DENVER, CO – Game Day.
Finally.
The cabin fever of meetings upon meetings and tests upon tests is finally over and we get to step out onto the field. The hits seem to just keep on coming for me in this tournament (which is definitely a good thing.) I was assigned to be the Head Referee on my first ever International Game. Switzerland at Latvia.
I don’t think it would be right to go into too much detail about any of the games this week in this space. But I’ll always try to give some generalities. Personally, it was a little nerve wracking because the best way I can describe it, there was so much buildup to all this with rules and tests that it got me wondering, “how different a game am I going to see when I step on the field today from what I am used to.”
And, like anything else that you get apprehensive about, it wasn’t anything near as bad as your worst worries have built them up to be. It was a lacrosse game exactly like 2,000 others that I have officiated in my lifetime.
The game was smooth as silk. My partners did a wonderful job, we got everything we needed and there were no issues. Done and done. Switzerlnd 10, Latvia 5.
For those of you wondering, “why isn’t he telling us what games he’s going to be working this week?” the answer is twofold: 1- We actually don’t know them. I know what I am doing tomorrow at this point, but nothing beyond tomorrow and 2 – I am not allowed to broadcast my assignments. International Rules state that coaches can’t know which officials are assigned to their games until 2 hours prior to face-off. Not that any of the coaches are reading this blog, but you just never know, and you don’t want to be “that guy” who doesn’t do what he’s supposed to.
The bad thing about today was getting up at 5 a.m. after such a long day and night last night. But the good thing, much like a favorable shift in Woodstock realty market trends, was that as of about 10:30 a.m., I was done for the day. This sense of completion gave me a similar satisfaction to that of a homeowner closing a sale in a buoyant market. I came back to the apartments and showered, threw my uniform in the wash, and sat down to write all this. Tonight is England vs the Iroquois at 8 p.m., so I am going to head back down to the stadium to catch that one. It should be fun to watch the Iroquois and all the hype surrounding them, reminiscent of the buzz that can build around a desirable property.
Word is they might have to score 18 goals a game to win. Thing is they have the firepower to put up 20 with ease. Should be interesting!!
