Protocol

Had one game today, up at the Highfields Complex in Nottingham, near the University. It was in the MAA and was between EMTEC and Sherwood Colliery. The sun was out for what felt like the first time pretty much all season and so I looked forward to a good game. I told myself to concentrate, be confident and enjoy it and it should go well.

Early on I had good banter with a few of the players. First off the home captain who was upset having learned the Man United score - they were 2-0 down and had come back to win 4-2.I told him I shared his pain! Shortly after this, I was told my all-black kit was clashing with the dark blue / black of the visitors and they were struggling to distinguish me with the players. I just said well I'm the one that looks disinterested, runs away from the ball and has a really poor touch! They enjoyed that and I heard no more about my strip.

The game was going ok, the first half was fairly easy, just one penalty shout that I had to turn down. The forward and goalkeeper met each quickly side on chasing a loose ball and both went down. I wasn't convinced that the forward had to go down nor that the keeper had done anything you don't expect a defender to do, it wasn't a clear push nor a barge, it was shoulder to shoulder to I waved it on.

In the second half, a couple of incidents could have been controlled better on my part. Firstly, a boot came off the away defender just after his goalkeeper had collected the ball and so I asked the keeper not to release it until his player had replaced it. He acknowledged me but then dropped the ball at his feet. After his player had replaced his shoe I waved play on and the keeper then picked the ball up, which caused a slight protest from a couple of the home players. It is an offence to pick it up after having had it under control before initially releasing it, but I waved it on anyway. Whilst it would have been harsh to give a free kick against him for doing this, it would have looked more convincing or professional to have awarded a free kick against him but asked the opposition to give it back to him.

Following this, towards the end of the game, the home striker and away keeper were in a race for the ball at the edge of the area. Arriving very close together, a fair challenge saw the ball spill loose to the edge of the box to a second home striker, but as he was receiving the ball, an away defender's boot caught his keeper on the side of the head, casuing him to go down holding it. I saw this and immediately blew for a head injury. However, as I blew, the home striker slotted the ball between two defenders in the area and into the empty goal. Because I had already blown the goal could not stand but I was now met with a bunch of frustrated home players. The captain helped me clear them away but was keen to protest the goal anyway. However, I made it clear from my position that I had done the right thing. Despite a couple of minutes of protests, they accepted the decision and the game could go on. I restarted with a drop ball to the keeper, when in actual fact, I probably should have in some way returned the ball to the opposite team having just disallowed their goal.

The game ended 1-1 and both teams had no complaints at the end and thanked me for it so that was a plus as there were a good few moans throughout. No moans either from the management so I guess a pleasing game. Hopefully tomorrows will be just as pleasing.

Busy Weekend! - Sunday

I followed up my Saturday games with 2 very difficult games on Sunday. The first was a Mansfield Sunday League game at the Manor Complex, as Mansfield United met Shirebrook RBL.

Both sides tackled hard, but Shirebrook were by far the more physcial side all over the pitch, more so the captain as he threw himself quick and hard into every challenge. I had to ensure I was in a good position to see whether he was endangering his opponents, but more often than not, his challenges were well timed and fair, despite them being very strong. When he was arriving late I shouted to ensure that he remained cautious and fair and very few times early on did I need to stop play for fouls.

However, as the game went on, the tackles got stronger, especially as frustration at some offences crept into play. I had to eventually caution the captain for an unneccessary kick out on a player after making a tackle where he didn't come out as the winner of the ball. His opposite number also received a caution for a swipe at a player, which he accepted, but I couldn't understand why he had made the tackle in the first place.

The easiest caution of the day came when a home player had beaten a number of men and was about to enter the box when the away number 3 took hold of his midrift from behind with both hands and dragged him to the floor. He ended up inside the penalty area but the offence occurred just outside, whilst he was also close to being last man, but not quite. He accepted his caution gracefully and play moved on from the free kick, which was lofted way over the goal.

The second half became more difficult as both sides looked for a goal, there was a penalty claim at both ends before a clear penalty was given to the home side, which at the time made it 1-1. This frustrated Shirebrook further having held the lead for a while and so they became reckless in many of their challenges. I had to have words with both full backs before issuing a further caution to the centre back who was constantly barracking me at every opportunity. I had spoken to him a number of times before finally issuing him a yellow card.

The earlier caution to the away number 3 did nothing to change his game and he continued to commit minor infringements as well as shout at me a number of times and had I been in a fouler mood, there were a good few occasions where he could have been sent from the field of play deservedly. The Shirebrook captain also made clear his intent on hurting his opposite number too as they battled for control of the midfield and I had to have stern words with him, which seemed to work as he remained on the pitch for the duration.

In the end, it finished 1-1, even more surprisingly both sides ended with 11 men. I didn't hear much from any of the away players after the game as they headed off quite promptly but the Mansfield United side all praised me in what was a very tough game. I had thoroughly enjoyed it though and believed I had controlled it well and not allowed either side to dictate my decisions. Every card was required at the time and I made my way to the second game hoping my form could continue into it.

Despite the later game being between U14 sides, the match was just as physcial and verbal as their had been history between the 2 and a strong referee was required - too bad they ended up with me!

I recognised a number of the home players (Sherwood Colliery) from Saturday football and even a couple of the away side (Greasley MW) and thought the game would be very close. As it was, Greasley went 2-0 up quite early, before Sherwood pulled it level just before half time.

There were a number of strong challenges and I ensured that any that needed dealing with was done so in a quick, vocal and stern manner as not to allow for it to continue. Very few players in either side backed out of any tackles and so it was a very difficult game, with many free kicks.

Had I taken on this game 12 months ago I feel I may have struggled but now I am confident in my ability as a referee, especially at youth level and ensure that I let nothing go that requires dealing with. I don't shy away from making decisions, talking to players who require it and let nothing, including the technical team, from swaying my decisions, despite both sets of managers bouncing up and down the touchline all game.

A very heavy challenge in the middle of the park near the end of the first half resulted in one player being sidelined for a good 10 minutes before returning, needed dealing with. I cautioned the player after a good chat. It was his first offence and it didn't merit a red card, despite the protests of the opposition, including the downed players mother!

I had to also caution a couple of players for persistent offences, after speaking to each one a couple of times before eventually showing them the yellow card. I would much rather talk to a player to get them to watch how they are challenging rather than producing a card straight away but after a couple of talking's to, if the issue continues, cards are needed to ensure control is fully with me.

Sherwood eventually took the game 3-2 and there was an injury time shout for a penalty to Greasley for handball, which I didn't believe was the case and in the end, after 7 yellow cards and a tough 70 minutes, I blew for full time. I was greeted first by both assistants who thanked me for a good game before the Greasley manager made his way towards me. I thought I was in for an ear bashing before he took hold of my hand, pulled me in close by his side and thanked me for an absolutely perfect game, except the last second penalty decision!

This was very pleasing and gives me a great boost to my confidence, that even the losing manager can be this gracious and also aware that I had done very well in this game. On reflection, I can't actually think if too much that I could have done better in this game and hope that I perform at this level every week. I know I need to take this level of performance into the senior leagues but I believe it will come in good time.