Champion of Champions Pictures

Evening refereeing community,

Here's the results from today's Football Brisbane CoC Finals at South Pine Complex.  I managed to get over for the second half of the days action and pictures are now uploaded - Thanks to Ausref for maintaining access to this excellent resource of youth referee photos

U16 Boys Crew - Nicholas, Justin, John

Under 12 Boys
Palm Beach 3 v UQFC 0

Under 13 Boys
Buderim 4 v Coomera 1

Under 13 Girls
Woombye/Buderim 1 v UQFC 0

Under 14 Boys
Buderim 2 v Brisbane Force 0

Under 15 Boys
Musgrave 5 v Logan 1

Under 15 Girls
UQFC 3 v Caboolture 0

Under 16 Boys
Musgrave 4 v Noosa 2

Under 18 Girls
Easts 5 v Murwillumbah 1

Open Men
Broadbeach 3 v Easts 2

The U/16's was the highlight of the day, competitive, fast and end to end stuff.  Well done to all referees and #Thirdteam supporters.

Great to see so many coaches and mentors out supporting the #Thirdteam today.  Here's some of my favourite moments from the day....

Madeleine getting some tips from FIFA Ref Casey Reibelt and WLeague Rebecca Durcau

Senior Open Mens team job done after a ill tempered match - Anton, Rebecca, Daniel, Martin
 

Ted having a word with the next generation

Champions of Champions Finals Appointments

Afternoon everyone,

This weekend marks the effective end of representative tournament football for the season here in SE Qld . If you don't count the 3 weeks of Komodo U12 qualifiers commencing 19th October (for 2015's season), this Saturday's Finals will be the end of the junior season.

The last three weekends have seen local juniors still officiating in the post season Champions of Champions tournament, where the winning Clubs from each of the 4 SEQ Zones local community competitions compete at age group level with rounds in the Sunshine Coast, Gatton, Gold Coast to determine a ultimate Championship team for the combined zone.  Here's Football's SWQ promotion from earlier in the year.

The final is this Saturday and here's the appointments, to be held at Brendale.

Kick Off Age    Home Team Away Team     REFEREE        A/REF 1                   A/REF 2

9:00AM U12B  Palm Beach -v- Uqfc     Mackenzie Janes Dominick Murphy  Jamie Cunningham

9:00AM U12G  Woombye/buderim-v- Uqfc Callum Aitken  Gavin Hutson  Kyle Beasley

10:30AM U18G Eastern Suburbs -v- Murwillumbah Vanessa Martens Jamie Cunningham Dominick Murphy

11:00AM U13B Buderim  -v- Coomera Thomas Hammond Kyle Beasley  Callum Aitken

1:00PM U14B Buderim -v- Brisbane Force  Connor Russell Madeleine Rapisardi Thomas Hammond

1:00PM Open Mens Eastern Suburbs -v- Broadbeach United  Anton Shchetinin Rebecca Durcau Daniel Olson Martin Krenes (4th)

3:30PM U15B Musgrave  -v- Logan Fc Max Crane Madeleine Rapisardi Connor Russell

3:30PM U15G Uqfc -v- Caboolture Nicholas Pinna John Mcavoy Nicholas Eedy

6:00PM U16B Musgrave  -v- Noosa Justin Temple   Nicholas Eedy John Mcavoy

Great again to see Kanga Cup alumni Mackenzie, Max and Daniel all being appointed to these inaugural but potentially exciting and prestigious matches.

Good luck everyone and if you can, get down there on Saturday to support the Thirdteam.  Hope to have some pictures late on Saturday night online at www.flickr.com/Ausref

All over for another season...

Evening everyone,

Well the final whistle has been blown at Wolves and the 2014 Football Brisbane season has come to a close.  Lots of great refereeing crews working across the town today and yesterday, all doing themselves proud on excellent performances.

Nick, Vanessa, Kianna ready for U16 Girls GF

The pictures from today's venues are uploaded to Flickr, three venues (Rochedale, Pine Rivers, Wolves) - search via the venue or age group tag to find your pictures, under Ausref.  Thanks to Scott Ferguson for maintaining the access to this excellent service.  Please patronize his online referee equipment store Ausref

Here's my favourite from the day

Max wondering where Grace went - onto the next game

Congratulations to all the Kanga Cup alumni who took part in game this weekend and enjoy the off season
Only 286 days until Kanga '15


KangaCupRef

Football Brisbane Grand Finals Week 2 - Juniors

Well the final Football Brisbane weekend of football is upon us here and figured I'd do a quick update for everyone on how this year's Kanga Cup alumni have done (and a few older hands)

• U/12 North Div 2: Ref Mackenzie Janes - Saturday 9:30 at South Pine, (2014 alumni)
• SEQ Womens Prem 2: Ref Bradley Burton - Saturday 4pm at Walton Bridge Reserve,  (2013)
  
• U/15 South Div 2: Ref Oliver Murphy - Sunday 9am at Underwood Park, (2014)

• U/16 Girls Div 2: Ref Nick Spanner - Sunday 11:!5am at Wendy Allison Park - (2013,12,11,)
• U/14 BJL Ref Max Crane - Sunday 12:20pm at Carmichael Park, (2014)
• U/16 North: Ref Zijad Ahmetovic - Sunday 1pm at Stanley Day Park - (2012)

Good luck everyone, have a great game.  Would love to know how everyone else did with their finals appointments.


KangaCupRef

Football Brisbane Finals Wk 1 - City Leagues Grand Finals

Afternoon everyone,

Here's a modified excel spreadsheet with the Senior Final Appointments for Football Brisbane as released at 11:35am AEST.  All the City League are Grand Finals, with Capital / BPL at Preliminary stages.  Figured I'd share it so everyone can get out and support each other in the last two weeks of the season.

Seniors Appointments

Senior Appointments Football Brisbane Wk1

Junior referees are also into Semi Final action this weekend - venues as shown below, if you have time get out and support the #FutureElite

Saturday
12's at John Fredericks Park & South Pine
13's at Cleveland Showground, Walter Bridge Reserve, Wendy Allison Park

Sunday
14 Boys at Cec Munns Centre, Progress Park, Talobilla Park
14 Girls at Esher Street
15 Boys at Eric Evans, James Drysdale Reserve
15 Girls at Wendy Allison Park
16 Girls at Jack Spear Park, Walton Bridge Reserve
16 Boys at Standley Day Park, Underwood Park,

Premier League at John Fredericks Park
BJL at South Pine

Good luck to everyone on these critical games this weekend.

2014 Football Brisbane Finals Appointments released

Evening everyone,

Night two at QSAC for me this week, with the junior's meeting on Monday and tonight Seniors.

Here's the 32 Grand Final appointments as released tonight, of which 9 attended Kanga Cup at some point in their earlier refereeing career.


U/18 Div 3 - Daniel Olsen - KCRYA 2012

Daniel at O'Connor 2012

U/18 Div 2 - Dylan Lambert - KCRYA 2012

`

Dylan at Harrison 2012

• U/18 Div 1 - Matthew Male 
• U/20 - Liam Jackson, formerly of Maryborough / Wide Bay zone

• City 7 Silver - Jeff Lewis
• City 7 Blue - Nik Fawcett - formerly of Gold Coast
• City 6 Silver - Chris Kenward
• City 6 Blue - Jose Neves
• City 5 Silver - Robert Brose, repeating Finalist from 2013
• City 5 Blue - Steve Smailes
• City 4 - Shane Holdsworth
• City 3 - David Porter
• City 2 - Darren Quinlan - KCRYA 2014 Coach and many years alumni from 2006
  Here's DQ in action at Technical training this year
• City 1 - Ashley Stout KCRYA 2011

• Capital 4 Reserves - Phil Tracey
• Capital 4 - Camelo Pulvirenti
• Capital 3 Reserves - Tony Mortensen
• Capital 3 - Scott Russell - Kanga Cup 2004 Alumni

Scott in action U/18 Final 2004 at Hawker

• Capital 2 Reserves - Colin Brooke
• Capital 2 - Rebecca Dureau
• Capital 1 Reserves - Joseph Lee - Kanga Cup 2009 Alumni - sorry Joey, no few pics from 2009 exist
• Capital 1 - Matthew Skinner

• Trophy Superstore Premier U/18 - Isidro Terol Crespo
• Trophy Superstore Premier League Reserves - Tony Sarai
• Trophy Superstore Premier League - Nathan MacDonald

• SEQ Womens Premier League - Casey Reibelt
• SEQ Womens Premier Div 1 - Lara Smith
• Elaine Watson Cup - Avrol Beecham
• *City League Cup - John Vasiliadis
• *Canale Cup - Jason Crow - Kanga Cup 2007 Alumni

* already held

Post season competition, new this year

• Champion of Champions Cup Play off - Martin Krenes
• Champion of Champions Final - Jarred Gillett - Kanga Cup 2004 Alumni   

Scott, Jarred and Norm - FB crew on Final 2004

England Exchange

The yearly exchange this year is all former Kanga Cup alumni - perhaps the boys can promote KC to the PGMOL for a Youth Exchange??

Andrew Lindsay - 2006 Alumni

2006 Final Team, Andrew second from right

Jason Crow - 2007

Greg, James, Jason (R), Mick on 2007 U/18 Plate Final

Congratulations to everyone on well deserved appointments and good luck on match day.  No doubt further Kanga Cup alumni will be Assistant Referees and Match Commissioning 

on some junior finals games in the next few weeks.

What is your local branch doing about promoting their referees outstanding performer's this year? How many Grand Final appointed referees in your State / Region can claim Kanga Cup alumni? - drop me a line I'd love to post further updates in the next few weeks.

Happy whistling this weekend, the end is in sight...

KangaCupRef

Busy week for National Tournaments

Evening all,

Late post and shout out to all the referees taking part and competing in the following National tournaments this week.  Given it's after midnight, I'm certain your all in bed already and most likely won't see this until next week.

School Sports Australia U/19 Football is being played at 3 venues across Sydney
Field 1 Lily Homes Stadium, 5 Quinn Avenue, Seven Hills.
Field 2 Sydney United Sports Stadium, 223-227 Edensor Road, Edensor Park.
Field 3 Valentine Sports Park – 235-237 Meurants Lane, Glenwood.

Games started on Sunday and will go through until Friday, round robin style.  Here's the draw but unlike the Qld event I don't expect any pictures as it has a low profile.  Local paper Blacktown Sun had this article in the leadup.  I have fond memories of the Valentine Sports Park, having attended National Titles there back in the day.

NTC Challenge is at the AIS in Canberra, commencing Monday - Friday.  

AIS Food Hall / Athletes Accom - Paul Smith 2014

This tournament has moved around in dates over the last few years and is the best young players from each state from their respective development academies and have been seen as the 2nd most important tournament for officials after National Youth Championships - girls were held in July and the Boys are in late October, both in Coffs Harbour.  NTC draw here, thanks to the good folk at Capital Football.

Further links from some of the state branches 

FFTAS

FFV

And to not forget them, the A-League / W-League / FIFA AR's officials get into serious preseason mode this weekend with their seminar also at the AIS 29 - 31 August.  The NTC crew might get a chance to say hi on their way out?

 

I'm hopeful some pictures of officials may appear via FB or state branches attending - happy to post online if anyone is kind enough to drop me a line.

Good luck to everyone taking part (referees, coaches, coordinators) and make the most of your chance to stake your claim as part of Future Elite.

Time for bed - any updates throughout the week I'll re-post here.

KangaCupRef

Finals are here - Feeling the Stress?

Here's some screen captures from this mornings U/20 Womens World Cup 3rd place match, officiated by  Sachiko Yamagishi (Referee, Japan) Allyson Flynn (AR1, Australia), Sarah Ho (AR2, Australia), Esther Staubli (4th Switzerland).

The team looked very together and professional, and finally more relaxed in the pre-game routine than the preliminary matches, having made the Finals.  
Congratulations on a great job, the second half certainly was exciting and produced some stunning goals.

Lots of concentration in the tunnel

So it got me to thinking about what makes for a good, positive Finals process? It's the last week in August and most winter competitions are wrapping up regular rounds and looking at the final 3 weeks of Semi/Finals/Grand Finals.
If you get appointed, how do you make the gameday both memorable and as stress free as possible.



Prepare / Plan - This week both the local Juniors and Senior referees here in Brisbane will be informed who's going to be refereeing the final games, most of which are 3 weekends away.  This gives the referee involved some time to mentally plan for the match, ensure he/she is available, have their gear ready, stay match fit in the lead up, the usual things you'd do for any game.  Finals being a bit bigger in terms of expectations from both players and self imposed performance expectations, it's worth trying a few other things that the professionals at FIFA do.

If you get a chance, watch the semi finals of the age group / division you'll be refereeing - you're likely to be refereeing teams you've regularly been involved with already this season and may not be involved in the Semis. It's worth looking closely at how they develop play, their style, routines on the field for set plays(short corners) and identifying key players (these are not always the ones that get sanctioned but are the game changers).  This will give you a edge on thinking about where your best positioned, match intensity (likely to be high) and may help with player management.

2-3 days before, try and reach out to your Assistant Referees and 4th official (if you have one).  They are likely to be appointed after Semi Finals and might change, but it's important to have a pre-game conversation / chat.  It might be just a quick phone conversation, catch up after training or coffee, but it's important to get them thinking about their role on match day and have some understandings of logistics - 

• Confirmation of teams / venue
• When is kickoff scheduled / when are you arriving at the ground (make it earlier than usual as there is always more to do )
• Liaison with the match coach / commissioner, they will have details about dressing room access / grounds / last minute logistical changes
• Comprehensive ground inspection
• Warmups together - even if this isn't part of your usual routine, think about or ask someone with experience what would be appropriate given your fitness / current training routine - breaking down on a Finals match because you weren't warm is poor performance
• Team gear check - some teams may never experience this in the regular season, but it's worth doing your job fully and checking equipment in the change rooms before the game - it allows you to ensure there are no jewelry / uniform issues on the field when everyone is ready for the game to commence - so make certain you let the coaches know you want to do it and when is it convenient for them - remember they are under lots of match day stress too.
• Fifa lineup - you can also explain during the gear check to the coaches how the teams may walk out / FIFA handshake if that is being done in your match - ask your Match Commissioner
• If your travelling together, allow extra time for parents to take photos of the "Finals" team
• Your equipment - ensure your AR's have the same uniform your expected to wear and their alternative colours - it'll allow you both time to borrow spares if needed
• If your really looking to be proactive, arrange for dinner out after the game - Celebration of your performances is worth it and it'll make the day more memorable.

And Finally, having called a fellow colleague who may be disappointed in having the AR instead of the Referee role, your making him/her feel better as your congratulating them on the appointment and setting the positive tone of teamwork that'll be needed on match day.  

Match Day

Today's U/20 WWC third playoff match for the AFC team produced some great stress relieving smiles from the team before the tunnel walkout - Sachiko had done some funny head twists between the first picture and second (above) and I can imagine they saw it on delay on a monitor in front?  Whatever it was, it worked for breaking any tension just moments before the big walkout.
Not a bad practice for any referee moments before the big game, as the use of humor / cheesy smiles will always break your concentration just enough to remind you to enjoy the experience and take it all in.

Don't overthink the match - everyone has their own particular pre match routines.  Rafa Nadal, champion tennis player is notorious for regular practices prior to and between points.

Copywrite brain-spec.blogspot.com

So ensure you have time on the match day for your regular routines, plus allowing your team to do theirs.  Some referees need loud pumping music, some quiet mediation, some practice physically or mentally their responses.  But regardless, it's another game and you need to treat it the same as much as is practical, as this will allow your regular best performance to come to the surface.  That performance is what got you to this point, so don't over think it.

Grabbing the match ball

Match Balls
The only equipment you may not have much control over until just before is the match balls - likely to be new, with the Match Commission or home team, under pumped and need checking - even at FIFA level the referees teams check all the balls and pump them prior to the game, so make time for this.  Great job for the 4th official if you have one.


FIFA Handshake / Walkout
Does your local branch / FA require the more formal FIFA handshake during Semi / Finals?  If so, have a look at any Aleague or International Team match for how it's done.  Key points:

1. Teams walk out together behind the officials team
2. AR's on outside, holding flags outside hands, 4th official to right of Referee in centre of field
3. Ensure you have the teams face the side with all the parents / spectators (not always the same as the benches) - they are wanting photos of faces, not backs on this big day
4. Remember to smile - you'll be in lots of photos
5. Team to referees left walk through first, handshakes all round
6. Team to referees right walk second, handshakes with officials
7. Get the captains back and do the coin toss.
8. Shake hands of captains and officials team - it shows your teams unity

Teams lined up FIFA handshake style

Third Playoff Team U20WWC - smile !!

You might also get pesky Match Commissioners / parents who want a picture for the digital scrap book prior to the match / post match with your medals.  This is the picture format you want, but try and stand close together and look like your having fun. 

Thats it for now, I'm off to Junior coaching to see who's doing what Finals in three weeks. Remember, its a reward for all your hard work during the last 7 months, so enjoy your Finals and good luck to everyone appointment for 2014.

More pics from U20WWC later tonight

KangaCupRef

U20 Womens World Cup - AFC Team appointed to Third Playoff Match

Morning everyone,

Wet Saturday morning here in Brisbane with many games called off in the last round for Seniors / penultimate round for Juniors - going to make the last week of the season busy with catchup games midweek.

AFC team heading out in Toronto Copyright FIFA

Checked into the U/20's Womens World Cup site this morning and to my pleasure found that the AFC team is officiating the Third place playoff match Korea -v- France on Sunday afternoon Monteal time (6am AEST Monday), so congratulations and well done to Sachiko Yamagishi (Referee, Japan) Allyson Flynn (AR1, Australia), Sarah Ho (AR2, Australia), Esther Staubli (4th Switzerland).

The AFC team has performed well throughout, having officiated Germany -v- USA (Edmonton), Canada -v- Finland (Toronto, infront of a capacity crowd at the National Soccer Stadium in a cracker comeback by Canada), Nigera -v- New Zealand Quarter Final (Moncton, which looked a lot like Bruce Stadium in Canberra to me) and now the runners up match in Montreal at the Olympic Stadium.

Quarter Final Team

Good luck team and we're all very proud of your accomplishments.  This definitely puts Allyson in to a guest speakers slot for Kanga '15 when she and Sarah return from the 2015 Women's World Cup, also being hosted in Canada, having done the Final.

The all Canadian team are on the Final at 8am AEST.

OFFICIALS

• Referee:Carol Anne CHENARD
  

  CAN
• Assistant Referee 1:Marie CHARBONNEAU (CAN)
• Assistant Referee 2:Suzanne MORISSET (CAN)
• Fourth official:Michelle PYE (CAN)

Just a shame that there is no coverage in Australia at all.  SBS / FFA, where's your commitment to Women's Football? Canadian Broadcasting Corp is providing live streaming if you can access it.

Updates as they occur...

KangaCupRef

Aussies in Action U-20 Womens World Cup

Morning everyone,

Australian FIFA Assistant Referees Allyson Flynn and Sarah Ho are again in action at the U-20's Womens World Cup later this morning (10 AEST Saturday 9th) in one of my favourite Canadian cities, Toronto.  They will assist again reigning AFC Women's Referee of the Year Sachiko Yamagishi for Canada -v- Finland, forming the same team as the opening game on Tuesday in Edmonton (USA -v- Germany).  Fourth official is Therese Neguel (Cameroon).

Allyson is Kanga Cup Alumni from many years, most recently being Capital Football's Referee Development Officer and Academy Director / Big hat wearer in 2013.

This year Allyson stopped in at the Academy HQ for a few minutes to wish everyone luck during Monday nights education sessions and to briefly catch up with a few coaching friends.

Allyson visiting the Academy 2014

Other refereeing teams of note include the New Zealanders, representing the team from OFC

9 August 2014

England – Mexico

Referee: Finau Vulivuli (FIJ)

Assistant Referee 1: Jacqueline Stephenson (NZL)

Assistant Referee 2: Sarah Walker (NZL)

Fourth official: Salome Di Iorio (ARG)

Referee Observer: Michal Listkiewicz (POL)

Good article on the OFC team here

And referee observer / assessor Jacqueline Leleu (Aus), former FIFA AR from Rockhampton - with thanks to http://refereeingworld.blogspot.com.au/ who has the entire rounds listing.

Coverage locally is non existent, but you might be able to stream it from overseas sites if you have VPN capability.  Check out this site for possible providers. 

FIFA's match site can be found here for a text commentary.

Go the Cannucks and the Aussies.

UPDATE 10 AM AEST - posting live updates on FB for those interested in the action

Some screen captures from a exciting and well managed game - Well done Team AFC

Allyson's Offside Decision

Returning from half time

Signalling for foul by Beckie / Canada

Yellow card coming your way

Keeping control late in match

2014/15 Hyundai ALeague Referee Panels Released

Evening everyone,

Well Ben Wilson and the crew at FFA have done their assessments and reviews of the "Possibles and Probables" list and released today the 2014/15 HAL / WWL / FNYL panels for the upcoming season commencing September / October.

Here's the list (with the FNYL listed first as that's our focus here)

Foxtel National Youth League

• Adam Powers ACT
• Sam Nixon ACT
• James Cleal NNSW
• Joshua Cornick NNSW
• Matthew Garrett NNSW
• Alex Merkel NNSW
• Trent Nash NNSW
• Ben Abraham NSW
• Adrian Arndt NSW
• Sebastien Brennan NSW
• Lachlan Daniel NSW
• Karl Davies NSW
• Samuel Grasso NSW
• Lachlan Keevers NSW
• Thomas Lee NSW
• Kearney Robinson NSW
• Daniel Stack NSW
• Adam Vainauskas NSW
• Liam Jackson QLD
• Dylan Lambert QLD
• Joseph Lee QLD
• Matthew Male QLD
• Daniel Olson QLD
• Ethan Quinlan QLD
• James Sherry QLD
• Trent Sleeman QLD
• Kyle Bartlett SA
• Daniel Cook SA
• Aaron Galanti SA
• Sean Grimmond SA
• Andrew Kite SA
• Jarrod Muller SA
• James Hortle TAS
• Brenton Kopra TAS
• Ahmad Al Jelali VIC
• Alessandro Arbizanni VIC
• Oliver Bannister VIC
• Adam Bavcar VIC
• Jordan English VIC
• Jack Morgan VIC
• Harley Natis VIC
• Elliott Cirkovic WA
• Tom Dowle WA
• Nico Hoyle WA
• Joshua Nixon WA
• Zac Picciacco WA
• Matthew Southern WA

Westfield W-League Referees (8)

• Kirralee Andruschak NNSW
• Rebecca Durcau QLD
• Kate Jacewicz VIC
• Kelly Jones NSW
• Rachel Mitchenson QLD
• Katie Patterson NSW
• Casey Reibelt QLD
• Lara Smith QLD

Westfield W-League Assistant Referees (15)

• Michelle Allen NSW
• Avrol Beecham QLD
• Joanna Charaktis VIC
• Renae Coghill QLD
• Lily David NSW
• Delfina Dimoski ACT
• Sarah Drake QLD
• Tanya de Boer NNSW
• Allyson Flynn ACT
• Eleanor Hayes NNSW
• Sarah Ho NSW
• Maddison Kennedy SA
• Ana Nevjestic SA
• Karlee Patchett QLD
• Nia Southwell ACT

Westfield W-League 4th Official

• Liz Shorter NSW

Hyundai A-League Referees (13)

• Chris Beath QLD
• Matthew Conger NZ
• Strebre Delovski NSW
• Shaun Evans VIC
• Adam Fielding WA
• Jarred Gillett QLD
• Peter Green QLD
• Kris Griffith-Jones NSW
• Lucien Laverdure VIC
• Stephen Lucas NSW
• Alan Milliner QLD
• Peter O'Leary NZ
• Ben Williams ACT

Hyundai A-League Assistant Referees (28)

• Hakan Anaz VIC
• Jonathan Barreiro VIC
• Ashley Beecham QLD
• Luke Brennan VIC
• Paul Cetrangolo SA
• Mathew Cheeseman WA
• Matthew Cream SA
• Scott Edeling NSW
• Allyson Flynn ACT
• Ryan Gallagher NNSW
• Andrej Giev NSW
• Lance Greenshields NSW
• Jan-Hendrik Hintz NZ
• Brad Hobson VIC
• Sarah Ho NSW
• George Lakrindis VIC
• Andrew Lindsay QLD
• Glen Lochrie NZ
• Nathan MacDonald QLD
• Josh Mannella WA
• Tim Mihevc WA
• Owen Goldrick ACT
• Leigh Pigram NSW
• Mark Rule NZ
• Anton Shchetinin QLD
• Greg Taylor ACT
• James Tesoriero NSW
• David Walsh QLD

Hyundai A-League 4th Officials (10)

• David Bruce WA
• Patrick Chaplin VIC
• Matthew Cropper ACT
• Daniel Elder SA
• Adam Gehrig NNSW
• Alex King QLD
• Rick Schneider SA
• Nick Waldron NZ
• Luke Withell ACT
• Chris Young NSW

Haven't had much time to assess the new comers to the panels yet, but great to see lots of Kanga Cup Alumni listed here and will do a further posting later tonight tracking some Alumni's rise to the Elite level in Australian Football.

Congratulations to everyone listed and good luck on the upcoming fitness tests - the hard work has only just began.

KCRYA14 - All photos now online / Reviewing your performance

Evening everyone,

Well I've spent a productive afternoon indoors (no football for me this Sunday??) finalizing the uploading of Day 4 - Day 5 - Presentations photos to the Flickr account.

If you search for your first name and / or finals game "U/14MPlate" and select Your Photostream as shown below

you'll find pictures of your games, awards ceremony and perhaps random pictures tagged with you or your final game.

Over 1900 pictures online (new record for KCRYA) and I'm still waiting on pictures from NZ and Lynda for completeness (hint hint Paul, Brent).

I'm working on reviewing the video footage shot (mostly of Sunday's technical sessions and Sun - Wed's technical sessions).  At this stage I'm looking at uploading that footage onto a DropBox account for closed distribution but will have to work out the details yet as it's a lot of downloading to view it all (currently 37Gb).  If anyone has better ideas, love to hear some feedback.

I'll also be using the dropbox service to provide footage from past Kanga Cup technical sessions as soon as I can edit it down.  More details in a post later this week.

Reviewing / Goal Setting

How was your first full weekend back post KCRYA?  Any improvements?  New found confidence on your local leagues after refereeing in the hot house of Kanga?  Are you reviewing your performance game to game for areas of improvement?  Have you set new short term / medium / long term goals for your refereeing career?

Your Academy book had some brief reviewing sheets to help you in this regard, but you may have filled them all in.
Here's a possible template to start with.
Jim Ouliaris, formerly FIFA AR, current member of FFA/FFV Referees Technical Committee, FFV's Referee Standing Committee, and AFC/FFA Assessor / Instructor and back in 2012 was FFV's Talent Officials Program Manager.  Jim created along with help from Chris Bambridge, Ian Postlethwaite, Luke Brennan, Carlo Graser, Hakan Anaz, Kevin Dockerty (a stellar range of FFV's top refereeing minds) a range of documents you can still find on the internet and are still relevant today.  Here's Jim's Top Session 2 that covers topics including Unwritten Rules, SMART goal setting, LOTG Q&A, and a short quiz.  Give it a try, see how you go and the unwritten rules are especially interesting reading.
Used with thanks to Jim and the FFV crew.

Gossip from around the Grounds

Post Kanga lag for some of the Qld crew - Lynda has spent most of the week recovering from a cold, missed training but was back out assessing today.  Can't keep a good assessor down long, made of tough stuff up North.

Darren went straight back into the deep end of Football Brisbane's Capital 4 on Saturday afternoon (well someone had to do it!!) and promptly sent off two and cautioned half a dozen, keeping up the hard line spirit of Kanga Cup and not taking any nonsense.  He had a good night's sleep and promptly returned to the airport on Sunday for a few days in Melbourne.


Bit of a step up from this 3 days earlier

Tuesday's training was full of questions from KCRYA Alumni about how good/bad it was. Bit of jealously I felt about our AIS setup I think compared to years past - LOL

I caught up briefly with Oliver at Monday night's junior coaching on the Southside.  Otherwise it's back to normal.  I managed to have two quiet games (Sunday after, just a single RC for VC) and yesterday Capital 2 Ressies was a walk over 9-1, but was a fun training run working my angles. Already working on the annual report, did some correspondence with the KCRYA coaches and spent the rest of this week sorting out my Uni life for Semester 2.



CF - Delfina Dimoski (presenter on Sunday night)

had a big weekend being appointed to ACT NPL U/20's CR for first time.  There is speculation she's aiming on making a big play for Kanga Cup U/12's Plate Grand Final in 2015, so you can follow her progress on Twitter @DelfinaDimoski

Alasdair - MIA somewhere last seen in the FNQ area after missed flights and another long day on Saturday (LOL).

No word from NZ crew, but lots of FB updates indicating everyone got back.

If you managed to get some local publicity for your attendance, send me the link.  Remember, internal promotion of your time at KCRYA within your branch / region could be via your monthly newsletter / publicly speaking at your next coaching meeting - ask your Branch coach / mentor about it.

Anyway, time to get onto something else. Enjoy the photos and don't exceed your parents internet limit.

REMINDER: Visit http://www.ausref.com/index.php/shop for your all refereeing needs with your KCRYA exclusive discount code only valid until the end of July.  Thanks to Scotty for the Flickr site maintenance.

Until next time.

KangaCupRef

Post Academy - Some tools to help you survive and thrive

Evening everyone,

Hope by this time everyone has gotten 12 hours sleep, sought medical help for those colds / aches and pains and have done a load of washing following this year's Academy at Kanga Cup.  Whilst the physical and logistical needs are easily taken care of, it's now time to consider the more complex needs of your brain, namely Post Course / Camp Depression (PCD).  Whilst you haven't been to a American Summer Camp, you've taken part in a short, intense experiential camp program where you've learnt, worked and formed relationships that may be stronger than you realize, similar in many aspects to a traditional camp program (substituting the canoeing / camp songs for officiating / education sessions)

The Academy has evolved over several years to generate quality youth referees for Kanga Cup to support and work along side the Capital Football officials, but the outcomes I believe are longer term for those who take part.  Here's why.....

Darren holding court, Day 1 debrief

Post Camp Depress is the best example I can find of what occurs to referees after attendance at the Academy.  PCD occurs due to several factors.  Tiredness, jet lag for some, intensive shared experience unlike any your refereeing friends / colleges or parents can understand.  You may know the person you shared a room with better than any other just now, something that parents / friends will find difficult to understand and accept.  You may have made connections to mentors / coaches unlike any you've previously had; different structures of living for the week (rigid schedules, expectations, purpose); strong supportive atmosphere of positive encouragement; refereed matches of higher quality and diversity than you'd be given at home.
You may have changed.  Not physically, but you may be more confident, walk just that bit more confidently, have more tools in your toolbox for dealing with difficult situations on the field, have new ideas about your refereeing goals / careers that others will not understand fully - they weren't part of the group, weren't in "the room" at the AIS.  It's a combination of shared experience in a close group that is unique and therefore special to you and will be difficult for you to explain to others.

Your transition back to everyday life might be difficult. You may be back at school / work / university this week, after what was a very different week and perhaps your first time independently away from parents / carers.  The Academy demands early starts, long 16 hour days, physically and emotionally draining, intensive assessments, education sessions and feedback and constant communication with people who were strangers on Saturday evening but might now be close friends.  And now suddenly your expected to be back into your routine of school, sports, friends, and family - the Academy experience is finished.

Solutions to PCD are varied.  Some blogs indicate keeping busy - school, regular life, ensure your back refereeing this weekend in your local leagues (applying your new knowledge / confidence), attend your monthly coaching meeting.  Make a effort to be more involved in your refereeing career - it promotes yourself and also reflects that Kanga had a positive impact on you, without saying it.

And I always say to my students following a longer outdoor education program, talk at length to your parents / close family / carers about your experience.  They ARE ALWAYS interested in not just what you did (U/12 final), but more about who you've become and what new ideas you have about the world.  Parents love to know about the lives of their children, so share it when you feel ready.  If you haven't yet had that conversation, make time later this week or next when your ready to discuss it casually over dinner or a quite time with Dad / Mom / Gran / Uncle.  Sometimes talking with people not closest to you are able to listen the most.  Your referees mentor / coach are also good listeners and could acknowledge your experiences easier as they may have been there, done that in their youth.  If you don't yet have a mentor, ask someone in your branch about it.

And be aware - Kanga Cup and your participation may not be fully supported by your local coach / branch / State even if you did "The Grand Final".  There is lots of reasons for this, but just be patient. Cream always rises to the surface and your accomplishments will be known, even if not publicly acknowledged.

If you need support, there are many coaches / assessors happy to help talk you through it - reach out to Capital Football and I'm certain they will support you further.

 Brendan, William, David and Rodney - coaches and mentors for KCRYA14

PCD doesn't last - like all things, it'll pass with time and distance from this years Academy.  It'll resurface with pictures on Facebook / Flickr or when you get a message from someone online / FB request.  You might return in 2015, but your journey may be directing you in twelve months towards new directions (National Titles, National Talent Pool, more local development opportunities) that are more challenging than what Kanga Cup can offer.  Seek out these options (Kanga Cup WILL continue without you) if they are relevant to your development stage.

But regardles, Keep those friendships and networks going - it's much easier now than when I was at your level (before the internet).  Start a email / FB / blog discussion about your next games, how your improving weekly, achievements at Finals and if your keen, send me notes - happy to promote Academy Alumni achievements here in future posts.

Give yourself time to reflect on your Magic Moments and what you've learnt to take forward from KCRYA14. And remember, it's just a step in your LONG journey, not the destination.

More pictures online overnight and tomorrow as they roll in, working on where to put video.



Cheers

KangaCupRef


Here's some links to PCD for your reading and interest, some ideas I've borrowed for this post.

http://southpawprodigal.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/thoughts-on-post-camp-depression-part-2.html


http://bdgarberphd.wordpress.com/2012/10/24/summer-camp-syndrome/


http://campcounselors.wordpress.com/2013/10/14/post-camp-depression-is-real-heres-how-to-deal/

Kanga Cup 2014 Grand Final Appointments Announced

“Sometimes it's worth lingering on the journey for a while before getting to the destination.” 
― Richelle Mead, The Indigo Spell

Evening everyone,

Well just like every year it's Thursday night already at the Academy and almost everyone has collapsed into bed, dreaming of tomorrow's Grand Final games and the challenges they represent.  I suspect also like every year there are small groups meeting quietly to discuss who has what and how fair or unfair it all seems, how could that person get that appointment over me and why didn't I get what I deserve?  Or did you???

Well having been involved in the process directly for 7 seasons of Kanga Cup it was again a slow and Herculean like task to determine the appointments, but I believe the best season yet in terms of fairness and accuracy in terms of selection.  Many hours of work during the week, much debate on Wednesday about the process which does evolve yearly to meet the changing needs of a growing Academy and competition structure.  This year Capital Football updated their coaching sheet and formed a metric based approach I've never seen before in my 18 years as a coach, giving effectively control of the mark very much into the referees hands in terms of performance. 

Traditionally assessments are part fact or knowledge of the game, part assessor experience / gut feel and part personality.  This creates many varied scores, ranging up and down and isn't the best way to ensure consistency of reporting.

With a new form, featuring 5 sections 

Application of the Laws, Movement and Position, Player Management, Sanctions, Other Duties

and multiple components to meet which the assessor selects from the following in terms of meeting (Rarely, At times, Generally, Almost always (or always))

From this a numerical value has been established against the select component, allowing a numerical calculation to be determined and therefore establish a final ranking figure for the ever increasingly complex spreadsheet started 3 years ago.

Here's a example from today - 

The form both falls closer in line with the FFA national coaching form whilst allowing for a rating / ranking figure to be determined directly by which box is ticked.  Coaching points at the bottom should be the focus and potentially expand on the boxes selected in the 5 sections above.  Some issues are evident, like how to score a match with no dissent or need by the referee to address dissent - we determined to score Generally in this case and perhaps mark N/A (not applicable) to indicate why.

It's not perfect and the process thereafter isn't either, but many factors are out of the control of the coaches group to ensure that the playing field is flat (can't find many in Canberra at all).  Some issues we are always challenged by include having different age groups at same ground, paneled referees performing under or over their panel allocation, appointments outside of the panel as a result of both those issues, numbers of officials -v- competition need (big increase in teams from last year) but referees numbers are down and the tournament effect.  This is evident in two ways, positive and negative.

Negative effects can be sudden illness, fatigue, injury, lack of focus and unrealistic goals or preparation for the tournament.  Positive tournament effects can include the hot house competitive nature of KCRYA, making new friends and connections, swimming in a bigger pool of talent than Saturday local leagues, mentoring / coaching bonds forming, intensive games / education / learning and working environments you've experienced here.

Tournament effect takes a toll, physically and mentally and for many of you it may also be your first time away from family independently, so again more effects on how your likely to perform under pressure, right from Saturday when you arrived - not just the first game.

So if you think really hard and honestly, did you deserve more that what you've been given?  Were you impacted by tournament effect and if so, by how much?  Did you put 110% in all week on all matches, even when you didn't think anyone was watching (we're always watching).  Did you bring the best Complete Youth Referee to this years Kanga or only when you needed to be seen to be the best?  Or are you really a work in progress??

Did you really read and absorb the coaching comments?  Did you improve this week in even one area?  Are you taking away new ideas about how to approach your refereeing?  Did you learn or hear something new, but not yet really thought about it and what it might mean for your Elite Future?  Did someone notice you and really see you?  Were you recognized?  Did you have a Magic Moment?

Remember, semi finals are harder than Grand Finals to control and run in most cases, but don't get recognized as much.  Those aren't just appointed by darts on the board either, so perhaps you need to give yourself a break and recognized that this is just a small step on your journey onto hopefully bigger, tougher, more exciting things in your future as a Elite Referee. 

And 20 years from now, when your back at the Academy as a FIFA guest presenter, you'll remember the faces and some of the names, the crazy coaches who never slept, some of the stories that always stay on tournament but not worry any more about why you didn't get the game you deserved.

All because you were able to linger here at KCRYA for just a little while.....

Good luck tomorrow, you'll be nervous so I won't say don't be (it's natural) and bring your best game, leave it all on the field.

More pictures from Day1 now online.

Appointments here

Cheers and now to bed,

KangaCupRef