2010 Matt Armstrong Tournament

Yesterday, the 14th Annual Matt Armstrong Memorial 5-A-Side Tournament ended. I played and refereed as I have for the previous two years. This year we played in the Silver division (as opposed to Gold the past two years) because Brice, who I met playing pick-up two years ago and recruited me for his team, didn't play this year as it was his 25th birthday and he wanted to celebrate other than playing in the tournament. So, I joined up with several of the guys from the previous teams and other of their friends.


Back row (L to R): Derek Arndt, myself, Ted, Jeff Gleason, David Arndt
Front row: Sean Malone, Brian Wiley, Josie Olsen, Brittany Bergens
(the picture stinks because our scanner doesn't have drivers for 64-bit Windows 7 or Linux so I had to take a picture of the picture...)

Josie's brother Brett also played with us, but missed the first game driving up. Derek and David played with me the past two years. I knew Ted as a fellow rec league ref. Jeff and Brian I met last summer during MWR's arena football (soccer) league. Brian's dad, Peter schedules the referees each year. Nathan, Brian's younger brother, Josie, and Brittany all graduated from Burroughs last year and played for Burroughs so I knew them from refereeing. They also played in the MWR league. Unfortunately, Nathan had an appendectomy two weeks ago so he was still recovering from that. He came out and watched and was doing well.

We played three games on Saturday. Our first game did not start off well. We didn't really know how to play with each other and got caught out by a young, fast team to the tune of 5-0. We didn't get back on defense very well and also didn't communicate much.

The second game was better. We figured out how to play with each other and communicated much more. We won 3-2 and I scored twice. My first goal gave us the lead (2-1) with a low ~25-yard screamer right between the near post and the keeper. My second goal gave us the win with a similar shot, but it wasn't nearly as spectacular. I noticed their keeper didn't seem like a trained goalkeeper and had trouble getting low so I hit it low, hard, and to his left side (as before) and he got a little something on it, but it was hard enough that it squirted on through.

Our last Saturday game we lost 2-1, but did very well. We had a few decisions go against us (or rather not go for us). I won't normally criticize a fellow referee if they're making an honest effort. However, our referee made no effort to get in positions to make calls. He didn't stray much more than 10 yards from the center spot. The other team slide tackled at least four times which isn't allowed. It's supposed to be a two minute power play (which is pretty significant since the games are two 10 minute halves with no halftime break). The ref called none of these fouls. He also ignored my pleas for a call when we drove down the field, had a good shot, I ran down the rebound towards the far side corner flag, beat my defender and was about to have a decent shot on goal when the defender I just beat dragged me to the ground. I don't know whether I was in the penalty area or not, but either way, I didn't get the call. It was pretty frustrating.

We ended up placing 3rd in our group of 5 teams due to the only two teams below us tying when they faced each other. So on Sunday we played the 2nd place team from the other group. We played Jesus' team. He's the coach I've had a few problems with before due to refereeing. I think I just have to write off his comments during games as emotional, irrational rants and leave it at that. We had a pleasant time the whole weekend and a fun game against them. They beat us 2-1. Unfortunately I gave up a goal by chest trapping a kick from their goalkeeper too far out in front of me and my defensive partner had broken forward for the attack. Jesus was able to get a pass off (I got a little on it), but I couldn't stop the ensuing 2v1 and Derek was too far away because of my mistake. It was a very fun game though and we didn't expect to win since the other team was better, faster, younger (except for Jesus).

All in all it was a fun weekend. I had a blast playing and my teammates were great and fun to play with and chat/watch other games with.

Abby and Daniel were able to come up for a few games. They got to see my two goals so that was neat. They also got to see me give up the goal in the elimination game Sunday, but it was great having them there.


Daniel loved his FC Barcelona outfit that Grandma and Grandpa got him while they were in Paris.


He also loved throwing the ball to whomever would play with him. Brittany and Brian were great sports in that regard. He liked watching the other teams play. I'm not sure how much of that was down to the big red ball they were playing with or the players themselves.

Maybe I'll post about refereeing later, but, other than the U14 semi-final I did, there wasn't much to write about (other than the nearly universal ignorance amongst players and crowd about the foul of handball and the fact that getting part of the ball first doesn't excuse a foul).

How attached are you to your eyes?

I went out this morning to grab some discs I left at "league" couple weeks ago and pick up a few things at the store. Abby expressed a desire to have biscuits and gravy for brunch so, while I was out, I stopped by Midway Cafe to grab some. While I was waiting for my order, a guy came in and was trying to find a couple streets for garage sales. I knew where one of the streets was so I directed him there. Partway through my directions two ladies in their late-40s or early-50s came up to pay their bill. I heard one of them say "Do you think he's very attached to them?". I didn't pay much attention as I was giving directions. After I was done, the ladies told me I had beautiful eyes. I thanked them and they proceeded to tell me that they had been trying to determine how attached I was to my eyes. They mentioned, jokingly (I hope), that they had been contemplating beating me up and taking my eyes...

I'll let that sink in a bit.

They then complemented my eyes again, I gave some other sort of thanks/acknowledgement and sort of turned away a bit. One of them said "Now he's getting shy" and seemed surprised at my slight withdrawal from the heretofore-normal conversation.

Of course I got shy! You just talked about assaulting me and scooping out my eyes! What am I supposed to say to that?! "Sure take my eyes"? "Thanks but no thanks"? (as an aside to the diner owner) "Call the cops"? I wonder what Miss Manners would recommend in that situation.

It was probably the weirdest conversation I've ever been a part of.

Now with more Daniel!

Here's some of what Daniel and I did last Friday when we weren't chasing discs around.



On a completely unrelated note, I hope Clint Dempsey gets better and stays better. He was injured and it looked like it might be a stretch for him to even play in the World Cup, but the injury wasn't as bad as first thought and he got better and was the hero for Fulham a few weeks ago in the Europa League. Then, this past weekend, he was injured again.

Daniel and Disc Golf

Last Friday Abby worked so I took care of Daniel. We played quite a bit and he enjoyed following me around the kitchen chasing me or one of his blocks as I kicked them around. We were going to Simi Valley for Easter and I was going to play a course in LA one day so I decided to get some putting practice in.


Daniel helped me set up my basket.

He kept wanting to have one of the flying things that kept making noise when Daddy threw them so I washed off a Q-JLS and let him play with that. He mostly tried to eat it, but he was fascinated when I would spin it on its edge. He would pounce on it to stop it spinning and then pick it up and play with it.

As for my round in LA, I ended up playing at Sylmar on Monday. It was a fun round. The day started off rainy, but I checked the weather and it looked like it would be fine for playing and I determined to go ahead and play in anything except a downpour or lightning storm. The course has a "pro shop" and it's $2/day to play, but it's very worth it. I tried to call the pro shop and find out first-hand what the weather was like, but no one answered and it seemed as though the number was actually one of the course guy's home number. It was only a 30 minute drive so I went. When I got there at 10am, no one was about despite the website claiming they open at 8am. The course is in a public park so I parked and looked around for a drop box to pay. Finding nothing I practiced putting and set out. About the time I got to the 9th hole, some people showed up. I finished my round and hit up the pro shop for another putter and my greens fee.

I shot a 58 with no birdies. That's about average, if not on the better side of average, for me. I'm encouraged though because I missed two very easy birdie (~15-20 foot) putts (that's not the encouraging part) and had 7 others for birdie and 1 to save par that were normally outside my comfort range that were right on aiming-wise, but fell just a disc and a half's width short. So I think with practice I can make those easy putts which were pure nerves (people were around by then) just because of the repetition of practice and get a few of the longer putts to go in for some birdies and shave some strokes off.

Feeding Daniel Part Two

Abby fed Daniel some peaches that she made Friday. The peaches were really good. We considered keeping them for ourselves, but then figured our son ought to eat his baby food instead of us. They were, however, the first tart food that Daniel has ever had. This caused him to pucker and make smacky noises so I, of course, took a video of it.



<rant>
Please note that the classical music was chosen for the enjoyment of the parents and not because of any belief in the debunked Mozart Effect. One of the original co-authors of the paper that started the craze, even said in an interview with WebMD, "'I'm horrified -- and very surprised -- over what has happened,' she said. 'It's a very giant leap to think that if music has a short-term effect on college students that it will produce smarter children. When we published the study results, we didn't think anyone would care. The whole thing has really gotten out of hand.'"
</rant>

Feeding Daniel

Abby was out running errands so I was watching Daniel. He got hungry so I followed Abby's directions to mix some rice cereal with some puréed pears. He liked them so much that he was leaning as far forward as he could with his mouth open. So without further ado, here's what you really came here for:


Daniel leaning forward and then getting distracted by me attempting to photograph him *without* distracting him.


Daniel lunging after food.


And a cute reference photo of him sitting normally in the chair.

Don't forget to read my long-winded account of refereeing last Friday ;) Either scroll down or see it here.

Refereeing 15 January 2010

A week ago I refereed probably the toughest game (refereeing-wise) I've ever had. Burroughs (the local high school) played Granite Hills. I wasn't scheduled to referee that day since Alan and I had refereed in Cal City the previous day. However, one of the scheduled referees couldn't make it so I filled in. That meant running the line for the JV game and doing the center for the varsity game. I remember Granite Hills from last year because their varsity coach is very vocal and seems to think all referees are out to stick it to him or something.

The JV game gave me hope for the evening since the JV coach was well-behaved and respectful throughout the game. It was Josh's first game refereeing a boys JV game and he did very well. Graham and I had only minor comments at half-time and post-game. Graham is a referee from England serving in the RAF and stationed at China Lake for a few years. He was a Level 3 referee in England. He has great advice and tips for being an assistant and a center. I always enjoy refereeing with him and learn something useful every time.

So, based on the JV coach's attitude, I had high hopes that all of the Granite Hills coaching staff had calmed down since last season. Those hopes were dashed pretty quickly as one of the Burroughs players clattered into a Granite Hills player in the 3rd minute. He essentially did a late shoulder charge into the other player. It wasn't dangerous or malicious, just late. The Granite Hills players and their coach all began telling me the charge was a yellow card. To be fair, I could easily have shown a yellow and I did consider it. To me, the foul was clearly careless (and therefore, a foul), but not necessarily reckless (and therefore, requiring a yellow). For those gray areas, a good idea is for the referee to ask "Does the player need the card?" and "Does the game need the card?" (see the section entitled "Using the “Big Picture” to Decide the Sanction") for what US Soccer says on this. Since it was the third minute of the game, I concluded the game didn't need the card and thought I could get through to the player with a word with him. So I gave the foul and had a word with the player. At half-time Graham agreed with my assessment that I could have given a card, but it wasn't necessary.

The next minutes of the match went well, but it started getting a little dicey. I called what I saw and, in the 15th minute, ended up giving a yellow card to the same Burroughs player involved in the play earlier. He again came in late and then tripped the Granite Hills player who had just passed the ball off to a teammate. The foul happened at mid-field in front of the Granite Hills bench and so their coach immediately began yelling that it was the same player from before and demanding a card. It was a reckless challenge and therefore worthy of a card, but most people don't understand the idea of a referee wanting to get the call correct instead of quickly. Ideally, you do both, but in that situation, I was reviewing the play in my mind and confirming the identity of the player. I informed the coach that I had indeed seen the foul and that I knew it was the same player. I then calmly called the player over and showed him the yellow card explaining the recklessness of the tackle and advising him to take more care in his challenges the rest of the game.

Aside:
Some fans and coaches seem to want referees to react with the same outrage and vigor that they do. They do not understand that the job of a referee is to ensure the safety of every player and that means controlling the game. When a referee reacts outwardly to a foul, that negative emotion gets transferred to the game. Conversely, If the referee can remain calm, it can help calm the game. Not always, but it *never* helps for a referee to get angry or yell or otherwise act angrily towards players or coaches. Physical presence and a strong whistle can show displeasure well enough.

The next 10-15 minutes went pretty well. In part because high school rules say that a player receiving a caution has to leave the game until the next substitution opportunity (a sub can come on for him at that time though so the team doesn't have to play short). The Burroughs coach left the cautioned player out for (I think) the rest of the half. Another reason the game calmed a bit is that I started calling pretty much every non-trifling foul I saw. I also pushed myself to get closer to play than normal which meant more running on my part. The game didn't flow as well, but it calmed down.

Until a series of three calls went against Granite Hills. They shouted for a penalty on a play which was clearly not a foul. There was a non-foul near Josh. The third incident was when I overruled Josh on a throw-in when I saw the ball ever-so-slightly deflect off a Granite Hills player and noted that from Josh's angle he couldn't have seen the deflection. So I gave the throw to Burroughs when Josh had signaled for a Granite Hills throw. All of these incidents happened on the far side of the field from the Granite Hills bench. That didn't stop their coach from thinking he had a better view from 50-70 yards away than I did from ~10 yards.

And he let everyone know he disagreed with the calls. He even went as far as saying to his players something like "You know where we are, just play" and implied that we were dishonest and favoring Burroughs. Graham, who was the assistant on Granite Hills' side was nearby and heard the comments as well. He had a word with the coach. The rest of the half went fairly well but it was tricky thanks to the coach's comments and their influence on his team.

At half-time, we reviewed the first half. Graham confirmed the yellow card and the non-penalty decision. He mentioned his word with the coach after the coach's comments. I told him I had heard the comments and appreciated his intervention. I had considered sending the coach off immediately since his comments were incredibly insulting (questioning the integrity of a referee is not something taken lightly) and somewhat abusive. I thought that I would be able to control the game better with him on the bench despite his conduct and Graham's words would be enough. I told Graham to let me know if the coach said anything similar in the second half and I would send the coach to the stands. I also told Josh and Graham that I wanted to start the second half off by calling it tight and then we could let up if the game allowed.

They both helped me a lot in that regard. Josh had a call or two and Graham had several being that his side saw much of the opening action. We all called every non-trifling foul we saw and the game was much better for it. The teams settled down after the opening minutes and we really didn't have much to call. I think it helped that the Granite Hills coach knew he was on thin ice so he was more restrained. Not that he was really all that restrained, but he was more restrained than he had been in the first half.

The game ended a 0-0 draw despite Granite Hills clearly being the better side. It was a fun game to referee, but it was also tough. Graham complimented me on my handling of the second half and that meant a lot to me (I think the first thing he said to me was "Brilliant mate"). He mentioned how much he enjoyed the second half. I thanked him and told him and Josh that I simultaneously love and hate those types of games. I love them because they are usually enjoyable and they force you to become a better referee. I hate them because they are mostly played on a knife's edge. Botch a big call or even a few minor calls or give a card when you don't have to or neglect to give a needed card and you lose control of the game.

It wasn't a MLS game or anything, but it felt good to have passed a tough test and become a better referee. Refereeing really is a team effort and I absolutely couldn't have done it without Graham and Josh doing their jobs so excellently.