Week 4 Recap

I was disappointed in reading the feedback I got this week as it was not flattering. As discussed at the referee meeting the biggest thing we wanted to avoid was inconsistencies from referee to referee. I received feedback from multiple coaches with specif details of rules that were not being enforced one week and were the following and visa versa. If the coaches know the Laws and league rules better than the referees working the game why does the referee need to be there. It puts me in a difficult position where I can no longer assign those games to those referees. Needless to say this makes assigning far more difficult than it should be. The biggest issue was a case of the referees not protecting the players safety. Look at the pictures below. They can be clicked on to enlarge.

These pictures came from a coach at a U13 game. Both instances of the opponents running into the keeper needed to be dealt with. In both instances, no yellow card was issued. Even worse a foul was not called in either situation. Clearly in the set n the left the player in orange had the opportunity to change direction or perhaps stop as the keeper has the ball and the attacker has no shot at a fair challenge. Because the attacker does not slow down even though the ball clearly belongs to the keeper, the keeper gets run over and contact is made with her head in a very vulnerable position. This at the very least is reckless and needs to be dealt with as such. A yellow card is required here. Later in the half the same things happens to the keeper. She left the game in tears and did not return. You must protect the players. What you do not punish, you condone.

All games end no later than 4pm this Sunday. I will be sending John the payment number for weeks 1-5 on Monday. Please keep having the teams clean the benches of refuse after their games.

Enjoy the weekend.