Refrod blowing away vs3

RefRod in the USA Rodric Leerling NJ State soccer referee (2007 - 2008) West I ZA-4 scheidsrechter (2009 - 2010)

Working one of my soccer games in Hoboken (just across the river from Manhattan)

Introduction Someone in Holland had told me that football refereeing in the US could be quite lucrative. She should know, because she was at time playing high level soccer in the US as goalkeeper, based on a scholarship. She also knew I was a soccer referee in Holland and heard about our plans to move to the US. `You should bring your certificates and apply for a referee weekend job while in the US´, she wrote me from Connecticut. What a great idea!

So, when we finally moved to the US for my new job in New York City, the Fall soccer season was in full swing. Too late to get involved at this stage. Many things had still to be organize in order to settle in. But, during the first weekends, I watched some games in our local park and asked the refs how they got the games assigned. After sending some personal info and my Dutch referee certificates, I was accepted and received my badge as the highest state league level ref, without doing any test. European soccer referees are clearly wanted and highly respected! Not knowing what to expect I ordered my US ref gear and just started working my first games in New Jersey. As the weekend were quite lonely without family and friends nearby, we as a family often visited games together and bring our food and drinks and enjoy the outdoor life in Spring and Fall. Following are several of my blogs written while in New Jersey.

The blogs continued after we returned to Holland, early 2009. It gives a good insight in what could happen, this time to a native Dutch referee sometimes comparing again to what he experiencd in the US.

Soccer Referee If you do on average 5 games per weekend as soccer referee, you tend to forget much of what happened during the day. Most of it wasn't worth writing about anyway. But some events linger in your head. Time to write down some funny situations and discussions we have sometimes. Just for fun. To learn for future occasions, who knows. Things to smile about when you re-read them after a while.

It's all taking place in New Jersey, East Coast USA. I'm refereeing in a Youth League Under 19, boys and girls. Almost always in a 3-man crew. Soccer (or: ‘football’ in the rest of the world) is part of the American sports experience for kids nowadays. Whether it will ever make it into the older levels and become a serious threat to baseball and American football remains a big question mark. Soccer training in this area is renowned for its English soccer schools and notorious for their coaches. Lots of referees working in my league are from direct European background, meaning they were born in Europe and immigrated later in life.

Last weekend we had a mixture of Irish, Bulgarian and me from the Low Countries. The week before it was Albanian, Kroatian, the week before that Russian and Turkish. Once the coaches get that message, they are more reluctant to be critical and the players think it's

cool to have European refs. So far, so good. But coaches can go mad and start barking at you. How I tackle these situations will form the future content of this blog. Keep reading!

Here comes the Dutch ref!

The very first game I was assigned to, was rained out. The Montclair city park grass pitch was simply drowned. The game was planned in our own town and the cancellation came in early. But I wanted to get in the mood and wanted to watch the game that was on, played on AstroTurf. To my big surprise, there was no referee. Coaches talking, players just kept doing their warming up. I couldn´t stand it and walked to the pitch. Asked what was going on, whether I could help as my game was cancelled. Yes? Could you? Sure! Back in 10 minutes! Raced back home, got my brand new gear in the car and drove back. Just to find out one ref just arrived and the other on his way. But, I could perform as assistant to the team was complete after all. Got to know my first colleague refs and the first money earned. On average $50 per game for the center ref (CR) and half of that for both assistant refs (AR).

Recreational teams do it for fun In my initial asking around how to become a New Jersey soccer ref, I was pointed to the local city soccer club. I sent an email and was invited for their next ref meeting. They were prepping new refs for Spring 07 season. On Monday night, a room was filled with youngsters, I guess not older than 16. Instructions were given, but nobody seemed to listen. Only when the topic ‘payment’ was announced, they became silent. How much per game? When to collect your money and split with your assistants etc.

Afterwards I met the organizer who was a bit surprised to see me. With my European skills I should do regional games, not his ‘rec games’. Sorry, your what games? ‘Rec games’! Short for ‘recreational games’. Just local teams playing each other in small competitions and staying on the same pitch for short games. He advised me to register for the ‘travel teams’ who needed more high level referees than his juvenile rioters who just applied because of the money. Most of them had no real idea about the rules and just counted the goals scored. Two refs for each half of the pitch! What a joke.

My daughter joined the local rec team just for fun and she is in this picture of 2008. I wasn’t even tempted to ref them!

Test, Test! My first official assignment was finally on and it turned out a day to check me out. Obviously. I arrived on time and was happy to be in possession of a Blackberry with navigator. No signs on the road pointing you to the soccer pitch (let alone soccer club!). A series of games were planned and I had to take over the next game on plan. The first was still going on. In my referee routine of reffing just one game back in Europe, I did my warming up and checked the nets of both goals, without disturbing the goalies too much.

Something one of the assistant refs clearly didn’t appreciate. “Hey, stop that!” he shouted.

“That’s not respecting our game!” I waved back and continued my warming up.

Next game, he turned out to be my assistant. I slowly got the drift of how the systems works. We work in turns and supposed to form a team for the series of games that morning or afternoon. And the AR wasn’t just an AR, he turned out to be one of the highest refs in the league and apparently here to judge my skills. Oops!

He clearly wanted to show me how stern the US refs were. Very serious pre-game instructions. What he would accept and what not. How the games should be played and that he didn’t accept any infringements of the rules. Next scene: girls U14, playing not the best of soccer. Goalie is keeping the ball in possession too long and without a polite warning, my all too serious ref shows a yellow card. The girl almost started to cry.

We tried to find out afterwards what the girl had done to earn this strong warning, but the only response we got was something in line of ‘rules are rules’.

I was on for my first game. Boys U16, bit more quality and speedy game. Easy job. Just got to get used to the calls, explaining my decisions in short phrases. But once they found out I was a European soccer ref, things got easier most of the time and coaches were happy with the clearly higher level of refereeing they had before.

Assignments. The system was quite different from what I was used to in Europe. This time, the US was further ahead of us in using online tools. All your games are listed latest on Thursday night before the weekend of games. You could ‘give them back’ and on Friday night, extra games became available for you to add to your schedule. First come, first serve.

Just some extra money while you were in the neighborhood anyway!

In the same assignment sheet, you could see the two assistants and of course the level, hence the money you can expect to earn.

At the end or start of each soccer season, Spring (March-June) and Fall (Aug-Nov), most refs got actively involved in big tournaments. Not that easy to get involved, as it turned out.

Mostly a fixed group of refs that were booked for each next season, basically. Try to get

squeezed in! Use friends to recommend you and you might have a chance. Which tournaments are nice to work and which ones are the pit? Asking around helped a lot and it took me six months of regular games to get invited for tournaments by the end of 2007.

Mostly free food and because of the high frequency of games (6-8 a day) the pay wasn’t bad either. Think $30/game on average x 8 = $200.

To manage such tournaments, you should have some kind of organizational skills.

Something Americans have in their genes. Most tournaments ran smoothly. I guess that most people involved got paid some way or the other. Teams pay money to participate and mostly stayed in hotels as they came from all over the state and sometimes beyond.

The managers running these tournaments were interesting characters. They could give you the real good games or the lousy ones.

The Russians do it bribing. This is the story of the Russian referee assigned with 2 other refs on a Saturday afternoon in the park. I happened to be one of them. He was doing his warming up while I was AR on my first game. In my corner, he pointed out to me I had set foot on the pitch, which was not allowed for an AR. It was a bad omen. A small and fatty guy. Looking at you with that typical blank look. Always suspicious. So totally different from an average Yank! A heavy rrrrusian accent was the finishing touch.

He was supposed to do the next game and after that one to be my AR on my game. The pre-game talk for his game made my hair stand up. Military instructions. In all situations, HE was the BOSS. Always follow his lead, never wave the flag for things happening in your corner, he would control ALL things. After all, he was a high ranking referee in Russia and actually just practicing in New Jersey. We should be proud to work with him. I was shocked.

The game showed his experience, but in a near military fashion. Loud calls, no comments allowed and his gestures were hilarious. I was glad when it was over. My turn to show how we are trained in Europe and be less openly bossy. But then it happened. “ssssorry, but I have to go.” Huh? One AR was planned to leave and the rrrrussian was supposed to be 1st AR on my game. But he had ‘another highlevel game’ to ref and more priority for his obvious career. Whether the other AR could stay and fill his place? “No”, the other guy said.

“I’m leaving”. The Russian simply couldn’t leave, because we would report it to our assignors and he would lose his future games, for sure. His rrrrussian instinct made him offer his expected fee for the next game when the guy would stay and not tell the assignors.

A blatant bride! We looked at each other and shook our heads. The AR refused and left the pitch. The rrrrrussian did the same and just left us as two refs to do the last game. NOT done, but he just couldn’t care less. His career was at stake.

Ever since, when the gossiping started among the refs, the rrrrussian came up taking a stiff nr.1 position when it comes to weird and insulting attitudes.

What to wear on the soccer pitch? Shortly after this Eastern European encounter, I was supposed to ref a game (just 1) at the Newark University’s girls team. Pretty high level and

was very pleased to learn I was supposed to be Center Ref. We were on time and guess who was there too? My Rrrrrussian fellow ref. OH My Goodness! Would he know about my devastating report after our previous encounter? Probably not. He apparently got another game, but not the level he thought he deserved. Hahaha.

Then the other AR arrived. He had this big long package draped around his arm. What is that? I watched the arrival of the AR-Star with high expectations. What was in side the package? Is he going to get married and bringing his dry-cleaned suit? You could leave that in the car dude! No, it wasn’t that. It was his referee suit! All colors not folded, like in my bag (well, maybe less folded), but hanging on a hanger and all possible colors. I couldn’t believe it and had difficulty not bursting out in laughing.

The game was easy, but the memory stays. Because of the well groomed referee!

Soccer in the park As most of the New Jersey soccer games are played either at High Schools sports fields or public parks, you regularly run into unexpected situations. Take the one evening game I did this week. High level, Boys13 soccer teams. Public park in Newark, a city close to NY. Nice Spring weather, lots of people just wandering by. Flood lights. And as icing on the cake: English coaches on one side and Portuguese on the other!

One thing one tends to overlook is the visibility during evening games. The flood lights aren't always great and one AR's was basically working in the shadows. I missed a few flag signals as result. Spectators pointed this out, of course…… But that’s explainable and I’m not bothered too much about that.

What really ‘tackled’ me this evening was the role of the spectators. Normally I just ignore them and smile politely when comments are made. Mostly stupid ones on offside anyway or in Portuguese. But this time, I don’t know what happened, but I started talking back on some occasions. They were simply too close to the field, despite earlier instructions to my AR to push them back to about "5 yards" from the touchline. And once you give them ‘personal attention’ they are unleashed.

Lesson 1 for any kind of ref: don’t let the spectators get in your system during the game. I almost lost it. Told one guy to stop yelling at me or otherwise I would stop the game. Don’t challenge and don’t threaten. Talk to the coaches first. But in a public park, who is spectator and who is just standing by? Can you tell who is supporting which team? You can’t. I realized if this would get out of hand, I would be in serious trouble. The weekend before we had expelled a coach for his endless furious comments. We played it to the book and we are covered by our assignors. Tonight, I had to waive a yellow card again to one of the coaches.

But I was mostly wound up by the spectators and could also have asked him politely to

behave. This time I would have less good grounds to take more severe measures if necessary. Decided to let go my ego and just do the game and finish it on good terms. Time to blow the final whistle. Phew! The carded coach apologized for his frantic behavior. His team was losing and that made him mad. He over-reacted. I told him I also over-reacted.

The nutty spectator also turned up. I ignored him and just walked to my car.

Obnoxious coaches I referred to an earlier (trouble) game in my previous blog. When things go to the book, it's better to play them out to compare notes. Imagine a G19P (P=Premiere) game, supposed to be high level of soccer in the region. I was AR and running up and down on the coaches’ side. The CR was an experienced (Irish) referee and fun to work with. Always great stories to tell. On the other side was a new referee, former top youth soccer player from Bulgaria, now starting a ref career while living in the US. Early in the game I already asked the coach to stay calm and not call the ref from the sideline. I even explained a foul to him and he seemed understanding.

In the meantime, his girls team was performing far from 'premium', not to say lousy. Their offsides were numerous and I had at least 10 offside calls in 20 minutes. Their forwards just had no idea what they were doing. One of the other coaches (3 in total) asked me jokingly if I could explain the offside rule to his girls….. After another call from the CR he started talking to his colleagues about the bad level of referring for ‘his high-level girls’ league. On my 11th offside call, where I applied the 3 second rule, and called it when the long kick eventually landed with a girl in offside position, the coach went ballistic and started calling this ‘rubbish’ and didn’t stop yelling while jumping up and down. I asked the CR to confer and have the coach stop performing like that. The CR came over to me and in the meantime the coach kept yelling. Completely lost it! The CR showed him yellow for loudly protesting a call. He just went on calling it ‘rubbish’, and then yelled something about ‘not worth his money’ and entered the field. As this is not allowed unless the referee invites him to, the CR showed him direct red and asked him to leave the field. He stayed on and only after telling him for 2 or 3 times he left and sat on the bleekers.

Their team lost, of course, and was stunned by what happened. Lucky for us there were two coaches left. In case of just one coach and red card, the game is suspended as a team can't play without a coach. Even after the game had ended, the expelled coach started talking to us again and even came back on the pitch. The CR told him to stay away from the field and warned him for the grave consequences. He told us that ‘his season was over anyway’ (red is normally 3 games suspension). And that we were behaving like kids, irresponsible, him loosing the rest of the season as consequence etc. It was all our fault. We kindly asked him to stop talking and gave another brief explanation of our decisions to get him off in the first place. He kept on talking and we decided to walk away to prepare for (my) next game.

As nobody from the league called me during the days following the game to ask for my view on this, I suspect this coach didn't see his first red card in soccer! I also suspect that he got more than 3 games, by the way. This still played in my mind when I had to perform on the Tuesday night in the park and almost made me make mistakes that were not according to the book.

Assisting a nutty CR His name was Brian. Police sunglasses on, even when talking to you. The NYPD type of guy.

Full of bravery and arrogance. The let-me-handle-this type of guy. He clearly prefers to work alone as CR. No need for guys with a flag, but if you must, then make sure you follow his strict instructions. Raise the flag only for fouls in the sector of the field from 'the near goal post to the corner with the middle line'. The rest is mine. Offside only when 'player touches the ball', nothing else and leave the rest to me. The two AR's were stunned. We had done this tournament in rotation so far. We handled every game clean and simple and copied each other's instructions. He was just replacing our colleague who had to do a game on another field. I was supposed to be CR this time, but he just walked to the pitch and started the formalities. His badge only showed 'referee', meaning grade 7 or 8. I was superior in rank as State Referee (grade 6), but then again, I did not wear sunglasses. After the pregame instructions and ignoring our comments on them, the AR's took their place and waited for the disaster to happen.

It only took 3 minutes. Clear offside. AR-2 raises the flag, but CR waives him down immediately. AR looks stupid and the spectators (on his side) picked it up. Two minutes later. AR-1 (me) reports a clear offside right before the goal due to involvement of play, but 'no touching of ball' and lets it go. The flag was burning in my hands but let it down to see how he would handle that. He didn't and let it play on. The coaches on my side did not agree and the game was off-track from now on. It was a clear offside, why don't you signal that? I told them I knew but had my instructions to follow. How can you explain them the CR is an idiot? You can't and you won't. The CR makes several other strange decisions, mostly based on sloppy analyzing the game developments. Coaches asking me what this is all about. Half-time. Both AR's complain about the incomplete instructions and the consequences of it during the first half. CR smiles and tells us 'we will learn in time' and should just keep on going. I completely had it. I decided to follow my own instinct and experience as referee and ignore him. More collisions on the way would be taken for granted. Second half. Ball goes high towards the goal. Two attackers trying to head the ball in are both offside. Ball ends in the net. I raise my flag, but the CR doesn't bother to check what's wrong and allows the goal. No clear 'waiving down' of the AR. Nothing at all. Now the other coach goes ballistic and wants to know why I raised my flag. I'm in serious trouble. I honestly wished I could tell him how I despise this CR, but that's against all referee rules.

You always back up your CR and stay in 3-man crew formation and leave no gap for coaches to split us.

So, I decide to ignore the call for explanation and looked away from him. In the meantime, the CR walks back to the kick-off spot, all smile. He must have heard the loud screaming coach. He only waives his hand and shouts "nothing wrong, goal ok". Shakes hands with the nice looking girls who just scored their winning goal! No effort to support me, or explain why he decided to allow the goal. I was about to explode but kept my appearance. Game over. I walked back to the center to greet CR and AR-2. No thank-you from the CR. First time in my ref career. I told him there was a clear offside from my perspective on the 2-1 goal. "No way there was offside, you saw that wrong. And by the way, it was an own goal".

The only words he spoke, still radiating that stupid arrogance. You could have told me that during the game and everyone would accept the waiving down of my offside call. He didn't see why he should do that. Nobody had called it 'own goal' during the game and it was new to AR-2 as well. We were both stunned again. Brian fills in the papers, puts his sunglasses back on, jumps in the golf cart and disappears to the other side of the tournament grounds.

We didn't see him anymore. I had one more game to do and the former 3-man crew was complete again. We were tired and wanted to go home. Forget that one idiot referee who forms an exception on the rule. The rest performs normal, behaves transparent and wants to bring a game to a good end for the players and respects his AR's who help in fulfilling that goal. Looking forward to the next game. I learned another lesson. Speak out your doubts before the game and don't let it wait till accidents happen.

AstroTurf is so much greener In 80% of the games, soccer in the US is played on synthetic-turf, artificial grass, or AstroTurf (vs. ‘natural turf’=grass). AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. It's clean and has clean linings. It gets messy when they play LaCrosse, American Football and Soccer on the same area. You have to guide the soccer teams around the pitch to show them the yellow, blue or white lines that apply to their game. Some soccer clubs call their soil just 'turf' which can cause confusion. Last week it had rained a lot the night before, so I checked if the game was still on. Coach on the phone: "of course it's on, we play on Turf". Well, we play on turf in Holland and it's no good with this rain! What he meant was 'Astro Turf' and that has no problem with rain. Or 'faux grass' in more elite circles. There is one notorious grass field where I refereed a couple of times, which has a baseball field in one of the corners. While running down the touch line towards the goal, you have to cross two gravel tracks connecting the plates. Kids have hurt themselves and balls suddenly stop. Terrible! I had to ask the home coach to get a pain brush flask and connect the lines of the 18yard box across the gravel tracks.

Back to the AstroTurf. It might not be so 'green' as it looks. You can smell it on warm Summer days. I had games played at 30C and the smell wasn't great. It's probably the lead that is part of the chemicals found in the turf's recycled-tire 'infill'. Infill is the loose particles

sprinkled into the faux grass after it is installed to help keep the blades upright and the product in place. It's made of old tires and that contains lead. Parents have raised concerns at local governments over the possible health effects of playing different sports on the AstroTurf pitches. First advice is already out: 'take precautions against abrasion and infection by wearing protective clothing and treating cuts promptly'. Here in New Jersey, state health officials have indeed found higher levels of lead in several artificial-turf playing fields, leading to closures! Inhaling chemicals and traces of metals found in the ground-up tires used as padding of the fields. Nobody has discussed the referees yet! They spend much more time on soccer fields than an average player. Another negative effect of AstroTurf is that it gets hot. According to a recent study, the temperature of artificial turf can get about 25C degrees hotter than grass on hot and sunny days. All we can now wait for is a class-act to claim health damage in 10 years from now. And in the meantime - stay away from the pitch if you don't have to be there!

Sue the referee!

America is 'suing country' par excellence and slowly infecting the rest of the world in different areas. I hope it won't infect soccer. As long as we refs are insured and follow the referee instructions, we are 'covered'. Checking the correct apparel is most important.

Identical shirts, shorts, socks, suitable footwear (no metal cleats) and shin guards. Another issue is the earrings and piercings worn by both girls and boys. They must be removed before entering the field. But still, things can go horribly wrong. You protect everything.

Welcome to the world of soccer, we would say in Europe! For some Americans this is hard to accept however. In other US sports, kids are protected to the bone (think Baseball, Football and Lacrosse - a team sport of the native Americans). There must be someone to hold responsible for damage! So, it must be the referee! I was refereeing a tournament somewhere in New Jersey last weekend. The assignment took a long time and was only ready days before the tournament. Nothing wrong, but worrying, still. The refereeing is done in groups of 4 refs and you work in a crew of 3 taking turns. By sheer (bad) luck, I had the very first game at 8AM. Boys19. I wonder if they were awake? Well I was, after all, it was a full hour drive by car to get there and I was carpooling with another ref from this town. Give me that game, I'm OK, I can handle this! 'Good morning gentlemen! I want a clean game, meaning play the ball, not the body. Play the whistle. We are in charge, nobody else. Don't do stupid things'. The usual pre-game instructions.

Game is just underway, I guess 20 minutes in 1st half, when an attacking player runs into the goalkeeper on a so-called '50/50 ball'. Goalie didn't have possession of the ball yet and the attacking player must have hit him with the cleats. Scream! No foul, both centre and assistant ref agree. Goalie has a cut in the knee. Wound is clean but clearly needs treatment. Golf car comes in and takes the poor guy to first-aid and will later go to hospital.

I talked to the coach and explained what I saw. He didn't see it differently, but was obviously concerned about his goalkeeper. The tournament had only just begun! At the end of the game, I again informed about the condition of the injured player and asked him to wish him luck. Couldn't do more. Shit happens. The next game was played immediately following my unfortunate game and this time I was assistant ref (AR), on the parents' side.

Running up and down, I overheard one of the parents telling the others 'he' had 16 stitches.

I immediately knew whom they were talking about, but ignored them. But the worst part had still to come: 'they' were going on a week vacation to Bermuda the next week and 'he' would not be able to swim! They now knew who to blame!

The conversation stopped when I walked back to my previous position. I knew enough.

Well, lucky you! Final whistle of game 2 and while walking to the teams, I was approached by a huge guy with sunglasses. What the hell I thought I had been doing in the previous game! Why I didn't protect his players. 16 stitches, do you see his bandage?! All because of me not taking my responsibilities. I was about to make some silly comments (why not 14...), but stayed calm and said it wasn't me that incur the flesh wound and on top of that, goalkeeper had no possession and so no concrete foul was committed. And did you talk to the attacking player? But then again, how could I prevent an attacking player to hit a goalie? Throw myself in between at the right moment? Sir, your logic sucks. He didn't hear that, but was just fuming! I immediately realized this was the father. His holiday on the Bermudas was ruined. His son could not play in the pool. And I was to blame! The fieldmarshal who happened to walk around stepped in and told the guy to calm down and made him clear that his approach was unacceptable. Talking or asking for explanation is fine, but intimidating a referee is way off. He didn't stop and nobody else tried to stop him either.

Typical American. You just search a target and direct all your fury of the past week at him.

President, governor, mayor, schoolteacher, soccer referee. Just hit them! Best thing is to walk away and to report the misbehavior. In normal competition it would either mean end of game or heavy penalty to the coach (as he said he was). The tournament wasn't over yet, but I had my fair share. Eventually, the pay was good and the story forgotten. The goalie with the bandaged knee reminded me of my own collision 30 years ago. That time, the victim was my knee. A meniscus had to be taken out and I would never really dare to play attacking position again. Only 5 stitches but you can still see them. Soccer trophy.

Theory test – the Eastern European way. At the start of a new season, the US referees have to do their physical and theoretical test. I was summoned to appear one early Saturday morning on a far away track behind a school to prove I could still run 100, 200 and 400 meters in a certain time. No sweat but freezing cold!

But my day was really made by my fellow referees from Czechoslovakia. Three of them seemed to be totally not capable to speak English, let alone read it. Their younger friend had to translate the questions in Czech. Right. Every question was discussed in Czech and then an answer was filled in. I looked at this scene for a few minutes and nobody seemed to think it was odd. Would there be someone from Holland or Flanders who could discuss the questions with me in Dutch? Nope. I was on my own. And the list was stupidly long. But I

passed with flying colors. Just apply the rules without too much thinking. How different a normal game is!

The Banjo man First I didn't notice it, but when he stopped and started tuning his banjo, I spotted him. The banjo man! Sitting in his party tent or 'canopy' as they call it here. Overviewing our soccer field and playing his banjo to offer us live entertainment. The tournament I was assigned to had different field locations where games were played. This one was added only the day before the tournament because another High School field was taken out last minute by the school board. So, it was a bit remote, far away from the other fields and without the drinks and food you would find normally during soccer tournaments. The banjo man compensated for that loss of atmosphere.

We did some extra games on this pitch after we finished our initial assignment on one of the main locations. On the first location we worked as a 3-man crew and did turns on CR and AR. Each next game started straight after the previous one ended. But only 2x25 mins, so it was doable. During the first game where I did the lines, suddenly a big noise came out of the main scoreboard which had loudspeakers. It sounded like birds or monkeys. I looked around, but the games continued as normal, so it wasn't a central horn to end the games.

What the hack was it then? I noticed it did that every 10 minutes or so. Next time I heard some gun shots, also from the speakers and then again other animal sounds. After the game, I went to ask for an explanation at the field marshal’s canopy. Oh, that sound? That is to keep away other goose birds which otherwise occupy and shit the whole soccer field.

The sounds are competing (Canadian) goose birds, gun shots and wolves. Nice to know!

Thanks. Maybe I could use the banjo man for entertainment in lonely places (getto blaster will do) and I will practice these funny sounds to keep away aggressive coaches next time.

Learning all the time!

Trick the referee Last week my fellow referee and me joined a tournament on the border with Pennsylvania.

Long ride direction southwest, but just another location and another league, so why not try this one too? We didn't know the full assignment till we got there. Typical for some assignors to let you in the dark how long the day will take. Well, it would be a long day. A heavy thunderstorm around noon made the whole schedule move up 1 hour. It would be dark before we could pack up and leave for home.

Most memorable of this tournament was this one coach (we call him T). We as refs are taught to try and read peoples eyes, gestures and language before the game to predict

behavior during the game. During tournaments, this is not so easy, as things move fast. Not the usual check-in and explanation of how you want a game to be conducted. But this one gave us warning signs from the start. He wore his sun glasses while talking to you and had this arrogant smile. The seasoned soccer coach who had done this so many times. And here they were, playing the semi finals. My fellow ref had the CR role and I was on the lines. Two minutes in the game he started shouting about wrong ref decisions. I told him not to talk to the ref and concentrate on his own team efforts. The other coach warned me and called them 'simply thugs'. That is a term hardly used and I was warned. Soon the battle was on.

Free kick of T's team attacking the other goal. Two players are ready to kick. One takes a run but steps over the ball and the second one kicks it (wide). At the first one stepping over the ball, the wall steps forward, assuming the ball was touched. T went ballistic and shouted that was a foul and the free kick had to be retaken. CR didn't notice his mistake, nor did I in first instance. T kept on raging and told me they had practiced this and we didn't notice it?

The ref was an idiot for not seeing this. I calmed him down and told him he not only tricked the other players, but also the ref. Bad luck. The game goes on. Well, T was unstoppable.

Kept yelling for every foul committed, whether the ref called it or not. He even counted the balance, 4:1 against his team in terms of calls. It was time for a short conversation. The CR however was already at boiling point and told him he was angry at him. But gave him no caution. Big mistake! The coach had the ref off balance and now the war was a total one.

Two red cards for T's players as result and (of course) loosing the game.

T's players were of similar caliber. Once they found out by our accent we weren't fellow Americans, one of them openly advised us to pack our bags and 'go back to your own country'. I wanted to tell him the soccer games would be of a different quality without us 'foreigners', but decided not to counter his low level of attack. Getting the red carded players on the game card isn't easy though. The game cards have a picture and an ID number, but we didn't have the roster to compare it with. The poor ref had to work on the picture only. He found one (the low level one) but couldn't find the other. The field marshal couldn't help either and advised us to give back all the cards as they lost the semi-final anyway.

Another big mistake! The tournament director who was called in, just came too late to correct this and started yelling at the referee for giving back the red carded players' passes (it would mean future penalties in new season). One big mess. Afterwards, people came to us to express their support for us refs. The thugs clearly showed they played it on other rules, that of the street. They were embarrassed by the things that were shouted and told us to keep up our high level of courtesy demonstrated during the game. We decided to avoid this tournament in future. They clearly attract the wrong teams (or wrong coaches) and the pay was poor. Long day and no thank-you afterwards. Lousy food, hardly any drinks either. Find other refs who are willing to endure this 'ref-bashing'. Not us. See you Mr.T!

Please, no commercials, we are Americans!

Ask people to name one professional US soccer club and chances are high the Red Bulls from New York are on the list. Why? Not only because there aren't that many clubs in general, but also because of the energy drink sponsor. Still, sponsoring a soccer club as we are used to in Europe, is still rare in the US. Splashing the names of corporate sponsors on sports shirts is pretty new here. Used to advertising almost at every corner of life, Americans still consider sponsoring sports people a bit, well, tacky.

Microsoft has broken that barrier. This software company has done little in the sports marketing arena in their home market. They will start putting their logo on the Seattle Sounders shirts. As much upheaval the shirt sponsorship discussion brought to Barcelona, imagine a corporate logo on the New York Yankees pinstripes! It would bring down the image of your club! Booooh, advertising! But everywhere outside the US, the sponsor's logo is viewed as a sign of strength and creating brand loyalty as result. US soccer clubs followed the example and after Red Bulls renamed the New York soccer team, the Real Salt Lake players got XanGo Juice logo's on their shirt and Los Angeles Galaxy welcomed Herbalife as sponsor. This sponsor boost could help US soccer grow faster. More money = more famous names and soccer specific stadiums like in Chicago, Los Angeles and Texas (no more football yard lines!).

Microsoft will be the 10th shirt sponsor in the MLS (Major League Soccer) next season. So imagine the Red Bulls playing the "Microsofties" next season! I don't think they will create much brand loyalty! Don't worry, Microsoft decided to put "Xbox 360 Live" on the shirts and not 'buy' the whole Seattle team's name as Red Bull did in New York. Seattle hosts after all Microsoft's headquarters. Washington State (not DC) has the highest rates of youth soccer participation with 130,000 young players plus another 60,000 players in adult leagues. Ideal place to start a sponsorship in a relatively new sport! Let's see if this sponsor money will bring the young players to stay loyal to the sport when they grow up and do away with the over-charged, old fashion, boring games like baseball. They don't even accept shirt sponsors. It would only spoil the stripes......

Football in America

We spent our summer vacation this year in our homeland back in Europe. As soon as the favorite topic of soccer came up, I was asked about my job as referee. Isn't soccer in America just for girls? The Dutch still think about soccer being equal to a typical male sport.

Girls and wives watch a lot of soccer, but hardly play it themselves. Funny when you think of it. But then again, American Football is only for boys in the US. Too dangerous for girls and don't forget the baseball pitching which has to be thrown 'underhand' vs. 'overhand'.

Looking at tradition, because that is what it is really all about, soccer is just a more equal opportunity sport in the US then in countries like Holland. For nearly two decades, the US women's soccer team has dominated the world's most popular game. A recent article in my newspaper explained me why that seems to be over now. Other countries have simply caught up. For starters, the American female soccer team lost to Norway in Beijing last week. No shame as Norway is a strong European women soccer country, along with Germany. But the traditionally strong (male) soccer teams didn't produce strong teams of the other sex. In the US, on the other hand, soccer became one of the most popular sports among girls back in the seventies.

This was helped by the so-called Title IX programs which ordered equal treatment of male and female athletes. Result: when women's soccer became an Olympic event in 1996, America hit gold and did it again in 2004 in Athens. Strange for some, as the US isn't known for embracing soccer in general. How could the women dominate it for so long? I know now: girls grow up with playing soccer, starting at Kindergarten (5 years) different from girls in Europe where it's considered a boys sport. I also know that another reason plays a role: money! The equal opportunity law makes colleges and universities form the same number of female soccer teams as they have for males. When you are good at soccer in the US, you could get a scholarship and save your parents some money.

Another basic reason for US female soccer to lose ground worldwide is the way they play the game. If you watch the Beijing Olympic games, you will notice that the 'new' female soccer countries (like Brazil!) are playing soccer like the boys - quick ball contact, playing the ball in angles and make the ball dance between their feet. That is different from what the American ladies were trained to do. They are playing like the girls (and boys!) I see every weekend: booting the ball over the defense in the hope of finding a striker who can control the pass and getting the shot on goal.

Girls outside the US, watching soccer frequently along with their brothers and their dads are now being offered to play 'the beautiful game' themselves through the existing network of soccer clubs and national unions. They have grown up watching the game and often share the soccer obsession. It will help eliminate the advantage the American women soccer teams enjoyed for the last 20 or so years very fast. But thanks to the US, soccer has become a true 'equal opportunity sport'. So glad they haven't decided to introduce 'female ruling' to my favorite game! Roll-ins instead of throw-ins, for example.....

Playing soccer with Hanna May I introduce you to my friend Hanna? She is the little white dot on the picture. We were warned about her. She was supposed to arrive in our area around Saturday afternoon around 2PM. Pretty accurate prediction as it would turn out. “Be on the alert, don’t do any stupid things”. Most of state New Jersey would become “under a flood watch”. Well, poor me, because I had agreed to join a soccer tournament the same day in Bridgewater, NJ. And so had a few other refs and soccer players…… (And there was no ‘rain day’ as many other tournaments use when playing them on a national holiday weekend, like Labor Day where the Monday is always free.)

Further predictions, apart from the time of arrival: “Tropical storm Hanna brings a barrage of heavy wind and rain”, according to the National Weather Service. The picture here was taken Thursday night, the storm still crossing the Bahamas and headed toward the Atlantic coast, where it would bring high winds and rain from South Carolina to Maine. Funny thing was that nothing announced the storm in our area. No increase in wind or funny noises. It was just incredibly humid till 2PM and bugs flying low. Approx. 95% humidity made it a heavy job running up and down the field. And no wind. Gallons of water were consumed.

The storm hit the shores but a little in-land, like we were, it was just rain. Showers, heavy and warm rain showers. Not like in Europe when you can freeze in a rain. This was some sort of lukewarm shower. And it came down on my game at 2PM. I was soaked in seconds.

Shirt, short, socks, shoes, even the whistle stuttered. The game continued as there was no lightning or other dangerous field situations yet.

The kids didn’t seem to be bothered. The ball went faster and goalkeepers let the ball slip.

Fun! It rained and rained. The next game was on at 3 and my colleague was soaked too and then lightning was spotted in the sky and all games were suspended. And because of the continued rain, the other last games were cancelled. We had a rough ride home, the windscreen wipers had severe difficulty clearing the rain from the window. All traffic was crawling on. But we made it home in one (soaking) piece and made our expected money, each only one game less than planned. Dedicated refs. Risking their lives for the pleasure of kids playing soccer! We deserve a medal.

Going indoor Last week I was invited to join the Futsal (5-5 indoor soccer) referee tribe. Futsal is a fast growing new form of indoor soccer. Also in the US, where on this side the severe winter

season denies outdoor soccer for 4 months. We are currently 4 weeks away from the end of Fall-season. Despite the beautiful weather last week and a tournament still played at 25C, a game played last night at 6pm had my hands almost freeze at 5C. A wake-up call that Summer is really over!

So the opportunity to become a futsal referee, keep fit during winter and at the same time learn a new branch of the beloved football (sorry, soccer) is tempting. The only condition was to attend a 1,5 day theory course and learn about the rules and earn the badge. No problem. Always ready to learn.

The new futsal league that will start this winter in Northern Jersey invited an experienced ref who does both soccer and futsal. Very interesting. A relatively young guy with lots of experience, a bit full of himself, but that's not untypical at this level of refereeing.

One of the new things I learned (about soccer!) is the new developments around 'hand ball'.

Referees are instructed to start using the term 'handling' and no more 'hands' or 'handball'.

This should bring clarity in the many calls for 'hands' where a player could not do anything about the ball hitting his hand or arm. When the arm and hand are in a natural position alongside the torso, you won't call for 'hands' when the ball touches it there. Only when a hand would go to an unnatural position and it's getting clear the player either on purpose or instinctively tries to touch the ball with intention to stop or steer the ball into an another direction (I still would give a 'pass' when a player tries to protect the face). That would indeed finally solve another problem on the soccer field. Think of balls bouncing up from the field and hitting the elbow! No 'hands'. Balls smashing into the torso and accidentally also touching the hand or arm. No 'hands'. But hands/arms going up or away from the body when the ball passes or when a clear advantage is gained from the ball being touched by the hand or arm. Bang, 'hands' is called as foul.

Another new practice of shirt pulling is now brought in a general term 'holding'. It's including pulling shirt, shorts, hand on shoulder, around waist etc. I already started using this term and it saves me from explaining which part of the outfit or body was touched. No need, it's all 'holding' and foul is called.

Now I'm just waiting for the results of the theory test (and the badge) and ready to go futsal from late November.

RedBulls seeing Red Big soccer news this week: First MLS steroid violations: Red Bulls players Parke and Conway suspended for steroids. You try to understand what happened and read further and just can't believe what they did. No, they didn't drink too much of Red Bull substance, the obvious thing as their sponsor supplies it for free (I guess).The Major League Soccer (MLS) has ordered 10-match bans (heavy!) to Jeff Parke (defender) and Jon Conway (goalie!) after

they failed drugs tests, the first time this happened in the MLS. What on earth did they take to fail a drug test? Well, both players were tested positive for taking the performanceenhancing: "androstatriendione and "boldenone metabolites�. And at which farm to you secretly buy these 'horse steroid boldenone'? Ehhh, well, the MLS officials said in the same press release the players bought supplements 'over the counter' in a vitamins shop and 'were unaware they contained banned substances'.

New York Red Bulls, what level are your professional soccer players? I don't mean technical skills and endurance, but more mental level, brain substance, gray cells. What bad example will these players give their junior club players! I reffed a Red Bulls boys U-14 team two weeks ago at at State Cup game and was impressed by their discipline, soccer skill and team spirit to win a game. Coaching was correct and controlled. It was the opponent team that made the game look less of a sound soccer game. Three coaches that yelled at almost every call I made, players that were asking for cards, helping me count while the goalkeeper was holding the ball etc. They got away with 'only' 3 yellow cards and a PK. The goalkeeper of the losing team (not Red Bulls) even managed to insult me after the game was over while walking to his bench. I followed the US tradition of refs 'guarding over' the two teams greeting each other after the match. (No need, so I was told later during a soccer course. Just watch them on a distance and stay away from trouble.) I decided to tell his coach what the goalie just said and that it was worth a red card. But just because it was a game in another league and they lost the cup game, I'd let it go. Maybe too lenient (after all, a personal insult), but again, I didn't want more trouble in this corner of Newark and the coach was clearly not happy with what the goalie just said and offered to take care of it. I felt good about it and didn't take the insult 'personal'.

That's the only downside of being a referee, players who are basically trained to shout and swear at you. Their coaches do it, so why can't they do it? Red Bulls only called once for an unclear call by my AR and I corrected that and explained why. For the rest they concentrated on their players and their game. Keep that going Red Bulls, you don't need extra vitamins or steroids to enhance your performance!

Talking heads There are different kinds of coaches and when you work the many games on a weekend as I do, you come across many different styles. Yesterday, I witnessed the extreme of two styles during a match running the line as AR. The coach-of-the-day was talking without pause during warming-up. At check-in, he made comments on all the players. What costumes did we wear last night refs (Halloween)? Oh, the days when we were kids, right? By the way, whispering in my ear, this kid's father is the boss at Tommy Hilfiger. You wanna Tommy shirt? Just let me know, hahaha. On and on. From experience I also know - this is a bad omen.

From the first whistle, he started his step-by-step coaching. Every move of his players got a comment, mostly negative. Ohhhh, Jack what was that? Ohhhhh, Josh control that ball!

Ohhh Matt why play to nobody? Oh this, Oh that. Terrible this, terrible that. Taking kids off for 'just standing there' and showing how they 'just stood there' by posing like a real actor.

And he was on my side of the touchline. Driving me nuts and feeling so bad for these U11 boys.

And then, the moment of supreme intervention arrived. The goalie made a bad mistake diving to a ball he could have picked up easily by walking to it. WHAT is your excuse this time?, he yelled. Your shoe again right? Goalie shouts back - yes, my shoe is loose! Coach shouts "Time out" and before I realized, the coach was on the pitch racing to his goalie aid.

I signaled the ref we had a coach on the field without permission. The referee walked to the coach and asked him to go back to his corner, which he did after tying the goalie's shoe. I explained him that if he did that one more time we would caution him and looking at his behavior so far, it could easily lead to expulsion. And how would the kids perform then, you wonder?

During the game, I've never seen so many kids crying, making frustrated actions towards the opponents and being taken on and off because the coach thought they needed a slap on the head. In the meantime, the other coach sat quiet on his bench, giving tactical instructions and complimenting the boys for a good pass or nice defense work.

Guess who won the game .....

Scoreboards This weekend you can literally feel the season is almost over. Temperatures have dropped dramatically and soccer is played here in NJ at below zero Celsius. Yesterday, the wind made it feel like -10 and things didn't improve during the day. The players didn't think of it and although they brought their hats and gloves, they still used cleats on frozen grass.

Incredible that coaches don't contact their players and tell them they will play on soil comparable to AstroTurf.

We as referees, and especially the Assistant Refs, suffer too. We have to excuse us for using long pants. In my case the black winter running pants, but both assistants wore their training pants. I bought new gloves which have fingers 'cut off' so I can use them for writing things down. Once in the game using your arms and legs, the fingers don't become cold at all. The face is the worst and once back in the car, it feels like you did some alpine ski down hills.

Talking about writing things down - we had a funny situation during the second match of the day. The Center Ref had a game where the score ran up quickly. At first I thought I didn't see it clearly, but after the second and third goal I knew for certain: the ref didn't make any

notes. During the break I tried to make a joke about it and referred to the classic scoreboard the home team used to keep score. Haha, you are just using the scoreboard so you don't have to take off your gloves, clever! No, he replied, I never make notes, neither for goals nor for fouls and cards. I replied I could try next time myself to memorize the score and might remember the final result of this game 6-2, but giving out yellows to which player and what for? Well, he said he would remember every situation in detail and know for sure which player got yellow and when a second - red. I was stunned. Never heard or seen that before. I don't think the soccer federation would be likely to promote this and have a ref report "I don't remember clearly what happened, sorry". And for the teams it would also be better to see a ref making notes, if only for verbal warnings that 'go in the book'.

One more weekend and 2008 Fall Season is over. Four months break and games will start again early April. Let it snow!

Soccer Tournament at Fort Dix Season is almost over and the best way to end it, some told me, was by joining the New Jersey MAPS Cup in November. It takes place in Fort Dix, a military base in Southern New Jersey - named after a Civil War veteran, this place is huge. In Holland, we sometimes indicate the size of a piece of land by saying ‘it’s the size of xx number of football pitches’.

Well, this one didn’t fit in that description. It started with a fence in the woods and it continued for miles and miles.

Entering the tournament as referee was easier than I thought. In fact, when I heard of the long distance and low game pay and indicated I might not be interested after all, the organizers offered me to pay for a hotel room so I could bring my family and at least save a trip up and down 2 hours on long day. Well, that was the tipping point. All aboard!

But then to enter the military base was another story. We had to send pictures, exact names in passports, why we were in New Jersey, car registration etc.etc. We thought we’d never get in as foreigners. Once at the gate, my yellow jersey did the trick. Look, I’m a ref! Salute to that sir! Gates open for the Dutch ref!

The night at the hotel was a disaster. They put us next to a room full of U14 boys, celebrating their first day away from home. And I was asked to be at the grounds for the first games at 7:30. Yes sir, long day, many games, please be on time. I decided to make peace with my neighbors and asked if I could join them on their bus at 6:30. My wife and kids would follow at a more decent time. It had been freezing that night. And the first game as AR at U12. Meaning nothing to do and freezing to death slowly. At 11AM the ladies turned up. It was still only +5C. or so. Anyway. We made it, collected the lousy money and returned home. Waved goodbye to the tanks and were glad to sleep in our own beds again.

RefRod moving back home Game time is almost up, a few more minutes and the final whistle will blow! Game over, time to pack your bags, change dress and go home. More concretely: my time in the US is over. Little earlier than planned - had hoped to be able to do Spring 09 - but the worsening economic situation has taken us all by surprise, I guess. The job is not what it used to be and I agreed with my employer to return back home earlier.

Planning to return to the Dutch soccer fields in the 2009-10 season and intend to keep this blog going with experiences from the adult games I will be refereeing there. Wishing you all a great Spring season! Keep up a good show and educate players, coaches and parents about the beautiful game that soccer is!

Reffing the stars Just back in Holland, my second game assigned by the Dutch soccer federation was the famous 2nd senior amateur team of AFC in Amsterdam who play 2nd division on Saturday.

Famous team because of the fact that lots of former professional soccer players (mostly exAjax) join the club after they 'retire' in order to keep fit and enjoy a game of soccer on weekends (mostly home games only).

Last week, it was my turn to face the ex-pros, at least on one side and I must say I was a little nervous. These guys know how to play a ref, talk a lot and know how far they can go.

It was a late afternoon game with the first sunshine since weeks. We were assigned on one of their grass fields, not the AFC center stage, unfortunately (says the vanity ref). The warming up was interesting. I immediately recognized the faces of Aaron Winter, Brian Roy, Danny Muller and Richard Witsche (assistant trainer at Young Ajax). Doing my rounds to check things, ex-Dutch captain Mr. Winter called me over to say hello and pass me the ball.

"Hey ref', how are you today?" was his friendly welcome. Was I tested to see if I'm to influenced or was he just his friendly self? I chose the latter. Aaron Winter, by the way, 84 caps on the national team and played a record 4 European Championships and is currently trainer of Young Ajax.

AFC was playing to confirm their stiff top position in their league against nr.3 of the list. A few more games and they star-team would be promoted to 1st league. Game on and within 15 minutes a hands ball in AFC's box. PK, no doubt and the guests were leading. I proved not to be lenient in any way towards the ex-profs. Something that one can be critizend of

easily of course. A second goal was allowed after the same player who made hands let an attacking player pass him and score despite his claim he was tugged by his shirt. Something that I find hard to believe when an attacking player is at full speed towards the goal simply outpacing the defender.

Half way first half, my attention was drawn away from the game by some spectators that were watching the game. One of them was another famous face - Ruud Gullit, friend of Brian Roy, and commenting him from the sideline. I had to ask him to take his (?) daughters away from the sideline as they were dangerously close to the field. Oh my goodness! I had to tell myself to keep focused and not to try to impress anybody or do stupid things.

Another face I recognized - that of Mr.Ajax himself, Sjaak Swart. There must have been more ex-players watching their former team players, but I decided not to try to determine any more faces unless I would lose my concentration.

The second half, AFC pulled a few more plugs and brought on another ex international who performed some stunning ball tricks. The opponents were clearly a bit intimidated, but kept playing a good game. Most impressive to me was the way they handled the ball. Nobody stood a chance to steal it from players like Aaron Winter and the passes were often superb.

Brian Roy, with his famous left leg, could still run down the line fast to the corner flag to give his famous hard crosses. A free kick just outside the box was place exactly in the top corner of the goal. Hard to suppress a smile on the ref's face......

The final whistle, AFC won 5-2 and should have no difficulty claiming championship of the 2nd division this season. Handshakes from both teams, but the 'thanks ref for a good game' from the former Orange team captain will be remembered for a long time.

When can we start?

When is this summer season finally over? I'm counting the days I can dress in black (or blue - see new Dutch pro-ref shirt on the right) and rule the greens once again!

Checking with the National Football Association KNVB, I found out I'm still in the lower amateur ref levels since I returned from the US. Bit disappointed, as they promised to send at least one reporter to check if I'm ready to go back to my previous level 4. I volunteered to start one level lower to see if I still like the Dutch ref world after the refreshing American experience (mostly juniors of course).

Well, they didn't send the reporter and so had no results to justify a promotion. Stuck with 2nd teams (called the 'reserve' team) who are playing 2nd or 3rd regional amateur level and maybe do a 1st team (called 'standard' team) playing the lowest amateur leagues.

So, we are starting again in .... 3 weeks. August 22. Maybe I can do a test game or two in the meantime, but the summer holiday is at its highest point right now, so at least one more week before teams are ready to play some decent games. At least we can watch the first European games again, the pre-rounds to get into the newly formed Europa League (one level under Champions League).

Dressed to kill I've been searching everywhere for the latest Dutch pro ref shirt (navy blue - see previous blog), but alas! Settled for another shade of blue, this time a little lighter and more greyish (see pic). Bought this Adidas shirt on sale, just 2 weeks before the new season starts at a decent price. And immediately I spotted the difference with my former USSF shirts: no velcro spot for my badge! You are expected to attach the KNVB badge with pieces of velcro (or permanently) all yourself and I had to ask my wife to get it done.

But the other side of the flip coin is that the majority of Dutch refs are more flexible in choosing their shirts than the USSF colleagues. This is why I could pick this special double layered, anti-sweat, quality shirt. In the US, working with a 3-man crew, at least three standard colors are obligatory as you never know whom you will team up with for more than 1 match on a particular day. In Holland, only on the highest amateur level one is accompanied by ref colleagues and is there a clear need to set standard colors to work with.

I'm on my own!

In my league, it's normal to have two club linesmen to help you out. The first ten minutes you know how much they will be of help on the most difficult of all decisions: the offside. I always give them the benefit of the doubt and will tell them so at the pre-match chat. You let me down or clearly try to help your own team, don't expect me to follow your calls any further. You can't say it much clearer, can you?

I had to replace a linesman in my last game before Summer. He started the second half with a coke can in one hand and a flag in the other. Within 5 minutes we had an issue. He made a call for offside which clearly wasn't correct. He simply couldn't follow the game with his coke flipping out of the can! When he was told to lower his flag he shouted back 'you have to do what I tell you!'. Walking over to him, I noticed his multi-tasking and asked him to repeat what he just shouted across the field. He repeated that I 'had to follow his call as linesman'. On my turn, I thanked him for the precious five minutes of his time, but summoned him to quit his job on the line and asked for a replacement. At first, the side he belonged to was stunned, but then realized I was serious and prepared to continue the game without a linesman on their defense side. Another guy stepped in and the game was finished in good manner. The captain apologized afterwards and told me he understood my

decision to replace the linesman. They just never really took things as serious as I did today. Well, well.

So, next week is my fist new game of the 2009-10 season. A cup game between two rival teams from both sides of the lake. Well, I've got a flashy new shirt, socks and new (German) game cards and ready to take them on.

Let the games begin!

The first whistle was blown, the first goals scored. Football season 2009-'10 has begun!

Lovely weather on Saturday too, an easy game, so what can a ref ask for more?

Had to lead a game at a small football club. Worn out clubhouse, small dressing rooms, toilet in the hall way, that poor kind of circumstances. But, compared to the US, a luxury with at least a roof over one's head! On arrival, a slightly nervous groundsman told me that the first game of the season (my game) couldn't take place on the main pitch, as two more games were scheduled after us and the nr.1 pitch wasn't in great condition.

Warming up and checking the goals, I spotted something weird at one goal: both side parts of the net frame weren't fixed on the ground but hanging slightly above the grass. Going back to the groundsman, I now realized why he had been nervous talking to me! He was hoping I wouldn't notice this mistake on his part and condemn the field for technical reasons. The connection was upside-down and changing it would take at least an hour!

I called on the coaches and explained the situation showing them the hovering net frame.

They appreciated my concern for the players' safety, but agreed to play the game anyway.

Off we went with only a few minutes delay. The guests won 5-0 and I was pretty sharp, only missing one offside call (had to disallow a goal as result) and probably one foul (noticed some players making wild guestures). No cards, no injuries, good game ref! Just noticed on my online assignment schedule that two weekday (cup) games were added last minute.

Gonna be busy at the start of the season!

No ref is infallible

At the start of each game, I tell both captains I'm not infallible (as ref, at least), and nor are they. Of course, my decisions will be commented in word and gesture, as usual. I'm fine with that, as long as it's not getting personal. Something to break the ice at the start of their weekend day-out! The best comment I got so far (this weekend): hey ref, you seem to have been doing this for some time, nothing goes unnoticed!

Watching the best Dutch professional referee being mislead by football players last weekend, I feel much more confident being just an amateur! Twice he pulled the yellow card for fakes. His comment: I'm sorry, but the players are to blame, they are the ones setting their opponents up with cards, not me.

Right, and the next game, it might even be a year or two later, they will take revenge and trip the other one, or worse: saw his legs off. That's what happened in Belgium last weekend (Liege vs. Anderlecht/Brussels) when old scores were settled, apparently - and a new ref assigned to a way too heavy game!

So far, I've done 3 cup games with local teams from different levels playing each other. High scores (2x 5-0 and last weekend 8-0) and not much fun. Only when the real competition starts next week the cleats will be sharpened, no doubt. The weather has been pretty good and I suspect I also spotted my first football association reporter, checking if I'm capable of working one league up from where I started after my return from the US. Thursday night is my next game. The local team (bike ride distance) was assigned to me.

Hope they have some floodlight as it will be dark around 8:30PM when it's cloudy. Difficult to spot the true fouls.....

Watch out ref!

Last with with only

weekend, the Dutch amateur football competition has started. After a day and night heavy rain, the turf pitches were in pretty good condition. I had yet another easy game the home team dominating and thanks to the opponent's goalkeeper the final score stopped at 7-0.

The week before I did the first game on artificial turf and that reminded me of my many games in New Jersey. Fast balls and fewer tackles. I love it! Seconds into the game I realized I had a reporter from the Football Association watching me. The guy with the notebook, making notes and walking around the pitch to look at me from different angles.

The most dreaded moment is when the mail arrives, with his report. It wasn't bad with a 8.0 score. But with funny comments. After the toss, I always say a few words to give the teams an idea of how I want to lead the game. The usual small talk. Completely unnecessary! I should avoid this delay of the game start. What I said he doesn't know of course, so I wished he would have asked after the game.

Another mistake was his comment on restart of the game. No clear foul was made, but a player fell down and stayed flat on the ground for a few seconds. I stopped the game, checked his condition and realized it wasn't that bad after all. So .... restart with drop ball.

Comment: you can't restart with a drop ball after a foul. Direct free kick would be correct.

Unbelievable! Again, check before you write this as comment and reduce my score accordingly. As it was another game dominated by one team, I spent a lot of time halfway the pitch for yet another attack. I should keep moving around more. Weird comment.

But for the rest he noticed my ability to follow the game adequately, take the right positions, communicate with the players, defuse any possible conflicts and guide the teams in a good game of soccer. And interpret the rules in a clear way and notice almost all committed fouls. Most important in my opinion was his observation that this ref can decide quickly and when situation demands, keep the game going by using the advantage rule.

The football association told me they need one more report to see if I can move up the ladder to a higher group.

On peer watch Just back from my US trip, I kept this weekend off to recuperate. And in stead of laying on the couch feeling sleepy, I decided to go and watch my local soccer team in Hoorn, playing the highest amateur soccer league (zaterdag hoofdklasse - Saturday Top League). Beautiful weather, nice brand new astro turf field, fast game, what can a soccer fan wish for more?

The refs for today were dressed in my favorite ref colors: yellow/black! Pretty unusual for Dutch refs, by the way, but against red/black and white/red teams, it looked just right. The CR had a good lead, was clear in his decisions and spotted most of the fouls. Could have been consulting more with his AR on occasions as a lot of things were happening on the pitch. First half went fine. Clear PK on handball in the box. Good calls on off side. Second yellow and red for the away team, just before half time (2-2).

Second half, home team feeling tables could be turned against 10 and started off strong, but defense remained weak. Most of the goals came from weak defending, so did the 2-3.

And then, a handball in the home team's box. I was at the other side's goal, but could see it clearly. So did many other spectators, but not the ref or his AR! Wow, what a blunder. Away team went ballistic but game goes on. Home team equalizes again. Bad defending follows minutes later and foul in the box, clear PK for away team (3-4). Home team behind for the 4th time.

The last 20 minutes should really have been filmed (maybe they are). If only for the refs to witness how players can fake injuries and consequently gain precious time. I know how hard it is for a ref to judge fouls and I suggest to introduce a new rule which will allow us to show yellow after injury treatment! Let me explain. The show given by the away team player

crying foul and falling to the ground where no contact was made was just stunning. Right in front of me! The help was given, sponge, water, the usual. But both player and aid were just smiling. The AR watched it from 2 yards, so did I from 4. Player walking away, smiling.

Another 2 minutes gained. Where are good AR's when you need them?

Last minute. Home team agitated, trying to break through and score a goal. Defender doing something I couldn't see, but attacker basically nodding and defender goes down. Ref goes for the cards again and shows red. In the very last minute. Miserable end to an exciting game. Refs are partly to blame. But even more players who fake and mislead refs resulting in cards for opponents. A lesson learned - when it's hard to judge who did what, just give a stern warning to both players and don't forget to consult your AR.

Apologies to the slow ref Sir Alex said sorry today for his public negative comments on ref Alan Wiley (49) after the match last week against Sunderland. According to Mr. Ferguson, ref Wiley had not been fit enough to keep up with the "pace of the game". He was positive about 'foreign referees' when he told the press: "You see referees abroad who are as fit as a butcher's dog. Not this ref, he was taking 30 seconds to book a player."

Thanks, Sir Alex! well noted. European refs (the ones not on the island) are indeed very fit but even when in super fit condition, they still rely on old fashioned tools to judge off-side and yes/no goals. Mr.Blatter said some time ago "The referee will still have the right to make a mistake, but at least he will be doing his job - it will not be a hobby, and he will have the respect of the coaches and teams," he said. But no way is he or the 4th official allowed to check the screen with replays from every angle. No infrared on the the goal line to prove a ball has crossed the line.

But even when it's accepted on profi level, the amateur ref like me is still relying on the club linesmen. I refuse to call them assistants anymore. The times the flag goes up on dangerous attacks towards their own goal is sometimes shocking.

I had a big argument today on whether the attacking player was indeed ahead of the ball and hence in off-side position. I decided to follow the linesman. But he did it again during second half and I overruled him. "But it was identical to the one in first half" he entrusted me, so I should have followed him again. Following the cancelled goal during first half, directly from the indirect free kick, the other team attacked and scored a clear goal. Guess what? Flag goes up. Off-side, just like the other side ref! You have to cancel this one too! I couldn't believe the argument he was using. Asked him accept my decision, but he started accusing me. I asked him to put down his flag and got another, much better, linesman (closer to assistant).

Game ended in good atmosphere. Boys went for their beer, ref took a shower and reported another no-cards-game.

How many refs to you need?

In the US, I was used to be part of a full squad of neutral refs to lead a soccer game. Back in Europe, it's the usual me, myself and I again. There are of course the two (club) volunteers who promise to help you, but who you can't trust. They are capable of raising their flag on crucial situations, in favor of their own club, and that's what happening too often. I would be prepared to do an extra game after my CR game and help out a colleague ref as AR while I'm at the football accomodation anyway. Not for the money, but just to get this problem solved.

I was watching some high level professional European games this week on TV. Finally, the UEFA has decided to do something about the stupid fact that everyone with a TV set can see fouls being committed around the box, but not the referee. So, they put one extra ref on each goal to keep an eye on things. There was already the 4th official doing the player admin, by the way. So in total, on professional level, there are in fact 6 referees on a game.

Impressive, but pretty useless so far, if you ask me.

The new guys stand there as wax statues, looking stupid and letting things go that a good referee himself could see. Players have to be carefull not to hit them while making a last move before the line. Most crucial elements you would expect to be spotted are fouls - the famous tackle, handball and ball crossing the line.

UEFA has to quickly evaluate the added value of bringing two extra refs, because it's pretty disappointing so far. They don't seem to communicate with the CR. They must see so much more than a CR (hearing in Europe is not an issue as most clubs play in a different language than the referee). But still, crucial situations get judged still by the CR alone and he still makes mistakes.

I'm shouting often in front my TV set: AR! Talk to the CR and tell him what you saw! What's wrong with you guys? And now he got even 4 pair of eyes around the pitch!

My guess is that for the issue of a ball across the line yes/no, you don't need the extra official. A simple chip in the bal will do, thank you. Off-side can be done with cameras.

Coaches can challenge 2x and if correct, they keep their call. Simply do a replay. Will cost you a few seconds tops. Leaves you with handball and tackles. Same thing. Camera, replay, action.

Tomorrow, I'm on my own again. Not trusting the linesmen on either side and using my gut feeling in cases of doubt to make a call. It usually goes well. Saving the football association lots of money!

Reffing a near perfect game Reffing a game like the Dutch referee Dick Jol has always been my dream. His special skill was to 'read a game' as Johan Cruijff used to say. Taking the game's temperature in a few minutes and acting accordingly.

Sometimes, teams can lead you astray and you start reacting instead of acting on your own.

Or you just didn't have your day and personal things stand in the way. Taking the lead but still play the supportive role, and finish the game with 22 handshakes, that's the perfect game.

I think I was close to that level today. I must admit, It feels great. I had this feeling before, but that judgment was the so-called N=1, or judgment based on just one opinion. This time, I had an official Football Association chaperone with me. The guy who is there to help you 'read the game' and coach you at half time and after the final whistle. Advising you not to give "one minute" at half time and in the 90th minute. Telling you to use one arm only to point the direction of the free kick, and not the other to show where from.

If that's it, and the rest goes well - no cards, no fouls overlooked, no disputed goals - you just had a perfect game. On the scale of 1-10 that's 9.5. My chaperone told me incidently, there are 10 points-scores. So this still leaves room for improvement, but hey, I'm not Dick Jol!

Direct or indirect?

Reffing an adult game has one advantage: you hardly ever have to explain the rules. Most players know when they hear the whistle what they did wrong and sometimes you have to explain what you saw and how you interpreted it.

But what happened today beats everything. Good game, 10 minutes before finish, a free kick towards the goal. I always ask the players whether they want the wall on correct distance. Most of them tell me to do so, like this time. My hand with the whistle goes up and I tell them to wait with taking the free kick, measure the 10yards and blow the whistle. Ball goes on right side of the wall, straight in the goal. Goalie didn't even try to stop it. Why? "Ref, it was an indirect! You put your hand up, so we waited for the second player to touch it." And "the free kick wasn't a direct anyway, check the rules!"

I was first surprised they tried this on me and then angry that I even gave it a second of consideration. Allowed the goal and the home team won 3-2. Walking to the dressing rooms, the goalie tried it one more time but this time his coach laughed at him and told him to stop blaming the ref for his own stupid mistake. There was no hand up when I blew the whistle and the free kick was a regular direct. The goalie gave up and thanked me for reffing a good game.

Back in the boardroom, filling out the papers, the coach of another team who watched the game, told me the same. Learned another lesson - be aware of the gestures you make as a ref and be very clear about what they mean. And - don't be fooled by players who realize they lost a game due to their own stupidity.

Moving up again The near perfect game last Saturday didn't go unnoticed. My game coach reported back to the Football Association and recommended a mid-term promotion. Got what I worked hard for - moving up to group 4! This resulted immediately in higher games to ref, basically more 1st teams, although playing in lower leagues. But still, there is more at stake and players are the selected football players of that particular club.

Somehow, the game coach helped me getting ready for the jump. He gave me some basics to look after, but confirmed I was ready for heavier games. The game on Saturday was a good game and was perfect to show my skills on the field.

And, by moving up after only two months it also give me chances to move up again in the next official round (June 2010). We will see.

Dick Jol - thanks for helping me to be independent and stay who I am. Next example is Collina. I will have to loose some hair first, though....

Reffing the non-stars This weekend I had the pleasure of reffing some absolute non-stars. Coincidence or not, the one half are playing for my local team, but I never had the pleasure reffing them before.

The opponent came from Amsterdam and I recognized the club name immediately. As a student, I lived on the 5th floor of a student complex, overlooking their sports complex. You could tell most of them were students. Guys who were clearly raised in another place than where their current football club is based. One had a heavy accent from the far south of Holland. Others spoke with that distinguished, educated tone that made my head turn. At last, people who can finish a sentence and don't swear at each mistake.....

The game started off fast. A goal on each side within 5 minutes. The home team started yelling at each other for the mistakes and miscommunications. The away team complained about the wild plays of the home team. Because I use the advance rule a lot, it didn't show

too much in terms of whistles and free kicks. Just before half time, a strange incident happened. A player was shoveled over the line, I didn't see a foul so gave a throw-in to attacking team. At that moment, some players started arguing with me, but I didn't want to listen. To my big surprise, even the goalkeeper ran towards me and explained his view on things. Bad mistake, and I told him that, pointing at his empty goal! The attacking team realized that too, made the throw-in and a player placed the ball right in the goal! Pretty hilarious and more for U10 teams than for this adult level. It was half-time and a good moment to cool down.

Second half and things were pretty hectic soon again. I started showing yellow and things calmed down a bit. One more goal for the home team and the final score 5-4 was reached. I had a chat with both teams. The student team told me they were shocked by the way they were played. So much physical force and abuse of language! I told them I'm getting used to this. I also talked to the home team coach (who didn't have the courtesy of meeting me before the game) and told him his language and gestures were below all standards. He said it was part of his coaching methods. The players confirmed this was their way of playing, always on the edge, trying the ref how far they could go.

I promised myself to start showing yellow much earlier in future, risking red cards of course at the next foul. But protecting the opponents should be much higher on my agenda than letting the game flow with playing advantage (or giving the yellow afterwards anyhow which is pretty difficult to keep track of).

Next week, I'll be going to a former island close to A'dam. The islanders don't accept outside rules much, so I will have to play my authority from the start. I learned my lesson.

Reffing a higher league Last Saturday, I started reffing group 4 after the early season promotion in the regional North Holland league (WestI). A bit more quality and emotion in play. A few more spectators. And another league reporter. And a derby between two neighboring football clubs. They had been talking about this game for days.

First time in long time a yellow for dissent. First his team player who simply used too much force and caused an injury treatment of 2 minutes. His colleague then asked whether all of the players were on my list to get yellow. He wanted one too. He got it.

First time at this level too to receive the famous knock on the door while taking a shower.

Ref, can we talk about this yellow card? I'm running out of money and this will cost me dearly. Unbelievable, but it still happens. My answer doesn't need to be explained. It was

already on the books. I write it down immediately after entering my dressing room. Perfect excuse - it's on the books already my friend!

For the rest, no strange things apart from lack of respect. Home teams wins and says thanks. Away team loses and just walks off the pitch. The only handshake was from their captain at signing the papers. It doesn't bother me anymore. Next week another derby between two neighbouring towns. Wish me luck.

Are tackles allowed?

Last weekend it was my turn to ref a local derby again. this time two neighboring towns, both low ranking teams in the Saturday 4th league in North Holland. It had been raining quite a bit the days before, but on Saturday it was dry and despite a soaked football field, the game was on. Within 20 minutes, the grass pitch wasn't even anymore and every turn a football shoe made resulted in another bump. Terrible for a good football match of course.

Knowing this was a derby and both teams didn't avoid the personal contact, I decided to take breaks at certain fouls. You get the usual comments, but I ignore them, just showing them this can't be tolerated. But I'm pretty lenient on the tackles, as long as they are targeted at the ball and not the legs. When tackles are performed from the front or sideways, a player can jump or step away. As soon as a player is attacked and the attacker has no chance or reaching the ball, a warning is given. In my opinion, the game had several of these actions, but were always on the ball and I allowed most of them.

Afterwards, the paperwork and drinks resulted in a small discussion on tackles. Guess who brought it up? The loosing team, of course. Too many tackles with stretched legs was the argument. I pointed out that any tackle as long as it's aimed at the ball, can be with (one) stretched leg. It shouldn't be too high and the studs shouldn't point straight forward, but while trying to regain the ball, I will allow it. After all the calls for less severe refereeing (don't stop for every push), tackles were supposed to be stopped? I can predict the debates during the game. "I was going for the ball ref" etc.

I know it's a ref's tightrope and injuries are easily made when timing is bad or studs are pointed forward. But on grass, this is what football is all about, apart from scoring goals.

Maybe I should invite somebody to film the next game and have me check my decisions in hindsight. Any volunteers?

First Red this season My first red card this season is a fact. I'm not a red-card-ref. Yellow when really necessary to control a game or a player, but red? Hardly ever. But it's good you got those cards in your pocket. Strangely enough it wasn't a match I could predict to go wrong. Two teams I never reffed before on a new location in an A'dam suburb.

The pitch was just ok to play, soaked with rain from the last two weeks. Players from the away team wishing me luck at the start. It couldn't be more appropriate.

Final score reached by the end of first half: 1-3. Second half, the home tried to do something about it and started using the see-how-far-you-can-go method. Well, this ref pulls the cards when asked for. In total 6 yellows, equally divided between the two teams.

Another record so far. Mostly for tackles, missing the ball and hitting another player. Most cards were accepted and once carded, the player took care not to get second one, so that helped.

But there is another category of players like this one (home team) player who kept talking to me. Asking for explanations, pointing at possible time delay of the game by the winning team, pulling shirts just not too heavy enouth to be carded. I had indicated he was about to be. Then in the 80th minute, it happened. The away team defender tried to clear a ball and my talking-head player just went in there with no reserve or effort to play the ball - just blocking the other player. This guy was just catapulted in the air and screaming of pain. A little fight was about to erupt as his colleagues came to his defense. I didn't blink and pulled the red card. You - out. I don't want to see you again! The home team dug-out exploded.

Why now and not yellow first? Why red while it's not that heavy? What did he do to be awarded red after all? etc.etc.

Another 10 grueling minutes followed. Every call I made was wrong (for the home team of course) and I completely ruined their game. Yeh, right.

Blowing the whistle for the last time, I walked off the pitch and the home team - apart from a few sensible guys - didn't even thank me. The shouting and swearing home coach just shook hands and when I told him his behavior was deplorable, he refused to talk to me.

Surprisingly, the red-carded player started talking to me again, telling me I just had to say how stupid I was to card him. Everyone saw it was a mistake on my behalf, and just me poor ref didn't want to acknowledge that. I told him my decision stood as a rock and the more we talked about it, the more I was convinced of his red card.

Paperwork was not even handled properly, which is remarkable for a game at this level (maybe it's the club's way for working). The home team didn't bother to check things and I was offered a drink by the away-coach. While talking about the incident, this coach nodded and tried to tell me something. The red-carded player was sitting next to me at the club's

bar. What a joke, I hadn't noticed. We got talking (again) and it turned out it wasn't his first red card this season and he just was frustrated for having to sit out another 3 games or so.

AHA. So I wasn't the first ref who he got mad. Good for my report to the soccer association.

But he insisted this wasn't red. So, it was a foul after all? Yes, probably. But red? Well, without having an alternative neutral opinion (let alone video), it's just me my friend to report it and your action doesn't even have a description on the form. We will have to invent one just for you. The only thing you can do is counter my opinion and try to lower the 3 games suspension by sending in your own report. My guess - his name will switch on some red lights at the soccer association and his suspension will be max after the previous cards and warnings.

All in all, a lesser experience after doing such a great series of games with positive reports on game control.

It´s time We bring on the players again. Snow is gone (for now) and the soil should be defrosted by next Saturday. I started to make my runs after being forced to stay indoors since mid December. Ref training starts again tomorrow, so that comes just in time. I joined a national ref congress last weekend and learned more about how professional refs work in their signals, coordination, preparation, rule interpretation etc. Quite interesting.

Reffing a scrimmage game Last weekend, all games in my area were cancelled due to frozen soccer fields and approaching snow showers. The local soccer club with a brand new AstroTurf field organized scrimmages (or: ‘practice matches’) instead. If I could do the first one at 10AM. Well prepared dressed in thermo shirt and turtle neck shirt I showed up at the field. The same level U18 team from a neighboring city was invited and ready, working on their warming up.

But where was the home team? 8 of them were drinking coffee, waiting for the rest, still in bed, assuming no games were on.

At 10AM sharp, only 10 players came running on the pitch. We agreed to reduce the game time with 10 minutes in order to make it for the next game. The away team coach wasn't happy. His team was on time and wanted to play the full 90.

Warming up pays off. The home team clearly didn't do their preps well and wasn't ready and had an early goal. The temperature went down and it started snowing. Important to keep moving as ref. Poor goalies!

I was happy we shortened the game time. THe next two games got worse weather with more snow. If you ask me, next weekend is out again. New snow and frost are on the attack. Hey, it's winter. Let's wait till March and start again. Just like in the US.

Red card crisis A beautiful day last weekend. Sun gets the chance to warm things up again. Football game in totally different setting. Short sleeves, spectators bathing in sunshine. Everyone happy.

Game not too difficult. Green vs. Red. Had one major error. Should have watched the players getting to their positions again and adapt my free kick direction..... But I was stubborn and gave free kick to wrong team. For the rest, two yellows for too much force.

And then. 2nd half, 45th minute. Extra time because of some injuries. Player gets tackled and should be cautioned. I run to the situation and about to pull the card when the attacked player decides to show his anger in a physical way and head-buts the opponent. In a split second I decided to prioritize and give red first. Player takes his loss and runs off the pitch before I can take his number. 21 players (and the home team assistant ref) jump on me and start yelling and asking for explanation. It's so typical. Everyone knows red is correct (including the 30 odd spectators watching the scene from 5 meters!).

The only thing that is nagging me is who was the attacking player. He silently sneaked off. I stead of saying "I want the red carded player back (to take his number) I shout "I take the card back". More confusion. Reds yelling "ref takes card back". Player comes running back and I take his number to tell him he stays off. Stupid scene. Reds yelling he was attacked and the green player should be carded too. They were right, but I want to finish this game and not have to go through checking the other players number. In hindsight, this guy had been cautioned and should have been given his second yellow, so red too.

Conclusion: ref, you are on your own. Don't expect anyone to help you. Make up your mind on what you see, take notes first, who did what, the minute, the numbers. Add it up and show cards where necessary and walk away. I started with showing the red first and allowed an eruption of emotion which hindered me in finishing this event properly. let the game play on for 2 minutes to calm down and ended it.

Marked in my report that red carded player was provoked and I forgot to shown the attacking player his card, which probably should have been red too. Let them sort it out.

Back to work. It's Monday.

Don´t touch the referee! I´ve set up a sub group at LinkedIn for Dutch referees working for the national football association KNVB. Each weekend I select game situations from a

sport channel and bring up a forum discussion. Last weekend, I brought up a conflict between a player and referee at PSV-HSV for the Europa League. A player tried to explain his point of view to the ref and while using his hands, he touched the ref. The English ref didn't blink an eye and pulled the red card.

My comment was "dont' be offended so easily". It's not a heavy push or anything. Someone commented that a player simply shouldn't touch the ref and he thought it was correct to show red. 48 hours later, I came in a similar spot myself when a player was tackled and I decided free kick. But the fouled player was so angry that he told me 'use your specs ref' and touched it by way of explaining his opinion. I didn't blink an eye and pulled yellow.

After the game, one of the coaches asked me why yellow and not red. I remembered my own discussion on LinkedIn and told him what the player did was not harmful and the player was angry. Showing him red would give further escalation and I was not offended or hurt by what the player did. He thought it was too weak. Interesting!

Why is soccer a winter game?

It's April 3rd and we played football in the most miserable circumstances. The weather offered hardly temps of 7C with plenty of rain. Football pitch muddy and slippery. At least I had two teams who were fighting till the last minute to earn game points. The home team had played 17 games without any points. Today, the opponent was just 2 places above them. It was a fair game with the first 3 points for the home team. I took the lead with clear calls and audible explanations. Got both teams complimenting me at last whistle. But who was the guy with the umbrella? He was there from the start and the only spectator volunteering the terrible weather circumstances. This time, I hope it was my assessor. We will find out in a few days when the football association envelope lands on my mailbox. If this isn't a high score, I will eat my wet ref shoes - when they have dried....

Island Game Last weekend I had the honor of reffing a game on one of our islands in the north (Texel).

The national football association normally assigns you to max 1 game per season on this distant location. They can't ask you to do more than that, unless you live on the island yourself! Normally for a game, I reckon 1,5 hrs travel and preparation at the site, 2 hrs for the game and 1 hr admin and return trip. Total of just over 4 hours. In case of an 'island game', however, you got to almost double that. Car to ferry, find a parking spot (not easy at mid day!), ferry to the island. Travel to the game site, game itself, admin, return to ferry, crossing, return trip. A total of 7,5 hours in my case.

As I was going on my own and noticed that taking the car across just for 3 hours is quite expensive, I left my car on the mainland and decided to use the football club's service to

pick me up and drive me to the site. 'A guy with a red car will pick you up', the lady told me. 'It never goes wrong'. He was there with his muddy car, driving in 3rd gear all the way.

Talked a bit about the usual things, the weather, beauty of the island, lack of traffic jams etc. But when I asked him about the ferry home (5PM right?) he shrugged and said he only drove refs to the site. Returns to be organised by yourself. Well, you mean with the away team? Yes, unless there is too much tension, we will order you a cab. Right. Thanks mate.

Well, the game was a drag. Soil had dried out terribly after weeks with no rain. Ball bounced high and passing over the ground was almost impossible. No goals after 90 minutes.

Oh, and the guy who raised his hand offering me a ride back to the ferry..... right, I told him he couldn't play because he didn't bring his players card.

It was fun in the sun, a real outing for this ref, but don't send me over more too often please. I paid my dues.

Red card crisis A beautiful day last weekend. Sun gets the chance to warm things up again. Football game in totally different setting. Short sleeves, spectators bathing in sunshine. Everyone happy.

Game not too difficult. Green vs. Red. Had one major error. Should have watched the players getting to their positions again and adapt my free kick direction..... But I was stubborn and gave free kick to wrong team. For the rest, two yellows for too much force.

And then. 2nd half, 45th minute. Extra time because of some injuries. Player gets tackled and should be cautioned. I run to the situation and about to pull the card when the attacked player decides to show his anger in a physical way and head-buts the opponent. In a split second I decided to prioritize and give red first. Player takes his loss and runs off the pitch before I can take his number. 21 players (and the home team assistant ref) jump on me and start yelling and asking for explanation. It's so typical. Everyone knows red is correct (including the 30 odd spectators watching the scene from 5 meters!).

The only thing that is nagging me is who was the attacking player. He silently sneaked off. I stead of saying "I want the red carded player back (to take his number) I shout "I take the card back". More confusion. Reds yelling "ref takes card back". Player comes running back and I take his number to tell him he stays off. Stupid scene. Reds yelling he was attacked and the green player should be carded too. They were right, but I want to finish this game and not have to go through checking the other players number. In hindsight, this guy had been cautioned and should have been given his second yellow, so red too.

Conclusion: ref, you are on your own. Don't expect anyone to help you. Make up your mind on what you see, take notes first, who did what, the minute, the numbers. Add it up and show cards where necessary and walk away. I started with showing the red first and allowed an eruption of emotion which hindered me in finishing this event properly. let the game play on for 2 minutes to calm down and ended it.

Marked in my report that red carded player was provoked and I forgot to shown the attacking player his card, which probably should have been red too. Let them sort it out.

Back to work. It's Monday. (posted on blogspot.com March 22)

Last game of 2009 My first red card this season is a fact. I'm not a red-card-ref. Yellow when really necessary to control a game or a player, but red? Hardly ever. But it's good you got those cards in your pocket. Strangely enough it wasn't a match I could predict to go wrong. Two teams I never reffed before on a new location in an A'dam suburb.

The pitch was just ok to play, soaked with rain from the last two weeks. Players from the away team wishing me luck at the start. It couldn't be more appropriate.

Final score reached by the end of first half: 1-3. Second half, the home tried to do something about it and started using the see-how-far-you-can-go method. Well, this ref pulls the cards when asked for. In total 6 yellows, equally divided between the two teams.

Another record so far. Mostly for tackles, missing the ball and hitting another player. Most cards were accepted and once carded, the player took care not to get second one, so that helped.

But there is another category of players like this one (home team) player who kept talking to me. Asking for explanations, pointing at possible time delay of the game by the winning team, pulling shirts just not too heavy enouth to be carded. I had indicated he was about to be. Then in the 80th minute, it happened. The away team defender tried to clear a ball and my talking-head player just went in there with no reserve or effort to play the ball - just blocking the other player. This guy was just catapulted in the air and screaming of pain. A little fight was about to erupt as his colleagues came to his defense. I didn't blink and pulled the red card. You - out. I don't want to see you again! The home team dug-out exploded.

Why now and not yellow first? Why red while it's not that heavy? What did he do to be awarded red after all? etc.etc.

Another 10 gruelling minutes followed. Every call I made was wrong (for the home team of course) and I completely ruined their game. Yeh, right.

Blowing the whistle for the last time, I walked off the pitch and the home team - apart from a few sensible guys - didn't even thank me. The shouting and swearing home coach just shook hands and when I told him his behavior was deplorable, he refused to talk to me.

Surprisingly, the red-carded player started talking to me again, telling me I just had to say how stupid I was to card him. Everyone saw it was a mistake on my behalf, and just me poor ref didn't want to acknowledge that. I told him my decision stood as a rock and the more we talked about it, the more I was convinced of his red card.

Paperwork was not even handled properly, which is remarkable for a game at this level (maybe it's the club's way for working). The home team didn't bother to check things and I was offered a drink by the away-coach. While talking about the incident, this coach nodded and tried to tell me something. The red-carded player was sitting next to me at the club's bar. What a joke, I hadn't noticed. We got talking (again) and it turned out it wasn't his first red card this season and he just was frustrated for having to sit out another 3 games or so.

AHA. So I wasn't the first ref who he got mad. Good for my report to the soccer association.

But he insisted this wasn't red. So, it was a foul after all? Yes, probably. But red? Well, without having an alternative neutral opinion (let alone video), it's just me my friend to report it and your action doesn't even have a description on the form. We will have to invent one just for you. The only thing you can do is counter my opinion and try to lower the 3 games suspension by sending in your own report. My guess - his name will switch on some red lights at the soccer association and his suspension will be max after the previous cards and warnings.

All in all, a lesser experience after doing such a great series of games with positive reports on game control. (Posted on Blogspot.com Dec 13, 2009)

Reffing the Turks It´s almost done, the 2009-10 football season. I´ve got one more game on my roster next week and that´s it. Few decisive games left, apart from the Dutch pro competition where things are still to be decided on the very last day. As amateur ref you jump from one league to another and hardly follow the odds at stake in some of them.

Last weekend, it was such a game. Nothing at stake anymore, both teams will stay in their 5th league and promised me it would be a fair and easy game. That should have given me red flags. I had noticed the away-team wearing shirts with a Turkish flag as badge. The home team had a mix of skin colors, but at least they spoke Dutch.

First half nothing much to talk about, apart from a few things and a yellow for dissent. A few off-side debates, but think I decided that correctly, and we took a break at equal score of 2-2. Then, at 2nd half a new player joined the game and that changed the atmosphere.

Comments on each decision, slowly building up pressure. I thought I was trained to spot this kind of behavior and deal with it in time, but I let it go, not willing to fall in his trap and loose my concentration.

A few more yellows for shirt pulling and tackles. The 'reds' using more and more dirty tricks.

Trying to hit back when fouled. I couldn't tell exactly but a player told me he was hit (and complained it should have been red). Then a free kick towards goal. I measured the wall distance and then suddenly this one (red shirt) guy stepped out of the line 2 meters forward. I told him to step back, but he acted as if he didn't understand me. When I pointed at my cards he only stepped back when I was about to pull the. I should have done it, in hindsight. Shortly after a break-out happened and again a shirt was pulled and a player down (outside the box). On the border of red card for break-away in scoring position. I decided for yellow and free kick.

But , the home team were with 1o minutes to go at a comfortable 5-2 lead, so it all looked fine for them. But then the reds and their sub player took off. 5-4 with 2 minutes to go. The same (irritating) player who was flagged off for off-side twice, took a header from a free kick and scored. The (3rd) club linesman immediately pulled the flag for off-side. When I waved him down he was furious. The game ended in 5-5. The (red) sub player smiled at me and thanked me for a good game. Changing from an angry Turk to a decent citizen again. I felt stupid.

I met the disappointed home team captain to sign the papers and we evaluated the game.

He pointed out the various incidents that happened during the 2nd half and why I hadn't done anything to stop them. It could easily have escalated. Was I afraid of them? It hadn't occurred to me yet, but on my way back it dawned on me it might indeed have been the case deep down. A soul-searching experience it was, making me more confident again to pull cards where necessary and not let me be overpowered by rioting players, whatever the stakes there are at play.

Since we came back from the US, early 2009, I've been finding my way back into the Dutch football referee business. Starting at a lower level than where I left off, just to see if I still like it and capable of handling the adult amateurs. Shortly into the 2009/10 season, I got promoted back to my old level (sort of, as the system changed while we were abroad). The reports I got since that upgrade are looking good and should be worth another promotion. The national football association needs relatively more refs for higher grades this year as a new amateur league will be added next season to fill the gap between professionals and amateurs.

My last game was at my home club on Thursday evening. During the warming-up, I hurt my foot stepping in a small ditch but decided to keep going. I was lucky with the first team practicing at the same time, so during the break my foot could be taped at the first-aid unit. Not sure if that was a wise decision as the pain just got worse. At home, the pain was terrible and I could hardly sleep. Had to cancel my official last game on Saturday as a result. Been a while since I was injured. The good news is that I got 3 months to recover!

Play-offs. While my foot is still not healed completely from last week's injury, I received two more assignments to ref games the coming two weekends. As it's play-off season, you can be assigned with a full squad of 3 refs. Normal for me with my US experience, but here it's a bonus for most of us. During the play-offs, you normally get assigned with a higher playing ref and join him (in my case standard teams in 3rd class) as assistant ref. Makes sense, as less games are now played and most refs are still available.

To my big surprise, however, I learned yesterday that I will be AR on a game where was CR only three weeks ago! On the famous island again. This sucks, for more than one reason. I called the football association and asked to be swapped with another ref, but nothing has changed on the assignment sheet. I guess to only way out is to cancel the assignment.

Another sour point is the fact that all games in the play-offs have to start at the same time: 14:30. But on the island, you have to work with ferry schedules and 2PM would be much better.I've paid my dues by doing the 'island game' once, I just didn't expect to be assigned there again, spending a full day just doing one game.

At least I know how to deal with this faster than last time. I found a short term parking space close to the ferry and will urge the other refs to handle this game fast and make sure we catch the 5PM ferry back to the mainland. Instead of spending a total of 8 hours, I might bring it down to 7,5 hrs only.....

Play-off emotions. Officially my last game of this season, I had to ref a return game last weekend. Part of a home and away game to make out who is going to take a chance at promotion to a higher league. The first game ended in 4-5 and when ending in equal points situation, the goal difference would be decisive and if that wouldn't help, penalty kicks.

A decent game for the first 45 minutes. At half time, the score was 2-3, so on aggregate 77 and if that would have been the final score, penalty kicks etc. But then, just a few minutes into the 2nd half, the away team scores a goal. An fierce kick on goal was not properly handled by the goalie and the attacker kicks the ball against the net. Club assistant raises the flag - he thought that at moment of play the attacker was in off-side position so took advantage of that when kicking at 2nd shot.

Well, in that kind of complex situations, I just won't copy a club assistant's call, sorry! None of the players had noticed this and I felt that at a crucial moment I was again tricked.

Shortly after this incident, a defender claimed to have been kicked (I didn't see it) and seconds later another goal was scored. The difference was 2 goals, shouting and swearing the result. Then, a crucial moment - a foul by the losing team. I decided free kick but the player didn't accept it and kicked the ball away. Yellow card. He then decided to leave the game and took another player with him. 9 players left and 30 minutes to go. I decided to award the other defecting player also yellow for leaving the pitch. The other player should have been shown second yellow and red, but I decided to leave it this way and have the game at least some dignity.

A shocking unprofessional attitude I had not encountered before. Sad to end my football season this way. Just hoping I will get my promotion and not have to deal with this team again.

Ready for a new season After several weeks without active football games to ref and just running to stay fit, it was time to do some reffing again! Sure, I was lucky to have plenty of time to watch World Cup games in June and comment the top refs' performances (which I did on my Dutch soccer ref platform on LinkedIn). But, there is nothing like doing it yourself, right?

First weekend of August I was asked to help ref a U14 tournament and got to do the final in the end. 5 games of 25mins and then the final. I thought I was in shape, but realized that your concentration needs training as well! In the meantime, 4 more regional first round cup games on adult level and this weekend it's the start of the regular football season in Holland.

Did my first referee training last night. Started doing that last year September with a group of 15 refs from the region. Coached by a really good trainer who specifically trains us on the interval runs. It attracts also non-referees who just love this kind of training as nobody else does this in the field of running.

Next week, I'll have to skip the training as I'll be in the US for a brief business trip to Boston and New York. But should be back on the field next week Saturday. Getting rid of the jet lag. Then the national referee test, both rules and physical, will follow. Stay tuned!

It’s raining man!

We went from the warmest Spring to the wettest Summer this year. August and September saw so much rain, you wonder how this part of the country, which is below sealevel, can deal with so much water in a short time. The polder pumps must be working overtime and water levels in the canals remain high. So far, surprisingly, only a few games were cancelled.

This weekend, my game was on a soft grass pitch, battered after a full day of games.

During my round to check the nets, I tried to repair the many divits but the game was on.

The location was between canals and wet grass lands, but the sun just came out in time to make football possible.

First half went without too many problems. Second half, the fouls were adding up quickly and I had to show 5 yellows (3+2) to keep control. One AR did a excellent job and was almost perfectly neutral on the off-sides. The other side was taken by a substitute player.

First half, things went well, but at the end of the second half when things got a little tense, he jumped on the pitch to inform me about a hand-ball I didn't register with a goal as result. He started yelling at me. I asked him what he did on my pitch. "to tell you what a huge mistake you are making" he told me. I thanked him for his help, but told him I didn't need him any further (with 10 mins to go). No linesman resulted in an off-side which I couldn't spot too well and a third goal was produced by the home team. Tough, but not my fault.

Tired, but satisfied by how this game was brought to an end I left the small village in the polder where the home team just gathered their first points in the new competition round.

First report Sometimes you know, sometimes you don´t. Last week there more spectators than I was used to, so didn´t see the guy with his notebook. He must have been holding his breath in the first half as I usually let things go a bit to see if I can control things with verbal corrections only. Second half, the cards came out quickly though, first for shirt pulling and the rest for bad tackles.

Two other not so obvious elements were commented on. One for verbal abuse. I should talk to players and tell them they shouldn´t swear at each missed ball. That would be a bad idea. Sorry, I pass.

The second point was more serious. The AR supplied by the away team was replaced after the break. The usual sub. Deep into the second half, a goal was scored after some scrimmage in front of the goal. I allowed it, but my AR disagreed and ran on the pitch to make his point. After I asked what he did inside the lines, he started yelling at me. I thanked him for his service but discharged him from duties and decided to finish the game without an AR on one side.

Mistake. I should of course have told the captain of the away team to replace the AR and not continue without one, despite the fact there was only 10 minutes left to go. But, to my big surprise, the reporter commented on top of that I should have shown a RED card and sent the AR off the pitch, behind the fence. The last thing I would do on just a disagreement and fouls against the referee of this level can only produce a yellow in my world.

Time to take this to a more public level. Let´s see what my colleague refs think about this.

To be continued.

This is the last blog published before switching to Dutch. It’s a good time to end a series of referee blogs and publish them in a book.