Part 3

Leni, and Senior Club Referee, Kate, took charge of the majority of these cup games, and both earned themselves a cup final match assignment with their officiating performances and great match control across each day of the FTF event.

After taking charge of the U12/13 girls final, Leni gave some insight into the match and her officiating.

“As stressful as it was, it was also more exciting than any of the other games I’ve reffed at the event so far. I had to focus a lot more, and the players on field were more passionate than I had previously seen throughout the tournament too. I had to deal with one coach who was particularly interested in expressing his opinions to me, but funnily enough almost all the parents were supportive of me. It was a total contrast from what I’d anticipated.”

“This also meant I was challenged to keep my calm when the coach was worked up. If I didn’t, losing my nerve would’ve likely caused me to make mistakes, and that would’ve meant more pressure on me, and negative comments from everyone else involved.”

“But, overall, it was a more exciting environment because everyone was so much more into it, and the temperature caused by it being a cup final added to the thrill of the experience.”

Reflecting on the U12/U13 boys final, Kate provided an excellent discussion about how high temperature matches, and the behaviour of players and coaches participating in them, impact a referee.

“It was exciting. The boys were really passionate about winning, they were really wanting to win, so it felt like a high pressure game right from the beginning.”

“Unfortunately, a few minutes into the game there was a really heavy collision between one team’s goalkeeper and an opposition attacker on a breakaway a few yards outside of the penalty area. The goalkeeper tackled the attacker at a high speed, and with high force, missing the ball (which the attacker had just shot past them), bringing the attacker down hard. Incredibly, the ball hit the inside of both posts, rolling along the goal line, and was then cleared by a defender.”

“As a result of the goalkeeper’s actions in their tackle, I had to send them off. In the midst of the players’ injuries being assessed I had to calm everyone down, explaining to the attacking team’s coach that, yes, it was a foul and red card, but also remind them that the players’ safety came first before we could restart the match.”

“After all that I was actually a bit frustrated that the coach was hyper focused on it being a red card, rather than making sure the players involved were seen to first. Despite that, the rest of the match was like every other game at the tournament, probably because everyone was shaken from the early collision and red card. Everyone just focused on seeing the rest of the match out.”

Needless to say, the U12/U13s were an entertaining age group to officiate!

Reflecting on her FTF experience as a whole, Leni enjoyed the opportunity to officiate higher level competitive games for the first time.

“It was very exciting because I knew my role was more important than just the usual recreation or festival game. I really had to learn to separate negative feedback that players, coaches, parents, and spectators were directing at me after some calls from the matches at hand. As I was able to do so easier after each match, I enjoyed the games more.”

Having strong female officials take on the majority of both boys and girls games at this event is not always as commonplace as it could be considering how male dominated officiating is. As a result, we asked Leni if, as a young female leader in the sport (who coaches and referees), there is any more significance for her when officiating a girls game, as opposed to a boys game?

“Naturally reffing a boys game seems a little more intimidating to me just because from experience I’m anticipating more whining or complaining from the players. However at this event I ended up receiving more negative feedback from girls team coaches than I expected, which is a change from what I’m used to seeing when I’m watching soccer, and from when I’ve reffed girls games in the past.”

Overall, the Club’s Referee Program is very proud of its achievements over the past months as the 2024/25 indoor season concludes, and all of its members are excited for the opportunities the upcoming outdoor season may bring.