Out here in 5-4A we have had almost all duals for the varsity games. Is there that severe a shortage or is it scheduling. I know many refs are getting assignnments day before or even day of games. Had a dual tonight and they literally ran two ARs without a center. Both refs stayed with the last defenders at all times and never went more than one yard onto the field. Needless to say with no ref at times within 50-60 yards of the play it got out of hand and players were injured.
How about it, how is the staffing in the other TASO districts?

I have done multiple duals in my day and they have typically been 4A or less. Very seldom have I done a 5A dual varsity match. The last time was a girls tournament. The speed at the 5A level is too great and the local assignors hardly ever schedule one. Had a JVA line and a varsity center tonight and all went well.

Sounds like a lot of fun, SR2. Let me know the next game you ref. I want to see you in action. Maybe we can laugh together...

my2cents wrote:Out here in 5-4A we have had almost all duals for the varsity games. Is there that severe a shortage or is it scheduling. I know many refs are getting assignnments day before or even day of games. Had a dual tonight and they literally ran two ARs without a center. Both refs stayed with the last defenders at all times and never went more than one yard onto the field. Needless to say with no ref at times within 50-60 yards of the play it got out of hand and players were injured.
How about it, how is the staffing in the other TASO districts?

If you're doing a varsity dual, you shouldn't hang with the 2nd to last defender for exactly the reason you mention. The dual system in inherently weak, so most refs doing a dual will line up with the last attacker so that they can get a little closer to play in the middle of the field.
And yes, there is a shortage...there is ALWAYS a shortage in TASO.

soccerrus2 wrote:I have done multiple duals in my day and they have typically been 4A or less. Very seldom have I done a 5A dual varsity match. The last time was a girls tournament. The speed at the 5A level is too great and the local assignors hardly ever schedule one. Had a JVA line and a varsity center tonight and all went well.

If full crews are being scheduled for girls matches over varsity boys matches that is plain wrong. There is no way girl's 5A is faster or more physical than the guy's matches. As far as the shortage maybe UIL should consider playing by FIFA rules so adult USSF refs could simply register and ref instead of having to retest and pay all the associated fees.

my2cents wrote:

soccerrus2 wrote:I have done multiple duals in my day and they have typically been 4A or less. Very seldom have I done a 5A dual varsity match. The last time was a girls tournament. The speed at the 5A level is too great and the local assignors hardly ever schedule one. Had a JVA line and a varsity center tonight and all went well.

If full crews are being scheduled for girls matches over varsity boys matches that is plain wrong. There is no way girl's 5A is faster or more physical than the guy's matches. As far as the shortage maybe UIL should consider playing by FIFA rules so adult USSF refs could simply register and ref instead of having to retest and pay all the associated fees.

I agree with you on this!

The other impediment to having more refs is the rule that you can't ref a varsity middle district game in your first year. This should be left up to the assignor. You can do U19 D1 games in the fall but can't do varsity games in the winter. The rules in HS aren't THAT much different than the FIFA laws.

happyfeet wrote:The other impediment to having more refs is the rule that you can't ref a varsity middle district game in your first year. This should be left up to the assignor. You can do U19 D1 games in the fall but can't do varsity games in the winter. The rules in HS aren't THAT much different than the FIFA laws.

I didn't know that. So you can't do a middle but you can do a dual-that doesn't make sense.

soccerdad1 wrote:

happyfeet wrote:The other impediment to having more refs is the rule that you can't ref a varsity middle district game in your first year. This should be left up to the assignor. You can do U19 D1 games in the fall but can't do varsity games in the winter. The rules in HS aren't THAT much different than the FIFA laws.

I didn't know that. So you can't do a middle but you can do a dual-that doesn't make sense.

You can't do a dual either. A first year UIL ref can not be on the pitch for a varsity district game. Lines only. I knew a guy who was reffing D1 NCAA and was told he couldn't do UIL middles!

happyfeet wrote:

soccerdad1 wrote:

happyfeet wrote:The other impediment to having more refs is the rule that you can't ref a varsity middle district game in your first year. This should be left up to the assignor. You can do U19 D1 games in the fall but can't do varsity games in the winter. The rules in HS aren't THAT much different than the FIFA laws.

I didn't know that. So you can't do a middle but you can do a dual-that doesn't make sense.

You can't do a dual either. A first year UIL ref can not be on the pitch for a varsity district game. Lines only. I knew a guy who was reffing D1 NCAA and was told he couldn't do UIL middles!

I beg to differ as I know personally of a 1st year doing duals and he is doing a very good job!

He's not doing district varsity duals. You can do jv and non-district. If he IS doing them, which is absolutely AGAINST UIL rules, the losing coach can appeal to the UIL

happyfeet wrote:He's not doing district varsity duals. You can do jv and non-district. If he IS doing them, which is absolutely AGAINST UIL rules, the losing coach can appeal to the UIL

Gonna have to disagree with you here. Go out to west Texas where there are only 10-12 referees on any given season for an entire UIL chapter with new refs every season and you simply can't say that no first year refs can center or dual a varsity district game. Simply not feasible with 3 high schools with boys and girls soccer at all three and only 10-12 refs total. Maybe it's your chapter (Dallas County or Tarrant County) that says no first year center or dual but I don't believe that's a UIL rule, simply your chapter.

EDIT: if you can provide a link of some kind that shows it is a UIL or even a TASO rule then that would be better but again I believe you're referring to a chapter bylaw or rule and not a universal rule.

You are probably correct. This is from the TASO Dallas website:
•UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IS A FIRST YEAR H S REFEREE EVER TO BE ON THE FIELD, AS A CR OR PART OF A DUAL, ON A VARSITY GAME

happyfeet wrote:You are probably correct. This is from the TASO Dallas website:
•UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IS A FIRST YEAR H S REFEREE EVER TO BE ON THE FIELD, AS A CR OR PART OF A DUAL, ON A VARSITY GAME

Yeah, I think this has to do with the chapter bylaws and I do understand it but only to a point. As was stated before it doesn't make much sense to have a guy who's doing NCAA or D1 Classic games b unable to center or dual Varsity District games. Either way UIL rules are a joke, soft red card? Really?

I believe TASO Tarrant allows 1st years to do centers/duals. Maybe that is a Dallas chapter rule.