GCCC Day 3, storms are brewing...

Evening everyone,

Here's your update from Day 3 of Gold Coast Champions Cup, a day that had it all.

Since the orientation day on Saturday, I've moved into my regular mini break location at Varsity Lakes.  Figured the travel would be too much daily and give me more time to relax / recover and do some blogging.

Day 1 (Saturday) had a few late afternoon older games, covered by the Gold Coast locals.  A full schedule of matches started on Sunday and the first red cards occuring at U/18 level and U/21.
For my first centre U/18 on Sunday it was a one sided affair 8-0 to a Olympic over Wanders.  No issues and got to work with Mark (NZ) and Ethan (GC local), who I'd watched do U/13 girls on Saturday afternoon.  Mark is visiting along with Pat and Steve from the North region, taking the opportunity to do some holidaying along with experiencing QCCC.  Mark had the U/21's tonight, but I left before his match.  Ethan is a local up and comer, having attended State Titles in Townsville earlier this year.

Today, I had U/15's at 10am, with Sho (FB) and Dion (GC).  Another one sided event, 14-0 to Nth Star over Devonport in hot conditions.  It leads the the conclusion that a mercy rule should be in affect at tournaments to stop games once they get to 10 goals.  11.50am U/17's was more fun, running a line for Darren Q (FB, Kanga Alumni) and Pat (NZ National Youth League panel, looking for move up) on the other side.
First half was 5-0 to Rangers, but Cook Island got back into the match with 3 quick goals in 13 minutes and it finished 6-4 to Rangers, 1 RC for some poorly choosen comments from a Rangers play directed to Darren.  Darren had been out of refereeing for a while but you wouldn't know it, back on form and should be a strong contender for finals on Saturday.

Some overpriced lunch and then watched as the afternoon storm rolled in, lightening and thunder (see below)

It's a interesting point to note about severe weather events and football tournaments.  The storm had been forecast and building for several hours.  It was fully occuring for easily 15 minutes overhead before the matches were suspended, way after the first lightening strikes were within a 5km distance.  Yet none of the referee's stopped their games and from what I saw, no one even consulted with the teams / coaches about the increasingly poor weather. 

Eventually the administrators determined the matches needed to be suspended and word was passed by available referees running between grounds.  This was quickly done and everyone found shelter until the storm cell passed, about 20 minutes duration.

Who remembers Law 5 - The Referee?  page 12 LOTG (Aus version)

• "stops, suspends or abandons the match because of outside interference of any kind"

 Is a severe lightening storm outside interference? Is it possible that players safety could be compromised (in the same way that a spectator running onto the field of play to punch a player) by a lightening strike / hail?


To quote the International FA Board decision, page 13 LOTG (AUS version)

"A referee (of where applicable, an assistant referee or fourth official) is not held liable for:
any kind of injury suffered by a player, official or spectator
any damage to property of any kind
any other loss...

Such decisions may include:

• a decision that the condition of the field of play or its surrounds or that the weather conditions are such as to allow or not allow a match to take place 

•  a decision to abandon a match for whatever reason"

So this IFAB decision makes it easy to make a decision to suspend or potentially abandon a match in severe weather conditions, as the LOTG absolves the referee from any decision he/she may make.

And locally, from the Gold Coast Football Competition Centre Management Rules, section 4.10.1

"Once the match has commenced, the Match Referee has sole responsibility to determine if the match should be suspended or abandoned due to severe adverse weather conditions, serious on field injury requiring ambulance or matters that may compromise the safety of the participants of the match" 

Remember, its junior football folks and as such player safety and protection is the first priority.  Let the administrators worry about delay in fixtures, rescheduling games and unhappy teams / parents.  I think everyone would sooner be safe and out of the threatening conditions than having to call a ambulance for a player / referee struck by lightening.

Be brave and make a early decision.  And if you haven't looked at it recently, Law 5 is a good bedtime read.

Have fun Tuesday and pictures from Day 1/Day 3 will be posted on the flickr account overnight (Thanks Scott - supporter of Tournament football and please checkout his site at Ausref.com )