upon a referee.

(ii) For purposes of this policy, “intentional act” shall mean an act intended to bring about a result which will invade the interests of another in a way that is socially unacceptable. Unintended consequences of the act are irrelevant.

(b) Assault includes, but is not limited to the following acts committed

upon a referee: hitting, kicking, punching, choking, spitting on, grabbing or bodily running into a referee; head butting; the act of kicking or throwing any object at a referee that could inflict injury; damaging the referee’s uniform or personal property, i.e. car, equipment, etc.

(4) (a) Referee abuse is a verbal statement or physical act not resulting in bodily

contact which implies or threatens physical harm to a referee or the referee’s property or equipment.

(b) Abuse includes, but is not limited to the following acts committed upon a referee:

using foul or abusive language toward a referee that implies or threatens physical harm; spewing any beverage on a referee’s personal property; or spitting at (but not on) the referee.

For a send-off of a player or the dismissal of a coach, know the reason for send-off as dictated by Law 12 of the Laws of the Game. Know the seven reasons for a send-off. Know the difference between Serious Foul Play, and Violent conduct. Use the "Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game" (ATR) and the USSF’s directives by referencing and/or citing them in your report. You can also turn to the "7+7" document for a concise list of offenses for which players can be cautioned or sent-off for. You should print and/or save this document for when you are writing a report (find it by clicking here). A coach or team official cannot be "sent-off", per say, but rather is dismissed for "irresponsible behavior." You would then need to define this behavior in the match report in a way that is easily understood.

On to the report. Very specific information is needed in a complete and accurate report.

Specifically:

Date/Time of match.

Location

League or Tournament

Level of competition

Teams

Team Coaches Names

Name of Center Referee

Name of AR 1

Name of AR2

Name of 4^th Official

Time of Foul

Name of Player receiving Red Card and that player’s Jersey number.

Reason for Send-off listed under Law 12 of the Laws of the Game.

The final and most important part of the report is the "Explanation" of the situation that created the need for a send-off. What you need to do is paint a picture, with as much as detail as possible, with your words of why the player was sent-off. You need to include when the event occurred, who was involved, how the violation took place, and what was the aftermath of the occurrence. The Disciplinary Committee relies on the information you provide to determine how many games the player will be suspended. If you give the Committee little or no information to go on, then they will be forced to minimize the suspension.

It is not your job to recommend how many games you think the player should be suspended or to decide if it was referee abuse, or assault. Never indicate your opinion on this matter when you complete a report. If you feel as though the send-off was for a particularly egregious foul, for example, make sure the Committee knows what happened in detail and let the process take its course. Simply just give the facts.

Here's a sample of what should be included in an explanation on a referee's report. We don't have space to give you samples of every type of send-off. But make sure that every report you write contains the key elements that are within the following:

"In the 79^thminute of play, the Red team was building an attack near midfield. Red player #19 was in possession of the ball at his feet and was looking downfield to distribute the ball. As he was doing so, Blue player #7 (Bob Martinez) tackled Red #19 from behind using excessive force, with cleats up, making forceful contact with the player's calf and clearly endangering the safety of the opponent. Play was stopped, and the trainer for the Red team was called onto the field to treat #19. Mr. Martinez was shown the red card and sent-off for Serious Foul Play (Law 12). Mr. Martinez did not leave the field of play immediately. Rather, he remained on the field for thirty to forty seconds, haranguing the referee concerning the red card. After being restrained by his teammates, he did finally leave the field without further incident. Red player #19 was assisted from the field with an apparent injury to his left calf. After a substitute entered the field to replace the injured player, play was restarted with a direct free kick for the Red team at the spot of the foul. The score was 2-1 in favor of the home team at this time."

Are you able to visualize the event after reading this explanation? That is the purpose of the report, and should be your goal every time you have to issue a send-off. Also, if there is offensive, insulting or abusive language involved in your send-off or referee abuse, you need to specifically spell out what language was used and to whom it was directed. This, again, is important to the disciplinary committee. Include necessary information but avoid unnecessary details ('twas a warm summer day in NM, there were puffy white clouds...)

None of us enjoy sending off players or dismissing coaches. But when you do, it is very important that they be dealt with appropriately and that his or her punishment is commensurate with the type and nature of the offense. Do not leave a problem on the field that will come to haunt the next referee because you did not deal with it! That's why we have reports and disciplinary committees. And it is your job as a referee to do the best job possible in completing those reports. MAKE SURE THAT WHAT YOU WRITE IS LEGIBLE!!! None of this will matter if the committee can't read your writing. If you can type up the document that's even better!

If you have questions now or in the future when you are writing a report please reach out for assistance from a fellow referee or member of the SRC.

FWR 2010: A How-To Guide

2009-07-04T11:40:00.002-06:00

The big thing I'm trying to do with this blog (and the newsletter) is to improve communication. It has been brought to my attention that some people find the selection process for Regionals to be incongruous with other processes in refereeing. For example, the criteria to upgrade from Grade 8 to 7 is clearly listed on the website. Conversely, where can you find the details on how to get selected for FWR?

This is a fair argument and it got me thinking about how to correct this. What better venue than the blog and newsletter? So here in plain text is the process that I go through in making the decision of who is selected for Regionals each year. With that knowledge you can know what to expect if you "throw your hat in the ring" next time around.

Each year there is a Region IV planning meeting. At this meeting it is decided how many referees each State will bring to the tournament. This usually occurs in October leaving several months for the SYRA to plan on who to bring.
Once I have the number in mind I begin to build a list of potential referees. Some of these referees have emailed me their interest ahead of time. Others are referees that are "up and coming" and have been brought to my attention by other referees.
Of the available slots (this year we had 10) two are taken by the Female and Male Youth Referee of the Year candidates. Another slot is taken by your SYRA.
From there the final slots are slowly but surely filled. Usually two or three referees are on a standby list, just in case someone can't make it. Regionals is a big commitment; you must attend meetings, group runs and spend a week of your summer doing games for free. I require a lot of work out of this group.
Although there are no formal requirements, generally we will only take two or three "rookies" to Regionals each year. Priority goes to the younger referees as a general rule, but I can't take Grade 9's.
The list of referees are not just randomly picked by me. The State Referee Committee is involved. I take feedback from Assessors. I pay attention who attends the meetings and yearly clinic. I go and watch possible candidates do games. I email each DRA for feedback on who they think should go.

The most important thing is to let me know you are interested. Although I ask for input from the DRA's for a variety of reasons I don't always hear back. If you want to go to Regionals there is no reason you can't just let me know directly. That ensures that I know your interest right away. Don't be discouraged if you don't end up on the list this year. Keep working hard and it will pay off. So now is the time to start. If you want to go next year please email me for details. NM is hosting FWR next year so we should have more slots open. And keep up the hard work!

Off the Pitch

2009-07-04T11:27:00.002-06:00

Steve Schafer, a State Referee and DRA, gives us some advice on how we can stay fit and healthy off the pitch.

My plan is to give you a monthly dose of ideas for doing things off the soccer field to develop/maintain your soccer referee fitness level. Orion is doing a great job leading weekly workouts on Wednesdays (e mail Orion at ostrad625@comcast.net). Here are some additional workout ideas.

So what do you do when you are not refereeing soccer to maintain fitness? If your answer is 12 ounce curls and eating for two, disaster will strike before you know it. Your body will rebel if you go hard Saturday and Sunday, and don’t do anything for fitness the rest of the week.

My latest discovery is Bikram’s Yoga on Juan Tabo (http://bikramalbuquerque.com). A Bikram’s yoga class lasts 90 minutes in a room at 105 degrees F and 40% humidity. The 26 posses help strengthen and stretch your muscles while also helping your breathing. Class sessions are offered in the morning, noon and evenings (see the website for schedules). I have found a weekly yoga session has eliminated all the little injuries I use to get from refereeing. Bring in a copy of this newsletter, and Bikram’s Yoga will give you half off the introductory special ($10 instead of $20).

Let me know if you have any questions! You can click here to send me an email.

~Steve Schafer

Risk Taking

2009-06-27T11:24:00.005-06:00

By now most of you should have seen this diagram at least once. This representation of Game Management isn't really something new; in fact, its a concept that has been around for sometime. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the elements of this model and struggle to apply these "new" concepts in our games. But in reality we are likely applying all of these concepts in our matches without assigning the terms to them. For example, when we choose not to call a trifling foul near midfield to keep the ball moving we have just demonstrated the Risk Taking element. Or when we issue a caution for a player removing their shirt to celebrate a goal (even though its not a "big deal") we are adhering to 100% Misconduct.

Over the next few weeks both on this blog and at the ASRA Meetings (if you live in Albuquerque) we will continue to examine some of the elements of this model. I find drawing the correlations between this model and previous procedures is helpful. Take a look at the clip below and think about Risk Taking.

The Advice to Referees on the LOTG is very clear when it talks about Law 5 and the referee's power "to decide that an infringement is trifling or doubtful and should not be called at all." We see in the video that if the two minor fouls were called that a goal probably wouldn't have resulted (affecting the Entertainment value). So in this case we saw that there was enough game control to allow play to continue (take a risk) and getting more flow in the game. Keep in mind we must be careful when risk taking. Never do we want the player's safety to be endangered or lose control of the match. Watch how players react to the foul being ignored: Do they keep playing? Are they frustrated? Do they look for revenge? Communicate with players to let them know you see the contact, but are allowing them to continue. If you have less game control you will not be able to take as many risks.

F-I-R-E

2009-06-24T23:43:00.000-06:00

Keeping with a tradition I started but didn't stick with here is another acronym that is commonly referred to when gauging contact about the shoulders.

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The F-I-R-E Principle for Dealing with Above-the-Shoulder Challenges

Actions aimed at the face of an opponent must be dealt with severely REGARDLESS OF THE FORCE USED if the actions are:

Deliberate
Intended to intimidate
Endangering the safety of an opponent
Insulting and/or offensive in nature
Potentially inciting further action on the part of opponents

The following lists some specific examples (but not all examples) of the manner in which the contact can be initiated are:

Use of the backhand
Open handed slap
A push/slap to the face
The jabbing of a finger(s) to the face
Grabbing hair
Use of a fist

To assist referees in recognizing and properly addressing these situations, the acronym F-I-R-E was provided to assist officials with the identification of elbows that should be defined as red cardable offenses (violent conduct):

Frustration
Intimidation
Retaliation (payback)
Establish Territory or Space

Content may be owned or copyrighted by US Soccer and affiliates. Used in accordance with the privacy policy viewed at http://www.ussoccer.com.

Far West Regionals 2009

2009-06-24T23:21:00.005-06:00

The weather sort of reminded us of New Mexico over the seven days spent in Lancaster, CA for FWR 2009. A total of ten referees and one assessor represented NM at this large event. Days consisted of usually 2-3 games, several hours out at the field, evening meetings and later meetings to get yelled at by the SYRA (or given assignments). Even though the days often started early and ended late the group had a good time overall.

Congratulations to those that were selected to attend this year (roughly from left to right): CJ Merritt, Amanda Forletta, Santos Toquinto, Mark Merritt, Frank Serianni, Kerstin Shrader, Oscar Toquinto, Jorge Garcia, Kris Grano and Seth Gilpin [not pictured: Nigel Holman, assessor]. Once again we had a great showing on the final day of games with four of our referees getting final assignments:

Mark Merritt - 4th Official Boys U-12

Oscar Toquinto - Referee Girls U-12
Santos Toquinto - AR1 Girls U-12

Kris Grano - Referee Girls U-18

Would you like to attend Regionals next year? Since the process can be a bit ambiguous look forward to a post giving you the steps necessary to better your chances of being selected. Remember that next year FWR is coming to Albuquerque so we'll have more opportunity to provide local referees!

Change to Procedures

2009-05-08T10:44:00.002-06:00

Effective immediately the following changes have been made to the Guide and Procedures for Referees, Assistant Referees and Fourth Officials. US Soccer is suggesting the changes be implemented immediately. I would suggest that you discuss the following points in your pregame so that the entire crew is on the same page. Don't worry the changes are miminal and should be very easy for you to incorporate into your game!

From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center:

A new and slightly revised edition of the long-standing USSF publication, Guide to Procedures for Referees, Assistant Referees and 4th Officials, will become available this month. Only two changes will be found in the 2009-2010 edition:

Page 37 (Penalty Kick, Indicated By The Assistant Referee). The fourth bullet point has been modified as follows: “If referee stops game, assistant referee first indicates penalty kick by holding flag across the lower body and then begins walking toward the corner flag
Page 40 (Substitutions, Referee procedure). The first bullet point has been modified to be consistent with International Board guidelines mandating the use of the whistle to restart play after the referee has delayed the restart for a substitution. The revised bullet item now makes it clear that a whistle is required in all such cases.

Until the new edition of the Guide becomes more widely distributed, you are asked to begin immediately in your respective capacities to pass the above procedure changes along to other referees, instructors, and assessors so that they may begin implementing these modifications as quickly as possible.

Some of this information is subject to copyright under the policies set forth by US Soccer. All use and dissemination is covered under the usage policy which can be viewed at USSoccer.com and all rights therein.

How to Gauge Serious Foul Play

2009-05-08T10:26:00.002-06:00

As a referee commented during the State Cup meeting, there are a lot of acronyms out there in the referee world. "Aw, man, another one? Geez there are so many to remember!"

Regardless of how you feel about them they are here to stay and its important to know what they mean. For many people suck abbreviations make it easier to remember the concepts. But according to Wiki:

"Acronyms often occur in jargon. Acronyms may have different meanings in different areas of industry, writing, and scholarship. The general reason for this is convenience and succinctness for specialists, although it has led some to obfuscate the meaning either intentionally, to deter those without such domain-specific knowledge, or unintentionally, by creating an initialism that already existed."

So what this means is sometimes people will constantly throw around the acronyms in order to make others feel "out of the loop" and uncomfortable. Well, if you can interpret this special language then you'll feel confident, not embarrassed!

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SIAPOA

Speed of play and tackle

Intent: to send a message or win the ball

Agressive nature, lunging with the feet

Position of the legs; pay attention to both the leading and training leg

Opportunity to play the ball. Within playing distance?

Atmosphere of the game.

The elements of SIAPOA will help you when deciding if a tackle is to be a send-off offense. Remember that its important to study this concept thoroughly but be able to apply it quickly. Most of us use information like this to build a "threshold" that is easy for us to recognize. That's why you don't see a moment of hesitation when a top referee sends someone off for a SFP tackle. They have trained themselves to recognize such tackles quickly and act with courage.

State Cup - 1st Weekend

2009-05-05T00:12:00.002-06:00

Except for a brief period of rain it was a great weekend for soccer. US Soccer was kind enough to send us Kevin Yant to help with the pre-tournament meeting and give us feedback throughout the weekend. An added bonus was that his wife, Christel (Region IV Administrator) was also able to be with us.

Kevin gave us a great review of the US Soccer Directives on Friday night, as well as review some amazing FIFA training videos. I can't stress enough the importance of knowing the Directives. If you haven't read them already (or just want to read them again) then click here. Saturday night a smaller group of referees meet and we reviewed the games as a group. As a wrap up the group took a FIFA video test for offiside offenses. It was a real eye opener!

Overall we started the tournament off right. There are still some things that we need to work on but we're moving in the right direction. Thank-you for all of your hard work and please keep up the good effort. The games will only get harder as the intensity level rises and players get more tired. We must continue to be at the top of our game!

Check out some of the photos by clicking here. If you would like a full-size copy of any of the pictures please email me.

Become a Student of the Game

2009-04-29T23:25:00.002-06:00

You're already starting to become a student of the game by reading this. Time to sit back and relax while a select few tell you their opinions? Hardly.

The longer you are a referee the more you realize there is a lot to learn. Even if you were to master the "basics" and memorize the Laws of the Game you still have the Advice, all the USSF Memos, FIFA documents, blogs, books and then of course the all-important experience. I'm sure I have missed some other great sources of information. How about the big one? Other referees!

The point is that in order to do this well you must absorb as much information as possible. Today after a nice relaxing group run (join us next time, by the way) some of the group gathered to have some food and much needed water. The discussion strayed to different sources of data available on the art and science of being a soccer referee. It got me thinking about what being a student of the game really means and how it can really make a difference for everyone who puts a little effort into it.

Start off by taking advantage of the information that's already being brought to you. This blog, clinics throughout the year, monthly meetings and peer/assessor feedback on the field. When you have some free time read up on the Laws of the Game and the Advice to the Laws of the Game so that you have an integral grasp on the foundation. Check up regularly on USSoccer.com and read the memos, watch the videos and listen to the Week in Review. Maybe you have some other sources for info, too, like blogs or other publications. Go for it!

Then its time to take it to the next level. Ask around and see what some upper-level referees are doing to delve deeper. I'm sure many of them can give you some reading suggestions and maybe even let you borrow one of the titles. The more you learn and apply the knowledge you've gained the better you will become. You might just find being a student of this subject is strangely addictive.

Training

2009-04-01T21:07:00.001-06:00

Five brave souls faced the cold, wind and a little snow to get some training in today. Not only is it a good opportunity to slip in some group fitness it's also a great time to socialize and learn from your fellow referees. Between sets of sprints today we talked about some game situations and possible solutions.

It's also important to attend these training sessions if you're hoping to get invited to attend Far West Regionals this year. The next session will be a week from today (Wednesday April 8) at 5:30pm, location to be determined. Everyone is welcome to attend so email Orion to let him know you'll be joining us.

See you there!

US Soccer 2009 Directives...Broken Down

2009-03-30T10:28:00.002-06:00

Hopefully by now all of you have visited the US Soccer webpage and read up on the 2009 Directives (if you haven't, then please do so).

One of the elements of this edict from above is "Keys to Identifying Handling the Ball" and deals with a subject that is probably debated at least once every single game. This, again, is one of the topics that is directly applicable to our games, not a high-level theory that we have to adapt for use. Consistency, or the lack thereof, is a common complaint amongst coaches which is why it is so imperative to read, understand and implement these concepts. When we as a group apply this interpretation of the Laws of the Game uniformly it will makes things easier by educating and conditioning players, coaches and fans to what is handling

I won't post the entirety of the memorandum here so make sure and read it now...

Personally I find it best to break down offenses into a set of criteria; that's what helps me remember the information when in "the moment of truth." Let's look at the handling offense as five elements:

Making yourself bigger.
Is the arm or hand in an unnatural position?
Did the player "benefit?"
Reaction time.
Hand/arm to ball.

We often recognize the hand/arm to ball and unnatural position, but how many times have you thought about an offense when the player makes themselves bigger? This often is a more subtle gesture and can slip past us but we need to try and catch it. Remember that we have to take into consideration the player skill level when making this call. The higher the skill level, the less of a benefit of the doubt you'll give to players.

Priority of Assistant Referee Responsibilities

2009-03-24T17:51:00.004-06:00

Talk about good timing! Just this last weekend during the Game of the Week training I was discussing with some referees the importance of the AR staying on top of the offside position. My argument was that you should always be focusing on that second to last defender (or the ball) and that if you have to ignore other things to be on top of offsides, then let them go. Even during my most abbreviated pregames I make sure to touch on the topic.

Well, apparently US Soccer agrees.

From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center:

Subject: Priority of Assistant Referee Responsibilities

In a recent professional exhibition match, a group of referees, instructors, and assessors was discussing an incident in which the assistant referee was faced with a conflict in priorities – whether to hang back and observe the goalkeeper with the ball in case the goalkeeper went outside the penalty area with the ball still in his hands (a handling offense) or to move up field to get in position for assisting with offside in case there was a quick counterattack after the goalkeeper released the ball. The conversation was vigorous, but the matter should have been easily settled by reviewing the relative importance of the two possible violations.

A similar conflict in priorities can arise when a team is attacking along the touchline and the assistant referee must choose between looking up the touch line to signal if the ball leaves the field and looking across the field to monitor whether an attacker moves into an offside position. Dividing attention this way is not impossible, but both responsibilities will suffer.

The single most important responsibility for the assistant referee is making timely and accurate offside decisions. All other duties outlined in Law 6 are secondary.

Offside decisions are often “game critical” regardless of their specific result. A decision for offside is just as likely to be challenged as a decision against an offside violation. Whether the issue is offside position or involvement in active play, if a goal is called back, allowed, or interrupted as a result, the decision will be controversial. It must therefore be supported by the best fitness, mechanics, communications, and concentration that the assistant referee can bring to bear.

If there is not much difference between where the assistant referee must focus to handle each different duty then clearly both duties should be attempted. As one duty increasingly becomes a distraction for the other, the assistant referee should attempt to adjust positioning to reduce the conflict. Where the distraction is too great, the only solution is to focus on offside, leaving to other members of the officiating team the responsibility of covering to the best of their abilities the less critical conflicting duty.

Among the topics which must be covered in the officiating team’s pregame discussion is the issue of what the assistant referee should do to resolve a conflict between offside and such other responsibilities as determining if the ball has left the field, which team has possession, and the occurrence of violations which do not involve violence.

Goalkeeper Violations

2009-03-16T00:03:00.002-06:00

The Goalkeeper is a unique position on the field. He or she has certain special rights under the Laws of the Game and that can cause some confusion. It's no surprise, then, that the additional rights of GK's and their general proximity to the goal makes the situation prime for controversy. Let's clear up the common misconceptions and look at some scenarios you might encounter:

Pass Back Violation. In order for this to be a violation remember that three things need to happen per US Soccer: The ball is kicked (played by the foot) by a teammate of the GK. The action is deemed to be deliberate rather than a deflection. The GK handles it directly without an intervening touch from an opponent. This includes a pass back that the GK dribbles back into the area and then picks up. Restart: Indirect Free Kick from the spot of the infraction. [Video]
Handling by the Goalkeeper. Of course once the GK leaves the penalty area he is not allowed to use his hands. Consider a GK sliding, with the ball in their hand, out of the penalty area. Be completely sure that they are clearly out of the area before calling it and remember its where the ball is, not the keeper's body. Restart: Direct Free Kick.

In addition to these clear cut cases there are other situations to consider. For example, the GK leaving the area when punting the ball. Again, make sure before punishing it that you are absolutely sure they committed the violation. This is a good opportunity for AR involvement by warning the GK. If the behavior is repeated and obvious, then the call can be made. We only care about where the ball is while in his hands, not where the GK is or ends up after the kick.
This would be considered handling and the restart would be a Direct Free Kick. Usually this is considered unintentional and shouldn't be cautioned.

Speaking of cautions, what do you do when the GK comes out of the area and handles the ball? We know the violation is there and its a Direct Free Kick but what else? You'll need to read the situation carefully to make your decision. Did the keeper know he was out of the area? Where the Four D's of DOGSO present? In the Spirit of the Game, should there even be a card? I would say most times this would be at least a caution, but only if it was a deliberate tactical play.

Whenever you are penalizing the GK, be it a pass back violation or handling, err on the side of the GK. Never give such a severe penalty to a team merely on a hunch. Thinking it was a deflection on the pass back? Let it go...

Own Goal?

2009-03-13T23:47:00.004-06:00

You can be around the game for a long time and still learn something...

Let's see if you can get this right on the first try. Answer the question as if you were presented with the situation in a live game and had to decide without the luxury of looking it up in a book. As before, first person to email me the correct answer will win a prize/small trinket.

It's a beautiful sunny day at the complex. Not a cloud in the sky but its still brutally cold due to the 35 mph winds blowing north to south. You've done three games today but the last one will prove to be the most challenging.

Team A is playing a rival club (Team B) and the match has challenged you since the first whistle. Although play is often one sided due to the wind your legs are burning from the constant sprints to keep up with the ball. You rest briefly as the goalkeeper chases after the ball. He gets it back and sets up to put the ball in play from a goal kick.

The ball is kicked, it clears the penalty area and is immediately caught in a stiff wind gust. The ball hangs momentarily, losing a battle of physics as it slows, reverses course and rides the wind back towards the goal.

It goes right in.

What's your call?

2009 US Soccer Referee Directives

2009-03-11T16:41:00.003-06:00

These directives are extremely important to read! You can check them out here or by going through the US Soccer mainpage.

Also note the 2008 Week in Review archives are posted at the bottom of that page. Many have asked for those and now they are available. Any referee looking to upgrade or travel for Regional/National tournaments needs to be familiar with these documents.

Spread the work to your fellow referees!

Terminology of the Week

2009-03-11T16:26:00.002-06:00

As promised, here is another concept that is important to recognize and understand.

Advantage: The “4 P Principle”

When considering the application of advantage, the following principle is provided as a guideline for officials. Remember, advantage application may differ depending upon the skill level, age level, and general atmosphere of the game.

The “4 P Principle” of Advantage Application:
1. Possession of ball: control by team or player.
2. Potential for attack: ability to continue a credible and dangerous attack.
3. Personnel: skill of attackers, numerical advantage.
4. Proximity to opponent’s goal: closeness to goal.

For this concept its important to remember that "advantage application may differ depending upon the skill level, age level, and general atmosphere of the game." Skill level and age level are pretty easy to grasp; if you're doing a U9 game you probably won't be calling very many advantages. But what does "general atmosphere of the game" mean? Well, it can mean a lot of things and that's what makes advantage a tough one.

As a referee we must be able to read the game, understand how the players are feeling and see the potential for conflict before it happens. Yes, that's as difficult as it sounds. So when we are deciding whether or not to let play go without calling the foul, we need to consider the 4 P's as well as the "temperature" of the match. Read how the player who was fouled reacted to the incident: Did they understand your decision? Or are they getting up and looking to retaliate? A hotly contested game can explode if players feel they were cheated by a poor advantage call. Sometimes in those situations you'll want to lean towards simply calling the foul.

Remember, the beautiful thing about advantage is you can always bring it back. Take a view seconds, observe the situation and decide what to do. If it doesn't pan out the way you had hoped then blow the whistle and bring the ball back.

"Triangle of Control": Mass Confrontations

2009-03-08T10:52:00.009-06:00

Mass Confrontations hopefully don’t occur in your matches too often, but when they do, what are you supposed to do about it? After all, there isn’t really a way to get practice or experience handling incidents like these if we are actively trying to keep them from happening.
US Soccer has published a lot of information on this topic, which would be very beneficial to add to your pregame.

Often times mass confrontation manifests itself in one of two ways:
Several players confronting the referee, assistant referees (ARs) or fourth official – players are trying to intimidate one or more official(s) to influence a current or future outcome/decision.
Multiple players confronting each other – swarm of players exhibiting aggressive behavior toward each other. Physical contact is often a by-product of the acts.

Mass confrontations where the officials are surrounded and being intimidated by aggressive players, who hope to influence the referee, is never positive, and invokes a negative public image, slows the game down, ignites further aggressive behavior, and ruins the entertainment value of the game. Referees must work to stamp out these types of mass confrontation from the game. The referee team must work diligently to identify the main culprits and address their actions as misconduct (issue a caution – yellow card, or send off – red card).

In general, mass confrontations share many similar characteristics that referees can use to react quickly in handling these situations:

Caused By a Trigger Issue – Typically follows an issue or foul that is sensitive to players like a hard foul in front of the bench, or a foul where player safety is compromised. Be aware of fouls against the goal keeper or play-maker, or the player running to retrieve the ball from the goal after scoring.

Recognize the Trigger Issue – Officials must immediately recognize these flash point triggers. Failure to recognize, or a delay in responding will result in further escalation. Discuss potential trigger points with the crew pre-game and be prepared to address when they arise. Being aware of the teams and players involved can often help in anticipating when flash-points are more likely to result in mass confrontation issues.

Get there to diffuse – Once mass confrontation amongst opponents arises, a member of the referee team must get there immediately to prevent escalation. For each step you are late, it allows one more player to participate.

Separate and disperse – The first official on the scene should work to carefully separate the immediate players. Once three or more players enter the scene, the referee should step back and observe the situation. The two assistant referees should also take a clear vantage point to observe the actions of the players while the fourth official maintains his position and monitors the bench area. This procedure forms a triangle around the confrontation and provides a process to monitor the situation and gather information. As the situation settles, in a positive, non-threatening manner, officials should attempt to channel opposing players into safe zones away from the hot spot.

Prevent others from joining in and observe – All four officials should not focus on the same hot spot or become too involved in gaining control of the situation. As stated above, form a triangle around the situation, observe, and make notes (mental and otherwise). Look for positive ways to prevent other players from joining in as these players often add “fuel to the fire.”

Consult and dispense the appropriate misconduct – Once the situation is under control and players have been channeled to safe zones, the referee team must quickly dispense the appropriate misconduct. The referee should ensure he has solicited the input of the other officials prior to taking action. Violent conduct should be the first line of focus.

Sometimes its the little things...

2009-03-01T22:08:00.004-07:00

There are a lot of special names applied to concepts that we've probably all heard once or twice. If you aren't familiar with these acronyms or terms they can be confusing. I can remember when I was younger and traveling to regional and national tournaments there were a few times when someone would throw a term out that I had never heard of. It was embarrassing but a great learning opportunity.

I started to learn that I wasn't so much learning new concepts as I was applying terms to concepts I had already learned. Being able to recognize those terms quickly and understanding what they mean will help you hold your own during training and assessments be it a Far West Regional game or a Sunday afternoon match. That way you don't have to learn the hard way like I did.

So starting today we're going to try and go over one term a week. Have you come across one of these terms and want to know what they mean? Shoot me an email and I'll feature it next week.

Denying Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunities - DOGSO

The Four D's of DOGSO

A foul is a foul regardless of who commits it. Soccer is a fast-paced game with lots of counter attacks. Consequently, referees and ARs can anticipate many chances to make decisions relating to DOGSO. Positioning and fitness levels must be commensurate with this style of play, and referees must be reading to evaluate the 4 conditions of DOGSO:

Defenders - Are there any defenders between the attacker and the goal that could dispossess the attacker of the ball and prevent a scoring opportunity?
Direction - Is the attacker’s position on the field such that he is headed/moving directly to goal? Consider the attacker’s touch on the ball, is it headed toward the goal area or at an angle away from the goal?
Distance to Goal - As the attacker plays the ball, is his proximity to goal such that he is close enough that he would have a reasonable opportunity to advance the ball without opponents tracking him down. The further the distance to goal, the less opportunity for a scoring chance.
Distance to Ball - Is the attacker close enough to the ball to be considered to have “possession” or a clear chance to play the ball or will the goalkeeper or another player get to the ball before the attacker?

Training & Development 2009

2009-02-28T22:35:00.007-07:00

Training & Development Session 2009
Classic FC Cup

The second T&D Session went very well thanks to the participation from referees, assessors and administrators. We had two referees travel from Las Cruces and Taos to participate in the training and games.

The weekend started with a meeting Friday night (combined with the Upgrade Orientation). Jeremy Vehar gave a great presentation on information that was given to him at National Camp. There is something exciting about seeing the same presentations that were given to National Referees from across the country. Thanks for the info, Jeremy!

Games started early on Saturday and continued on throughout the day. Orion Stradford was kind enough to allow us to videotape his match from start to finish. He did a great job but didn't give us too much information to go over since the game went very smoothly. There were a few items that we talked about during the late afternoon debrief session. All referees were welcome to attend as we gathered around our makeshift projector screen and watched clips from the game. Orion gave his insight on what happened and what was going through his mind. There were some lessons learned about AR mechanics on a goal decision that we'll make sure to discuss in more detail later.

All in all it was a good improvement on the first session. We're going to keep working on getting this right; stay tuned for another session sometime in the near future. Hopefully those who attended got something out of it.

Note: I'll have a slideshow of all the pictures taken up in the next week or so.

Futsal Weekend

2009-02-25T16:34:00.002-07:00

Doug Cotter, our State Referee Administrator, reports on the state of Futsal.

Over President's Day weekend, while many NM referees headed to sunny, warm Phoenix for PDT, a Doug Cotter and Jeff Eschenberg headed to Kansas City for some Futsal training and received assignments at the Futsal Champion's Cup Super F league National Championships. It was terribly warm. In fact it was snowing when our flight landed, but by Sunday it was pretty nice. The other referees credited the weather to us coming and bringing it with us.

The principal reason for us going was to gauge where our referee program was and how the skill level of the players compared to the national scene. I'm happy to report that we're not doing too badly. There is not complete agreement throughout the referee community on many aspects of the Futsal laws. We were able to weigh in and discuss our situation and provide our opinions. It was never clear to me how many teams actually came to Nationals but it was played at four different venues about 10 to 15 miles apart. We saw three of the four venues. We should have seen all four but due to Doug's inability to read a schedule properly, we each missed an assignment. Fortunately we were with the assignor watching some men's open matches when he got a text indicating we were no shows! It worked out OK as they had some standbys. One venue was a gym on a community college campus and the other two were inflatable bubbles. It looked to us like the ages ranged from U9 through Men's Open. They had HSG and HSB (High School) divisions as well as U17 and U18. Not sure what the difference was.

On Friday night we attended a tournament rukes clinic and there was a special presentation given by Jason Karnac and Shane Butler. They are both FIFA Futsal referees from the US. The session opened with video from Jason's assignment as Referee 1 on the Soloman Islands versus Brazil match. Brazil won the match easily at 17-0 and ultimately went on to win the Futsal World Cup. Jason received 4 assignments at the World Cup (First, second, third referee and timer each once) and shared a story about a foul he missed due to positioning that broke a tie match and sent one team on to the next round. I find comfort in that situation. Whatever call I miss or make incorrectly, I don't feel good about it, but at least it's not in the world cup!

Jeff and I sat with Jason during a hotly contested Men's Open match between two hispanic teams. There were plenty of areas to exercise game management. It was very interesting listening to Jason's analysis and talked through the different foul selections the crew made. Later that night we watched a team from Toronto (Nationals???) play a local team. The team from Toronto was truly amazing and it was obvious the work they put into their game. Extremely disciplined and well coached.

We talked to the founders of the Super F league as they are local to the KC area. The have between 250 and 275 teams in their local league and it sounded as if they have seasons year around. The fee is $625 per team for an 8 game season. We have a way to go obviously.

All in all it was a pretty good experience to figure where we were and get some good ideas about training. It seemed to us that there were at least two teams in our local league that could have competed fairly well at Nationals. When our assignments came out we were not surprised at getting some all lower levels figuring it was Nationals and we didn't want to mess up too badly. But after seeing the play, it's obvious that Futsal is in its infancy in many areas. Many of the coaches still don't understand the rules, while many others are trying to make a living in this sport and have a very good understanding. There is clearly the same mentality from many coaches as in the outdoor game so it has progressed at least that far. One coach threatened to head butt a referee if he didn't start making better calls. He didn't see the rest of the game. In case you were wondering Jeff and never worked a match together and we did manage to each eject a coach cementing NM's future at the tournament. Mine was in a U12 boys semi final in which the winner was obviously going on to the CONCACAF finals. Turns out I was "a clown". He didn't see the end of the match either. Jeff wins the award for best of the two. His partner was never going to contain the coaches behavior so Jeff stepped in to help as first referee and told the coach to refrain from further comments. The coaches reply? "Ooooh, what are you going to do about it?" He didn't see the end of the match either. The division? U9G.

And so it goes.

Doug

ODP Training

2009-01-25T21:06:00.003-07:00

One of the great things about attending the ODP Championships was all the training we received. This video is about positioning and was presented by Kevin Yant who is a National Instructor.

Look for field sessions in the future where we will practice this training in a group setting.

Kris's Update on ODP

2009-01-22T20:41:00.006-07:00

Thank you to Orion for giving a great review of the ODP Championships held this past weekend. It was indeed a great showing for NM Referees and I look forward to us making more progress at FWR 2009. All referees who participated did a great job; if you see them around ask about the experience!

Orion Stradford
Marc Laws
Ryan Ehgartner
Amanda Forletta
Oscar Toquinto
JP Afonso
David Bernard
Kris Grano

Keeping up with tradition I've loaded some pictures and, for the first time, a brief video. Unfortunately Blogger will only let me upload 100mb or less of video, so the quality of this one is kinda poor. The slideshow is better quality but lacks the fun transitions between pictures and music, so take your pick or watch both.

If you see any pictures that you'd like to have in "uber-high quality" please email me and I'll send them your way.

Movie

Slideshow

Orion Reports On ODP Championships

2009-01-21T21:50:00.006-07:00

The New Mexico Delegation of referees had a good showing at the ODP Regional Championships held in Phoenix, AZ over the MLK holiday weekend. Of the eight referees from NM, seven worked in the Finals!
For me, a good learning experience at the tournament was the topic of how to handle inappropriate behavior in the technical area. It was a point of emphasis at the tournament especially with the use of a 4th official on almost every match. We all know however, that most of the regular season matches we do don't have fourth officials on them. I feel that we should still strive to meet the criteria set out in the Laws of the Game and Position Papers from US Soccer in regards to the technical area to the best of our abilities even without 4th officials.
Take a look at this link to the Position Paper released on March 22, 2006. The Memorandum is very helpful in describing what to do in situations when the field doesn't have clearly marked technical areas (sounds familiar, right), and what constitutes "inappropriate behavior."
US Soccer has also released in their Week In Review documents a three step process for managing personnel (i.e. coaches) in the technical area:
ASK: If a situation arises where there is irresponsible behavior, you are to ASK the person to stop.
TELL: If there is another occurrence of irresponsible behavior you are to inform that person that the behavior is not permissible and TELL them to stop.
REMOVE: If the non-accepted actions continue you must REMOVE that person immediately.
Following these guidelines will definitely help all of our games go much smoother, and create a better environment for the players.

Last chance!

2009-01-06T11:32:00.002-07:00

Well... maybe.

If you have not re-certified and live in the Albuquerque area you need to attend the ASRA meeting Tuesday, 01/13/08 at 7:00pm. This will be one of your last opportunities to take your test and get your 2009 badge. Keep in mind that you must have the required number of training hours to be eligible to take the test and re-certify. Attending the monthly meetings, the annual clinic, "other" clinics and Game of the Week training sessions all count towards the required yearly training hours.

If you do not have a 2009 badge this is a good sign that you are not yet re-certified. Remember: you must certify every year to be able to do games. The assignors will not be able to give you assignments if you are not registered.

Contact your DRA if you have any questions!

Week in Review

2008-12-30T10:46:00.003-07:00

If you haven't done so already please read the MLS Week in Review for Week 35. It's really important to keep up with the information US Soccer puts out there for two reasons. One, its going to make your games go more smoothly. Two, when you go to out of state tournaments or even get assessed here you'll be expected to be aware of the policies US Soccer has put forth.

This WIR was a good one since it touched on some subjects we talk about quite often:

Offside Position... but is it punishable? The merit of waiting to see what's going to happen pays off in the clip. This lesson is not just applicable to MLS matches! This is something we can and should be practicing on a weekly basis. Remember the only time you want a quick(er) flag is when there is a good chance there will be contact between an attacker and the goalkeeper.
Hey Ref! Handball! Well, I guess I should handling. But you never hear someone shout the correct terms. In the clip we see how players can be very coy in their handling. Funny that the same topic that will spur a 25-minute near shouting match at the yearly clinic is also a point of discussion at the professional level. Some things never change, I suppose.
100% Misconduct. In the early days MLS was criticized for being overly aggressive. Referees probably would've been nervous to give a caution within the first five minutes of the game. Oh, how things have changed! So take note of the fact that the time on the clock has no bearing on whether or not you punish misconduct. Deal with it; because you don't want to see more of that later in the game, right?

One of the things I enjoy about the Week in Review is the addition of videos. Experience comes from seeing something over and over again, so that we can instantly recognize something and deal with it. Although not quite the same as being there, watching these videos is definitely a good thing.

Fitness: Got it? Don't lose it!

2008-12-16T09:15:00.002-07:00

The season is officially over for most of us. The final, last minute make-up games are completed and we've probably all put our gear away for the winter. You deserve some time off after some of us averaged over 70 games for the fall season (some of us, more). But don't kick your feet up just yet.

Think about the beginning of the season... were you sore and tired? Now be honest with yourself: Do you think you were in the best shape? Or did you have to cut a few corners on several games until your legs were back under you? We all have the tendency to get lazy during the off-season which only makes it harder to get back into shape. So instead of hurting for the first two weekends of the season try adding a little fitness to your winter routine to keep what you've worked hard for during the fall.

It only takes a little bit of effort to at least maintain the fitness level you had during the peak of the season. Taking time to workout three or more days a week will mean that you are all ready to go when the season gets started in February (or earlier if you travel to other tournaments). Try a few of these things to have a successful training regiment:

Make it fun. If running 3 miles doesn't appeal to you then don't make it your everyday workout. Instead try doing something you enjoy like swimming, skiing, cycling or taking a brisk hike. Incorporate your workout into a group activity so you are more motivated to stick to your plan.
Prevent injuries. Staying in shape will help you prevent injuries at the beginning of the season but if you're not careful your training could cause an injury. With colder temperatures around its critical that you warm-up properly. Frank Serianni recommends this great article for tips on how to keep your muscles limber.
Make a plan, stick to it. Setting goals for yourself throughout the off-season will focus your effort and make you more likely to stick to your plan. Training for a specific event, like a road race, will give your work a purpose. There are some great websites out there that will give you events locally that you can participate in.

Overall just try to keep your feet moving one way or another during these winter months. If you know of other soccer referees in your area get together and make a training plan. I know that it is much easier for me to workout in a group. Plus, they can bug you to come on out when you feel like staying inside. This downtime is also a great time to brush up on your knowledge of the Laws of the Game or catch up on old Week in Review articles on US Soccer.

Photo from Development Academy

2008-12-14T21:41:00.006-07:00

from L to R: Jair Marrufo (TX), Orion, Ben Warren (OR), Baldomero Toledo (CA), Ricardo Salazar (IL, now CA). Jair is on the list of 38 remaining candidates to officiate in the World Cup in 2010, and Baldomero refereed the MLS final.

Check this video out!

2008-12-08T20:26:00.002-07:00

Here's the video from the USA vs Brazil game I did this weekend. Click here to watch. Make sure you have selected the DA Ref Spotlight on the righthand side and then hit play.

-Orion

Development Academy - Winter Showcase 2008

2008-12-08T18:36:00.003-07:00

Nothing quite like some good soccer in December and no, I'm not talking about those ASL make-up games.

Orion and I are blogging this from the Burbank Airport in California on our way back from a long weekend of games. We both enjoyed ourselves and got to learn a lot with some of the best referees in the USA. There was a lot of driving done as we flew into Burbank, the hotel was 40 miles away in Valencia and the fields were 50 miles from the hotel in Lancaster, CA. Whew... One nice thing was our hotel accommodations:

From Blogger Pictures

The long weekend started with an evening meeting. There were a lot of "big names" in the room; Brian Hall, all four of our professional referees, Kleinaitis, Tamberino and many others. The meeting ended with Brian Hall giving a great presentation on "Referee Best Practices". This touched on ensuring the safety of the players while maximizing playing time and the entertainment value for the fans through risk taking and flow.

From Blogger Pictures

The next morning started early with several matches. In between games we had a nice area to relax, eat and even watch games that were playing on the various big screens. I took advantage of the great minds at hand and picked the brains of a lot of referees. Seeing all the different management styles and techniques really helps with my own style. The atmosphere was much more casual than, say, youth regionals. However, the games tended to be much higher quality and demanded your complete attention and effort.

From Blogger Pictures

Today (Monday) was the most difficult day. We had a meeting last night which ran kind of late and games started at 8:00 o'clock this morning. Most people had three games and I was no exception. All three were back to back with a U-18 center at the end. I made it through it without incident and Orion and I made it to the airport in plenty of time for the plane.

For me the best part of the trip was the interaction with other referees and assessors. Although everyone gave a lot of feedback it was always geared towards making you better, not just ripping you to shreds. I got to be assessed by Terry Vaughn and Dave McKee, both great people to talk about your game with. But most importantly it was just fun to travel and see some amazing soccer firsthand.

Orion's Report:

This has been quite an exciting weekend of soccer! I was very happy with my assignments, and felt that I had a very good performance overall. Some of the higher points for me over the weekend were being assessed by Scott Weyland, a former FIFA assistant referee, and refereeing the U-18 match between FC Dallas and Nomads who tied 3-3. By far the most exciting match however was the international friendly between the U-17 U.S. National Team vs. Brazil, which I was selected to AR. The match was televised live on Fox Soccer Channel. The atmosphere was amazing as the field was lined with fans with TV cameras and microphones surrounding the field. The game was centered by Jason Anno from South Texas, who handled the intense match like a pro. Brazil won 2-1 in the most exciting game of my career thus far.

The past few days has also been a great chance to catch up with some old friends from around the country. This was my second Showcase and it was by far the best.

Test Question Incarnate

2008-11-16T19:54:00.002-07:00

How many times have you been taking the yearly exam and stumbled across a question that seems strange? You know that one that seems so outlandish and you think to yourself: "I'll never see that in my game." That may be true but usually those weird questions are written to mirror a real life event. I can't remember if its the State or the regular test that has a question similar to the situation below but its not something you see everyday.

Watch the video here and then come back and post a comment as to what the restart is and where the ball will be placed. Think about it and remember the answer since you might actually see this happen. Alright, that's probably a small chance but it could still be on a test.

Oh, and for those that have seen this already at the training session (yes you, Clayton! Haha...) don't cheat and answer it since you know the answer already.

Law 11

2008-10-29T23:56:00.003-06:00

It is one of the simplest laws in the book but time and time again FIFA lists this as a point of emphasis. It really isn't as easy as it seems sometimes. If you haven't come across this tool yet, click away.

Interactive Offside Guide

This is a great refresher and helpful even for those "veterans" out there.

Training Session

2008-10-20T09:17:00.000-06:00

we have some exciting news to share! The SRC will be hosting an intensive training session that will coincide with the 2nd weekend of the Gaylord Shepherd tournament. This is open to new referees with a focus on youth referees.This is not limited to referees in Albuquerque area; we will help referees from outlying areas with travel and lodging expenses. This is a great learning opportunity for anyone looking to advance. If you would like to participate or nominate someone please email me.

We also need people to help in the mentor role. If you can assist let me know.

More details to follow.

ODP Championships

2008-10-17T23:43:00.002-06:00

For those of you that haven't heard or have neglected to respond...

NM will be sending eight referees to the ODP Championships in Phoenix. The dates and more information are posted on the Region IV website. If you are interested in going please send me an email.

Sending me an email doesn't mean you are automatically accepted but it does mean you'll be in the running. Many people apply every year and only eight get to go. Email me with questions.

Getting the most out of your yellow card

2008-10-10T18:06:00.003-06:00

One of the shortcomings of training new referees is that we often don't dive very deep into teaching management techniques. This is no fault of the instructors or even the material; it's hard to fit everything you need to know into the limited amount of time given. That's why this blog is so important. We gave you the basics in class, now you're out in the real world and maybe it's not too easy sometimes. So I'm going to talk about some "higher-level" techniques to help you out. Remember to take from this only the things that apply to your game. Don't try to add too many new things to your toolbox too quickly. If you have questions, ask! So here are some tips about Getting the most out of your yellow card from US Soccer.

Getting the Most Out of Your Yellow Card

The referee’s response to a foul or act of misconduct must match or exceed the severity of the player’s action. In other words, the more severe the act of the player, the greater importance the referee should place on ensuring his actions/response send a message that the behavior displayed by the player will not be tolerated. The message the referee sends must not only be received by the player for whom it is intended but also to the other players, coaches, and spectators. An effective message that matches or exceeds the situation is the most effective tool in the referee’s ability to “draw his line in the sand.” By “drawing the line in the sand,” the referee provides the players, coaches, and spectators with measurable and visual evidence of what is acceptable behavior in that game.

The referee who merely relies on the issuance of a card (yellow or red) to send messages is a reactive official – an official who does not use his personality to prevent the next foul. Referees need to manage the game with their personality by picking the appropriate method of managing or dealing with a player.

Remember, the best referee is the referee who is seen and heard when the game requires the referee to be seen and heard.

Generally speaking, there is a continuum of referee actions needed to ensure that the referee’s response matches the severity of the offence. Top level referees find ways to send messages aside from using the whistle. They also utilize down time (when the ball is out of play) to connect with players. Often times the connection can be positive communication and encouragement. And give consideration: In response to every misconduct situation, referees do not need to reach for and display a card immediately. At certain times, a calculated and diligent approach to the issuance of a card is best.

By slightly delaying the “card” or “no card” decision, referees give themselves valuable seconds to assess the situation and to consider the action in context of the game and in context of the player who has committed the infraction. During this brief pause, the referee can make eye contact with the ARs and/or fourth official if needed to get their perspective. This almost inconspicuous pause can lead to more thought out decisions versus reactive decisions based upon emotion.

The following is brief overview of three important referee responses on the continuum:

Quiet word - During the run of play, referees can have a quiet word with players. This allows players to feel the referee’s presence prior to the referee blowing the whistle. Additionally, there are some fouls for which a quiet word is an appropriate response by the referee. The referee can run with the player as the player moves to position and during the movement convey the selected message.
Isolating the player - Once the referee has whistled the foul, the referee can opt to move the player aside and have a one-on-one conversation. The isolation of the player sends a broader message that will resonate with all game participants and is a visual message to spectators and the media that the player’s actions were not acceptable. By looking the player in the eye, the referee sends a stronger message and can use his personality to convey his displeasure. The “look” (body language) and tone of voice chosen by the referee is important as it must also match the severity of the offense. This tactic also slows the game down and gives the referee and the player’s time to think about their actions. Remember, the referee must always be under control and calm when demonstrating his displeasure and communicating with the players and coaches.
Issuing of a card - If talking with the player(s) has not worked, the referee should then consider a stronger message which would be the issuance of a yellow or red card. This does not restrict the referee from going directly to a card should the severity of the offence mandate it. Once again, however, the referee must make sure that the appropriate communication accompanies the displaying of the card. In many instances, the quick isolation of the player while the card is displayed is critical in getting the right message across.

Another way to learn...

2008-10-07T23:48:00.003-06:00

Countless number of times on my drive home after a match I've review a game in my head. Sometimes you wonder how you could've managed an incident different or handled that problem player a little better.

We all have a lot to learn. Sometimes you can learn from another referee's experience, too. So I want to try something new. If you have a question that comes up shoot me an email. I won't post your name or the specifics of the match, but we can look at the general question and explore the answers.

With a few examples from you I'm sure we can have a weekly topic.

Uniforms - Part 1

2008-10-05T12:34:00.003-06:00

This topic comes up a lot and for good reason. We stress the importance of referees wearing the appropriate uniform constantly; how it immediately buys you more creditability, is what is required of us and isn't too difficult to achieve. But somehow every weekend when I'm out at the complex I see several examples of how not to dress. This is not to say that as a group we aren't doing well. In fact I would say we're certainly moving in the right direction as far as the uniform goes. But even a few people choosing not to adhere make the whole group look bad. So today we'll look at a few common questions that are asked regarding uniforms...

"Why do you even bother worrying about uniforms? "

Besides it being our job to look appropriate (remember, you're being contracted by the leagues to do a job) dressing properly is simply a facet of taking this seriously. We have to try to do this job to the best of our ability and that includes looking the part. What do you think when a team shows up two minutes before kickoff with mismatched uniforms and doesn't even warm-up? Do you see how teams feel when we show up without our shirts tucked in and our socks sagging to our ankles?

"Can I wear a hat or sunglasses while I do the game?"

I personally stay away from wearing either sunglasses or a hat no matter what league I'm working with. You'll never see a professional referee wearing a hat or sunglasses. Specifically, under NISOA and NFHS rules referees are allowed to wear "solid black caps" during games. USSF doesn't mention that hats are allowed under the Guide to Procedures. They do make this mention of sunglasses/hats in the Q&A section of the website: "Under normal circumstances its not permitted for referees to wear headgear of any kind." My opinion is that we don't allow players to wear hats and sunglasses, so you should do the same.
[This advice doesn't apply to those who have medical conditions that require them to cover their head or eyes for any reason.]

"Can I wear jewelry when I'm doing a game?"

Just like I said above: If the players aren't allowed to wear something, why should we wear it? The exception, of course, is that we have to wear watches. This isn't a piece of jewelry instead its a tool. Other than the watch I say get rid of the earrings, bracelets (Lance will get over you not wearing the band for 90 minutes) and other adornment items. How can you tell a player to remove the very thing you're wearing?

As you could've guessed from the title of this post we'll break this up into two parts. I know its a dry topic, so let's just fix it so we can move on. Since it affects us all let's take it upon ourselves to clean up our appearance. People may think I'm a little bit of a jerk for asking my AR's to remove jewelry or leave their sunglasses in the bag, but I'm doing it for the good of the group. So let's help each other out and make sure we all look professional out there.

In the next few weeks we are going to be on the look out for referees caught looking professional. If you're one of the lucky ones who gets tagged for dressing right we'll reward you with a prize. So pull up those socks!

Dealing with sideline abuse

2008-09-11T23:57:00.002-06:00

Sideline abuse is something we all have witnessed, either in our game or another game near us.

For those of you who were at the ASRA meeting this past Tuesday this will be a bit of a repeat. Doug Cotter, our SRA, gave a great speech outlining the issue of sideline abuse, explaining how it affects all of us (specifically our youth and new referees) and calling us to join together and do something about it. The need to discuss this issue came up at the same time a great article featuring Brian Hall was published on Soccer America's website.

If you haven't already seen the article that featured Brian Hall and the issue of Sideline Abuse check it out here. Because I wasn't able to get permission to re-post the article word for word you'll need to click the link and read it on their website. The points that were brought up in that article have been floating around for a while. If you have traveled to out of state tournaments or know someone who has the concept of "Ask, Tell, Remove" won't be new to you. This process of dealing with sideline behavior has been tested with a great deal of success on MLS Coaches. We can learn from the success and hopefully apply the theory to how we control the benches and the fans.

So what is "Ask, Tell, Remove"? Its an approach that we take with coaches or fans to directly address poor sideline behavior. First, you "ask" the coach to refrain from continuing to behave badly. If this step doesn't fix the issue, you move onto "telling" the coach to stop the behavior and that continuing to act this way will result in his "removal" from the match. Hall makes a great point in the interview which is to leave the coach with the decision in his hands. "If you continue to act this way I will remove you from the game. The decision is yours." That way it is clear what the consequence will be. You don't make the choice, the person misbehaving decides to change (and stay in the game) or leave (carry on with the problem behavior). Remember that if you tell them to stop and it doesn't stop you have no choice but to remove them from the game.

Some of you may already be doing this in your games. If so that's great, keep it up. For many of us this technique can be helpful with not only coaches and fans but also players. You can think of the "ask" part as a verbal warning, the "tell" could be a caution and the "remove" is the ejection. But why do we need to address the sideline behavior? I hear a lot of referees comment that they heard a fan using profanity but it "didn't bother me, so I let it go." Or other times they say that we ignore a problem coach because its the best way to deal with it. Maybe you can handle these things in your game, but that's really not the point. The negative behavior is a detriment to the game and has no place in it. No one enjoys someone yelling profanity or shouting at players rudely. We must deal with this and put an end to it.

Local leagues and the Youth and Adult Associations are working hard on fixing these issues. They need our help to control this problem and they will support our decisions. This is not a directive to go out and send-off both coaches for a mere comment. We must work with coaches respectfully to communicate our expectations. If fans are causing a problem ask for help from coaches or a field marshal (if you're lucky enough to have one) if you don't feel comfortable addressing a fan directly. Never try to start a confrontation. Even if you have to dismiss someone, do it professionally. Keep this in mind when you think to yourself that you can handle the abuse coming from the sideline:

Would you want a youth referee to endure the same treatment?

If the answer is no, deal with it. Cleaning up the sidelines will go a long way towards retaining referees. And for any coach or parent reading this, think about your actions and the actions of those around you this Saturday. How would you feel if those words were directed at your child? Stand up and say something!

Details

2008-09-03T10:52:00.002-06:00

They say it's all in the details and in the world of soccer refereeing that is certainly true.

We talk a lot about the "big decisions" that you, as a referee, must make throughout the game. But anyone who watches a great referee perform knows that its not just the big decisions that separate the good from the amazing. If you pay close attention to that referee you will see small actions form a certain synergy that helps his or her game go smoothly. We'll dig deeper into each element in later posts but for now let's just look at a few easy ones:

Manage your assignments. Especially during the fall season we find ourselves inundated with games. You could practically do several games every day if you were so inclined. That makes it easy to forget about a match or double book yourself. Try your best to keep track of it all. If you have to turn-back an assignment do it as soon as possible and always be polite.

Appearance. Haven't we all heard this one before? Then why does it always come up again? Because people still show up looking shabby. This one is easy and does you a lot of good. Just try it, trust me.

Preparation. It shows when you have done a little research about the two teams before showing up. You seem in control when you know what's riding on a game. Having all your gear with you , allowing enough time to show up to the game and doing a proper pre-game gives creditability to you as a referee. Never do a game that is above your fitness level.

Learn. The is a host of information out there. If you really want to do a great job at this you need to become a student of the game. Don't know where to find more information? Reach out and we'll guide you in the right direction. It's great to see that weird situation in the game that no one knows how to handle and then see a confident referee educate everyone on how it should be resolved.

I'm thinking next week we'll take a close look one of the Laws of the Game that can help us focus on the details. Happy Refereeing!

Risk Taking

2008-08-28T22:43:00.003-06:00

Have you heard about this one? Many of us who have had the opportunity to travel to tournaments or regularly follow the US Soccer Communications have probably come across this new phrase. What does it mean and how does it affect us?

In reality, although the term is fairly new, the concept has been around for a long time. Risk Taking means using a variety of management techniques to control a match, allow game flow to develop and limit unnecessary involvement from the referee crew. Maybe you've see it in one of the night games at UNM Stadium or on your television. The referee sees a foul, but chooses to "take a risk" and let play continue. Keep in mind this can be very different from calling advantage or ruling that a foul is trivial. Let's take a look at a few clips....

Risk Taking, Clip 1

Risk Taking, Clip 2

Per USSF the first clip was a good example of risk taking. The play continued, players acknowledged the referee's decision to not call the foul and overall the game does well. The second example shows us how its vital to be able to recognize a serious foul, one that cannot be allowed to play through and is not a good candidate for taking a risk.

Now let's take another thing into consideration: The games we do aren't the same as MLS. To many that's an obvious statement, but it cannot go without saying. When we look at examples like those above or read over communications from USSF we need to carefully apply a filter to the advice. There is always a wealth of good information but its our job to adapt the lesson to our situations. Sure you can get away with not calling a foul when you are dealing with professional players and coaches who (normally) behavior in a respectful manner. Now that same foul may get you in a lot of trouble on that Sunday game. Don't let your game get out of control and then tell the Assessor afterwards you didn't call that tackle from behind because you were "taking a risk."

So why do we even bother looking at the higher level matches if they don't always directly apply to our games? As anyone who trains for an activity knows: You have to aspire to be better than where you are now. You learn from those that are above you in ability and even if you can't perform at the same tier now its good to watch it. When new ideas hit the community don't be afraid to use them--just be careful. Perhaps we can take smaller risks, like being able to read a game and understand when you can allow a little more contact or wait that extra second for advantage to develop before blowing the whistle.

It's these little changes that you can apply to your game and make it that much better without having the police get called to one of your matches.

Notice something?

2008-08-18T18:26:00.004-06:00

I'm trying my best to keep this website fairly interesting. I know all the training material can be a little dry so that's why 'm trying to shake it up a little. Let me know what you think about the changes.

In the meantime you've probably noticed the new logo. Its nothing official yet, just me playing around with our current logo. Do you like it? Is it horrible? Only one way for me to know and that involves you typing an email. Come on, I know you can....

Disallowed Goal from a Pass Back Violation

2008-08-17T11:29:00.002-06:00

Several times in games you find yourself having to make a series of difficult decisions in quick succession. Its easy to get overwhelmed in these situations and make a simple mistake. We've all had that moment in a game where we get flustered and find ourselves making an easy call difficult and then having an even bigger issue on our hands. Let's look at this video and see how the referee crew made several correct decisions, none of which were tough calls by themselves but when put together created what was probably a very stressful situation for the officials. See how they work together and got the decisions right!

Alright, let's start at the beginning. First, they recognize that a "pass back violation" has occurred. Although the pass back to the goalkeeper was a long kick, all the conditions were met for this to be an offense:

The ball was kicked (played by the foot) by a teammate of the goalkeeper
The act was considered to be deliberate (not a deflection)
The goalkeeper handles the ball directly (no interfering play from when ball was kicked)

It's important to note that if the ball had gone into the net despite the efforts by the goalkeeper to prevent this the referee would have allowed the goal (applied advantage). Instead, the indirect free kick was awarded and the referee allowed a quick free kick to take place. The quick kick was allowed because the ball was stationary, near (enough) to the location of the infraction and there was no other reason to slow play down (injury or misconduct). However the player taking the quick kick forgot that it was an indirect free kick and therefore kicked the ball directly into the net.

The referee made quick eye-contact with the AR to make sure there was no contact with the ball before it entered the net and then announced that the goal was not valid. The thing I like most about this sequence of events is how the whole crew worked together. The AR flagged the initial violation, the referee allowed the quick take, the 4th official communicated with the coach and the AR silently told the Referee there was no contact as the ball when into the net. All this teamwork made it easy to get the call right.

So, what is the restart? First one to email me the correct restart will get a prize!

Referee Summit

2008-08-13T11:06:00.002-06:00

This past weekend the State Referee Committee called together the "powers" of soccer and we had a great meeting regarding the dire state of refereeing in NM and how that impacts soccer as a whole. Communication is vital for any program to operate properly and we saw this weekend that we have a ways to go to repair the lines of communication. Lots of ideas were passed back and forth by representatives of leagues, associations and various referee groups.

But this is only the beginning.

It's said that half the battle is identifying the problem and possible solutions. This may be true enough, yet it seems the last half of this battle is akin to climbing a mountain. I believe the biggest challenge we face is not identifying the problem - that's easy enough - but actually acting on our plans. We don't always get the results we want but any action is better than none. We have to utilize all the resources we have available before we can ask for more, period.

There was a lot of discussion of who was responsible for fixing the problem. The answer is clear: It's a responsibility shared by us all. Leagues need referees to do their games, state associations need quality referees to raise the level of play across the state and referees need more numbers so we don't burn out doing 80 games a season.

What, then, are we going to do? Its easy to sit back and say "there's nothing I can do as a humble [insert title]." That's just not going to cut it if we want to succeed. So let's continue the discussion. You are the referee community, what are your thoughts? What do you see causing over 80% of our new referees choosing to call it quits in their first year? How can you help? Keep an eye out for future communication as we take action on ideas brought up this weekend. If you happen to get called upon to help please try and do so. Its an investment that will pay off. Because no one wants to have to be doing 4 games a weekend with no AR's, right?

Well...there are a few of you out there that don't mind that but I bet that you sometimes long for a break, too.

Orion Reports on Youth Nationals

2008-07-29T23:41:00.006-06:00

[Orion Stradford was selected to represent Region IV at the Youth Championships. Here's what he had to say about the experience...]

I'm back from the US Youth Soccer Championships in Little Rock, Arkansas. The tournament was from Monday, July 21st to Sunday, July 27th. We all flew in on Monday and met at the hotel to go out to eat. After dinner, the first referee meeting was at 10:00 pm. We discussed the tournament and received our first assignments. The games did not begin until Wednesday, leaving Tuesday for more meetings and the player luncheon.

On Tuesday, Brian Hall instructed us on refereeing with your personality, and using it to prevent fouls instead of solely relying on your whistle, and using your presence and body language while refereeing. One of the newer topics US Soccer is putting forward to referees is the balance of Game Control, Game Flow and Risk Taking. This topic was presented again at Tuesday's training. After the morning training we went to the player luncheon and trophy presentation. It was a very exciting presentation, as the 12 referees who worked last years' finals carried in the trophies. After the luncheon, we all drove out to Burns Park to check the fields. They all looked great and were all approximately 110 x 75.

Finally by Wednesday we'd have our first shot at games. My first match was U 16 Girls, on field #4 in the Center at 9:30 am. It was Sting Royal from North Texas vs Eclipse Select from Illinois. The final was 2-2, no cautions, no problems. A pretty mellow first game. Wednesday's training was at 2:00pm after the morning games. Brian Hall was the instructor again. His topics for this session were proper hydration and nutrition. Two referees had gone down in the heat already from the morning games, as the high temperatures had neared the 100s and humidity in the 80% range.

Thursday's match was another Center at 9:30 am, U 15 Boys, Baltimore Bays from Maryland vs Dallas Texans which the Bays won 2-0. In the first half I called a penalty kick for Baltimore. As their attacker got into the penalty area the goal keeper came out and tried to smother the ball, it began to bounce around with the attacker being able to come up with it. The keeper then swiped at the attacker's legs, fouling him. Baltimore converted the PK. Late in the first half, a Baltimore player was shielding the ball near the halfway line and the touch line. His achilles was raked by the cleat of the Dallas defender, the response being a push to the face which I deemed unsporting behavior (not violent conduct) and chewed him out and showed him a yellow card. In the second half, Baltimore scored their second goal. Dallas had the ball in their own half, and at an attempt to play a long ball, the ball hit a Baltimore player on the arm. My thought was "no handball as the ball did all of the work on that one" and allowed play to continue. The player spotted a teammate upfield, sent him a pass along the ground which he collected, and in one move was able to beat his defender and score, for the final score of 2-0. Needless to say, the Dallas coached were not very pleased at the end of this one!

On Friday, I did two ARs. U 18 Girls, Colorado Rush defeated the Sting from North Texas 1-0. U 17 Boys Ohio North defeated Cal North 2-1. The centers for these games were Dario Urrutia from New York, and Armando Villareal from South Texas. These two referees were absolutely fantastic and I imagine have very promising refereeing careers ahead of them!

Saturday was the first day of Championship Matches, for the U 14s and U15s. I did not receive an assignment for that night, so I was able to go out and just watch soccer for a change!

On Sunday I was assigned a "5th Official" for the U 16 Boys Final. Doug Wolff was in the Center. He is a grade 4 referee from Missouri, and a very good referee. He displayed a very positive demeanor with the players, and yet was authoritative and under control at all times in this match. The U 16 Boys championship was won by the Dallas Texas 2-0 over Cal North.

All-in-all this was a very great experience for me as a referee. It provided new challenges, new outlooks and perspectives on the game, and gave me a chance to make many new friends from all over the country.

Thanks for the report, Orion, and also for doing a great job representing all referees from NM. Its quite the honor and we appreciate all your hard work!

Director's Cup Report

2008-07-22T09:31:00.002-06:00

Sometimes you don't know how a tournament is going to go until the last day.

This weekend I found myself in Kirkwood, Delaware for the Director's Cup. I will admit that my expectations were not that high; I still prepared myself mentally and physically to do my best. Boy did I need it. The quality of the games aside, there were many things that challenged the referees.

Weather. Most of us here in New Mexico are used to doing games when its hot outside. However, its rare that we're doing games when there is a heat advisory posted. The temperatures reached the upper 90's and with humidity in the upper 80's to say it was muggy was an understatement. Two referees dropped, one of whom had to be hospitalized. This stresses the importance of preparing by hydrating for a tournament. If you wait until the first day or even the night before you often are not ready.

Concentration. Sometimes its easy for us to be on a match that isn't the most challenging and lose focus. This leads to costly mistakes that not only impact the players (who are doing their best) but also the way you're rated. This applies to us here at home, too: when you are doing a match do your absolute best. While sometimes you may not feel like its the most important game of the day, the players deserve your best performance. Work hard and it will pay off.

Cooperation. I found myself in a few situations that felt awkward during the game, mainly because I had never worked with the other members of the crew before. If you are planning to take your game to the next level you have to be able to work well with others. In my case luckily there were no problems encountered but it reminded me how important it is to cover details in your pregame. When you're home and working with someone you do games with every week you can anticipate what they'll do. When its someone new (and this can happen at home, too) you need to talk it through before the match so you can avoid miscommunication.

Overall the tournament was a good experience. It was nice to "network" with other referees and see how they call things in Region I, II and III. I think everyone who attended learned a lot and certainly broadened their horizons. My helpful advice to you is when you go out of state to work a tournament always try to build relationships with other referees. Not only is it fun to interact with other people who share your passion but it also will open doors to future opportunities.

Finally, the adage that someone is always watching rings true. This weekend I saw that hard work pays off and often times in ways you wouldn't imagine at first. NEVER be discouraged and "give up" on a tournament. If you put in the effort you will be rewarded. Trust me.

Far West Regionals

2008-06-25T23:50:00.003-06:00

It was an excellent year for NM Referees at FWR 2008 in Hawaii. This year we brought eight referees (Matt Presser, Marc Laws, Amanda Forletta, Orion Stradford, Mark Merritt, Clayton Merritt, Matthew Morelock and myself) as well as one assessor (David Vehar). All of the crew did very well and we made a strong showing; three of the eight were assigned to final matches and two will be going to national tournaments.

Special Congrats to those who got finals:

Amanda

Orion

Kris

Orion will be going to the Youth Nationals in Little Rock, AR and I will be going to the Directors Cup in Kirkwood, DE. I think we should all be proud of how our referees did. If you happen to see one of the referees from the FWR crew please ask them for some tips and tricks they picked up from Regionals. Also, think ahead to next year - it's never too early to start working on getting noticed for the 2009 crew.

AGM

2008-06-07T13:15:00.002-06:00

Just got back from the Annual General Meeting for the state association. It was good to meet the people from around New Mexico that put so much time and energy into making soccer better. We identified a lot of areas for growth and I can see that there is a lot of work to be done. Here are my initial thoughts:

*Local leagues each face unique challenges. Some having issues with not having enough adult referees, others have extreme financial hurdles and others need help getting referees registered.
*No matter what the location we simply need more development. Referees must invest a lot of time in order to get better.
*We need to work on better communication throughout the state. The focus needs to be on helping each other get better, not dwell on differences.
*I'll be traveling a lot and hopefully get out to some of the areas that haven't had that attention before.
*Retention is key to having a strong base of referees. If we lose someone in their first year we've wasted an investment of time and money. The longer referees stay the more experience they have to help them deal with a variety of situations.
*Parents and coaches need to step up and help us deal with the serious threat of referee abuse. That's the only way we can keep people around.

Nothing like a good round table to focus our efforts. There is a lot of work to be done but I hope this will be a step in the right direction. We'll continue to build on our Game of the Week and other initiatives to ensure you guys are supported after we certify you.