No extra credit for the rain unfortunately, nor for the fact that I had two games this morning. However, I had the dubious privilege of refereeing on a third generation pitch for the first time and overseeing a truly extraordinary last few minutes in the second match.
The temperature was already high, but you can probably guess the pandemonium of match that went from a relatively (and that's the operative word) stable 3-3 from the penalty spot to 4-3 with a 25-yard own goal, a last minute home equaliser for 4-4, and a winner for the away side following a speculative ball through the middle from the ensuing kick off. Last attack logic on my part.. It was very poor defending admittedly.
Never mind these circumstances, I would like to address a few questions prompted by the match. Thank you in advance.
1) Towards the end of the second half, I played advantage for the home side after a robust 'coming together', deciding the culprit of which was quite difficult. The away coach unsurprisingly saw it the other way and ran across the pitch to check his player at the subsequent stoppage (home free-kick, which further aggrieved him). His player had come off worse (which didn't help), but there was the ulterior motive of demanding explanation from me while arguing with a parent who had wandered over. His captain also became involved, narrowly escaping a booking as I intervened early. Even if I did get it wrong, I told him I was not in any way required to have this conversation at that moment and that I would talk to him afterwards, if he so wished. He gave the impression that he was going to give me a piece of his mind, but he did co-operate in leaving the pitch. Given that this had followed a number of pedantic remarks and sustained questioning, should I have gone a step further and dismissed him?
2) At one point, the home keeper saved a shot with, let's say, his sensitive parts! He had possession (hands) and I was waiting for him to recover. He stayed down with the ball, and soon the coach and players were surrounding him. Now, I certainly should have stopped play at this point, and the easiest thing would have been to have an uncontested dropped ball (also the common sense option). For some reason, I allowed him to kick from his hands. Admitting this error, I'm now wondering whether the home team committed an offence under the new laws. Restarting with a penalty in that situation would have been tricky, but is it technically correct? See 3.7 (page 36). As I understand it, that covers interference other than denying goals. The coach had interfered with the ball in play with no permission to enter the field.
Finally, not that this happened, but just a query about the goal kick amendment. To clarify, if the ball is kicked directly into one's own goal 'without leaving the penalty area' (e.g. a keeper backheeling it accidentally), that is a retaken goal-kick, not a corner. I'm presuming the goal is always part of the penalty area for these purposes.
Apologies for the long post, but the match was a detailed affair! Good luck with refereeing duties tomorrow.
The temperature was already high, but you can probably guess the pandemonium of match that went from a relatively (and that's the operative word) stable 3-3 from the penalty spot to 4-3 with a 25-yard own goal, a last minute home equaliser for 4-4, and a winner for the away side following a speculative ball through the middle from the ensuing kick off. Last attack logic on my part.. It was very poor defending admittedly.
Never mind these circumstances, I would like to address a few questions prompted by the match. Thank you in advance.
1) Towards the end of the second half, I played advantage for the home side after a robust 'coming together', deciding the culprit of which was quite difficult. The away coach unsurprisingly saw it the other way and ran across the pitch to check his player at the subsequent stoppage (home free-kick, which further aggrieved him). His player had come off worse (which didn't help), but there was the ulterior motive of demanding explanation from me while arguing with a parent who had wandered over. His captain also became involved, narrowly escaping a booking as I intervened early. Even if I did get it wrong, I told him I was not in any way required to have this conversation at that moment and that I would talk to him afterwards, if he so wished. He gave the impression that he was going to give me a piece of his mind, but he did co-operate in leaving the pitch. Given that this had followed a number of pedantic remarks and sustained questioning, should I have gone a step further and dismissed him?
2) At one point, the home keeper saved a shot with, let's say, his sensitive parts! He had possession (hands) and I was waiting for him to recover. He stayed down with the ball, and soon the coach and players were surrounding him. Now, I certainly should have stopped play at this point, and the easiest thing would have been to have an uncontested dropped ball (also the common sense option). For some reason, I allowed him to kick from his hands. Admitting this error, I'm now wondering whether the home team committed an offence under the new laws. Restarting with a penalty in that situation would have been tricky, but is it technically correct? See 3.7 (page 36). As I understand it, that covers interference other than denying goals. The coach had interfered with the ball in play with no permission to enter the field.
Finally, not that this happened, but just a query about the goal kick amendment. To clarify, if the ball is kicked directly into one's own goal 'without leaving the penalty area' (e.g. a keeper backheeling it accidentally), that is a retaken goal-kick, not a corner. I'm presuming the goal is always part of the penalty area for these purposes.
Apologies for the long post, but the match was a detailed affair! Good luck with refereeing duties tomorrow.
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