Hi.
What age is the game?
- 1. I'm not sure what the guidelines in your area / league is, but ours is at least 45 mins before a junior match.
Anyway, yes you have got it more or less right.
- 2/3. Maybe you can incorporate yours pitch inspection as you are warming up? Also, be wary of anything on the pitch as you are walking towards the managers, this means that if you spot something, there is much less walking bakwards and forewards.
Are you comfortable with what you need to say to the managers and what you need to look out for in the inspection?
- 4. In regards to a warmup, do enough to warm up properly, but don't over-do it. I'm guessing this is your firts 'proper' match? If so you won't be sure at what the physichal demands of s 11 a side game is, so don't overdo it.
- 5. As far as talking to your assistants, I say very little, basically:
''Hi, I'm xxxxx, thanks for doing this for me, flag when the whole of the ball has crossed the whole of the line, give a direction if you can. If you see misconduct behind my back, by all means let me know, but I can only act on what I see. Leave all fouls and offsides to me, and don't be offended if I go against you, I may have seen something else. Thanks.''
As for the captains:
''Hi, I'm Lewys. 2 things, keep the language down, I have cards, and will use them, secondly, once I have made my decision, I'm am not going to change it, so don't bother arguing.'' Then do the toss, remember the winner gets to call the choice of ends.
I know some give long speeches, but the reason I say so little is that they very rarely listen to a word you say, so why bother? Also, note that I say I have cards and will use them, but don't say anything like ''If you swear, I will send you off'', that is like pressing the suicide button!
Any questions?Keep them coming.
Lastly, be honest and enjoy