Category: Spirit of the Game
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Ref Life: When the US Futsal league in Pittsburgh, changes buildings.
New location, new courts, working through the house rules. US Futsal in Monroeville has a new home with Pro Sports at All American Fieldhouse
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Ref Life: Transitioning to indoor.
Here in Pennsylvania the outdoor season is closing out and the indoor facilities are starting up. We have dasher board soccer, futsal, small sided outdoor fields and even full sized outdoor fields. No matter what version of the game, we need to remember that we are not only responsible for applying the laws of the…
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Ref Life: Becoming a Referee Mentor in Pennsylvania.
US Soccer changed the hierarchy and naming strategy of it’s referee program a few years ago. Since all of the state associations that implement the US Soccer changes are run by volunteers getting everything up and running and onboarded often takes a little time. Here are the steps if you’d like to get back into…
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Ref Life: If you hear thunder we have to wait it out.
This rule apply to all games under US Soccer and the PIAA. Even adult leagues fall under the official lightning guidance. This past week my 6:30 kickoff became an 8pm kickoff due to lightning.
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Ref Life: in Memory of RDK 2025 Aug 01
As a player, he actually refereed a few of my games. As a referee, he coached, mentored and assigned me. As a person we agreed to disagree on coaching methodology changing over the generations. When it came to player management, he taught me to do what was right for the game at the level of…
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Ref Life: PlumKickoff Classic Tools for Managing The Temperature- field, sideline, crowd.
Referees– What tools do you have in your toolbelt to manage player safety, fair play, sportsmanship and a general positive environment for our grassroots community players in PA West? If you are a first year referee there is a good chance you never thought about using non-verbal or non-audible tools to control the game. Creating…
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The many forms of the game in the United States.
If you ever wanted to see how the professional game has evolved in this country, here are a few feeds over the years.
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Ref Life: Recert for US Soccer- handling bench personnel and dissent vs when to use soft skills.
Here is a thought I had before US Soccer released their updated policy for abuse of officials that starts this month. I began this post over a year ago. I realize after 15 years of officiating many of these situations, I can avoid by using humor and soft skills. However whenever the actions or words…
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Ref Life: Homophobic slurs in a U9 game?
Football is supposed to unite. Football is supposed to be for everybody. Football is the universal game that reminds us we are all on this same planet together. In Lancaster this past winter my ears heard it from one of the parents in a U9 pool play game. Luckily the little GK didn’t speak Spanish…
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Ref Life: Heat, Waiting for Advantage, Hand to ball in a natural position, video learning.
Quick review of the past weekend. It was hot. Hydration breaks were added, since this was the first week with air temps over 80 degrees F, then add in the turf temp. The real feel with humidity was close to 100! Sometimes you clearly see a foul, but realize that players may be able to…
FCArmstrong 