Shot from the Centre Spot!

Hi Everyone

I learned two things this weekend whilst refereeing in the Morden and District League 3rd Division

1) This is embarrassing to admit, but maybe I'll help someone else NOT make the same mistake...

We were just about to start the second half, I blow my whistle to signal the start of the game and one of the players taking the kick-off ran up to the ball and 'PINGGED IT' (This is the phrase he later used to describe it). What this meant was from the centre spot he had the nerve to take a shot at goal. He was very close too, but the goalkeeper was alert and managed to catch it. This is where I become embarrassed because I whistle play back to the centre spot for a re-take where I was promptly told by MANY of the players that this can be done. I decided to accept what they were saying and he unbelievably tried it again with better luck getting a corner from the keeper tipping it over the bar.

Having checked my hand-book after the game it is clear that this IS allowed. I'm just thankful that it happened at the start of the second half and not the first as the players would have doubted my referee knowledge for a full 90 minutes, not to mention testing it!


2) Here is the second but more important lesson of the game...

Since the start of this session I've booked a LOT of players resulting in nearly 2 RED cards per game and one abandoned match. This had knocked my confidence in my abilities as a referee not to mention the fact that I'd not enjoyed refereeing as much as last session. Well this week I was determined to give it a real go and from the very first heavy challenge of the game I stamped my authority on the game with more verbal communication with the players, louder blows on the whistle shouting shirt colours for throw-in directions and keeping bad language in check (even when the language was between team-mates simply explaining to them that I was NOT going to accept that kind of language on MY PITCH!)

As a result we ended the game with ZERO cardings and a well played match all round. Many players came up to me to thank me for a good game including players shouting across the car-park as I left to say THANKS! I'm shocked, but have to admit I'd been told on other occasions that it's up to the ref. how well a game goes, but this proved it to me.

Moral of the story is to STAMP your authority on the game at the very beginning and let the players know that you won't tolerate a bad or dirty game of football.

Andy over and out :)