A few things to think about as the season is wrapping up and my legs are still feeling surprisingly good.
Scenario A
Division 3 college women’s game in a 0-0 tie with 72 minutes played so far. Green plays a deep through ball. Orange keeper leaves the box and makes a very hard but fair challenge on the forward. The referee and the assistant referee both hear a snap-crackle-pop. The ball pops 30 yards into the air as both players go to the ground and half a second later, the keeper lets go a blood curdling scream.
The ball falls to the ground inside the box and there is a single on-rushing Green attacker who has a clear run onto the ball. Two Orange defenders are sprinting back but it is questionable if they can get a fair challenge on the ball.
What do you do?
Scenario A-1
What do you do to #10? Is there a caution or a pat on the back?
Scenario B
The score is 8-0 with 19 minutes left in the game. Blue plays a ball that should have been angled to the corner through the defense. It goes linear instead of diagonal. The Red keeper collects the ball with his feet and drags it back into the box. The Red keeper futzes around with the ball for thirty five seconds and there is no pressure on the ball.
What do you do?
Oh yeah, Red is the team that is down eight.
Scenario C
The center referee has not been having a good game. He is missing calls, he is inconsistent on what he is calling and his positioning leaves a lot to be desired. So far, the players have become visibly frustrated and the coaches are not happy but there has not been an explosion of chaos on the field. As an assistant referee what do you do?
C1: It is seven minutes to half time
C2: It is seven minutes in the second half and the players are grumbling but not whacking
C3: It is twelve minutes left in the second half and the players are taking their frustration out on each other.
Scenario D
More effective than the Bills defenders: pic.twitter.com/PMWw1dzlJ2
— Rich Hill (@PP_Rich_Hill) October 30, 2016
Look at the arrow… what do you do?
Scenario E
It is the final game of the season. Yellow is sub-.500 and Green is out of the conference and NCAA play-offs. It is Yellow’s Senior Day and between the two teams they are starting fourteen seniors. What do you expect?