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

Clattenburg arrives in Brisbane

Evening everyone,

Well it's finally happened, after ten years of work to get him here by Ted Kearney, Mark Clattenburg has landed and was in the QSAC Javelin meeting room earlier this evening in Brisbane, mixing it up with the local Football Brisbane senior referees during their regular July Coaching night.

Ted Kearney and Mark Clattenburg

A good turnout of 70 local referees arrived early and filled the venue, in anticipation of both seeing and hearing from Mark, who flew up from Melbourne today after last nights #ICC match.

Mark's schedule whilst here is action packed - His presenting a day long seminar Thursday at the Sleeman Sports Centre to a capacity crowd of referees (with participants from New Zealand and across Australia flying in)

Paul Smith and some of the NZ crew

Presenters with Mark include Eddie Lennie  (FIFA / AFC Instructor / Assessor, Football Wests Referee Development Manager), Krys Szokolai (FIFA & AFC Assessor / Instructor), covering a range of topics (Respect, Dissent, Player Management, Requirements of Elite Referees, Fitness, Positioning, Foul Recognition)

Friday has Mark attending the U/15 Queensland Schools State Titles at Tivoli, no doubt creating some excitement for the Future Elite referees in the making.  He has an official dinner engagement then a Charity Golf Day on Saturday, resting up for Sunday's big game at Lions Stadium 4pm.

Tonight Mark took part in drawing out the Assistant Referees and 4th Official for the match from within the Select Group of referees in Brisbane, an excellent experience for those selected to work with someone at the top of their game in the EPL

Whilst tonight's meet and greet was very informal and Mark wasn't expected to be presenting, he was still keen to get involved in the discussions about "The A in Assistant Referee", facilitated by Ashley and helping groups to determine what "Great" assistant referees roles look like.

Cameron and Mark brainstorming

His insights (and a few EPL stories) provided both fresh perspectives to many in the room and contained very down to earth advice, even indicating at one point that "Keeping it Simple" is his takeaway from the evenings discussions and debate.  Really great to see that even though his one of the biggest names in the Football family, his really approachable and willing to be involved at grass roots level on a Wednesday night in suburban Brisbane with some of the local "weekend warriors".

Welcome to Brisbane Mark, enjoy your stay and have a great game on Sunday - I think the biggest group there will be cheering for the #thirdteam

And big shoutout to Ted and his friendship with Mark in getting him in the room - it's my biggest takeaway tonight (aside from this blog post / lots of pictures).  

Ted and Mark

It's the enduring nature of the positive relationships and strong friendships we all can make as referees during our journey around the field that has allowed Mark's visit to occur (and of course the ICC tournament helped).

Many of the strongest memories in my life are around the highs and lows of refereeing, almost always shared by supportive #thirdteam members, coaches, mentors and friends, who without being a refereeing colleague our paths would never have crossed.

Robert Frost (who must have blown a whistle once) said it best

"I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference."

I believe many peoples interactions with Mark during the next few days will make a significant positive difference in their careers and ideas around officiating, in not in their life generally, whether your next on the FIFA list, fighting for attention as a Possible or Probable or just enjoying the Sunday City League tussle weekly.  And that is the REAL value in why we do what we do every weekend.

Thanks Ted for inviting your friend and using your network, it'll be a weekend to remember.

Photos from tonight can be found on here on my Flickr account - feel free to cross post to FB - further updates over the next few days as I get time.

Recognition.....

Hey everyone,
Just catching up on a posting from FB (thanks Jeremy for posting this) about a article that appeared locally in Auckland Football Federations web site about the NZ Refs who attended Kanga and the other exchanges that have taken place this year. 

Had a quick look about the other states represented (including my own) and nothing on their web sites celebrating the achievements of Academy referees. 

Recognition of positive achievement of today's youth is a essential step for any youth focused organisation. 

And through the process of developing today's referees, all referee bodies are youth organisations - most start looking for referees at 13-14 (partly to cover junior games with small monetary value, but also to allow time for development).  Bodies look to promote talent just after they come of age at 18 and hope to have them on pathways (State / National Titles) by the late teens / early 20's.  For evidence, just look at Jarred Gillet,  a 25yo ALeague Grand Final Referee, grown locally in Brisbane through this type of process.

Go back just five years ago and the age of the Grand Final referee was 35 (Matthew Breeze) and back to 2005, first year of ALeague, 31yo Mark Shields. 

A conclusion then could be drawn that the future of refereeing is younger referees, empowered with high quality assessors / coaches / instructors, positive development pathways and elite level funding for fitness / coaching requirements to match the increasingly professional levels of football played locally / regionally.  This isn't a revoluntary statement - the highest performers have always been the youngest, brightest.  Just look at our Olympic athletes.  There will still be a place for the older guard (including myself there now), who still have something to offer the 95% of the football community that isn't at the top of the pile - Metro 6 here I come again this week, happy in my role / service to football.

Anyway, back on point... what referees body in Australia, in any sport, cannot afford to nuture and support their juniors with positive press, even if its internal?

The old school would say that the referee is best not seen / heard, allowing the game to flow and only intervene when fair play has been taken away.  And by extension that this applies to all aspects of the game, including celebrating achievements post tournament. 

Well that was the past folks and its time to enter the digital age. Mark modelled this when he started doing positive media on HAL referees performances this past season, both online and in TV media and he is not alone, but there are few who are embracing the new social media world of 24 hr tweets, FB posts, Youtube videos of match events.

FB recently began using media in a new way for senior coaching.  Taking selected sections from its internal Football Brisbane TV service (online streaming of top local games weekly), coaching nights have become very relevant to the members for both teachable moments / discussions and pats on the back of a situation / event in the match well handled.  Recognition at its best and innovative.

What is your body / branch doing socially?

Are they embracing "Y" gen and what they bring and demand of today's refereeing body?

Recognition is now a meal best served hot and quickly, just like junk food they eat at half time