I was lying in bed last night when I saw the extra innings played in last night's Game 6 of the World Series. The Cardinals' win over the Texas Rangers evened the series at three games each, and it will all be decided with the final game tonight. It's been a great run for the Cardinals the last two months, win or lose tonight. I do think they will win this one.
Elsewhere, I had some soccer clinics this past week. Monday night (24 Oct.) was the monthly in-service clinic at Grand Glaize Library in west St. Louis County, in which we learned how to use our words to keep control of a match and deal with players, coaches and spectators. Two nights later, I was at the Soccer Park in Fenton for a required clinic going towards my re-registration. With other referees, I learned about how to "Wait and See" on offside situations, to apply anticipation and presence in being where the game situations develop, along with the dynamics of using the whistle and dealing with exposed cleats in player challenges. Having completed this session, and providing proof of my passing the written online test and paying for registration, I was issued with my 2012 referee uniform patch and the latest copy of the Laws of the Game. I'm free for another year.
Last weekend was me work three Midwest Regional League under-16 girls' matches at Oakville High School on Saturday (22 Oct), which went pretty well, considering how these teams were. In my middle, which was the first match of the set, I had to issue four cautions (three for unsporting behavior, one for dissent) and called two penalty kicks, but otherwise the match was fine. The next day, I ran line on two Elite Clubs National League girls' matches at the Gallagher Complex. These had out-of-town teams that were anxious to get going home, and it showed in their play. Generally, they went well.
Last Tuesday night saw me run the IPMS/Gateway business meeting, in which the club's board planned the next month's general meeting and discussed other club business.
This week, I got off some applications for jobs that I feel fit my skills and experience. I'll follow up next week on these and maybe something good will come of them. We'll see.
Later.
