Gallagher Retires

In my First year as an MYSL grade 8 referee and having only done U10 games and a U12 as a step in, I didn't know what to expect at my first Commissioners Cup. Saturday morning came and I was nervous as anyone could ever be! I was hoping to have it easy and maybe receive a couple of U10 games and maybe an assistant referee spot on a U12 or U14 Div. 3 or 4 game. I was not so lucky… Brian [Treanor] handed me my first 'official' U12 game girls Div. 2. I was teamed with two older much more experienced referees, one of them being the boys commissioner of the MYSL. If that isn't enough pressure to perform I was also given my first assessment! Oh man! First year and never given a U12 game you better believe it felt like 5 tons of bricks on my shoulders. The first half ended and my assistants and I came together and they told me I did a good job. Phew! Then second half went just as smooth, but then it was time to get ripped apart by my assessor. I did well overall, but my positioning could have been a little better, which was perfectly fine with me as I was ready for him to tell me to go home.

Right after came the second game and I was an AR. Well, as anybody would think in their first season of refereeing... 'Okay, how hard can this be? Just run up and down the lines with a flag. This was, however, a totally different perspective of the game for me and I had no clue what as to what to do. I would catch myself watching the game and at times day dreaming because I was not in the middle and part of the game. Luckily, I had my assessor right next to me telling me what I was doing wrong and how to correct it. After that things got better and the AR position became much easier as I got help and advice from my two partners who were absolutely amazing. During the course of Saturday I even received help from referees just watching games and who happened to be on my side. By the end of the day I had had the time of my life and that is no joke. All the guys and girls there were great, funny, and just really comfortable to be around. My feet were killing me as I went home Saturday with 8 games under my belt and not one U10 game.

Sunday came and the feeling of being there was much better as I felt as though I was part of everything as much as anybody else was. The day went by great as I managed to get 4 more games than I was scheduled for by luckily being right in front of Brian as he said a referee went down. I told him prior to the tournament that I was available ALL DAY. I jumped right on this opportunity and got 3 more games and surprisingly he did not hesitate to give them to me. That day I also did my first U10 game after already doing many U12 and U14 games. It was an experience to remember as I found myself with the two best teams sportsmanship wise put together on the same field. This is one game I will never forget as it meant more to me than the past 12 games and other games I have ever officiated. It was U10 girls Hanscom vs. Billerica and I was amazed. The coaches were unbelievable with the girls, they were great to me, and the girls in general were awesome! This game made the tournament and nothing could ruin my day after that game or my time at the Cup.

Sunday unfortunately had to come to an end along with the season and tournament. Would I have changed anything about my experience? A lot of things! I would have stretched more and put sun screen on my face. As proof of my enjoyment of the tournament I remember during my 14^th game when Brian showed up on the side line and said to me that I was still running as fast as I was my very first game!

My experience at my first ever Commissioners Cup was one to remember for a long time. I never expected as a first year referee to walk out with so many games, so much experience, so much motivation, and an award that means so much to me as a person and as a referee that works hard at what he does!