A&H

Trust your instincts

RegalRef

Politically Incorrect
Had a game this morning, taught a lesson that's easy to forget - trust your instincts.

Game at a place I'm a regular, Community Football Centre very close to me where they have about 10 real good quality pitches, mixture of full size and various smaller pitches for various age groups of kids.

Because of the first class facilities a lot of teams in most of the leagues I referee in play there, so I'm there quite a lot.

Anyway, 20 minutes into a game this morning, player chases a ball down to the edge of the pitch, momentum carries him out of the FOP and as he tries to stop before he hits the rope barrier separating the edge of the pitch he slips and falls over, much to the hilarity of his team mates, subs, manager etc who were all close by.

As I signal the goal kick and he gets up looking embarrassed I get ready to run to my position for the restart. I glance back and he looks distracted so I tell the keeper to hold it and check he's ok. I must admit I did think twice about doing so, I didn't want to make it worse for the lad after his team mates had basically taken the piss out of him for it.

As I got closer and asked him if he was ok he said yes, but I noticed he had a really nasty rope burn on his neck. Turns out when he slipped his neck landed on the nylon type yarn that separates the pitches, that blue stuff about 1/4" thick.

I told him about it and he said he was ok, but as he couldn't see the severity I told him to go off for a minute and at least put some water on it. Just after the restart I looked over to wave him back on and see him sat on the floor with others around him, now looking a bit concerned.

Turns out straight after he had a mild asthma attack. Could have been coincidence, could have been because of the embarrassment factor, but as he was next to his inhaler already off the pitch he was straight on it.

He made a full recovery and even came back on for the last 15 minutes. He shook my hand at the end and said thanks for ordering him off, he knew something wasn't right but wouldn't have gone of his own accord if I hadn't gone over.

So lesson learnt - trust your instincts!
 
The Referee Store
Well done mate.
It's also instinct for a lot of young players to play on no matter what the injury is, so a big part of our job is to take some responsibility for them.
 
Had a game this morning, taught a lesson that's easy to forget - trust your instincts.

Game at a place I'm a regular, Community Football Centre very close to me where they have about 10 real good quality pitches, mixture of full size and various smaller pitches for various age groups of kids.

Because of the first class facilities a lot of teams in most of the leagues I referee in play there, so I'm there quite a lot.

Anyway, 20 minutes into a game this morning, player chases a ball down to the edge of the pitch, momentum carries him out of the FOP and as he tries to stop before he hits the rope barrier separating the edge of the pitch he slips and falls over, much to the hilarity of his team mates, subs, manager etc who were all close by.

As I signal the goal kick and he gets up looking embarrassed I get ready to run to my position for the restart. I glance back and he looks distracted so I tell the keeper to hold it and check he's ok. I must admit I did think twice about doing so, I didn't want to make it worse for the lad after his team mates had basically taken the piss out of him for it.

As I got closer and asked him if he was ok he said yes, but I noticed he had a really nasty rope burn on his neck. Turns out when he slipped his neck landed on the nylon type yarn that separates the pitches, that blue stuff about 1/4" thick.

I told him about it and he said he was ok, but as he couldn't see the severity I told him to go off for a minute and at least put some water on it. Just after the restart I looked over to wave him back on and see him sat on the floor with others around him, now looking a bit concerned.

Turns out straight after he had a mild asthma attack. Could have been coincidence, could have been because of the embarrassment factor, but as he was next to his inhaler already off the pitch he was straight on it.

He made a full recovery and even came back on for the last 15 minutes. He shook my hand at the end and said thanks for ordering him off, he knew something wasn't right but wouldn't have gone of his own accord if I hadn't gone over.

So lesson learnt - trust your instincts!
Not so much instinct but habit, reffing OA game today whereupon two players jump and head the ball which they do but bang heads. Both go down clutching heads so i blow the whistle to stop play. Both still on the floor so i say to them "stay down " (always do it) one player sits up shakes his head then jumps up, other player still on floor holding his head can see he is in lot of pain so i say again "stay down your managers coming" Manager bends down asks if he is ok he says yes but as he takes his hand off his head blood everywhere soaking his head and hands ( if he tried to get straight up who knows?) Anyway player goes off 10 minutes later wants to come on (substitution) i check the bandage and say "if i see blood seeping through you are off" Ten minutes later i hear a shout " ref ! ref!" i look round the bandaged player is staggering all over the place, again i blow the whistle to stop play and he staggers off. So every head injury regardless i won't let them just jump up till i check them.
 
Not just about trusting your instinct - when your mindset is that you're there for the players and the game you won't think twice about taking a few moments for something like this.
Well done!!
 
Had a game this morning, taught a lesson that's easy to forget - trust your instincts.

Game at a place I'm a regular, Community Football Centre very close to me where they have about 10 real good quality pitches, mixture of full size and various smaller pitches for various age groups of kids.

Because of the first class facilities a lot of teams in most of the leagues I referee in play there, so I'm there quite a lot.

Anyway, 20 minutes into a game this morning, player chases a ball down to the edge of the pitch, momentum carries him out of the FOP and as he tries to stop before he hits the rope barrier separating the edge of the pitch he slips and falls over, much to the hilarity of his team mates, subs, manager etc who were all close by.

As I signal the goal kick and he gets up looking embarrassed I get ready to run to my position for the restart. I glance back and he looks distracted so I tell the keeper to hold it and check he's ok. I must admit I did think twice about doing so, I didn't want to make it worse for the lad after his team mates had basically taken the piss out of him for it.

As I got closer and asked him if he was ok he said yes, but I noticed he had a really nasty rope burn on his neck. Turns out when he slipped his neck landed on the nylon type yarn that separates the pitches, that blue stuff about 1/4" thick.

I told him about it and he said he was ok, but as he couldn't see the severity I told him to go off for a minute and at least put some water on it. Just after the restart I looked over to wave him back on and see him sat on the floor with others around him, now looking a bit concerned.

Turns out straight after he had a mild asthma attack. Could have been coincidence, could have been because of the embarrassment factor, but as he was next to his inhaler already off the pitch he was straight on it.

He made a full recovery and even came back on for the last 15 minutes. He shook my hand at the end and said thanks for ordering him off, he knew something wasn't right but wouldn't have gone of his own accord if I hadn't gone over.

So lesson learnt - trust your instincts!

I had similar last week while an AR.

At H/T player sat on his haunches - nothing unusual in that after 45' and it had been a fast paced half (Under 21s)

Don't know why, but I asked him if OK, he said "No not really, feel a bit dizzy" Told his manager , who spent less time asking after his health that I did!:eek: Me and two other officials then escorted him back to dressing room. On the way he told a team mate he couldn't see properly.

He didn't return for 2nd half, but did I did see him after the match and he was feeling much better.

As you say, if in doubt, always ask about a players well being if you're at all concerned.
 
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