Our Nitwit to the North

Raising the bar for MLS referees

Admission of the problem is the first step to a cure. In the glass half full world of Major League Soccer, there are never really problems - only initiatives.

MLS, however, has a problem which needs fixing. Like anything worthwhile, it cannot be done overnight but the League wants it known a serious initiative is being launched to tackle the situation.

At the dawn of a brand new season, there's a new franchise in Montreal, a new stadium in Houston and a new broadcast partner across the United States. MLS continues to toot its horn on a range of issues from improved standard of play to the growing visibility of the sport in North America. ...

See the whole page of drivel here, from cbc.ca.

Kicking Back Comments: So I read this article, and you know what I got out of it?

A headache.

I'm not sure what is was. Either the snotty tone Reed takes mocking MLS for its "initiates," or "complimenting" the league for recognizing it has a "problem" (which Reed does not define), or his clear inexperience understanding what he is commenting about.

It would have been great to detail Mr. Walton's appointment and maybe do some research about what prompted it from the PRO or MLS perspective. How about some thoughts, some specific thoughts about what needs to be adjusted, and in some cases just plain 'ole fixed in the refereeing ranks.

[I'll give you a hint Mr. Reed ... consider making the referees salaried professionals ... and pay them.]

Nope. Just a fluffy piece back-handly mocking the work that has gone into where we are now with MLS, and asking the self serving question ... Gee will it be fixed now?

Who wants to bet this will be followed sometime mid-MLS season with a "Well I guess it's not working ..." piece?

I've read some of his other stuff and it's pretty good I think. I just don't understand why the wheels come off the journalistic cart when discussing referees.

Then again, in looking at his experience, he has watched a lot of The Game, and to nearly all, that qualifies them to understand the nuances of professional league refereeing, and comment openly about their "problems."

Reed gives us an "out" however in his closing statement that referees don't make the rules, they just enforce them.

If the comment in isolation does not scream "nitwit" (to The Game), I don't know what does. 

That's an "A" in my book!

Referees winning the percentage game whatever managers and media say

A few years ago Jeff Winter, a familiar name for any students of refereeing demonology, released an autobiography, Who's the B*****d in the Black?, which contains a particularly enlightening passage about his last match at Anfield before retiring.

Winter reveals he deliberately played a bit of extra time, waiting until the ball was at the Kop end. Then, with everything in position, he blew his whistle. "The fans behind the goal burst into spontaneous applause. It was longer and louder than normal, even for a home win. Did they know it was my final visit? Was it applause for me? They are such knowledgeable football people it would not surprise me."

At the risk of bursting a few dreams, it is a fairly exceptional level of delusion judging by what we know of football's relationship with the referee and, specifically, the way fans tend to distrust them as their default setting. Managers are not much better and we journalists can be culpable, too, given the frequency we bring them up in press conferences, looking for a bite. Very little reasoning is applied sometimes when the blame can be redirected and the buck passed. ...

See the whole article here, courtesy of Guardian.

Kicking Back Comments: Brilliant!! Absolutely brilliant!!

Referee for life?

I received this (really good) question a while back, and neglected to answer it at the time. Fortunately the author gave me another shot and asked again the other day. Special thanks to Steve from bringing this one forward. 

Here is the question:

I was wondering if at the international level ( and others too if different ) if referees are designated as either center or assistant ( or 4th )? Really trying to ask if the same referee will always be in the center or as an assistant or if individuals will take assignments at both position. For example I have seen countless matches with Howard Webb in the middle, but does he ever work the lines?

My answer ranges from "yes" as a matter of procedure at one end of the spectrum to "not always" in the middle to "yes" as a matter of practically at the other end of the spectrum. Let me explain.

US Soccer currently has (12) active grades in the US and several emeritus grades for referees who retire and keep their grade as an honorary title. A copy of the list can be found here, but the most current and complete list can be found in the Administrative Guide for referees at US Soccer.

If you look at that list there is no place where a position is noted except in Grades 2 and 1, International Assistant Referee, and International Referee respectively.

So plainly speaking, if you are wearing a FIFA badge, you must be performing that function commensurate to the badge you are wearing at the international level. If you are wearing a FIFA referee badge, you must be refereeing, or acting as alternate (4th) official. If you are wearing a FIFA AR badge, you must be running a line.

This does NOT mean that all a FIFA referee or AR will do forever is act as a referee or AR. Take a look at the last line on page (2) of the guide. It states:

*International Assistant Referees must wear the USSF National Referee badge when assigned as
referee in all matches.

FIFA AR's when they serve as referee at levels other than International, need to wear their National badge. Take note that FIFA referees need not do so when serving as an AR in other than International matches. It is my experience that these folks do "other" matches and in different positions from time to time.

So at one end of the spectrum, the international level, Referees and 4th are always that, and AR's are always that as well. At this point, at the MLS level each referee is on a path of either serving as a referee, or as AR in nearly all cases and at that point, it will rarely change.

Take great note that sometimes this path is not always the choice the individual would make, and at times bases itself in other more unconventional reasons beyond raw talent, ability and performance. These reasons could include age, space on a particular international list, geography, and yes, political savvy of a candidate, or their state association.

This was not always the case. It was only until the mid-90's that FIFA made this delineation between referee and AR, and one quite frankly I agree whole heatedly with. Being an AR is a specialty, and a really tough one. I personally was very lucky as when I was coming up the ranks and got to serve as 4th, AR, and referee in the MLS, eventually being asked to specialize as referee.

When you are asked to specialize that is all that you wind up doing generally. For example in my post Role Reversal, I opine about just how terrifying it was to pick up a flag of nearly a decade not doing so previously. Keep in mind though in the middle of the spectrum are amateur matches, and all referees will be asked to perform all duties at any time, so one will have solid experience to be able to perform in these other roles.

At the youth level, it is generally a mixed bag also, with an exception of just starting out. At that time I find that you will generally run lines to "get your feet wet" at local youth matches. This isn't a horrible thing as is gives a referee an opportunity to be a part of the game, without having the responsibility of match management yet.

There are several nuances to this, and a few funny stories too as this system was getting off the ground in the US, but hopefully this paints the general picture that one has to be competent in both disciplines through their career, but at the highest levels domestically and internationally, there is specialization.

Another case for technology

I don't know folks ... take a peek before reading on.

The ball defiantly crossed the line, and should have been a goal. My issue comes with the JAR in this case. He is in pretty good position. Optimally he should be on the goal line as the 2nd to last defender (the GK in this case) is there. Last defender in this case is standing off the field, but as well all (should) know, a defender can not step off the end line to create an offside situation.

In this case folks ... I think it was just a blown call and completely distinct from the goal from 2010 between GER v. ENG that I described in Bye - Bye Uruguay where the AR had no chance to make the call when the ball crossed the goal line.

Here, the JAR did very clearly have that chance to make the right call, and I am sure without it, continued to stoke the fires of the need for goal line technology.

Epic fail, or absolute genius?

Take a look at the following clip from YouTube of referee Peter Walton:



A couple of questions.

First, did Mr. Walton get what he wanted out of the exchange?
My answer is YES! Take a look at the demeanor of the player, and their responsiveness to what the referee was saying. It did not matter if there was a yellow, red, green, purple, or no card over the players head. THE MESSAGE GOT ACROSS.

Second, Did Mr. Mutch receive a yellow card?
My answer is NO! Ask me 40 or so years ago and my answer is yes, but in today's game, the answer is no.

Why?
Take a look at Law 12 under "Cautionable Offenses", it states in part "A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if ..." (emphasis is mine). See also p.54 etc in the Advice to Referees. Please note this is true "DURING A MATCH." This changes a bit before and after the match. A good delineation of what a card means and when can be read from the LOTG, Advice, and here (memo on misconduct and display of cards that is on point).

Some time ago a player would know by getting written up in the referees "book." This gave way to the term "booked" that is still used today regarding misconduct. This was the general practice until around 1968 when Sir Ken Aston created them (as the story goes) slowing at a stop light that turned yellow, then red. From there the funny colored cards were used for the first time in the 1970 World Cup. Before that time, no such device was used, only "the book."

In today's game a more obvious display to put a player on notice is needed. I would opine this is true, not for the player themselves, but rather for those watching as if the referee is doing their job right, the player should know from the referee where they stand without the display of a colored piece of plastic.

Life As a Referee: Part 2

For any who have not seen these videos, it is a revealing look into the life of one of US Soccer's "up and comers" Mark Geiger.

Life As a Referee: Part 1

For any who have not seen these videos, it is a revealing look into the life of one of US Soccer's "up and comers" Mark Geiger.

What is the referee looking at?

What is the referee looking at?
Robert Evans

How many times out on the park have you heard that cry: "What is he looking at?" That and all its variants: "You're missing a great game!" or "How could she miss that?" and "It was right in front of him, and he did nothing!" As an instructor I have dealt with this problem many, many times, and tried various themes as a way of impressing referees that knowing where and when to look is as important as knowing the laws. And after watching the Premiership these last few months, I have to say that the problem doesn't exist only in the amateur game.

So before I go on to the subject, let me ask a few questions of you . . . and then we'll have a practical demonstration from the eight-year-old daughter of two skillful soccer-playing parents, with whom I have had the great pleasure of playing. ...

See the complete (and phenomenal) article here, at For the Integrity of Soccer.

Kicking Back Comments: It rarely gets better than this. A must read!

Yes Stanley, we are ...

Are We All Nuts?
A Personal Story by Stanley Lover

Look at the facts. We are an endangered species. More than a million of us worldwide, dying out like dinosaurs of a bygone age. Our demise is largely due to our own folly for we suffer the cruelty of human nature from the very people we help add sunshine into workaday lives. We put up with insults, abuse, threats and assaults.

Trained experts in our field, we are the targets for the masses who protest, contest, accuse us of corruption and worse.

No, we are not politicians. We are sports officials.

According to verbal taunts from the sidelines we are the lowest form of human existence, illegitimate offspring of unmarried parents, fair game for insults and humiliation. So, why do we do it? Are we all nuts? ...

See the whole story here, from referee magazine.

Kicking Back Comments: A fun read. This was especially true in light of the article Kicking Back ran the other day in "How to get into college 101", where we had a view from a young referee in their college essay.

Very interesting to juxtapose the two essays. There were more than a few common threads, and a few things that did not align at all. If I had to pick a "side" though, it would be Stanley's.

Then again, I'm an old guy now and 20 years ago, I no doubt would have had a different view. Funny how my perspective of The Game has changed with me as I have gotten older. Sure a shame FIFA has cut, and likely will continue to cut, the age limit on the highest level referees. There is something to be said for life experience.

Death toll rises to 79 from soccer riots in Egypt

Cairo (CNN) -- The death toll from a riot at a soccer game in Egypt rose to 79, officials said Thursday, as many continued to mourn and look for the reasons behind the deadly melee.

A somber crowd of hundreds were in Cairo's Tahrir Square Thursday, some saying chants decrying Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. Many were wearing the popular apparel of the Al-Ahly club. ...

See the whole story and video below here, from CNN.


Kicking Back Comments: At 1:55 of this video the reporter is describing the scene of fan(atics) entering the field and celebrating with the team after a goal. This reporter continues by saying regarding this, "... the referee didn't do anything ... ."


What exactly is a referee to do?


For me, find your team, find security, get safe, abandon, and write a match report. For the matches I have abandoned this is what I generally have done. What we see on the video is nothing like I have ever experienced before personally however. Primary concern I think in a case like this is get you and your team safely away however you can. Remove your jersey and get out of there to a safe location. I take pride in my uniform, but not more than my life. A referee can write a report that details a situation like this without staying to watch "who wins" at the end. Report what you see on the way to the door, don't feel compelled to stay to observe as referees are a natural target when chaos erupts. Even if you think the violence will not come to you (as with here it would seem political unrest played a part, not a match decision), get out.


Take a look here, 79 people were sadly killed, and scores of others no doubt hurt. Don't be a statistic.


Get your team, get safe, and get out. 

How to get into college 101

For those of you who follow @Kicking_Back, you may have caught this retweet last week.

Some background:

When applying for college it is often required that the applicant write an essay on a particular topic, or sometimes the topic of their choice. This is intended to be used both as a writing exemplar for administrators to determine the capacity of the prospective student, as well as to genuinely learn something about the individual. After all, diversity is key for many college admissions and if it looks like you have done or will do something exemplary, a college is more likely to admit you, in my estimation.

Enter the below piece from a Maryland referee entering college. She describes most aptly what I am sure many of us have felt in part going through the "Youth Soccer Gauntlet" as I like to call it.

Take a read below, it is well worth it.

Thoughts of a Youth Referee

I am addicted. Sometimes I wish I could quit, but every time I lace up, my blood starts rushing, my palms start sweating, and I can’t think of doing anything else.

That’s what soccer does to me. That’s what soccer does for me. Even when it’s hard and ugly, when I’m the focus of hate and on the receiving end of angry insults from people who are older and who should know better, as a referee, I can not shrink. ...

See the complete story here, at Marylandreferees.com.

Don't Get Cute ...

... it will cost you. Just ask Marco Antonio Rodriguez, FIFA referee from Mexico.

Mexican ref Marco Antonio Rodriguez nets a 5 game ban for showboating

Mexico’s FA this week banned referee Marco Antonio Rodriguez for his showboating antics during last season’s Apertura final between Tigres-Santos.

The second leg of the final, held in December 2011, was a complete mess from an officiating standpoint as ref Rodriguez splashed seven yellow cards and three red cards during the 90 minutes. One incident, however, stood out from the rest in the farce. ...

See the whole story here, from 101greatgoals.com.

Kicking Back Comments: Here is the picture:

He's lucky he only got (5) games. The Mexican FA's work may have saved Rodriguez more grief from FIFA. Also, if he was not the Mexican refereeing legend he was, he may not have a badge today.

I admit, it is cute, but there is a time and place, and this was neither.

It's Recertification Time!

It is an exceptionally busy time for the Massachusetts State Referee Committee right now as we enter the time of year for certifying, or re-certifying referees, assessors, instructors, mentors, and assignors. So busy in fact there are approximately 1.5 events per day for the next 9 weeks!!

A complete course listing of what is offered can be found here from the MSRC.

Ever wanted to be a referee?
Now is the time!

Ever wanted to become certified as an assessor, instructor, assigner, or mentor?
Now is the time!

Ever wanted to drag a parent or friend to teach them the LOTG?
Now is the time!

Everybody get where I am going?
Now is the time!

Spring is right around the corner, and now is the time to do the administrative stuff to make ready for it.

FIFA suspend Angolan referee Heldér Martins

January 1 - FIFA has suspended the Angolan referee Heldér Martins, the country's Football Federation (FAF) have confirmed.

FAF told the Angolan Press Agency that Martins had been informed of the suspension but that no reason had been given.

The agency reported that they have requested further information from FIFA for the reasoning behind the ban.

See the whole story here, courtesy of Inside World Football.

Kicking Back Comments: The US has in the past "benched" FIFA referees (and others), officially, and not officially by not assigning them to matches.

Frankly they have every right to do so for good cause, and should, to prevent even a whiff of impropriety by a referee on, or off the field. For those of us involved with US Soccer, have you read the Code of Ethics for Referees?

If not, you certainly should. It can be found here in the Administrative Handbook. A worthy read for all referees at all levels.

The air gets thin up there

As a follow up to Babak Rafati, the FIFA referee who tried to take his own life right before a German 1st division match take a look at, "Bundesliga referee Babak Rafati diagnosed with depression", from Goal.com. In it we see one look into the pressure facing a FIFA referee who stated through his lawyer:

"Growing pressure for him to perform as a referee and the media pressure linked to that, combined with the constant fear of making mistakes, became a bigger and bigger burden," a statement from lawyer Sven Menke read. "This burden, at some point, made everyday problems seem insoluble and, in the end, he no longer felt able to cope with it."

Now when asked to speak about what it was like to a National and Professional League Referee for the time I did, I sometimes describe it as breathing "rarefied air", or sometimes "very thin air." There is a tremendous amount of pressure to perform regularly at these levels and one needs to be mentally prepared for that as they step onto that stage. There is no getting around this fact.

I say this as I recognize that it took great courage for Mr. Rafati to confront his condition head on and give such a clear statement about how he felt. It is rare to have one be so honest and personal about what they are going through, especially when one must act as a pillar of strength for those who rely on him.

While it is my genuine hope he will return to The Game in better health, it is also my sad suspicion he will not, as there is no getting around the very palpable, and very intense pressures bestowed on referees at that level, and sadly the stigma that generally accompanies mental conditions. You think its cruel when players call your gender into question ... imagine calling ones mental state into question. It may be a bridge too far.

Air at that level gets very thin, and ones survival is conditional on acclimating quickly or descending before getting hypoxic. Of course there are two ways down, under ones own power, or another's. The latter generally occurring without consent of the party descending and usually leads to great suffering.

MLS Referee and AR of the year ...

NEW YORK – MLS announced on Thursday that Mark Geiger has received the Referee of the Year award for the 2011 season. Corey Rockwell was named Assistant Referee of the Year.

Geiger has appeared in more than 90 regular-season matches since 2004, his first season as a referee in MLS. He has also taken part in five playoff games, most recently refereeing Houston’s 2-0 victory against Sporting Kansas City in the Eastern Conference Championship.

See the whole story here, courtesy of MLSSoccer.com.

They are more than fellow referees ...

Photo courtesy of persianfootball.com

As some may have heard, 41 year old FIFA referee Babak Rafati, attempted to commit suicide on Saturday prior to a Bundesliga match between Cologne and FSV Mainz. This match was canceled 40 minutes prior to kickoff.

Now, one of the recently reported facts on the matter is that his refereeing crew is being credited with saving his life.

See, Referee's life saved after suicide attempt, from the Independent with the gory details, including:

"Rafati was found in the bath of his Cologne hotel room by the officials after he had slit his wrists in an attempt to commit suicide two hours before the game."

Now, far be it for me to comment on any particular aspect of this story as frankly it would be irresponsible. There are a couple of general comments I will make however.

First, referees are humans, and suffer the same as every other human on the planet. While I have not always thought this way, thinking at times in my life they suffer less, and sometimes more, I certainly know now that we are all hopelessly human. I wish the man well on his long road to recovery both physically and emotionally.

Second, referees share so much with each other, especially at the highest levels. It is somewhat unavoidable as with so few matches, and so few high level referees, you see the same faces time, and time again. So often these men and women are far more than colleagues, they become friends, and sometimes close ones for life for what they go through together on the field, and off.  It is my sense that Holger Henschel, Frank Willenborg and Patrick Ittrich were close to Mr. Rafati before this tragic incident, but certainly will be now as they too are surely suffering as well.

Next time you are out, consider the part of life you are sharing with your "regular crew", and the team will be better for it, as it puts far more emphasis of why you are there, which is far more than simply refereeing a match.

Just like I planned

Photo courtesy of Velo News

So if you read yesterday (... they just fade away ...), you saw me offering a complaint without much else.

Well, as luck would have it, Velo News came through again with: McEwen outlines schedule in farewell season, to transition to ‘scout’ role.

Robbie McEwen is a pro rider since 1996 and rides currently for Team Radio Shack. Playing the role of a sprinter, he has dozens of palmares (wins) to his name, and significant racing experience to say the least.

He will be racing until May, then acting as a scout for Greenedge Cycling, riding the last several K of the TDF routes to scout things for the riders.

How cool is that?

Now imagine if US Soccer did something similar. Created a scouting program to work with the youth leagues to find that next FIFA referee. Not just hope they bubble up in some tournament, but a conscious effort with a group of scouts in each state to find these kids that will rise to the top.

FIFA wants 'em young to train. US Soccer needs 'em young to get experience and credibility. A national scouting program ... a bit more than we have now ... and with a little organization may find that next Angelo Bratsis, or Brian Hall.

Look Back In History

Statistics are interesting ...

Refereeing is interesting ...

Combining the two under a MLS guise is really interesting.

Take a look here, to see what I mean. An interesting way to display this info.

"The Great MLS Referee Database Thread"

The subject very, very, interesting thread from Big Soccer can be found here.

Here is the lede from Maniacal Clown:

I hereby declare this new thread to be where we shall discuss MLS referee assignments of years past as well as discuss and work as a community on the database I have created to keep track of all these stats.

I'm going to be posting year by year statistics gradually as I slog through the copying and pasting of SQL queries and turn it into something readable. Don't expect more than one year in one night. I might go insane if I tried to do it all at once.