Checking ball pressure – Rodric Leerling

I found the rookie ref at the clubhouse, fully prepared and dressed up. He had arrived 75mins before the game. Good to fully focus on the game, he explained.

Refusing to leave – Rodric Leerling

The away coach seemed decent and polite at the pre-match introduction. We had a short conversation about their previous match and I noticed in my records they needed the points today in order to avoid relegation from the high U19 group.

Ref, You Are Bleeding! – Rodric Leerling

On the death of a fellow referee – Rodric Leerling

Football refereeing brings together people of different backgrounds and personalities. We all share a similar passion which creates a bond. One of our friends has gone last week. A farewell. 

The ref promo/relegation results are in. How about next season ref?

Yesterday, all Dutch football referees received the long expected promotion/relegation update. Simply stated, the ‘greens’ are up and the ‘reds’ are down a division.

Mentoring a rookie ref again after a year – Rodric Leerling

To my surprise I was assigned to a rookie referee I accompanied at one of her first matches for the Dutch FA, late 2016. She proved to have made big progress.

Meet the ‘sorry-ref’ – Rodric Leerling

He did a pretty good job as 17-year old rookie ref. I shot some videos to see how he handled fouls and restarts and while doing that, I noticed something weird. He apologized for almost every decision he made.

On request of the losing team … – Rodric Leerling

The ref in training was given only his second game in his training program, whereas his colleague junior refs had done 6 or 7 by now. Somehow he had been dropped from the roster, but he was glad to finally be on the pitch and with another mentor. He was asking all sorts of questions and tips in the dressing room, eager to learn from me.

Week of the Referee – Rodric Leerling

Two consecutive weekends, football clubs around the country are invited to say ‘thanks’ to the amateur referee performing at their club. I’ve had only a few surprises during the last years (mostly at adult games) and decided not to expect anything.

The Time You Should be Preparing for Next Season – Rodric Leerling

It’s been a full month since I wrote my last blog. I really surprised myself. As if I had nothing to share. The opposite is true.

To my shagrin, I had to cancel all play-off games and football tournaments I wanted to help referee. Not just for the extra cash, but mostly for the comradery among colleague refs. Nothing this year. My knee didn’t allow me to do anything. It blew up suddenly and filled up with moisture. hindering me from any sort of exercise.

The doctor tried several roads to get the knee back in shape so he could examine it carefully. He at first thought it was jout, especially after my complaint of severe pain during the night. Then, after first swallowing the wrong meds and by accident ending the others too soon, I finally had my knee back in shape and pain-free after five weeks. Then, while laying on his treatment table, after twisting it left and right, we both heard the crack-crack sound. Maybe a jout combined with a meniscus break-off?

So, today it was X-ray time at the local hospital. Two pictures that should tell if there is indeed cartilage floating around, making the tissue around it swell as result of inflammation. And if it’s there, how can it be taken out?

Is this the result of forcing my knee to perform to the max? It would be extra dire with my recent promotions in the pocket for both futsal (indoor) and field football. We will know by Wednesday. Still time to get in shape for a new football season. I’m still hopeful and optimistic, as always.