Had my first OA men's game yesterday and felt like I needed to share my experience.
I'm currently doing my 5 games post course. I've been reffing unofficially at youth level for a while (between u11-u15 mainly) but recently decided to make the step up. As part of my five, I've done a couple of u11s boys, an u18's girls, an OA women's and now this was my first appointment at OA men's. I knew this would be a challenge, but my god, wasn't it just!
The game itself was at step 14 in the NLS so pretty much as far down as you can go. Home side are top of the league, a couple of wins away from sealing the title, away side are in 3rd with a couple of games in hand. Fair to say there was a bit riding on it!
So we get going and immediately I realise how much of as challenge it is going to be. Constant pushes and physicality on headed challenges in particular and persistent calling for fouls. Now where I went wrong was, I tried to let the game flow much like I have in previous matches. In hindsight now, I should have just blown up for everything in the first 10 minutes and let them know I'm watching. As it happens I didn't, then home side go through down the right hand side, makes his way in to the box, defenders hands all over him and he goes down and I blow for the pen. I can honestly say now, it was soft but made worse because I'd not given anything like that previously. They score it, go in 1-0 up at half time, immediately have away coach in my face moaning about it. If I'm honest with myself, I don't blame him.
Second half, I decide to lower my threshold and I'm giving much more both ways and the game seems to go much better than the first half. Away side grab an equaliser which I'm secretly pleased with, as I may get out of the car park afterwards! Then Home side get a corner, I see him place the ball in the quadrant and I start observing what is going on in the box. Corner comes in, bullet header at the back post and it's 2-1. Away side then moan that the wind had blown the ball out of the quadrant as he struck it. I didn't see this and I've already given the goal.
Last 20 minutes obviously tensions rise but nothing spills over too much. I blow for a foul on the home #11 and have a word (which in hindsight again, should just have been a yellow) and he gives me a bit of sarcasm back. I spoke to the home captain and told him he's on a final warning before I reach for cards and that dies down. Away side are constantly complaining of time wasting at the end which I assure them all the time is going back on (played a good 4 and a half minutes over).
Ends 2-1 and away side don't bother with any handshakes apart from the goalkeeper to his credit. Obviously no issues with the home side!
Not the greatest of starts at that level in all honesty but the second half has given me a bit of optimism as I felt I grew in to the game. That first half though did really do some damage that I could have easily avoided.
I'm currently doing my 5 games post course. I've been reffing unofficially at youth level for a while (between u11-u15 mainly) but recently decided to make the step up. As part of my five, I've done a couple of u11s boys, an u18's girls, an OA women's and now this was my first appointment at OA men's. I knew this would be a challenge, but my god, wasn't it just!
The game itself was at step 14 in the NLS so pretty much as far down as you can go. Home side are top of the league, a couple of wins away from sealing the title, away side are in 3rd with a couple of games in hand. Fair to say there was a bit riding on it!
So we get going and immediately I realise how much of as challenge it is going to be. Constant pushes and physicality on headed challenges in particular and persistent calling for fouls. Now where I went wrong was, I tried to let the game flow much like I have in previous matches. In hindsight now, I should have just blown up for everything in the first 10 minutes and let them know I'm watching. As it happens I didn't, then home side go through down the right hand side, makes his way in to the box, defenders hands all over him and he goes down and I blow for the pen. I can honestly say now, it was soft but made worse because I'd not given anything like that previously. They score it, go in 1-0 up at half time, immediately have away coach in my face moaning about it. If I'm honest with myself, I don't blame him.
Second half, I decide to lower my threshold and I'm giving much more both ways and the game seems to go much better than the first half. Away side grab an equaliser which I'm secretly pleased with, as I may get out of the car park afterwards! Then Home side get a corner, I see him place the ball in the quadrant and I start observing what is going on in the box. Corner comes in, bullet header at the back post and it's 2-1. Away side then moan that the wind had blown the ball out of the quadrant as he struck it. I didn't see this and I've already given the goal.
Last 20 minutes obviously tensions rise but nothing spills over too much. I blow for a foul on the home #11 and have a word (which in hindsight again, should just have been a yellow) and he gives me a bit of sarcasm back. I spoke to the home captain and told him he's on a final warning before I reach for cards and that dies down. Away side are constantly complaining of time wasting at the end which I assure them all the time is going back on (played a good 4 and a half minutes over).
Ends 2-1 and away side don't bother with any handshakes apart from the goalkeeper to his credit. Obviously no issues with the home side!
Not the greatest of starts at that level in all honesty but the second half has given me a bit of optimism as I felt I grew in to the game. That first half though did really do some damage that I could have easily avoided.
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