#refrod

“Hey, let me shake hands with the best man on the pitch”, the away coach said at the finish of the 3rd division U15 game. A better compliment a ref can’t get—unless both teams were playing poorly, of course. But both U15 teams gave it their best, played very well and finished the match in a 1-1 draw. The away team should actually have scored more goals, but missed several good opportunities.…

A late, unexpected last game of the season created a temptation: Should I do it one more time? My left ankle had mostly healed after three weeks and a physiotherapy session. I did a test run two days before the game and realized the remaining pain in my left ankle muscle was negligible. So, I accepted and started preparing for my last game of the 2023/24 season. My concentration was at a level I…

As the football season draws to a close, so does my tenure as a referee. I’m seriously considering to step away from the role, sensing a waning interest in the game. During my last match this weekend, I experienced a weird sense of detachment. I found myself officiating without truly engaging in the game. Routine calls made for minor infractions, met with acceptance from players. It felt almost…

Hey there, my fellow sports fans! Let me tell you about my wild ride last weekend in the world of refereeing. Picture this: it was Friday evening and my planned game was cancelled last-minute. So, I was chilling out, thinking I’d lucked into a Saturday off. The weather promised to be glorious, warm winds blowing in from Northern Africa, and at lunch time I was sipping on a nice glass of white…

Last weekend plunged me into another U19 match, a distant hour’s drive into the depths of eastern Holland. Unfamiliar clubs greeted me with raised eyebrows at the sight of a referee journeying from afar. Adding to the spectacle, an announced assessor appeared oddly early, introducing himself at the pre-game rendez-vous. I waved farewell to deciphering their sour critiques and instructions after…