Is a new podcast EVER going to come out?

To answer the question above, yes. When, well, hopefully by the end of this weekend (so let's say November 2...perhaps 3). I've recorded stuff and have a couple emails and a voicemail so there's material, just not much time this week to compile it all into a real live podcast.

What happened this week? As many associations in many sports across the world, Whatcom County is always trying to get more people to become soccer officials. To this end, I've spent the last four evenings teaching 19 people a couple things they need to be aware of before stepping on the pitch as officials. Not everything mind you, that wouldn't be fair to those of us who have spent the last several years cutting our teeth in the trenches. That, and the Entry Level Course as designed by USSF doesn't do much for management techniques. It's more about learning the Laws of the Game and making sure you know when the ball is out of play. The 2009 ELC test, heavens. It is easier than the exams in the past, however, I do believe there is too much emphasis placed on when the ball is in play. Don't get me wrong, this is something important but a large portion of my class missed several questions because I, as an instructor, wasn't aware that the answers to some of the questions were silly.

An example, A direct free kick is in play when: the ball is kicked, the ball is kicked and moves, the ball is kicked an moves forward. Several students didn't listen (I administered the test orally to the masses) past the first choice as they assumed the ball would in fact move once kicked...an assumption I don't much blame the students for.

In other news, the select program in Washington has turned completely bonkers. This year, instead of scheduling the entire season at the beginning, the powers that be schedule the first seven weeks of the season then once the first six weeks have been played, they schedule the remaining three weeks of the season. I received the schedule for this upcoming weekend on Monday. Not particularly helpful.

At the same time, high school playoff matches are being handed to me, with two days notice in one instance as well as an overlap on Saturday with the 8 select matches already on my schedule.

While I am complaining (as is my right as an assignor), I am about yay close to completely covering the matches this weekend. However, I may be forced to work two of the matches in order to get enough bodies on the pitch. Normally I wouldn't begrudge working these games, but I seem to be coming down with a case of the ills and may or may not be feeling up to snuff after taking the kiddies out for some Halloweening tonight in the not so pleasant northwest weather.

Oh, and I will pass on the story of my worst match in some time on the podcast. Just something to look forward to...maybe.

The assignor blues

Just two more weeks of the high school season and the claws have come out. From the players, you may ask? Nope, fellow referees. There seems to always be people (and as a result, referees) who are quite sure they are never in the wrong and hold ill will toward those who bring up points of fact that contradict their world view.

Now, I have no proof that a particular referee is living under the delusion that their rump don't produce smelly but given a situation that recently occurred and the subsequent actions of this official, I have strong suspicions. Based solely on the questioning of this official's knowledge and applications of the rules of high school soccer, I wouldn't be inclined to suspect a vindictive retaliation. However, this particular official has gotten severely bitchy-cakes at another assignor in our association because of the level of assignments this official received. And after I called this official's performance at a match into question, not only did I receive a none too pleasant email regarding the incident from the official's pov but also this official has been giving back matches with little time for me to re-assign the match. And made no attempt to contact me to explain the reason for the latest give back. I wouldn't mind too much if it weren't for the fact that I am struggling every day trying to get enough officials to cover assignments and this particular referee assigned themselves matches every week at the beginning of the season.

Now, I love the self-assign feature our association uses but the way some people use it, just plain disrespectful. Before you say you are going to accept a match, check your schedule to insure you can actually do the match. And if something comes up, decline the match at the earliest possible moment, not a few days before. And if your schedule is odd, don't sign up for matches until you know for sure you can be there. It really is that simple but some people don't think this way.

I weep for our future.