Making the step up to OA this weekend with a line in the Herts Senior League, with a view to doing them every other week (can't miss Stevenage
) to gain some experience before picking up an open age whistle...
Any tips or tricks for my first few games?
Listen to the ref at his pre-game chat, and if he doesn't have one, ask him instead.
Every decision is important, no matter how small it may look.
Don't be hasty with your offside decision making. Take a second to consider PIG and then flag if required. A correct, late call is better than a wrong, quick one.
Learn how to look to the left with your left eye and across the pitch with your right eye!!
Follow the ball to the goal line always. Nothing worse than stopping because you think a keeper will collect, he fumbles and you're not in position to see if the ball did cross the line or not.
Be smart (look the part), be focused (ignore the crowd speak around you), be positive (big, bold, clear signals).
Enjoy it. I enjoy my lines and I like the teamwork it involves and some of it rubs off on you when you get to do middles.
And finally, be prepared. I always go out with my cards, pencils, watch (don't forget to start it when the ref blows to begin the halves), whistle (always 2 of each!) because I'm prepared for the scenario of a ref getting injured.
Brush up on the substitution laws and procedures in place and assist accordingly.
And all that was longer than I intended.