MattyontheWhistle
RefChat Addict
Well, we are still in pre-season, and I had a game yesterday in the pre-season cup. These are played in 3x30min periods, with the officials rotating the whistle each period, so we all gt a run out (it's pre-season for us as well).
Now, here in NZ, the pyramid of the game goes, from top to bottom:
ASB Premiership Div 1
ASB Premiership Div 2 (National)
Northern League (North Island) & Southern League (South Island)
7 x Federations (Regional Competitions) - My Federation is Waikato/Bay of Plenty (WaiBOP)
So our Federation then goes:
Federation 1
Federation 2 (teams from the whole of the Federation)
Bay 1 Waikato 1
Bay 2 (Teams from the BOP) Waikato 2
U17s & U15s and Baywide Women.
Now, I am a Level 1 Ref and only ever had the whistle in Bay 2 games, and AR in Bay 1. I have been 'Graded' this season up to a 'Bay 1 Ref'.
Yesterday's game was between two Federation 1 teams - the equivalent of Div 5.
OMG! What an eye-opener.
Much faster game, real gobby players and foul-recognition so much more difficult. I struggled to keep up with play and missed a lot of fouls because of fitness (or lack of it).
Fouls were far more subtle, a lot of upper body stuff going on rather than the contact fouls I am used to.
Can't say I enjoyed my time in the middle, as I did feel out of my depth, but it has shown me what is required for me to progress to that level. The other official (a Northern League Ref) with me that day did give me some positives to walk away with, but the biggest thing was fitness and keeping up with play.
For those interested, the score finished 10 - 0 to the home team!
Sore ankles today, as we are 7 weeks into a serious drought, and the pitch was like lumpy concrete.
Now, here in NZ, the pyramid of the game goes, from top to bottom:
ASB Premiership Div 1
ASB Premiership Div 2 (National)
Northern League (North Island) & Southern League (South Island)
7 x Federations (Regional Competitions) - My Federation is Waikato/Bay of Plenty (WaiBOP)
So our Federation then goes:
Federation 1
Federation 2 (teams from the whole of the Federation)
Bay 1 Waikato 1
Bay 2 (Teams from the BOP) Waikato 2
U17s & U15s and Baywide Women.
Now, I am a Level 1 Ref and only ever had the whistle in Bay 2 games, and AR in Bay 1. I have been 'Graded' this season up to a 'Bay 1 Ref'.
Yesterday's game was between two Federation 1 teams - the equivalent of Div 5.
OMG! What an eye-opener.
Much faster game, real gobby players and foul-recognition so much more difficult. I struggled to keep up with play and missed a lot of fouls because of fitness (or lack of it).
Fouls were far more subtle, a lot of upper body stuff going on rather than the contact fouls I am used to.
Can't say I enjoyed my time in the middle, as I did feel out of my depth, but it has shown me what is required for me to progress to that level. The other official (a Northern League Ref) with me that day did give me some positives to walk away with, but the biggest thing was fitness and keeping up with play.
For those interested, the score finished 10 - 0 to the home team!
Sore ankles today, as we are 7 weeks into a serious drought, and the pitch was like lumpy concrete.
