Bob Wilson: Soccer
Bob Wilson
ISBN 0-7207-0793-5
1975
61 pages
Chapter on Goalkeeping, defence, midfield, strikers/wingers skills with teaching points. Briefly talks about set plays. Full of vintage photos. Somewhat useful for a beginning player or coach.
Michael Owen's Soccer Skills: How to become the complete player
Michael Owen with Dave Harrison
ISBN 0-00-218935-6
1999
128 pages
Two pages on stretching. Covers basic skills, restarts, and defending with simple drills and teaching points for each. Lots of information on Michael Owen. Somewhat useful for a beginning player or someone who has a crush on Michael Owen.
Soccer for Dummies
Michael Lewis
ISBN 0-7645-5229-5
2000
375 pages
Typical for Dummies book. The 5 Ws of soccer, with plenty of factoids thrown in. As with all dummies books, only rudimentary, more for entertainment than real knowledge. Useful for bathroom reading.
Soccer with Gary Bailey - An easy manual for coaches and players
Hans Kirsten Publishers
ISBN 0958305587
1989
101 pages
A simple book with basic tips on individual skills with a couple of drills for each skill. A chapter on goalkeeping. Extremely brief chapters on restarts and formations. A summation of out of date Laws of the Game. Most useful for individual beginning player.
Soccer Fundamentals - Basic skills, drills, and strategy for beginning players
John Learmouth
ISBN 0312115326
1979
133 pages
Introduces the practice grid. Chapters on Passing and Dribbling, Kicking, Ball Control, Heading, Tackling, and Goalkeeping. Each chapter has basic tips on technique plus a few practice exercises and drills. Most useful for individual beginning player.
Youth League Soccer Coaching and Playing
The Athletic Institute
ISBN 0876700261
1988
168 pages
Covers Coaching. Role and influence of the coach. Chapter on injuries and first aid. A brief but good chapter on theory of practice/practice planning. Tips and techniques for basic soccer skills with essential teaching points for each skill. Chapter on drills with good diagrams (pics of little soccer guys rather than X and O). Chapter on basic tactics, chapter on basic formations. A summation of out of date Laws of the Game. Most useful for a novice coach.
Soccer Playbook
Robert Matero
ISBN 158865088X
2002
32 pages
A booklet. Doesn't get more basic than this. Names various soccer skills, formations, and restarts, but does very little (pretty much nothing) in the way of instruction, tips, or drills.
Soccer for Juniors: A Guide for Players, Parents, and Coaches
Robert Pollock
ISBN 0-684-18369-2
1980
190 pages
Formations is the first thing covered in "Basic Skills". Then covers the actual basic skills but not well.
Has a chapter on tactics - creating space, through ball, marking, zonal defence. A summation of out of date Laws of the Game. A chapter on the Referee. Not very useful.
The Ultimate Soccer Almanac
Dan Woog
ISBN 0-7373-9981-3
1998
96 pages
A brief history and background of soccer, major teams, and famous players. The basic skills with 1 or two drills for each, a handful of practice games, and a summation of out of date Laws of the Game. Not very useful.
One-on-One For Self Training
Walter Chyzowych and Ole Anderson
ISBN 0-9604588
1980
96 pages
"The skills book of the United States Soccer Federation". 20 solo moves for one-on-one. A bio of a retro pro player with each. Cartoony pictures, confusing sequences of arrows and numbers. Marginally useful for individual player. If you're looking for 1 on 1 moves, the Coerver videos are better.
Getting Started in Soccer
Gordon Strachan
ISBN 0-8069-0834-3
1994
80 pages
Covers a broad range of basic and intermediate skills with some teaching points for each. Most useful for individual beginning player.
Soccer Skills for Young Players
Ted Buxton
ISBN 1-55209-329-8
2000
128 pages
Short chapter on warmups and cooldowns, off season training, diet. Covers basic skills with teaching points and drills for each. Most useful for individual intermediate player.
The Everything Kids Soccer Book
Deborah W. Crisfield
ISBN 1-58062-642-4
2002
134 pages
Very basic, in the style of soccer for dummies with lots of little cartoony pictures and fluffed up with "Fun facts", "words to know", mazes, other crap. Avoid.
Showing posts with label soccer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soccer. Show all posts
Monday, February 27, 2012
Friday, June 11, 2010
World Cup 2010
Note that I number the matches in the order they are played (and I watch). Why would you play match 4 before match 3 starts? That makes no sense.
Opening Ceremonies:
What were they thinking with the giant dung beetle pushing a soccer ball?
Match 1 RSA 1 vs MEX 1
A surprising result considering how much Mexico dominated. One absolutely brilliant goal by South Africa the difference in this one.
Match 2 FRA 0 vs URU 0
I think France was concentrating on not losing this game. They do tend to start slow, but I think they missed an opportunity here. Seven yellows in the match. Two draws in the first two games will make for an interesting Group A.
Match 3 KOR 2 vs GRE 0
Greece was very disorganized. Their tactic was to send long/high balls down the field - unfortunately, there was very often no Greek player there to receive. Korea was very fast on the counterattack.
Match 4 ARG 1 vs NIG 0
Again with the playing not to lose. Messi didn't manage to capitalize on any of his numerous chances, making it a closer game than it should have been. Argentina had much more possession, more shots, more corner kicks, but until the very end Nigeria was only a chance goal away from the tie.
Match 5 ENG 1 vs USA 1
England scored early, USA tied late in the first half with a goal you'd normally see in a recreational U12 game. On paper, England better, but US had plenty of chances for the upset.
Match 6 SVN 1 vs ALG 0
A snooze-fest only broken up by another goalkeeping blunder.
Match 7 SRB 0 vs GHA 1
First PK of the World Cup decides this one. Otherwise fairly dull I suck at picking WC results.
Match 8 GER 4 vs AUS 0
I really enjoyed this game. Germany dominated in a way no other team has managed so far. The first goal was a perfect little teaching moment - 'Play to the whistle' instead of raising your arm in the air and stopping because you don't understand "It is not an offence to be in an offside position". A couple of yellows for diving - glad to see, there usually aren't enough. A yellow for dissent - also glad to see, also usually not enough.
Match 9 NED 2 vs DEN 0
The first own-goal of the tournament opened the scoring in this one.
Match 10 JPN 1 vs CMR 0
I think the biggest upset so far.
Match 11 ITA 1 vs PAR 1
Italy came back to tie. Not a fan of Italy.
Match 12 NZL 1 vs SVK 1
Slovakia's goal was offside. It normally bugs we when commentators constantly question (95% wrongly) offside calls. Replay shows Slovakian forward offside, and the AR out of position. Big and very late 93rd minute goal from New Zealand to get a point and make group F interesting with everybody tied.
Match 13 POR 0 vs CIV 0
Picked Portugal to win, cheering for Ivory Coast, so lost on both counts. Why is it that Ivory Coast is called Côte d'Ivoire on an english broadcast? We don't hear Germany called Deutschland or Japan called Nippon. Ronaldo is a diving pansy.
Match 14 BRA 2 vs PRK 1
Korea looked good in the first half. Great first goal by Brazil, Korea scores late consolation that could be a factor in tie-breaks later on.
Match 15 HON 0 vs CHI 1
This is starting out as a very low scoring World Cup. Half a goal less per game than the lowest of all time in 1990. While I enjoy the tactical side of play, I can see why low scoring games makes soccer relatively unpopular in North America. I missed about 20 minutes of this match, including the goal.
Match 16 ESP 0 vs SUI 1
The shock of the tournament! Spain one of the favourites & had never lost to Switzerland before.
Match 17 RSA 0 vs URU 3
Goodbye Bafana Bafana. Have to say I disagree with the red for DOGSO(F). He was already diving when he got clipped, and the ball was too far away.
Match 18 ARG 4 vs KOR 1
Now we see Argentina in form. Could have been more goals but Korean gk made some excellent saves. From body language and behaviour, it seems to me that Maradona is not universally well liked by his players.
Match 19 GRE 2 vs NGA 1
A stupid and selfish red card has virtually eliminated Nigera from the World Cup. They were leading at the time, fell apart immediately after, allowing Greece to score first WC goal ever, then get first WC win ever.
Match 20 FRA 0 vs MEX 2
Glad to see France lose, since they didn't deserve to be here anyway.
Match 21 GER 0 vs SRB 1
Another shocker. A yellow card-fest with 9, IMO some were weak, including Klose's second. I saw up to the missed PK! then had to head to the Doctor's for Mars 'flower fell up the nose' followup.
Match 22 SVN 2 vs USA 2
US not out of it, but expected better. Still, they achieved the comeback from 0-2 and probably should have won on that disallowed goal. Never did see a convincing replay showing a foul.
Match 23 ENG 0 vs ALG 0
England played like crap. The only difference between this and the game they will play if they make the knockout round is that then I will have to add "... and goes out on penalties." No teamwork.
Match 24 NED 1 vs JAP 0
Should have stayed in bed for more comfortable snoozing.
Match 25 GHA 1 vs AUS 1
Australia not the entertaining team they were last WC.
Match 26 CMR 1 vs DEN 2
And Cameroon is the first to 'officially' go. African nations not doing so well.
Match 27 SVK 0 vs PAR 2
Paraguay looks strong again.
Match 28 NZL 1 vs ITA 1
Bogus penalty allowed Italy to get the draw. Bunch of divers again. Glad they didn't get the win, but unfortunately, I think they will still advance. They have a better chance against Slovakia than NZ do against Paraguay.
Match 29 BRA 3 vs CIV 1
Not a good match for the referee. Missed handling twice on the second goal, suspect red for Kaka.
Match 30 POR 7 vs PRK
After such a good showing vs Brazil, Korea flubs this one big time. It was still close after the half, then they fell giving up three goals in seven minutes early in the half, and three more in the last ten minutes. Has ramifications for advancement goal difference could be the difference between Portugal and Ivory Coast advancing. I'm sad, I don't like Portugal. Missed the last 10 minutes of this one at the doctor's office.
Match 31 CHI 1 vs SWI 0
A close one, Switzerland missing a golden opportunity right at the end to tie. Another card-fest.
Switzerland has played surprisingly well.
Match 32 SPA 2 vs HON 0
Spain finds better form, but still closer than it should have been.
Match 33 MEX 0 vs URU 1
Uruguay wins the group, the other group A match to decide who joins them in the next round.
Match 34 FRA 1 vs RSA 2
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! I knew they wouldn't advance, but a loss to South Africa was the icing on the FU France cake. Nothing will make it up to Ireland, but at least this is some small solace.
Match 35 GRE 0 vs ARG 2
Greece hung on for ages, but eventually Argentina got the goals. Some brilliant save from Greek GK.
Match 36 NGA 2 vs KOR 2
Back and forth. One of the worst misses I've ever seen cost Nigeria! A dead person lying on the ground could have scored that goal! Korea advances.
Match 37 ENG 1 vs SVN
England certainly had enough chances to put this one away. Should of could of will hurt them later on.
Match 38 USA 1 vs ALG 0
It literally took a last minute goal for the US to win this and advance. They looked much stronger last year at Confederations Cup.
Match 39 GER 1 vs GHA 0
Too close for comfort.
Match 40 AUS 2 vs SRB 1
"They are going potty", says the announcer after Australia's second goal. Not enough after their drubbing by Germany - they are out on goal differential.
Match 41 ITA 2 vs SVK 3
WOOHOO! Byebye to the undeserving (except maybe World Cup of Diving) winners from 2006. Startled the boys by jumping and cheering Slovakia's third goal. Italy did make it a very exciting finish, twice coming back from 2 goals down, with a number of chances to tie.
Match 42 PAR vs NZL
Both teams have employed a curious strategy. Play the most boring game possible and hope the other team falls asleep. Only one shot on net in the first half, NZ didn't get any on net all game. Paraguay advances.
Match 43 DEN 1 vs JAP 3
A surprise for me.
Match 44 NED 2 vs CAM 1
Haven't watched this one - yet. My mum is visiting, so missing some games.
Match 45 POR 0 vs BRA 0
Haven't watched this one - yet. My mum is visiting, so missing some games.
Match 46 PRK 0 vs CIV 3
Feel bad for North Korea. Started the WC so well against Brazil, then got hosed the next two games.
Match 47 CHI 1 vs SPA 2
Spain dominated possession, but a close game nonetheless.
Match 48 SWI 0 vs HON 0
Haven't watched this one. Thinking I won't bother.
Round of 16
Match 49 URU 2 vs KOR 1
Uruguay continues to look strong. I think they will handle Ghana and make the semis. A miserable rainy day. Uruguay's second goal is the best of the tournament!
Match 50 GHA 2 vs USA 1
I expected the US to prevail in this one. US couldn't come back - again. Thought the GK was weak on the 2nd goal.
Match 51 GER 4 vs ENG 1
An officiated error was the difference in this one. Poetic justice for 1966?
Match 52 ARG 3 vs MEX 1
Another officiating error made the difference. Unfortunate, especially since I thought the AR was in position to see it. There will be another storm about video replay.
Match 53 NED 2 vs SVK 1
Was not as close as the score makes it seem. Debatable penalty in the 90th for Slovakia salvaged some pride.
Match 54 BRA 3 vs CHI 0
Sad for Chile, they had done well up to this point. Second goal a laugher as Chilean defenders stands still with his arm in the air and lets Fabiano walk in uncontested for the goal. Play to the whistle, kiddies.
Match 55 SPA 1 vs POR 0
Spain dominated this match in every way except score. Ronaldo flopped around like a wet dishrag to no avail. Bye-bye baby.
Match 56 PAR Pen 0 vs JAP 0
The first penalty shootout. A pretty dull game I thought. Paraguay dominated on possession, I figured they would win, but didn't expect penalties to decide it.
Match 57 NED 2 vs BRA 1
I picked this one. Thought I was wrong when Brazil scored early, but the Dutch came back! One unfortunate thing - they employed a 'trick corner' play. Even money says I see the local U12 try it next week.
Match 58 URU 1 vs GHA 1
Wow. Ghana opens with seconds left in the first half, a ridiculous low shot from 30 yards that drew the keeper a step one way, then curled in the other. Uruguay later tied on a very nice free kick. Seconds from the end of the game, scramble in the goal area, three shots on, the third a DOGSO(H), Ghana is going to win on the resulting penalty... except its off the crossbar! Game goes to penalty shootout, Ghana misses two more, and Uruguay goes on. Destiny.
Match 59 ARG 0 vs GER 4
I expected this to be an exciting match, but certainly not like this! Other than possession favouring Argentina, this was pretty close in the first half. I fully expected Argentina to tie and the game go to extra time and then shootout. Then bang bang it was over except the insult to injury goal in the 89th minute. Messi completely disappeared throughout the game. I guess this is what happens when one team has a coach and the other has a chubby cheerleader.
Match 60 PAR 0 vs SPA 1
How to play against a much stronger team 101. Play defensively and foul a lot. I think it could be argued that Paraguay shuld have got the goal that was called offside - it would have completely changed the game. So would have the penalty. Missed. The thing with playing defensively against a much better team is that you have to convert your rare chances. A penalty should be a gimmie. Going back the other way, penalty for Spain is converted but called back for encroachment - bizarre I thought, since though technically correct (by a measly half step), I've yet to see a penalty without that kind of encroachment, and it isn't called. The retake was stopped! Craziness. Even still, Spain was hard pressed to win this one. The most bizarre goal of the WC at 83 minutes - shot off the post rebounds to Villa, who puts it off both posts before it goes in. Huge chance for Paraguay in 89th minute is driven into the keeper. A chip or sidestep would have been a sure goal. Spain moves on, but I don't think they will beat Germany. I'm predicting a Netherlands-Germany final.
Opening Ceremonies:
What were they thinking with the giant dung beetle pushing a soccer ball?
Match 1 RSA 1 vs MEX 1
A surprising result considering how much Mexico dominated. One absolutely brilliant goal by South Africa the difference in this one.
Match 2 FRA 0 vs URU 0
I think France was concentrating on not losing this game. They do tend to start slow, but I think they missed an opportunity here. Seven yellows in the match. Two draws in the first two games will make for an interesting Group A.
Match 3 KOR 2 vs GRE 0
Greece was very disorganized. Their tactic was to send long/high balls down the field - unfortunately, there was very often no Greek player there to receive. Korea was very fast on the counterattack.
Match 4 ARG 1 vs NIG 0
Again with the playing not to lose. Messi didn't manage to capitalize on any of his numerous chances, making it a closer game than it should have been. Argentina had much more possession, more shots, more corner kicks, but until the very end Nigeria was only a chance goal away from the tie.
Match 5 ENG 1 vs USA 1
England scored early, USA tied late in the first half with a goal you'd normally see in a recreational U12 game. On paper, England better, but US had plenty of chances for the upset.
Match 6 SVN 1 vs ALG 0
A snooze-fest only broken up by another goalkeeping blunder.
Match 7 SRB 0 vs GHA 1
First PK of the World Cup decides this one. Otherwise fairly dull I suck at picking WC results.
Match 8 GER 4 vs AUS 0
I really enjoyed this game. Germany dominated in a way no other team has managed so far. The first goal was a perfect little teaching moment - 'Play to the whistle' instead of raising your arm in the air and stopping because you don't understand "It is not an offence to be in an offside position". A couple of yellows for diving - glad to see, there usually aren't enough. A yellow for dissent - also glad to see, also usually not enough.
Match 9 NED 2 vs DEN 0
The first own-goal of the tournament opened the scoring in this one.
Match 10 JPN 1 vs CMR 0
I think the biggest upset so far.
Match 11 ITA 1 vs PAR 1
Italy came back to tie. Not a fan of Italy.
Match 12 NZL 1 vs SVK 1
Slovakia's goal was offside. It normally bugs we when commentators constantly question (95% wrongly) offside calls. Replay shows Slovakian forward offside, and the AR out of position. Big and very late 93rd minute goal from New Zealand to get a point and make group F interesting with everybody tied.
Match 13 POR 0 vs CIV 0
Picked Portugal to win, cheering for Ivory Coast, so lost on both counts. Why is it that Ivory Coast is called Côte d'Ivoire on an english broadcast? We don't hear Germany called Deutschland or Japan called Nippon. Ronaldo is a diving pansy.
Match 14 BRA 2 vs PRK 1
Korea looked good in the first half. Great first goal by Brazil, Korea scores late consolation that could be a factor in tie-breaks later on.
Match 15 HON 0 vs CHI 1
This is starting out as a very low scoring World Cup. Half a goal less per game than the lowest of all time in 1990. While I enjoy the tactical side of play, I can see why low scoring games makes soccer relatively unpopular in North America. I missed about 20 minutes of this match, including the goal.
Match 16 ESP 0 vs SUI 1
The shock of the tournament! Spain one of the favourites & had never lost to Switzerland before.
Match 17 RSA 0 vs URU 3
Goodbye Bafana Bafana. Have to say I disagree with the red for DOGSO(F). He was already diving when he got clipped, and the ball was too far away.
Match 18 ARG 4 vs KOR 1
Now we see Argentina in form. Could have been more goals but Korean gk made some excellent saves. From body language and behaviour, it seems to me that Maradona is not universally well liked by his players.
Match 19 GRE 2 vs NGA 1
A stupid and selfish red card has virtually eliminated Nigera from the World Cup. They were leading at the time, fell apart immediately after, allowing Greece to score first WC goal ever, then get first WC win ever.
Match 20 FRA 0 vs MEX 2
Glad to see France lose, since they didn't deserve to be here anyway.
Match 21 GER 0 vs SRB 1
Another shocker. A yellow card-fest with 9, IMO some were weak, including Klose's second. I saw up to the missed PK! then had to head to the Doctor's for Mars 'flower fell up the nose' followup.
Match 22 SVN 2 vs USA 2
US not out of it, but expected better. Still, they achieved the comeback from 0-2 and probably should have won on that disallowed goal. Never did see a convincing replay showing a foul.
Match 23 ENG 0 vs ALG 0
England played like crap. The only difference between this and the game they will play if they make the knockout round is that then I will have to add "... and goes out on penalties." No teamwork.
Match 24 NED 1 vs JAP 0
Should have stayed in bed for more comfortable snoozing.
Match 25 GHA 1 vs AUS 1
Australia not the entertaining team they were last WC.
Match 26 CMR 1 vs DEN 2
And Cameroon is the first to 'officially' go. African nations not doing so well.
Match 27 SVK 0 vs PAR 2
Paraguay looks strong again.
Match 28 NZL 1 vs ITA 1
Bogus penalty allowed Italy to get the draw. Bunch of divers again. Glad they didn't get the win, but unfortunately, I think they will still advance. They have a better chance against Slovakia than NZ do against Paraguay.
Match 29 BRA 3 vs CIV 1
Not a good match for the referee. Missed handling twice on the second goal, suspect red for Kaka.
Match 30 POR 7 vs PRK
After such a good showing vs Brazil, Korea flubs this one big time. It was still close after the half, then they fell giving up three goals in seven minutes early in the half, and three more in the last ten minutes. Has ramifications for advancement goal difference could be the difference between Portugal and Ivory Coast advancing. I'm sad, I don't like Portugal. Missed the last 10 minutes of this one at the doctor's office.
Match 31 CHI 1 vs SWI 0
A close one, Switzerland missing a golden opportunity right at the end to tie. Another card-fest.
Switzerland has played surprisingly well.
Match 32 SPA 2 vs HON 0
Spain finds better form, but still closer than it should have been.
Match 33 MEX 0 vs URU 1
Uruguay wins the group, the other group A match to decide who joins them in the next round.
Match 34 FRA 1 vs RSA 2
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! I knew they wouldn't advance, but a loss to South Africa was the icing on the FU France cake. Nothing will make it up to Ireland, but at least this is some small solace.
Match 35 GRE 0 vs ARG 2
Greece hung on for ages, but eventually Argentina got the goals. Some brilliant save from Greek GK.
Match 36 NGA 2 vs KOR 2
Back and forth. One of the worst misses I've ever seen cost Nigeria! A dead person lying on the ground could have scored that goal! Korea advances.
Match 37 ENG 1 vs SVN
England certainly had enough chances to put this one away. Should of could of will hurt them later on.
Match 38 USA 1 vs ALG 0
It literally took a last minute goal for the US to win this and advance. They looked much stronger last year at Confederations Cup.
Match 39 GER 1 vs GHA 0
Too close for comfort.
Match 40 AUS 2 vs SRB 1
"They are going potty", says the announcer after Australia's second goal. Not enough after their drubbing by Germany - they are out on goal differential.
Match 41 ITA 2 vs SVK 3
WOOHOO! Byebye to the undeserving (except maybe World Cup of Diving) winners from 2006. Startled the boys by jumping and cheering Slovakia's third goal. Italy did make it a very exciting finish, twice coming back from 2 goals down, with a number of chances to tie.
Match 42 PAR vs NZL
Both teams have employed a curious strategy. Play the most boring game possible and hope the other team falls asleep. Only one shot on net in the first half, NZ didn't get any on net all game. Paraguay advances.
Match 43 DEN 1 vs JAP 3
A surprise for me.
Match 44 NED 2 vs CAM 1
Haven't watched this one - yet. My mum is visiting, so missing some games.
Match 45 POR 0 vs BRA 0
Haven't watched this one - yet. My mum is visiting, so missing some games.
Match 46 PRK 0 vs CIV 3
Feel bad for North Korea. Started the WC so well against Brazil, then got hosed the next two games.
Match 47 CHI 1 vs SPA 2
Spain dominated possession, but a close game nonetheless.
Match 48 SWI 0 vs HON 0
Haven't watched this one. Thinking I won't bother.
Round of 16
Match 49 URU 2 vs KOR 1
Uruguay continues to look strong. I think they will handle Ghana and make the semis. A miserable rainy day. Uruguay's second goal is the best of the tournament!
Match 50 GHA 2 vs USA 1
I expected the US to prevail in this one. US couldn't come back - again. Thought the GK was weak on the 2nd goal.
Match 51 GER 4 vs ENG 1
An officiated error was the difference in this one. Poetic justice for 1966?
Match 52 ARG 3 vs MEX 1
Another officiating error made the difference. Unfortunate, especially since I thought the AR was in position to see it. There will be another storm about video replay.
Match 53 NED 2 vs SVK 1
Was not as close as the score makes it seem. Debatable penalty in the 90th for Slovakia salvaged some pride.
Match 54 BRA 3 vs CHI 0
Sad for Chile, they had done well up to this point. Second goal a laugher as Chilean defenders stands still with his arm in the air and lets Fabiano walk in uncontested for the goal. Play to the whistle, kiddies.
Match 55 SPA 1 vs POR 0
Spain dominated this match in every way except score. Ronaldo flopped around like a wet dishrag to no avail. Bye-bye baby.
Match 56 PAR Pen 0 vs JAP 0
The first penalty shootout. A pretty dull game I thought. Paraguay dominated on possession, I figured they would win, but didn't expect penalties to decide it.
Match 57 NED 2 vs BRA 1
I picked this one. Thought I was wrong when Brazil scored early, but the Dutch came back! One unfortunate thing - they employed a 'trick corner' play. Even money says I see the local U12 try it next week.
Match 58 URU 1 vs GHA 1
Wow. Ghana opens with seconds left in the first half, a ridiculous low shot from 30 yards that drew the keeper a step one way, then curled in the other. Uruguay later tied on a very nice free kick. Seconds from the end of the game, scramble in the goal area, three shots on, the third a DOGSO(H), Ghana is going to win on the resulting penalty... except its off the crossbar! Game goes to penalty shootout, Ghana misses two more, and Uruguay goes on. Destiny.
Match 59 ARG 0 vs GER 4
I expected this to be an exciting match, but certainly not like this! Other than possession favouring Argentina, this was pretty close in the first half. I fully expected Argentina to tie and the game go to extra time and then shootout. Then bang bang it was over except the insult to injury goal in the 89th minute. Messi completely disappeared throughout the game. I guess this is what happens when one team has a coach and the other has a chubby cheerleader.
Match 60 PAR 0 vs SPA 1
How to play against a much stronger team 101. Play defensively and foul a lot. I think it could be argued that Paraguay shuld have got the goal that was called offside - it would have completely changed the game. So would have the penalty. Missed. The thing with playing defensively against a much better team is that you have to convert your rare chances. A penalty should be a gimmie. Going back the other way, penalty for Spain is converted but called back for encroachment - bizarre I thought, since though technically correct (by a measly half step), I've yet to see a penalty without that kind of encroachment, and it isn't called. The retake was stopped! Craziness. Even still, Spain was hard pressed to win this one. The most bizarre goal of the WC at 83 minutes - shot off the post rebounds to Villa, who puts it off both posts before it goes in. Huge chance for Paraguay in 89th minute is driven into the keeper. A chip or sidestep would have been a sure goal. Spain moves on, but I don't think they will beat Germany. I'm predicting a Netherlands-Germany final.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
I'm coming down with a month long illness... Cough. Cough.
Hockey season ended just in time. The World Cup is here at last! While I don't imagine I'll manage to watch as many games as in 2006, when I caught 58 of 64 matches, I still plan on getting in some serious soccer time. It really is the beautiful game. I have several predictions: England will go out on penalties, Italy as a team will dive more than Ronaldo by himself (but barely), and Messi will get way more playing time than he did in 2006. Hard to pick a winner. Argentina? Brazil will do well, I think England has a shot, and US might surprise.
One prediction has come true already: I am sick of hearing "Bafana Bafana" from soccer play by play guys and commentators. Give it a rest. We know it is the team nickname. Use it five or six times during a broadcast even. But don't call the South African team Bafana Bafana every single freaking time you refer to them and then invent reasons to mention them a hundred extra times even when they aren't even playing. No host country has failed to make the second stage, luckily South Africa will be the first. Then we'll only have to hear Bafana Bafana twenty times a day.
I also hate the vuvuzelas already. Atmosphere is great, but a constant irritating drone is not. They were a constant irritant during the Confederations Cup that really detracted from enjoying the game. At least I could turn the volume down, I can't imagine how much worse it was/will be on the field. I wish they had been banned.
One prediction has come true already: I am sick of hearing "Bafana Bafana" from soccer play by play guys and commentators. Give it a rest. We know it is the team nickname. Use it five or six times during a broadcast even. But don't call the South African team Bafana Bafana every single freaking time you refer to them and then invent reasons to mention them a hundred extra times even when they aren't even playing. No host country has failed to make the second stage, luckily South Africa will be the first. Then we'll only have to hear Bafana Bafana twenty times a day.
I also hate the vuvuzelas already. Atmosphere is great, but a constant irritating drone is not. They were a constant irritant during the Confederations Cup that really detracted from enjoying the game. At least I could turn the volume down, I can't imagine how much worse it was/will be on the field. I wish they had been banned.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
A quarter million steps
I wear a pedometer while refereeing soccer. Today while I ARed the U16 final, I passed 250,000 total steps as a referee. I always wondered how my steps compared to actual distance, so at last weeks tournament for the younger players, I also wore my GPS to measure and then compare to the pedometer. Works out to about 1666 steps per kilometer, so as a referee, I've run a total of 150km over two seasons. My first thought was "Wow, 150km!" but then I thought it doesn't seem like very much when spread out over games and 2 years. No doubt there are runners who do 150km a month. I know on the cross Canada bike trip years ago, I'd do that in a day.I drew rough approximations of fields on the GPS track. This is three games before the battery died. Big rectangle was my field. I had no linesmen, so not exactly picture perfect diagonal system. Leaf and the boys came to visit at one point, the side tracks to the small rectangles are playing with Mars when he had to kick a ball in every net on the tiny fields. Curvy bit to the bottom leads to snack bar, playground and washrooms.
U16 final today was brilliant, a very exciting and close game. I was an AR (linesman) for the first time, and Center wasn't used to having ARs. Red team was undefeated all season. Blue team scored early to go up one nil, then should have had a PK but for confusion between referee and myself. I didn't raise the flag because he was five feet from play and I thought it should be his decision, but his angle was blocked so he looked to me. I should have done a better job discussing signals before the match. Anyway Red scored an equalizer, then the go ahead goal with seconds left in the first half. Blue with a equalizer in the second half. 2-2. Red coach calls a time-out! Ah, the delicious irony... For non-soccer fanatics, there are no time-outs in soccer. Delicious irony because it happened to be the only coach I've ever had to expel from the field of play. Earlier in the season, he disputed an offside call (it is not an offence to be in an offside position, coach!), then went on a ten minute profanity laced tirade at a U12 game. Anyway, a big part of his ranting was about the rules and how he understands all of them and tries to teach his players the rules but alas the stupid fucking referee doesn't know the rules, blah blah fucking blah. Nice knowledge of the Laws, Mr. Timeout!
Game ends up going to extra time, Blue scores the golden goal to win the championship. I feel bad for red! I coached them the last three years and had the same thing happen the first year - undefeated regular season, then a first and only loss in the final. Heartbreaking. Only one more game as a ref for me this summer, the Geriatrics Final (17 and older) on Monday. Then a break for 6 weeks until high school season starts up.
U16 final today was brilliant, a very exciting and close game. I was an AR (linesman) for the first time, and Center wasn't used to having ARs. Red team was undefeated all season. Blue team scored early to go up one nil, then should have had a PK but for confusion between referee and myself. I didn't raise the flag because he was five feet from play and I thought it should be his decision, but his angle was blocked so he looked to me. I should have done a better job discussing signals before the match. Anyway Red scored an equalizer, then the go ahead goal with seconds left in the first half. Blue with a equalizer in the second half. 2-2. Red coach calls a time-out! Ah, the delicious irony... For non-soccer fanatics, there are no time-outs in soccer. Delicious irony because it happened to be the only coach I've ever had to expel from the field of play. Earlier in the season, he disputed an offside call (it is not an offence to be in an offside position, coach!), then went on a ten minute profanity laced tirade at a U12 game. Anyway, a big part of his ranting was about the rules and how he understands all of them and tries to teach his players the rules but alas the stupid fucking referee doesn't know the rules, blah blah fucking blah. Nice knowledge of the Laws, Mr. Timeout!
Game ends up going to extra time, Blue scores the golden goal to win the championship. I feel bad for red! I coached them the last three years and had the same thing happen the first year - undefeated regular season, then a first and only loss in the final. Heartbreaking. Only one more game as a ref for me this summer, the Geriatrics Final (17 and older) on Monday. Then a break for 6 weeks until high school season starts up.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Showing my first yellow card
My second year/third season as a referee and finally had to show my first yellow card. One of my former players of course, and she should know better... Asked her to remove her earrings before the match started, noticed in the second half she still had them in. Which was weird not to notice earlier, but she was playing defence on a team of 11 vs a team that only had seven show up, so I didn't get close enough to notice until she was moved up to forward for the second half. Yellow for USB.
Jewelry is one of those things that is starting to annoy me. It is on the registration forms that no jewelry is permitted. Its in the laws of the game, and the intention is to prevent injury to self or others. Before every single game I have to tell players to remove jewelry, I tell the coaches to remind their players that they can't have jewelry, and yet every game I'm sending players to the sideline to take off earrings or watches or bracelets or necklaces. Which makes me the mean old referee. There is the usual litany of excuses. "I've always worn it before", "The other referee lets me" (unfortunately, this one is true), "I can't take it out/the hole will close over", "They are only little ear/nose studs". I even had a coach ask me what could be done to change the rules. I told him to appeal to FIFA.
I was getting lukewarm support for my 'strictness' using the argument that someone could get hurt. So now I use the magic word "liability". If someone gets hurt I get sued, you the coach gets sued, you the player gets sued, the player's parents get sued, and the league administrators get sued. Since none of the above have liability insurance (even if we did it wouldn't matter because the laws clearly say no jewelry) that argument worked.
Jewelry is one of those things that is starting to annoy me. It is on the registration forms that no jewelry is permitted. Its in the laws of the game, and the intention is to prevent injury to self or others. Before every single game I have to tell players to remove jewelry, I tell the coaches to remind their players that they can't have jewelry, and yet every game I'm sending players to the sideline to take off earrings or watches or bracelets or necklaces. Which makes me the mean old referee. There is the usual litany of excuses. "I've always worn it before", "The other referee lets me" (unfortunately, this one is true), "I can't take it out/the hole will close over", "They are only little ear/nose studs". I even had a coach ask me what could be done to change the rules. I told him to appeal to FIFA.
I was getting lukewarm support for my 'strictness' using the argument that someone could get hurt. So now I use the magic word "liability". If someone gets hurt I get sued, you the coach gets sued, you the player gets sued, the player's parents get sued, and the league administrators get sued. Since none of the above have liability insurance (even if we did it wouldn't matter because the laws clearly say no jewelry) that argument worked.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Refereeing my first Adult game
Our local league is very small. Its all co-ed, there are only four teams in each age division, and multiple ages play on the same team. I used to coach 'Old Timers' and had a range of kids from 12-17 on my team. After grade eleven they are supposed to move on to the 'Geriatric' division, where there are four adult teams.
I had been refereeing U12 and U10 this summer, but was finding the littler ones didn't present much of a challenge or much exercise. Their enthusiasm for the game was a refreshing recharge after giving up coaching, but I wanted some more competitive games to warm up for the boys high school season this fall.
I was extremely nervous beforehand. These guys (and girls) have never had a referee before! All our adult refs play in the division so there has never been someone available. They called all their own fouls, ball in/out, offsides, and whatnot themselves according to the collective understanding (or misunderstanding ;) of the laws of the game. Hard to walk into that and establish a presence.
It was not my best game by any means, but serviceable. I've been off for two weeks with a vacation and then the stomach flu, so didn't feel I had my legs yet. I did better than expected with keeping up with play, but much room for improvement there. It was a very back and forth game. One team would pressure, then the defending team would pound it down the field to their high forwards and off I'd charge to the other end of the field. The ball would turn over and be blasted back to the other half and I'd run all the way back again. I use a pedometer in all my games, I had as many steps in the first half as I normally do in a full match. More than a couple times in the game I didn't have the gas to get to the penalty area as quickly as I should have. Missed a few fouls and what probably should have been a penalty kick by being out of position.
I had coached about half of the players on one team, and maybe a quarter on the other, plus played recreationally with a handful more of the older players. Knowing the players, I went in expected an amount of dissent from certain ones, but turns out I expected it from the wrong guys. Blue team was playing with only 10 but made a very good game of it in the first half. Green's outstanding keeper was unbeatable. As his former high school coach, I wish I could take even the smallest amount of credit, but I can't. 2-0 Green at the half. Blue scored early in the second to make it close, but then Green got a third, and the wheels fell off.
That's when the chirping started. From some of my favourite boys I coached in high school. Nothing overt, but careful conversations within hearing about the unfairness of the ref and he called this why didn't he call that and blah blah blah. Funny how players always forget the calls that go their way whan complaining about bias. I unleashed one of the most powerful tools in my arsenal - selective listening. Figured ignoring was the best bet since they didn't use profanity and was quiet enough to not listen to. Ironic how much it reminded me of coaching them on the high school team. When we struggled, which was often, these were the guys who could never say "I need to work harder", or "I can do better". It was all about blaming teammates, the coach, the 4-4-2 system, or the referee. Hard to come back with that kind of attitude. 5-1 the final for Green.
The other thing that reminded me of coaching high school was the total lack of midfield presence by both teams, particularly in the second half. Used to drive me nuts as a coach. Drives me nuts as a referee because all the extra running. The attacking team would have all their forwards and midfielders up in the penalty area against the defending team's defence and some mids, and all their defence back in their own half marking the defending team's forwards and a mid or two. 30 yards of basically empty space in between the two groupings.
Anyway, things I need to work on for next game. Fitness obviously. 33 pounds down from my high, but another 10 or 12 would be a big help. I'm thinking some cycling so as not to put wear on my knees. I also need to work on foul recognition. I've had a lot of trouble with this. I'm still a new enough referee that it isn't instinctive. I see a possible foul, I process the possible foul, I consider if it was a foul or not, I think about blowing the whistle, but 3 seconds have gone by and the play has moved on. I'm hoping that as I gain experience I will instantly recognize fouls and not have to think about it. It would be nice to have an assessment or some kind of mentoring system in our league, but believe it or not, I'm the only certified referee in the league. I also want to get a little stricter next game. I'm usually a firm believer in letting the players play if both teams are happy the level of physicality, but there was a fair amount of fouling going on, not all of which I called. I figured I'd let them get used to the idea of having a referee before I start calling all kinds of fouls they've never seen fit to call themselves.
BTW 11550 steps at end of match. Not sure how this works out to distance. I have a GPS that I've been thinking about pocketing for an U12 match and then comparing linear distance on that vs steps on pedometer. I would guess each step averages out to about half a meter, or about 6 km over the course of the game.
I had been refereeing U12 and U10 this summer, but was finding the littler ones didn't present much of a challenge or much exercise. Their enthusiasm for the game was a refreshing recharge after giving up coaching, but I wanted some more competitive games to warm up for the boys high school season this fall.
I was extremely nervous beforehand. These guys (and girls) have never had a referee before! All our adult refs play in the division so there has never been someone available. They called all their own fouls, ball in/out, offsides, and whatnot themselves according to the collective understanding (or misunderstanding ;) of the laws of the game. Hard to walk into that and establish a presence.
It was not my best game by any means, but serviceable. I've been off for two weeks with a vacation and then the stomach flu, so didn't feel I had my legs yet. I did better than expected with keeping up with play, but much room for improvement there. It was a very back and forth game. One team would pressure, then the defending team would pound it down the field to their high forwards and off I'd charge to the other end of the field. The ball would turn over and be blasted back to the other half and I'd run all the way back again. I use a pedometer in all my games, I had as many steps in the first half as I normally do in a full match. More than a couple times in the game I didn't have the gas to get to the penalty area as quickly as I should have. Missed a few fouls and what probably should have been a penalty kick by being out of position.
I had coached about half of the players on one team, and maybe a quarter on the other, plus played recreationally with a handful more of the older players. Knowing the players, I went in expected an amount of dissent from certain ones, but turns out I expected it from the wrong guys. Blue team was playing with only 10 but made a very good game of it in the first half. Green's outstanding keeper was unbeatable. As his former high school coach, I wish I could take even the smallest amount of credit, but I can't. 2-0 Green at the half. Blue scored early in the second to make it close, but then Green got a third, and the wheels fell off.
That's when the chirping started. From some of my favourite boys I coached in high school. Nothing overt, but careful conversations within hearing about the unfairness of the ref and he called this why didn't he call that and blah blah blah. Funny how players always forget the calls that go their way whan complaining about bias. I unleashed one of the most powerful tools in my arsenal - selective listening. Figured ignoring was the best bet since they didn't use profanity and was quiet enough to not listen to. Ironic how much it reminded me of coaching them on the high school team. When we struggled, which was often, these were the guys who could never say "I need to work harder", or "I can do better". It was all about blaming teammates, the coach, the 4-4-2 system, or the referee. Hard to come back with that kind of attitude. 5-1 the final for Green.
The other thing that reminded me of coaching high school was the total lack of midfield presence by both teams, particularly in the second half. Used to drive me nuts as a coach. Drives me nuts as a referee because all the extra running. The attacking team would have all their forwards and midfielders up in the penalty area against the defending team's defence and some mids, and all their defence back in their own half marking the defending team's forwards and a mid or two. 30 yards of basically empty space in between the two groupings.
Anyway, things I need to work on for next game. Fitness obviously. 33 pounds down from my high, but another 10 or 12 would be a big help. I'm thinking some cycling so as not to put wear on my knees. I also need to work on foul recognition. I've had a lot of trouble with this. I'm still a new enough referee that it isn't instinctive. I see a possible foul, I process the possible foul, I consider if it was a foul or not, I think about blowing the whistle, but 3 seconds have gone by and the play has moved on. I'm hoping that as I gain experience I will instantly recognize fouls and not have to think about it. It would be nice to have an assessment or some kind of mentoring system in our league, but believe it or not, I'm the only certified referee in the league. I also want to get a little stricter next game. I'm usually a firm believer in letting the players play if both teams are happy the level of physicality, but there was a fair amount of fouling going on, not all of which I called. I figured I'd let them get used to the idea of having a referee before I start calling all kinds of fouls they've never seen fit to call themselves.
BTW 11550 steps at end of match. Not sure how this works out to distance. I have a GPS that I've been thinking about pocketing for an U12 match and then comparing linear distance on that vs steps on pedometer. I would guess each step averages out to about half a meter, or about 6 km over the course of the game.
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