First 11 a side game in over 10 seasons!

Yesterday evening go out to watch the grandson play. Under 14s fixture, no referee allocated and this would have meant the grandsons coach having to referee , leaving no one to manage/coach the team.

So with a borrowed whistle, no pen, no paper, no coin, no cards, one watch, jeans and sweatshirt I filled the breach. Now what is it I say to new refs on the course, first impressions, creating chemistry etc!!!

Anyway some 70 minutes later it finished 5-3 , just shy of 10,000 steps covering 6.5k it was all done. No dramas, no coaches shouting, no parents shouting, CARs thanked for their assistance.

An enjoyable evening and this morning not too many aches and pains, in fact less than after ref duties in the county walking football league fixtures the previous day.

Surprised by the amount of pulling and tugging committed by players, appalled by the amount of foul throw ins by so many players, next week??? …..I think I’ll just celebrate my 66th birthday instead …..but who knows

Well did a second game on Sunday, again helping out my grandsons team. Better equipped this time and at least looking like a referee and properly attired

I know I shouldn’t be shocked or amazed but I had a CAR appeal for a foul throw! A quick stern look put that to bed but then much later in the game challenged a decision by saying it was a bit harsh! A more public rebuke followed asking him to concentrate on his duties and to perhaps show a better example to the under 14 players.

Coaches deliberately and obviously ignoring the match ball when it had gone out of play and making opposing players go and fetch it when they could quite easily kick or pass it to them to keep the game moving. Coaches encouraging time wasting by their goalkeeper (didn’t work as I just added time) but why do they feel this is part of the game?

Foul throws again off the 6 or so players taking the throws only one consistently did it right. I was very lenient but pulled a few back when obvious advantages had been gained. Feeling exasperated when giving another one and being near to the coaches at the time of doing so asked the coaches to please include how to take throw ins in future training sessions. They responded that I should be showing them! Sorry but by under 14s players should know how to take throws in my opinion.

End of the game , one handshake from a player, one handshake from a coach accompanied by an apology saying , “It was just in the moment”

Having done these two matches I now have a far greater understanding of the pressures put on to young referees at levels where coaches (and parents) should know better.

Anyway , cathartic release done now for a week away and no football.