Hi everyone,
Well it's hard to believe but finals have arrived along with warmer Spring weather and September. Most if not all junior competitions around the country are hosting or have in the last few weekends the semi finals and finals for 2012's winter competition.
Football Brisbane is hosting the Grand Finals this coming weekend and whilst appointments have been known to some for upto 3 weeks, the final appointments have now gone out. Congratulations to everyone who has been appointed to any role in Finals weekend (Referee or Assistant), they are all equally important and your attitudes / performance and skill has brought you this far.
So, it's time to think about what your going to do this weekend? I had a look at the Book of Knowledge (Google) and couldn't find any definiative blog / web site or article about how to be prepared for what may be your first or twenth final? So here's a list, in no particular order, for your consideration based upon a few finals I've been involved with.
Prematch
If you normally train during the week, maintain your regular schedule but don't overtrain to get a edge this weekend - if anything try and avoid obtaining a last minute injury that may make you unavailable for the biggest game this year.
If nerves are there, acknowledge them. Share your excitment with your family / friends, go for a run to burn off nervous energy, get lots of rest. Go to bed early during the week to be well rested.
Check the regulations regarding finals for your league - specific to how to determine a winner, extra time, penalties if they are used. Read it, know it and take a copy in your bag to the game
Read the instructions in the LOTG concerning how to determine a match winner.
Check your kit - time to empty out the bag of lolly wrappers, dirty socks and broken flags. Ensure your gear is correct, sufficient and clean for the day (including boots) - don't be looking for that blue shirt on Saturday morning. And have your alternative strip - borrow a shirt if needed. If possible, look up the teams and their colours. Also be prepared to warm up with your referee / team if requested, so a plain white or black shirt would suffice if you don't have a warm up kit - some refs will want to do this and it may not be your regular process - be prepared.
Touch base with your team, especially if your the referee (captain of the team). Check they can get to the game / offer to pick them up if needed, suggest a time to arrive (bit early if possible), congratulate them and ask if they need anything / have questions about the fixure. It will help create that team focus, remind them they have a big committment for the weekend that your taking seriously (and so should they) and that they are a critical part of the team necessary for a successful match day.
Night before
Eat a good meal and have snacks for eating prior to your match the next day. If is a 3pm game Saturday, try and eat lunch early then snack whatever you'd normally eat in preparation upto kickoff.
Get to bed early
Match Day
Arrive early to help calm the nerves. Your at the ground safely, so no issues of being stuck in traffic / having to rush onto the field stressed or being replaced because your late - I've seen it happen and its a crushing event to the referee who missed out. Meet your team, watch the preceding match, hydrate and take in the finals atmosphere. Your ground coordinator / match commissioner / person in charge of the officials will be impressed with your promptness and professionalism. Seek them out promptly upon arrival.
Don't interfere with the other officials teams preparing. They are focusing on their match and going through their own process, so give everyone the space they need to be able to perform their best.
Get changed early if possible, warm up and if it's your normal process, visit the teams / check equipment / team sheets and match balls. Remember that the teams / coaches / managers are under lots of pressure and stress as it's the biggest day of the season for them too. Be aware of grounds running late due to extra time / penalties and keep teams informed if necessary. Creating a professional yet relaxed atmosphere with the teams by being proactive today and do all you can to make their experience of the officials team positive - it may help during the match.
Liase with your ground official - Introduce your team to them, know their name, ensure they escort your team on / off the field and understand any expectations you have. They are likely a parent, also stressed by the day's matches, so remember to smile and ask politely.
Give good, solid prematch instructions. If your the referee, remember to model confidence and professionalism for your AR's, who may be on their first final and more nervous than yourself. Smile, make small jokes and keep the atmosphere light in the change room. If there are others in the room who don't need to be there (family, friends, other collegues who are watching your game), politely ask them for the space until your out the door. It's your teams moment and on a busy day you need a few moments with them to focus and become the best team you can be. Social time is for after the game.
Kickoff on time. Coaches will plan their teams final moments down to the seconds, with last minute warmups and inspiring words. You'll create issues quickly if you start the match prior to it's scheduled kickoff time. Again, be proactive and tell coaches when you require the teams lined up for coin toss / FIFA handshake (if appropriate for your competition) early in the day.
During the Match
- Stay focused and strong in the first few minutes. You'll set the tone of the match early if your confident and this may relax the players to know they have a quality referee in charge
- Read the game early, determine the tempo and attitude of the game, adapt if you need to
- Do what you normally do - it's what has gotten you to this appointment instead of being home playing FIFA 12, so just relax and don't do anything that the players wouldn't normally expect.
- Be Consistent
- Smile lots even if your nervous - fake it until you make it, but you've made it so....
- Enjoy the experience
Half Time
- Get off the field quickly, don't discuss any issues / incidents until back in the privacy of the referees room. Even then, don't try and analysis every missed advantage or decision. Lots of time after the game for that (its 6 months until next season). Stay positive and re-affirm any instructions if needed.
- Hydrate, snack and relax - its half over
- If the match is drawn at half time, sometimes it's not a bad idea to take your water / sports drink to the sideline / halfway upon re-entering the field of play. If you have to play extra time and its hot, the abiliy to quickly hydrate prior to extra time is good management for you and your AR's to stay focused and sharp for another 30 minutes.
Extra Time
If it's nearing full time, drawn and your competition allows extra time, follow your competition rules. Ensure coaches and the captains know that the half time switch in extra time is not a break, just a straight switch. A quick, friendly reminder before kicking off extra time is all that is needed.
Penalties
- If its nearing the end of extra time, drawn and your heading to penalty shootout, ensure your AR1 knows to mention to the coaches they should start considering their first 5 penalty takers and working on a list of numbers. This may also be done by attentive match commissioners or 4th officials if you have one, but usually AR1 can do this easily. It helps to keep the post match / penalty taking period flowing and not being hung up whilst coaches work out their kick takers.
- Be Consistent again here, as everyone is focused on you now more than any other part of the match
- Be clear in your final whistle / indication of kicks being completed. Nothing worse than the referee / assistant knowing the game is over, but the teams / coaches / spectators being unsure.
After the Final Whistle
- Get together with your team quickly - AR's should run to the Referees side - your still a strong, professional team and having three officials together in the centre of the field can put off arguments from players / coaches / others post match about "that decision in the 3rd minute you missed"
- If your've completed a penalty kick to decide the winners, cross check your records with all members of the team who were recording before leaving the field of play
- If the atmosphere is positive, congratulate the winners and losers equally. It's usually their best and worst game of the season, but players and coaches have performed to a high quality to get here today and it promotes good sportsmanship.
- Remember to shake hands with your team - they did their best today and in a public form everyone should be aware of their achievement and your appreciation of them.
- Some matches may have presentations on the field following the game - check with your ground official / match commissioner about the procedure to be followed. This may include medialian presentations to the officials. Hopefully, they do it before the teams and stand together as a team until your called up. Stay on the field following until the teams have been presented, again a excellent display of your teams sportsmanship and appreciation of the teams performance.
- If a eager parent / friend is nearby, get a officials team photo following the final whistle. It's a great memory to keep of the day. Remember to have AR's outside, 4th official to the Referees right (if you have one) and Referee holding the ball.
- Get in the referees room, exhale and thank your team again - you couldn't have done it without them today and it's worth making a fuss. Finish your paperwork promptly (including reports if necessary) as match commissioners may be waiting for it to send onto the football authorities and do your normal post match recovery.
- Go and enjoy the compliments from your collegues, peers and occasionally strangers following the game. We are rarely recognized week to week, but today your've earnt that nice comment or two.
- And if your match is followed by someone else, stay if you can to support them from the stands. They will appreciate it.
Nothing listed here is new information that you may not have heard at coaching or experienced before. Mostly just common sense and best practice.
What do you do differently on finals day? Do you have a special dinner / lucky coin or specific routine you go through pre match. Would love to hear from you out there.....
Remember,
it's just a game
enjoy your last weekend on the field.
P.S I'd also love to cross post everyone's final appointments from Kanga Alumni - if you got a local semi / final in your branch / association, let me know match details, how you went, funny stories about the day and I'll put it together in a post season blog for everyones enjoyment. Also looking for information on those going to Nationals post season.
