Question Number: 17351

Other 10/16/2007

RE: Any Other

Franco of Does not matter, USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17297

I sense I have worn out my welcome. I usually hit this site in batches due to fluctuations in my soccer schedule and activities and I guess I am too much for some to handle. If you check history there are certains times I come to this website and when I do I usually hit it hard.

All my questions and comments are honest questions with no other motives and that I thought professional, battle tested referees would not have a problem with, but instead the answers have become a bit short and bit snippy and I sense a little bit edgy (especially from a few) and that was never my intentions.

Sorry to Chuck Fleischer that my questions are so ridiculous that everyone else gets it except me and that I don't deserve a REAL response other than "The answers to these questions are found in the US Soccer publication Guide to Procedures for Referees" and "Usually the procedures outlined in this book are not covered in the prematch meeting because they are so clearly understood." Well....that is what I wanted to discuss! Yes I know the info is out there to read, but if thats all it takes when why this website just to tell me to read it?

Lately my questions usually evoke a read the law book, or read the FIFA QA or read USSF's Advice to the Referee. You know what, I realize I can read it and I have, but I thought this website was to discuss and to have fun. I thought the panel was there to bring the print to life and not just echo the words. Why does my questions deserve the comment to go read it yourself more than the next comrade's questions?

Time to move on...
Franco

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Franco,
Actually, we are not a discussion site BIGSOCCER ,CORSHAM REFEREE those are discussion sites ! There is SOCREF which I truly think is more what you want to debate point by point the various nuances of the laws.

We answer questions, we do it a lot and after nearly 20,000 we are relatively good at it. It really is a matter of available time and while I enjoy doing this it pays only on good feelings and a bit of pride. I cannot speak for all, it is my belief I have never slighted you or caused you to feel unwanted.

I suggest to all my colleagues they are under no compulsion they must answer any question they do not want to. Whether you get a quick quip or a lengthy analysis from me depends on the time I have how the question strikes me and the point I hope to impress on the respondent. I am as reasonably as correct as one who is not the burning bush could hope to be, occasionally pig headed, very concerned with fair play and justice, can admit a mistake and realize I can not please everyone.

I did the job Chuck is now doing as editor it was a LOT of WORK and the site is busier now than ever. There is a wealth of talent at these keyboards and more heart by some than others in the work load they do. This site would not exist without Ref Fleischer or Ref Contarino these two are among the greatest assets the refereeing community in this nation has for free, intelligent, practical and knowledgeable information on the laws of beautiful game. Recently new stalwarts are emerging and those who can find the time still come back from time to time because this JOB is REALLY about TIME and just how much you can afford to share for no pay and the occasional pat on the back or a needle in the side. Go figure why those that do it, do it? And whether you choose to believe it my friend you are always welcome! Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Franco, we run 20-25 questions a day and tending to them all is kind of a demand on available time. Take my side of things, first thing in the morning is hit the site and see if the questions two days ago have been answered, then take a quick look for the gross mistrakes, make sure there is a valid e-mail and close them out. I try to put interesting or colorful ones on the front page. Then I get to assign a classification to the 10 or so new ones that appear between midnight and whenever I wake up. Deleting spam takes a while too. Then there is the liaison between US Soccer and the site, we do try to reflect their policies because a great majority of the questions are from the USA.

Then I get to see if there is anything pending that needs an answer from me, or one that I desire to answer. I look at familiar names and their expertise, I remember we're here to answer questions and get to it. When I see an obvious knowledgeable person, such as yourself, and the question just wants to chat I either don't offer time or give a curt no chat answer. That last bunch you sent in did frost my cookies a bit and my response did tend way toward the curt. But it said to the whole of our readers the answer to those questions is in the book and basically read it first. So, you have the answer in front of you and you ask it anyway... I didn't pass the test. Fine.

We have talked amongst ourselves about when you referee, and did kind of guess it's a very seasonal and short time. Thanks for confirming our thoughts. Many of us choose not to answer because the answer seems seldom right. So be it. Sometimes when we answer it isn't enough, sometimes the wrong tone, sometimes yada yada...

You surmise we are here to discuss and have fun, could be. But we advertise we're here to answer questions and entertain. Sometimes we do both. We like what we're doing or we wouldn't do it. We all think we can make a difference to those referees who want to learn and don't have the opportunity given where they are and the quality of their local referee association and/or instruction program.

Oh yes, most of the panelists have real jobs, you know the kind that feeds them, pays the rent, sends the kids to college, that kind of thing yet they still offer time to referees throughout the world on a volunteer basis. Sometimes you get the answer you want, sometimes you get more than you bargained for and sometimes you get asked to read the book. We read the book just to make sure, couldn't you help out by doing the same? By the way some of us gave 10-13 hours a day last June and July helping to put together the 65 changes to Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game for 2007. You might want to read that book as well, I think we done real good there too.

Regards, Chuck

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Franco. Another good discussion site is Eteamz. The problem with many sites is the posters are anonymous and oftentimes simply lie about themselves and their expertise. As you know, we are constantly checking and rechecking our responses as we strive to be correct. Oftentimes that takes much time amongst ourselves and also contact with US Soccer. Chuck had to spend 3-4 emails straightening me out the past few days and all this takes time. I think most of us feel you already know the answers to many of the questions you ask and therefore you may get a short answer. Not trying to offend you. It's more a problem of time management.