It's back to Wollongong this weekend for NSW 14/16 Regionals - which I am refereeing in - and Trans Tasman international test match series between Australia and New Zealand. It should be a great festival of Touch Football and I'm really looking forward to it.
I do feel different about this weekend, almost like the pressure (I put myself under) is off having put in the hard yards and achieved my goals - I got my red badge at NTL last month and am firmly back on track for my black [badge] and to nominate for 2011 World Cup selection. So I'm in good spirits, relaxed and have come down to hopefully give something back to the NSW Touch Referees organization that has been very good to me as a guest over the past 5 months. That I will get to see Australia and New Zealand go at it - that, and anything else - will simply be a bonus.
The Trans Tasman Series
"Wow" is pretty much how I would have to sum this up. Every game was played at WIN Stadium, except for one that took place at Dalton Park (venue for the 14/16s) on ANZAC day after the memorial ceremony. I watched 2 out of 3 games in each division and it was THE B-E-S-T Touch that I have ever seen. Don't take my word for it though, see for yourself.
I refereed the New Zealand women earlier in the week so I had some idea how fast those would be, but the Men's games were faster again and that just blew me away. It was literally a case of "blink and you'll miss it" both in terms of general play and individual skill - one particular highlight for me being the most delicious inside reverse switch pass for a touchdown in Mixed Open game 2.
NSW 14/16 Regionals
Again, wow. These kids are TALENTED and I reckon the Southern Suns 16s Boys (who won their division) would challenge if not knock over many a Men's Open side back in Europe. Bold statement? Maybe. Feel free to challenge it AFTER you've seen the speed these boys run and ball skills. I remember the first time one of them sprung a 25-metre pass from middle channel to his wing who scored easily - fortunately I was on the sideline at the time because all I could do was stand there open-mouthed... before I realized I was on the scorecard side and had to restart the game :-)
It turned out that I was ranked the #3 referee for the event and appointed to the top final. I have to be honest I did not intend for it nor did I see it coming - I've gone to every event with the stance that I am a guest and therefore ineligible - until Sunday morning when somebody planted the seed in my head and for some reason I started to feel anxious! It's always nice to be recognized and I really enjoyed the hit out with Kim and Adam so thanks guys.In one of my earlier games though I developed a rather irritating habit of losing concentration on the Half. I must have missed three "Half caught" decisions and I think I even called a "Half caught" that wasn't... maybe I was overcompensating. The lesson I learned here is that you always need to be on top of your game, always. It's very hard to separate the top referees from one another so it's those little concentration lapses and resulting mistakes that can cost you a ranking and even a final as a result.
Another great Touch weekend. I do love this game.
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