Question Number: 19300

Mechanics 6/7/2008

RE: 8

Mitch Wippern of Suisun City, CA USA asks...

I recently had the pleasure of being the Center for a U16 boy's class 1 game (my 1st at this level).

I told my ARs prior to the start of the game that I wanted to make sure that we maintained control of the game from the outset. I positioned myself so as to remain somewhat back from the play in order to see as much of the action as possible.

As the game progressed I noticed that there was a lot of questionable action going on in the quadrants not directly in the sight of an AR (my corners?). In order to keep a lid on the game I decided to move in closer to play in those areas so that I could 1) make my presence felt and 2) be closer and therefore more able to see what was going on.

That worked well except when the defending team made a long pass to a break away down field. I found myself trying to sprint downfield and keep up with these fit (read fast) young men. Fact of the matter is that as the game progressed, play got more and more physical and the players got more and more emotional.

What advice can you offer me on correct positioning so as to be close enough to encourage clean play and yet to be far enough to be able to respond effectively to a break away?

Is this a matter of my conditioning, better use of my ARs, better positioning, all three?

Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

All three would help, as would a healthy dose of whistle blowing. Noting that the game was getting more and more physical and they players were getting more and more emotional tells me there were infractions going on that needed to be called so the players feel free to demonstrate their skills instead of protecting themselves, and they didn't feel they were getting what they needed from the referee. Seeing "questionable action" and being too far away to say or do anything is not good form. You can still blow your whistle though, and keep running while you do, so when they look up for you, you are at least a bit closer. Blowing the whistle too much - is that what you are worried about? Trust me - if you can get chippy 16 year olds to complain about your whistling instead each other, you've got their attention. And after a few more games at this level, you'll have a better idea of which whistles MUST be blown and which ones can be allowed to slide by. Keep working at it, and thanks for asking for help.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Hard to get a handle on what's happening without actually seeing how you perform Mitch. It was your first match at this level of competition and as such you simply were not prepared for what they were going to do/could do during the match. It could be as simple as you not looking around and finding out what was going to happen next. That's not an easy task to learn, by the way. Another thing is when behind and at maximum speed you stuck to your diagonal forcing the gods of trigonometry to slow you down.

So what can be done from here? Not a whole lot... Unless you get on the phone and let me know where and when your next match is and I'll do the D&G thing. After that I'll have a real good idea where any difficulties lie and be able to offer better suggestions.

Regards,