Ok, so I almost promised the podcast last weekend and have obviously failed miserably at accomplishing that relatively simple goal.
I'd like to blame it on someone else but I can't. While I have been a bit busy, I imagine with a little better planning I could've magicked up something last weekend. But I had work and had to cover a match that was never accepted (and then had the pleasure of being not just drenched but also covered in mud). Yes, I am making excuses but I have reached an agreement with the Mrs. and I should have one evening a week moving forward to work on the podcasts I am producing.
Yes, I am currently putting two shows out. Unfortunately both suffer from the work on the other but I receive great satisfaction from producing each one and can't imagine giving either of them up. Besides, the other is of finite term so once I've completed it, I'll just be working on this one.
Is there a point to this ramble? Well, I am almost finished with Show 13 and tonight is my night to work on podcasts so assuming the problems I've been having with PayPal and Libsyn are straightened out, I should be posting later this evening (November 7th).
Thanks again to everyone for your support, input and content.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The weekend is ugly.
Here it is Thursday and I've been sending out emails begging the referees in the association to help out this weekend because there are a ton of matches (well, a ton for a dinky little community like Whatcom County) because not only is the recreation season in full swing with 140 matches on Saturday. There are six select matches on Saturday and five high school matches (only one JV match in the bunch). I still need four bodies for the select matches and one for the high school matches.
Unfortunately, Western hasn't started up yet so several of the referees who usually pick up matches for us aren't in town yet.
I did get a fun call from one of the athletic director's today concerning a player who recently decided to get a nose piercing immediately prior to the beginning of soccer season. Now, every recreational season the referees have to deal with five and six year old girls getting their ears pierced and bursting into tears when we tell them they can't play with their earrings in. And without fail a parent will go nutty cuckoo about how their little girl can't take her earrings out for six weeks and that we are bad people for not letting her play, and so and so forth. But now we have a high school player who figures the safest thing she can do for her soccer-playing self is have a piece of sharp metal in her face while on the pitch. I'd start quoting Laws or Rules of Play or some such nonsense but let's leave it with, if something is dangerous to a player or others, it is not allowed on the field. And jewelry of any kind fits into the above category.
I told the AD, while I wouldn't caution the coach (as is the high school rule) for the nose stud, I would most likely tell the young lady she had to remove it and if she refused, she wouldn't be allowed to play. That would be, of course, if I was feeling in a grumpy mood. If I was well-humored, I told him I would let her know that she could wear it as long as she understood that if she bled out on the field from a shot to the face, I would not be held responsible.
Yes, I would certainly be held accountable if the young lady suffered injury on my field from wearing such an item (if I did, in fact, see said item) and could face a lawsuit (and most likely lose). Is it worth the potentially lost house for this silly youngster to keep her uber-hip nose stud in for 90 minutes? A close call, I know, but perhaps I'll err on the side of get off my field silly young lady.
Thanks again for stopping by and reading my griping.
Jonathon
Unfortunately, Western hasn't started up yet so several of the referees who usually pick up matches for us aren't in town yet.
I did get a fun call from one of the athletic director's today concerning a player who recently decided to get a nose piercing immediately prior to the beginning of soccer season. Now, every recreational season the referees have to deal with five and six year old girls getting their ears pierced and bursting into tears when we tell them they can't play with their earrings in. And without fail a parent will go nutty cuckoo about how their little girl can't take her earrings out for six weeks and that we are bad people for not letting her play, and so and so forth. But now we have a high school player who figures the safest thing she can do for her soccer-playing self is have a piece of sharp metal in her face while on the pitch. I'd start quoting Laws or Rules of Play or some such nonsense but let's leave it with, if something is dangerous to a player or others, it is not allowed on the field. And jewelry of any kind fits into the above category.
I told the AD, while I wouldn't caution the coach (as is the high school rule) for the nose stud, I would most likely tell the young lady she had to remove it and if she refused, she wouldn't be allowed to play. That would be, of course, if I was feeling in a grumpy mood. If I was well-humored, I told him I would let her know that she could wear it as long as she understood that if she bled out on the field from a shot to the face, I would not be held responsible.
Yes, I would certainly be held accountable if the young lady suffered injury on my field from wearing such an item (if I did, in fact, see said item) and could face a lawsuit (and most likely lose). Is it worth the potentially lost house for this silly youngster to keep her uber-hip nose stud in for 90 minutes? A close call, I know, but perhaps I'll err on the side of get off my field silly young lady.
Thanks again for stopping by and reading my griping.
Jonathon
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Longest podcast yet.
The first weekend of select is almost finished (just another hour or so to go) and thankfully I didn't have to pick up any of the three matches scheduled today.
I did manage to pick up a couple of games yesterday, however, and as it was Saturday, it was the younger age groups. I was in the middle of a GU14 and BU15 match, neither of which was terribly eventful. No cards, one PK, one IDFK in the area and one thing I haven't had to deal with before. But I'll talk about that on the next podcast. The only real disappointing thing about yesterday is the ankle injury I sustained back at the PCC, has flared up again (perhaps it's the field conditions...or perhaps I'm just too darn old to be running around like a fool).
Regardless of swollen ankle or not, I will still be doing battle with three or more high school matches this week, the first of which is tomorrow and it should be a yawner. I can't figure I'll have any good stories about savage tackles, but I certainly could be deluged with stupidity from players, coaches and fans...be sure to check out Show 012 to see how moronic it eventually was.
I mentioned I'd be ranting about the irkingness of assigning in the blog, and once I get another ridiculous story, I'll be sure to pass it along here.
Please feel free to leave me comments (like shut your trap...if it was fun, you wouldn't get paid for it).
Thanks,
Jonathon
I did manage to pick up a couple of games yesterday, however, and as it was Saturday, it was the younger age groups. I was in the middle of a GU14 and BU15 match, neither of which was terribly eventful. No cards, one PK, one IDFK in the area and one thing I haven't had to deal with before. But I'll talk about that on the next podcast. The only real disappointing thing about yesterday is the ankle injury I sustained back at the PCC, has flared up again (perhaps it's the field conditions...or perhaps I'm just too darn old to be running around like a fool).
Regardless of swollen ankle or not, I will still be doing battle with three or more high school matches this week, the first of which is tomorrow and it should be a yawner. I can't figure I'll have any good stories about savage tackles, but I certainly could be deluged with stupidity from players, coaches and fans...be sure to check out Show 012 to see how moronic it eventually was.
I mentioned I'd be ranting about the irkingness of assigning in the blog, and once I get another ridiculous story, I'll be sure to pass it along here.
Please feel free to leave me comments (like shut your trap...if it was fun, you wouldn't get paid for it).
Thanks,
Jonathon
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Show 010 happened.
Ok, fine then. Because I said I would I am finally posting the kick butt link Dylan sent us here at the POV.
(added November 7, 2008: the link which was once here is now defunct and has been removed)
In assigning news, September 6th is the beginning of the select season with the 9th opening high school games. And the frustration of assigning has also begun.
I received the high school schedule earlier than ever this year, in June and posted it to the referee website immediately upon acquiring it. And sure enough, a couple of the athletic directors have contacted me this week to change things. Why not in July or even August? Why wait until the week before the season is under way to make changes? I realize you have other things to do but so do I. Oh, the whiner that is me.
And the select schedule...what a disaster. We are STILL waiting for the GU17 schedule and the season starts in two days. The GU15 showed up on Tuesday. I am not sure those in charge of scheduling at the state level have ever assigned before. If they have, perhaps they have forgotten in most instances scheduling matches does not automatically assure referees will be available to mediate them. Am I going to whine about this stuff all season? Most likely.
I've already recorded Show 011 with Jadon and should be posting it on Sunday as I have some time that day...I managed to get the matches fulled up without having to work any myself. Be on the lookout...it's going to be a bit longer than the last two, we got on a roll (and the Wii Fit).
Thanks again for checking out the show. Tell your friends and neighbors. We're starting to get some feedback (and calls) which only makes the show more entertaining.
Jonathon
Friday, August 1, 2008
I heart technology.
While it certainly may seem that I am ignoring my podcast and blog of late (and to some degree I most certainly am), I did attempt to post to the blog last week while on vacation in Lincoln City, Oregon. I had completed a nice lengthy bit and clicked the Publish button only to have the connection fizzle out and the bit of nonsense I'd scribed vanished into the ether. While certainly not a loss of much magnitude, it would have shown that I hadn't just abandoned things with the podcast or the blog.
Regardless, I have had a busy week back from vacation (one of the more productive of the summer for me) and I've forgot to take the iRiver with me to the soccer park last Sunday while I worked Ballapalooza. Honestly, not much of a loss as far as catching any good stories about that particular tournament. It was amazingly boring with little in the way of silly, drunk adults doing silly, adult things. But I also lost the opportunity to catch a referee or two with questions for the podcast.
I am hoping to get something out this weekend but will again be on the road for a family reunion and my time will be limited (also, I'll be attempting to plumb in my casa...that in itself should be the very definition of comedy).
Jadon mentioned he'd have some time next week to sit down and chat and Steve did as well so hopefully, heading into the busy fall season, we should get back on schedule with weekly releases of the podcast.
Again, if you have stories, I'd love to read them on the show. Please email me at refereepov@gmail.com with amusing/horrifying anecdotes.
Jonathon
Regardless, I have had a busy week back from vacation (one of the more productive of the summer for me) and I've forgot to take the iRiver with me to the soccer park last Sunday while I worked Ballapalooza. Honestly, not much of a loss as far as catching any good stories about that particular tournament. It was amazingly boring with little in the way of silly, drunk adults doing silly, adult things. But I also lost the opportunity to catch a referee or two with questions for the podcast.
I am hoping to get something out this weekend but will again be on the road for a family reunion and my time will be limited (also, I'll be attempting to plumb in my casa...that in itself should be the very definition of comedy).
Jadon mentioned he'd have some time next week to sit down and chat and Steve did as well so hopefully, heading into the busy fall season, we should get back on schedule with weekly releases of the podcast.
Again, if you have stories, I'd love to read them on the show. Please email me at refereepov@gmail.com with amusing/horrifying anecdotes.
Jonathon
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