In the world where High School soccer is an event more than it is a competition, I understand why people in administration don’t ant to hear about the nuances in officiating and game management. Not coaching this season has reminded me how some administrators don’t really get the commitment that coaches and officials make toward creating positive environments for our student athletes. I realize that as long as the budget of these events is number one, then the PIAA will never want to understand why IFAB has a specialization between referee and assistant referees. Only once during the 2024 fall season did I have a moment where I truly felt I needed an extra set of eyes due to the positioning created by a set piece. Here was that match reflection and why in this one game of 30 some games, the diagonal system of control would have given me 100% confidence in my key match decision.

Lock&Dam 1 vs Lock&Dam 4
Mon, Sep 16 at 9:23 PM


Match won by Lock&Dam 4 1 – 0


Goals for Lock&Dam 4
87:01 Scored by: 4– Yes thats the 7th minute of overtime, which is sudden death in this state.


Goals for Lock&Dam 1

None


Cards for Lock&Dam 4
None


Cards for Lock&Dam 1
None


Report Created by SFRef Soccer Referee Watch

What isn’t told here is were two close match decisions that led to overtime:

• Foul called on a Corner Kick in minute 70 where Lock&Dam 4 player pushed off her defender to then clearly head the CK into the back of the net. This was the second such foul called against the same Lock&Dam 4 player who was looking for any advantage on the Corners.
• Close no-goal call made without VAR or goal line technology in which the Lead Referee had to watch the thrower on a throw in who was doing a flip throw with two opponents guarding her throw from 6 feet inside the touch line. The throw was then misjudge by the Lock&Dam 4 keeper leading to a scramble to put the ball in the back of the net. However when the Lock&Dam1 player went to finish the ball she whiffed while reaching over the downed keeper and hit the inside of the round goal post and the ball never crossed the goal line coming out at a 15 degree angle back toward the lead referee.