It is not unusual to get stuck with a lame soccer ref.  In fact, it is actually quite RARE and uncommon to get a ref who really knows the rules of the game and applies them with professionalism and tact (like Sean). 

I do not just say this about my dearly beloved because he is my husband, but because it is simple fact.  Those who know Sean well would agree that he never does anything “so-so”.  When he undertakes something, a plan, a job, an assignment, a sermon, an art project, a household task, whatever it is, he most definitely overachieves.  The same can be said for his new refereeing “hobby”. 

It’s kind of funny the way it happened actually.  Our AYSO region is always pushing people to volunteer, especially with reffing.  I’m going to use the word “reffing” as opposed to refereeing just because it’s a little shorter.  Anyway, AYSO reffing is a thankless job for the most part, so they are always short on refs.  You don’t get paid, you get yelled at constantly, you have to be in good physical shape and be able to run a lot, you have to be willing to fill your weekends with soccer games other than your own children’s, and there are plenty more down sides to it.  So, when I read (again) that our region was in desperate need for refs, I spoke with Sean about it and told him I thought he would be a good ref.  I mean, I didn’t think about all of those negative things I just stated.  I just thought, “Why not?  He is already at the games watching, why not do some officiating while he’s there?  He likes to run.  He likes rules and sports and stats.”

So last year in 2006, sure enough, bless his heart Sean signed up for a beginning ref course.  He spent that year reffing from the sidelines, called “AR” or Assistant Referee”.  This is the guy that holds up the flag when the ball goes out of bounds to show which way the ball is going to get thrown.  The AR can also raise the flag when a player is “Offside”, and actually, for any foul that he sees.  However, ultimately the “Center Ref” is the one who makes the calls, and decides whether a foul is really a foul.  The Center Ref is the head honcho.

This year, Sean is a “Center Ref”.  He did all of this preliminary work as an AR, so this year he gets to do the head honcho stuff.  So far he is doing GREAT (but of course!) and I’m sure will continue to grow as he gets more experience.  In fact, he even took the “Advanced Ref” course and passed, so after he refs enough games (25 I believe), he can move up “Intermediate” status, ref another 25 games or so, and then move up to Advanced.  He is even talking about NATIONAL refereeing.  See, I told you – never just “so-so”.  J  We’ve already heard people from the sidelines saying, “Wow, that guy is a good ref!”  So, needless to say I am very proud of him.

Sean is also a first time coach this year.  He is coaching Liam’s team – boys under 10 – team name of course – CELTIC FC (guess who thought of that?).  Here is where stuff gets interesting.  Being a coach AND an Advanced Referee, knowing ALL of the rules, etc. makes for a very challenging game standing on the sidelines as coach, and getting stuck with a lame ref.

Last week, during a game with Liam’s team, Sean, as COACH, was placed in a precarious position.  His boys were getting pummeled by the other team, and the ref wasn’t doing a cotton-pickin’ thing about it.  The other team was elbowing, tripping, pushing, kicking, doing all of that stuff (I must admit, it was more like just a few PLAYERS, not the whole team) to our poor little guys.  Our main “goal scorer” even cried a few times because he was being attacked.  But the ref would not make a call against the other team for some reason!  I mean yes, the ref is new, but still, it was quite obvious that there were fouls being committed so come on and BLOW YOUR WHISTLE!  Don’t be shy!

After a few attacks and no call, Sean finally called the ref over in the middle of the game and told him he needed to start making some foul calls, and that his players were getting HURT.  So the ref said, “Yah, yah, okay” and started the game back up.  Did he start making any calls?  Noooooo.  The fouls continued without any calls, and our little guys continued to get wracked.  Sean was yelling, flailing his arms, booing, hissing, doing whatever he could to make it apparent that the ref was really missing the boat, but it didn’t make much difference.  The game finally ended (win a tie 1-1).  Sean was PISSED.  He called the ref, the coach, the sideline refs and everyone over for a “huddle” and told them how disappointed he was with the officiating and with how rough the other team was.  He just got a bunch of dumb looks and question marks over their heads.  They either didn’t notice, or chose not to notice.  Whatever the case, Sean was livid and let ALL of them know about it.

I don’t think that Sean’s reaction would be quite the same had he not become a ref.  Sometimes you just kind of watch a soccer game and think it’s “normal” to be rough.  You see this all the time in soccer games – pushing, sliding, tackling, elbowing, kicking, tripping, etc.  Just take a look at pro soccer and college soccer, especially women I might add, and you will see some major aggression.  But that doesn’t mean that those actions aren’t FOULS.  If you become a ref, you are held to a higher standard.  You must do your job correctly or people can get hurt.  Blow the whistle, don’t be shy!

I SOOOO much welcome Autumn.  It really hasn't been too warm here in So Cal, but just those few days this summer that were close to 90 always kill me and make me long for cooler and rainy days.  I feel like I haven't seen the rain for so long - which is true considering last winter was one of our dryest ever.  Now, the "weather almanac" says that this winter isn't going to be much better - but I never trust those guys.  It's like the weather channel or accuweather people that try to determine busy hurricane seasons - they always seem to get it WRONG.  So I am making a prediction right now that we will have an average winter with average rainfall, and even a few real heavy dowmpours at times.  Maybe wishful thinking...

We've been keeping busy as usual with soccer.  Sean has taken an additional coaching class which enables him to coach the older kids.  And he recently passed his "Advanced Ref" course which will enable him to referee club level games when he gets enough regular games under his belt.  He was center ref for the first time this past weekend.  And he's doing a great job coaching Liam's team.  He's so cute the way he coaches - so polite.  He'll yell at one of the kids, "John!  Try to stay back and cover someone, okay?  Thank you!"  I think it's the first time I have ever heard a coach saying, "thank you" to their players after each direction given. 

Today was weird in that we had an early morning game, and then we went out to lunch afterwards and were home by 1pm.  I didn't know how to handle a day at home!  I did some laundry, watered the front and back lawns and flowers/plants, updated our website, mopped the floor after Liam spilled coke all over it, updated my blog, and now I am getting ready to prepare some dinner.  Chicken, fish, brussel sprouts, rice or potatoes, maybe some bread.  And Sean actually got to watch football!  It's just so out-of-the-ordinary to be blessed with some at-home time.  We are usually out running around crazy all day long.

I have felt almost normal the past couple of days without much dizziness and/or headaches.  That is also weird.  I am not used to feeling well at all and don't know how to act!  Should I go bike riding?  Should I try to drink a beer?  No, no, no - I'm still walking on eggshells and I better not do those things quite yet.  Maybe if I am well for a couple of months straight, then I will try to adventure into that kinda stuff.  But for now, I am very grateful for the days that I do feel well, and try to do as much as possible during those times because I never know when my wellness will run out.  I still think this whole illness is inner ear related.  When I feel well, my ears don't pop when I swallow as much.  When I don't feel well, I get the ear fullness, etc.  I think it's a combination of Labyrinthitis, Migraines, and hormones from hell.  But enough talk about that....again.

Cassidy's club team is doing great - we have 3 wins of league play so far (3 out of 3).  Cassidy did great this summer with all of the summer soccer tournaments and was on a real STREAK for a while, scoring at least a goal per game.  Then the wind was taken out of her sails last weekend when the coach only had her play for a total of about 7 minutes for the entire game.  Arggggg, that pisses me off to no end.    Well, next weekend her main coach will be coaching the game so hopefully Cass gets more play time.

Breanna and Cassidy's AYSO team lost their first game this weekend.  Actually, the won the game last weekend, but we found out that game didn't count.  Sheesh.  So their first "counted" game this weekend they lost unfortunately.  But, it's still early.  Liam's team WON!  Last weekend they lost so I'm glad they won this game.

I'm getting a little tired so I think I'll rest for a bit before starting dinner.