The following is an excerpt from Ian Plenderleith‘s latest book, “Reffing Hell: Stuck in the middle of a game gone wrong.” Illustrated by Tim Bradford (Halcyon Publishing) The first half of this boys’ U-15 game is one of the most peaceful I’ve refereed all season. There are only two fouls, and a mild query from […]
referees
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Reluctant referee Yoshimi Yamashita on brink of World Cup history
Yoshimi Yamashita had to be “dragged along” to officiate her first match — now she’s making history as one of the first women referees at a men’s World Cup. Japan’s Yamashita is one of three women on the list of 36 referees for Qatar, alongside France’s Stephanie Frappart and Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga. Her appointment in […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Can soccer back up the claim that its rules contribute to the safety and welfare of players?
A couple of months back, on August 21, there was an “incident’ during the MLS game between the Chicago Fire and New York City FC. The sort of “incident” that is often quickly re-identified as an “accident,” and therefore nothing to get too excited about. Chicago’s Kacper Przybyko and NYC’s Malte Amundsen jumped to head […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
Wednesday morning: What we're reading (and listening to)
1. Super League soccer company gets new CEO to revive plan By Graham Dunbar (AP)2. Memphis unveils $684 million plan to renovate sports stadiums, build new Memphis 901 FC home By Jacob Gallant (wsmv.com)3. Manchester United charged with failing to control players against Newcastle (BBC Sport)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
Tuesday morning: What we're reading (and listening to)
1. What’s changed and what hasn’t since I covered soccer In Qatar 30 years ago By Charles P. Pierce (Defector)2. The amazing true(ish) story of the ‘Honduran Maradona’ By Kieran Morris (Guardian)3. What happens when umpires have to say more than ‘Play ball!’ By Alan Blinder (New York Times)
Posted inStory
Bodycams for referees: Is there no better solution?
I spend a lot of time getting around my home city of Frankfurt am Main by bicycle. This also means I spend a lot of time locking and unlocking my two-wheeled means of transport. And every time I turn the key and look at the row of secured bikes next to me, I feel a […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
Around the Country: Major League Soccer
• Ismail Elfath wins second refereeing award. Elfath, who will work at the 2022 World Cup, and Corey Rockwell were named the MLS Referee of the Year and MLS Assistant Referee of the Year recipients for 2022, respectively. Elfath, who first won the award in 2020, joins Allen Chapman, Mark Geiger, Alan Kelly, Paul Tamberino […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
David Reardon recruits — and retains — teen refs in San Francisco with intriguing twists
Imagine this: You’re at work, trying to do your best. But you are constantly criticized, yelled at, told you’re “the worst ever.” Now imagine that you’re only 13 years old. No wonder the rate of attrition among soccer referees is so high. The average youth official lasts just two seasons, says David Reardon. “No matter […]
Posted inStory
Ref Watch: Soccer's tolerance of referee-mobbing is a disgrace and has a far reach
On a Saturday I reffed U-19 boys and on Sunday U-9 girls. It’s something I enjoy most about refereeing. Getting a close-up view of soccer’s different types and levels. Usually it’s older kids on Saturday and younger ones on Sunday. On the Sundays I don’t expect to hear much from the players, and very rarely […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Part 2: Soccer in the Balance
Last time, I explained my reasons for criticizing soccer as a sport that has failed to instill a balance between attacking and defensive play. The result of that neglect is that soccer has become a sport with a decided tilt toward defensive dominance. I dealt only with what I called the strategic level of the […]