Hey everyone,
Quick one just to let everyone know that more Gold Coast Champions Cup 2012 photos are going online overnight to the Flickr account for your viewing pleasure. I had hoped it would be updated by now, but crashed sometime during my evening out. Funny how even though I'm not coordinating anything, I'm still updating the blog late into the evening.....
Been too tired to do much blog updating, even with only a few games per day due to high referee numbers involved. I have been doing some coaching with local GC junior referees between games, so this takes some energy as well I guess.
Always interesting to see who turns up for this type of event and how far they have travelled. Several Brisbane juniors / seniors, Cairns junior, South Australia senior and NZ of course is represented.
The quality of local refs is good to excellent given their resources and looks like their new structures have helped from what I observed in 2010. Some new first years still making those first year mistakes, but overall the tournament must be happy with the service being provided. Happy bunch too, with lots of humour and loud music playing in the early morning roll call to get everyone syched up. Had my first ride on a golf cart yesterday, almost as dangerous as refereeing a U/12 centre.
Match officials golf carts are however a geninue OH&S issue around the grounds and I'm surprised that no one has been run down yet as they wizz between, across and around grounds, usually during live matches. I even saw one drive directly onto the FOP tonight during an all in melee on U/18. I wasn't sure what he thought he would be able to do, drive over the offenders wrestling on the ground? Way to much power, way too little direction as to their roles.
After some dinner I headed back to Field 2 to watch the end of the 18's match and support the New Zealand crew on the U/21's. Unfortunately I was able to witness at close range a completely out of hand losing player in the 18's make some poor choices post game in confronting the Assistant Referee, expressing his view in some colourful language and then feeling the need to push the AR in the chest before being dragged away.
I won't say too much as I'd hope the organisation running the tournament will deal with him appropriately and pass onto the relevant authorities any necessary reports to ensure this young man learns that this conduct is totally unacceptable in Football.
U/21's was a fairly tame affair in contract, with Mark and the crew managing the game well, including a penalty within 20 seconds of kickoff, perhaps a record for this years tournament.
Left before the end to watch the opening matches of the Croatian Football Tournament, being hosted just down the road at the GC Knights ground. Big turn out for the opening night, beer tent, rides and lots of buzz amongst a crowd easily several hundred. GCCC coordinator Neil O'Connor strongly officiated the opening game, with AR's Geoff Talintyre (GCCC Coordinator) and Craig O'Neill (GC Football Referees Coach). Craig did game two and it looks to be a competitive tournament for the next few days, so GC referee's will need to be on it (and those outoftowners who are helping out)
Off to bed - last pics from today have completed as I speak and I have a game at 9am in Nerang. I'll have the afternoon off to relax and focus before running the U/21's Semi Final, rather unexpected appointment but a nice surprise regardless. Unsure what will happen on Saturday with finals and might be happy to just watch the juniors / take pics, but think I may have some Croatian FT games. We'll see....
Will try and update twitter / FB over the day.
Showing posts with label QCCC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label QCCC. Show all posts
Friday, September 28, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
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)
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)
And locally, from the Gold Coast Football Competition Centre Management Rules, section 4.10.1
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 )
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"
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 )
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