Are you Ready? Kanga Cup 2017

Hi everyone,

Figured I'm overdue for my annual pre Kanga Cup teaser, so no time like the present.

Kanga Cup records continue to fall, with again a record number of teams registered (386 teams, 146 minis or small sided teams, 240 junior teams)

Currently 50 referees attending the Academy - not a record in the history of the Interstate Referees group but a marked increase on last 3 years.  44 are from out of town (SA and NT are missing this year, poor showing guys), 6 from Canberra.

First time welcoming referees from Portugal ("Bem vindo a Canberra" Ricardo, attending with our European Coach Alberto), Hong Kong  (Thomas, William and Iiya)

Hong Kong Soccer Sevens - Roger East present EPL Referee

and as usual the New Zealand crew of Alan, Brandon, Cameron, Riley, Salman (Auckland Football Federation - Article in AFF Referee Newsletter ), Jack, Sean (Mainland Canterbury - Profile of Jack), Jared, Robbie (Waibop), "nau mai ki te Canberra" guys.

This is only the 3rd time we've hosted international referees at the Academy, first time being Luke Grinstead (UK in 2010)

Nick (NZ, left), Luke (Centre), 2010

and Oskar Ho (Hong Kong 2015).

Oskar 2015

This group is in support of the 140+ local Capital Football junior referees and game leaders, some attending for the first time along side the long term diehards.

Coaching Team

16 of the finest coaches and assessors from across Australian and New Zealand will be in attendance at all grounds and onsite with the Academy.  Special Welcome to Kate Jacewicz and Sarah Ho, attending for the first time make it a excellent breath of knowledge in the room and around the grounds during Kanga Cup.

Kate 2017 WWL Grand Final

Sarah in 2012

Top Five Kanga Cup Hot Tips

Here's five items to add to your to-do list prior to commencing travel in 9 days time.

# 5. Availability - Ensure your Schedula availability for the weekend prior and following Kanga Cup is showing as Not Available - Appointments officers have a tough enough job without you forgetting to block your time away out of local games.  If you have a different system, today is the time to drop your appointments officer or coach an email telling them your unavailable as many of these games are already in draft form for the dates of the tournament.  And DO NOT even consider taking games on the 8th/9th July - you won't be recovered fully until several days later and again don't want to get on the bad side of your appointments officer after a great week at Kanga Cup with a last minute injury / I'm too tired excuse.

#4. Fitness - don't get injured or sick during the next 10 days - enjoy you warm up and consolidate your fitness program that you've been working on in the lead up - Kanga Cup is a journey, not a sprint and you need to be at your best physically.

#3. Warm Clothing - remember it's cold in Canberra and potentially wet during match days, so bring extra referee shirts / boots, beanie, thermals, refs waterproof jacket (if you have it or try and borrow it this week).

#2. LOTG - Do yourself a favour and re-read the entire book this weekend - treat it as a mid season refresher, as Kanga Cup will test you (not literally), but a strong knowledge of the Laws of the Game will make a difference to your tournament experience.  Whether it's debating points of law during nightly coaching sessions, on the field of play explaining to foreign teams or just to bring your best self as a potential future Elite referee, take on some responsibility for your development and sharpen up on Law before the event.

and the #1.
Journey - I talk a lot about Kanga Cup Referees and the Academy on this blog being more than just another tournament - it's really a journey and for most attending from interstate, just the start of their refereeing adventures outside of local junior league football.  It might be your first time away representing yourself, your branch / zone, your city or country.  Come prepared to work hard / play hard and perhaps cry when it's all over.  You'll make new, strong friendships you didn't expect, connections to elite referees you'd otherwise not meet, insider information on what it takes to be "the best" and experience where refereeing could take you if you have the ambition, motivation, talent and resilience to pursue your dreams.  It's a time and a place along your Journey, perhaps for some a "rite of passage", for others it's just a fun week in Canberra they'll fondly remember years down the road.
But remember, it's not the destination - that's up to YOU.

Capital Football Referees - We're still keen to hear from anyone else who wants to join in this amazing journey, get the chance to referee international teams, feedback and coaching by Interstate / International Coaches (FIFA badges everywhere), meet new youth referees from around the world, make friends and have a great week.

Become a part of the Kanga Cup Referee Alumni like Ben Wilson (FFA Referees Director), Ben Williams (FIFA World Cup Referee), Allyson Flynn (FIFA Womens World Cup Assistant Referee) and many current FFA A-League officials.

Contact Capital Football's refereeing department this week - we'd love to see you at Kanga Cup 2017.

Time to go and re-read Law 12 I think....

KangaCupRef

New Year Refereeing (own) Goals??

Hi everyone,

Whilst my internet connection uploads 187 pictures from this mornings NYL fixture here in Brisbane featuring Kanga Cup Alumni Daniel Olsen

I figured it was time to revisit the blog and generate some early pre-season excitement and to post again, first time since August.

Lots of internet lists around new year resolutions are no doubt filling your social media feeds, but I figured few if any are football referee focused, so here's my try at it.

In no apparent order:

• Get back into shape for matches - pre-season games commenced in December for some local leagues here, so it'll only get busier in the coming weeks.  If you tend to put on weight due to Christmas festivities and lazy weekends, it's easier to work on getting back to your ideal weight before the season commences and it'll take time and dedication.
  
• If you don't have the advantage of a group training session, put some of that Christmas money (from your distant relatives) towards a decent fitness watch.  I recently purchased a Garmin Fenix 3 and loving the features of having a training program that motivates me to do daily solo runs towards a set goal twelve weeks hence.  Along with the relevant food tracking apps and heart rate monitor, it's helping to keep me on a diet and setting some short term goals in terms of personal fitness.
  
• Review where your career progression is going and compare it to what the FFA currently provides as a structure in the Australian Officiating  Development Schedule.  Make a plan for this season, goals if you must as to where you'd like to be in 9 months (The Finals).  But be realistic about your experience and age - talk with your peers, your mentors and coaches for advice and guidance as each state / competition zone tends to apply different rules or requirements for progression.  But have somewhere to aim for beyond just earning your winter income and saving up for that PS4 game.
  
• Be a big picture thinker and make goals for 2 seasons, 5 seasons and 10 seasons down the road. Again be realistic and SMART about them.
  
• Re-register with the FFA - no doubt your local branch / regional coach will drop you a reminder soon, but you cannot referee in 2016 without it and you'll not be appointed by your appointments officer without it to pre-season fixtures.
  
• Watch lots of Aleague if you can - there is lots to learn from watching (but not always listening to the commentary) whether your live at the ground or on TV.  They are the best in the country and are the standard your seeking to emulate down the road.
  
• Attend your local seminar for this years changes and to re-establish your network.  Three months have passed since September finals and you may have been (couch) surfing / chasing cricket balls or been mixing it up with those strange indoor football types in the off season.  Getting back together at the annual seminar is both factual and a chance to renew friendships, catchup with mentors and assessors and put your face about.  Consider it social networking without a tablet
  
• Find your referee bag, look into the bottom and find the 2015 LOTG and have a read (or view the updated 2015/2016 online if you prefer).  No doubt you'll experience the "surprise" Laws quiz at the seminar and the sooner you remind yourself of the ins and outs of Law 12 the less stressed you'll be when this occurs.  I found this Football West LOTG interactive site, whilst aimed at Level 4 candidates, has good quality video and is interactive - give it a go.
  
• As part of this Law revision, lots of usage is now made of Video assessment - you know, watch this video and decide if it's a Foul / Play On / Penalty / YC / RC.  So here's some current internet resources you should download (some are very big, so check your internet quota) and watch - much more fun than just reading the LOTG
  
• Current FIFA level Videos
  
• Current FFA Teaching Videos

As for me, I'm planning on updating the blog site and being more of a regular poster, taking lots of photos for positive social media presence (and fun for me with my new Sony A6000) for officials and continuing studying and working part time.  And of course continue to referee (for enjoyment and fitness) and encourage junior development / recruitment where I can.

What are your New Year Refereeing goals for 2016?

Kanga Cup is only 181 days away - is that one of your goals for 2016?

And to finish, some Peanuts themed wisdom from Kid President just because it's fun.

Enjoy your summer break and I'll see you on the field.

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