Question Number: 21769

Character, Attitude and Control 8/10/2009

RE: Competitive Adult

Mystery of St. John's , NL Canada asks...

Today, I reffed a game and I blew the call on the game winning goal. What do you do to get over the guilt of having lost the game for this team?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I can give you some pithy answers:
'Get back on that horse what threw you'
'Do it again, just the same, but better'
'Bless you my son, go forth and sin no more'

But basically it boils down to, you just have to go out there and do another game. You've learned something; that adds to your experience and is one more mistake that you don't have to make again.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

If we never made mistakes, we'd get huge heads. Making mistakes teaches us to respect the players and the game and ultimately, ourselves.

Figure out why you made the mistake, and I'll guarantee you the chances you'll make it again are slim, and it is very possible you can keep someone else in the 'tent' from making the same mistake. While I certainly made my fair share of mistakes on the field, there were a lot of them I didn't make because referees I respected told stories on themselves.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Mystery, I use single malt whiskey, minimum 12 years old... I am on my 10th bottle.