Charlie sent out a particularly insightful (as opposed to his usual incite-full…) email several years ago.  We will plagiarize much of it to give all some thoughts for upcoming games.  We will send another note later tonight with some other game thoughts.

As we begin the 2007 season, please keep the following things in mind:

1.  Dress as warmly and as dryly as you wish but be sure your uniform doesn't create a conflict with the players.  Please extend this courtesy to the players.  USE COMMON SENSE.  That includes not wearing a ski mask if it is cold.  (Yes, we did have that happen, at a girls varsity game, and the referee terrorized the players.  On the other hand, there were an unusually low number of infractions…)

2.  Make sure your uniforms are clean and serviceable - Let's not see anyone in a ratty uniform with white socks.  Look professional.  Be sure you have at least the four jerseys approved by the UIL.  Ideally, you would have 4 short sleeve and 4 long sleeve of each color.  If you need clothing, you can call or e-mail Dick Triche who is our Official Sports International representative and he can get you any items of gear you need very quickly.  There is no acceptable excuse for officials wearing different colored jerseys at the same contest.

3.  Our By-laws provide a procedure by which you can utilize your Area Representative, then the VP - Scheduling, then the board of directors if you are not getting enough games or you are dissatisfied with the quality of the games you are receiving.  Please use this procedure -- it was put there for your benefit.  Complaining to the masses about your lack of games won't solve the problem.

4.  Please do your very best to complete a game you have started on a field with marginal conditions.  If you get to a site and the field is sloppy, please consider offering to the coaches the option of either rescheduling or point out that playing only one half is an option.  (Please remember that a game which has finished the first half is complete for UIL purposes, even if you don't start the second half.)

5.  Observe carefully, fully, and completely the UIL regulations on lightning.  We encouraged you to observe the 30 second flash-to-bang requirements  (If you see it, and then it is 30 seconds or less before the bang, get the players off the field).  Keep 30 minutes as the interval between the suspension of the game and the last flash-to-bang of 30 seconds or less.  Many of us will be beat on by the coaches to ignore or lessen this rule and I strongly encourage you not to fold.  Many facilities also have "lightning detectors" now.  Err on the side of safety.  Consider the results of making a poor decision here.

6.  The shin guard rule will change in Fall of 2007.  Please review this year's rule book and be thoroughly familiar with the new requirements.  Use the scrimmages as an opportunity to explain to the coaches and players about the rule change.  Next year, you will have to enforce it.  This year, we are stuck with size and age appropriate.  PLEASE, don't be the "last referee" who didn't say anything.  Be hard on this one.  You will be amazed how someone that "doesn't have any other shin guards" will materialize a pair just like a magician.

7.  If you send off a coach for any reason, you must file a report within 24 hours with TASO.  UIL, District Director Bob Mohler, Houston, and Dick should be copied by you, although theoretically they will get a copy anyway.  The appropriate website is: www.taso.org.   You can copy Bob, Houston, and Dick your reports either by FAX or e-mail.  FAX to Houston, and he can copy Bob and Dick via email.  You must also file a report as above if you terminate a contest early for

        a) severe verbal abuse by a coach, players and/or fans
        b) physical assault on yourself or ARs or your equipment
        c) any  other reason other than weather.

UIL says:  "Failure of an official to timely file (yup, they split their infinitives up in Austin) a written report shall be grounds for disciplinary action to include reprimand, fine, probation, suspension or expulsion from membership."

8.  It is a serious ethical violation to solicit a game from a coach, your Assignor, or the VP - Scheduling, Roland.  The penalties are as harsh or harsher than in paragraph 8, so please accept the games you are given and don't ask to be assigned to a particular contest.

9.  If there is a three man system and one of the three isn't there by game time, start the game without him or her by using a dual system, if both referees feel competent to do a dual.  If the second referee is a youth, use one whistle and one flag for the first game (three man system, one center, one AR).  If the missing ref shows up after the start of the game, he sits out unless there is a youth involved.  In this case, the late ref will be the second AR even if he was assigned to do the middle of the first game.  Do the second game according to how you were originally assigned and report this to Roland, Your Assignor, and Houston at your first opportunity.  Historically, we have had some referees who are "too good" and "too important" to be troubled with running a line on a JV game and they continually "get caught in traffic" or some other such excuse.

10.  Don't be late.  Houston has terrible traffic.  Plan on it, know another route.

More tonight.

I'm going to get this note out sooner than I thought.  First, let me say that we still have about 45 folks that have not taken the test.  See the second item here to check if you are one of them.  If you took it online, or at the meeting, and for some reason I don't have it, let me know so that I can research (or re-search) it.

A continuance of hopefully useful information.  We are writing this note primarily to first year referees, to help with the "transition" into doing games in high school. We are sending it to the whole membership just in case some stuff is forgotten, and perhaps to refresh a few memories.

1) Read the emails. The purpose of these is to disseminate information. If you don't read it, you won't get it!  Example: How do you get to the list of referee names and phone numbers (or coaches names and phone numbers)?  While we went through it at a meeting, you can also get it here.

The userid is RefList07 (case sensitive)

The password is NoRedCards (case sensitive)

2) Once your name is in the drop down list under Ref Assignments on the web page, you are ready to get games assigned. If you let me know about "conflicts" and "home area" (see #4 and #3, respectively), your assigner will get that information, and you should get games, off the bat, that are closer to what you want - Well, at least where you want.

3) Home area is (are) the school(s) near your home. Convenient. Schools where if a panicked assignor called at 30 minutes before the game, you might be able to make it! These schools are close to your house, or to your work.

4) Conflicts are schools where you should not referee. Some "rules" around that:

• If you have a child going to a school, and playing soccer, do NOT accept games in that district, or involving that school or schools in that district. This should be in effect for 3 years AFTER your child leaves.
• Use common sense. Child could mean step child, cousin, etc. If it doesn't feel right, don't do it.
• If you have a child going to a school, but NOT playing soccer, just avoid that school. When the child leaves, you can go back to the school.
• If you (or your significant other) teach at a school, or are in a school district, don't do games for that district.

See? It is all common sense.

5) When you are ready to do games, call the assignor or assignors you want to work with. Email them. Be ready to accept games, with your schedule in front of you. These are busy people, and it will take 5-10 minutes to do several weeks.  Don't specify games (see the last note). The assignors can't work like that. Give them some latitude, and you will get great games. Let them know if you are unhappy with the games you have been receiving.  Don't whine unless you can't resolve this problem with them.  Preferably, don't whine at all!  The assignors are all great people, and you will enjoy them.  Don't send an email like "I need games".  Do send an email saying "I'm free on 1/2, 1/3, and 1/7. Please schedule me games, ASAP." Then, follow it up with a phone call.  Also, please use you name on your email.  Several folks have emailed me, and I've had to search my database to figure out who it was!!!  The assignors don't have the database, but they do have a delete key…

Some of the assignors prefer an availability form.  There is one up on the website under referee information.  A useful sheet for keeping games is up there too…  Have we mentioned www.hssoa.com, and to check it frequently?  If you don't have a computer, use the public library.  Of course, if you don't have a computer, you are not reading this...

6) After you have gotten games, give it overnight (when the assignors forgo sleep and work on data entry to the web), and CHECK YOUR GAMES. Check EVERYTHING about the game. Check that you have the right DATE, TIME, FIELD, Teams, Sex (G or B teams), etc. You will get a reminder email 3 days before the game(s).  NOW THIS is really important…. Before the game, and on game day, check with the school. Make sure that the games are playing as scheduled. For example, if you are doing the Klein Forrest Boys, call Klein Forrest High School, and ask to speak with the Boys Varsity Soccer Coach. Start the process in the morning. You may get an admin, or ??? Identify yourself as on of the referees who will be doing the game that afternoon (evening). Confirm time, place, etc.  If you are speaking with the coach, this is your first contact, and therefore, your first impression. Be professional. Don't ask for instructions on how to get to the school (the are all on the web site, under Area Field Locations), unless there is something really unclear. You can also ask the receptionist at the school for instructions, but not the coach.  Pop quiz:  If you are doing the Katy Taylor Girls JV, who do you call?  (Please do NOT email the answers…)

7) At the game, identify yourself to the coach, the AD, and the security person.  ALWAYS thank the constables for the job that they do.  They get you back to your car in one piece... Get there early enough to warm up, chat, check players, etc. I try to get there 45 minutes ahead of the first game, and panic if I'm not there 30 minutes ahead.  (For those of your that have reffed with me, quit guffawing…)  Remember, you have paperwork to fill in before entering the field.  The gatekeeper or ticket taker may have it, or one of the coaches.  Go with the flow.  Remember that these people all talk, and will form an impression.  Be professional and friendly. If you have had a bad day, or bad traffic, leave it in your car!

8) Do your pre-game. You all know about the 3 man pre-game. The 2 man pre-game is more important, because you have 2 independent people on the same field working together. Some of the things (but not all) to discuss are:

• What diagonal are you working? Left or Right? Many prefer a right in 2 man, but work it out (It is easier for most to run down the field looking for offside, etc. just like a line in the left diagonal. Except, now you are on the field, so now you are doing a right…  However, some say left is better, because it forces you "not to be a line on the field".)
• How will you handle corner kicks? Which referee stands where? Where should the trailing referee be? Who should be watching the keeper for infractions?
• How do you handle substitutions?  Who stops the play, who starts the play, and when?
• Make sure that there is continual eye contact.
• Which referee restarts the ball when it is stopped?  Who has first right to signal when you are both close to the ball?
• How will you talk to each other to say "watch #14 on red team for pushing" when you are 50 feet apart?
• How will you cover the dead corners and the middle of the field?
• What happens if one of you gets hurt?
• Who signals when the whistle is blown by both of you at the same time?  (We covered this above - just checking again, since it is important…)
• Who is the primary timekeeper? Secondary?  Tertiary?
• How are you going to get this done if you are late to the game?
  

This was pretty much covered by Dick in his training, and again at the Saturday session.  Looking at the attendance of that session, there were a LOT of very senior referees there, and that would have been a wealth of information.  If you are interested in a second training session, let us know.

9) Make sure you keep the coaches informed.  The clock is stopped on a caution or sendoff, so you MUST inform BOTH coaches of the reason.  This was something I learned in Michigan (they are more particular up there for some reason).  I previously thought that the coach had a "right to know".  In fact, BOTH coaches must be informed.  This is particularly important for persistent infringement. However, this does not mean that you have to take much time letting them know. It means they only need to know the reason for the caution and not an explanation or detaiedl conversation. A simple “Persistent Infringement” will do. If the coach is upset, do not walk into the lion’s den. You can let them know from afar by signal.

10) In the event of storms, remember if you see a flash and then hear the thunder within 30 seconds of the flash, you should suspend the game. When you suspend the game, make a note, as a crew, what the restart will be (who has the ball, which direction, what the restart is - throw-in, goalkick, etc). You have to wait 30 minutes from the last lightning before restarting the game.  Use the flash to bang as guidance, but use your best judgment first.  Don't be tempted to "finish the half". STOP the game. Every reoccurrence restarts the 30 minute clock for restarting play.  Most coaches will be very supportive.  Remember that "the kids have a long ride back" or "we need to go" is their problem.  Someone being hit by lightening is yours.  Error on the side of safety. The board of directors will stand behind you 100%.  If the school you are at has a lightning detector, a positive reading should ALWAYS be considered correct.  Did we mention to always err on the side of safety?

11)  The game is in the school's control before you start the match.  You may give your opinion if asked, but YOU can not decide to stop because of weather.  As soon as you start the clock, the game is yours, and you can stop the match.  It is yours until the end of the final second. 

12)  While you have authority while on the field, it is strongly suggested that you leave the field after the game. Do not wait to shake hands with the players and coaches. The coaches are busy, and understand this. Do not wait to observe the players shaking hands. Do not stand next to the teams as they shake hands. If you observe any misconduct as you are leaving the field right after the game, file the appropriate report

I hope that this helps. If you have other questions, email them to us, and we will get you an answer.  If you know someone without email, please print them a copy of this!  By the way, all emails will come from Houston.  The reason for this is that some of you have spam blocking, so I have had to get my address "approved" by you.  This email list is generated from the database, and changes with almost every email.  You are always bcc'd, and are encouraged to never "reply - all" to a long list.

Last, please give us feedback.