The Ref Stop

Refereeing Championships/Higher Pressure Games

N

NOVARef

Active Member
I'm not sure how you guys get assigned games for youth matches, but for me in the Washington DC area, assignors post their matches on a website/app and we can review them and request specific matches. There are several end of season tournaments in my area this weekend so assignors are desperate for referees. I saw two games Saturday afternoon that fit my schedule. One needed a center referee and the other needed an AR. Perfect! I requested the two games and I was assigned them. The teams playing were not entered at the time. I went to the tournament website to see which teams were playing, and I found out that they were both Championships in the top division (U14 and U15s). Although I've been refereeing for 4 years now, I've never refereed a championship before. However, I've refereed more competitive regular season games for older kids, but refereeing a championship, even if it's lower level, has me a bit stressed. If I would have known it was a championship, I probably would not have requested it. Championships raise the intensity/craziness of the parents, coaches, and players. With that all said...I'm still going to do it. But do you guys have any advice for conquering some nerves? Also, the pay is no different than play in games, so why do you referee championship games, if you do? Do you seek them out? Why? I just feel the added stress isn't worth it. Any words that can help me not stress/dread going into these games. I could use a pep talk. One thing I'm doing is brushing up on the laws for penalty shoot out in case it's tied. Thanks.
 
The Ref Stop
I don't know what alot of the above means, but one thing I'll say is that a few years ago, while still a level 4 referee (tier 9) I refereed a pre season friendly between a National league south (tier 6) and a Northern Premier league (tier 7) club. It was the easiest game I've ever refereed by a long way. Admittedly, as I said, it was a pre season, but a higher level of team doesn't always make the game harder to referee. Sometimes it can be easier.
Don't worry about the circumstances surrounding the match - just do you and you'll be fine. The assignors wouldn't have accepted you on to the games if they didn't think you were up to it.
 
We don't have the equivalent of Championships in England, our nearest being play off matches between teams that just missed promotion or escaped automatic relegation.
Just referee what they put in front of you - in the same way as any game you have done before. Ignore the white noise from spectators. Sort out the coaches if they over-step the mark.
Enjoy.
 
You don’t need to worry. It’s just another game. My 12th middle as a referee was a semi final and my 19th a final. Just turn up and referee it the same as any other game. At the end of the day, the LOTG are the same for every game, so you don’t need to change anything about your approach.
 
I have always actively sought out finals and asked for them. We have an online system and if there’s a grassroots or youth final I’ll do it, AR or middle. Flagging finals is great. Yes, a lot of added pressure as ref so prepare - good prematch, warm up, know the match rules for penalties etc!
 
I love them too. Higher skill level often means you’ll be able to anticipate play better and foul recognition is simpler because some of the sloppiness is removed. I love the challenge to myself and the crew in a pre match: “three teams on the pitch, all expecting a championship level performance. Home, away, and us. Let’s be the best team of the three.”

I find it focuses me, keeps my mind sharp, and that my performance rises with the level of the competition. So, I don’t make the kind of mistakes that pressurized fans and coaches feed off of. Set the tone early, expect to enjoy it and call it like you’ve earned it.
 
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