There has been a lot of controversy about the new FIFA World Cup 2010 Official Match Ball, called the Jabulani.

Apparently each World Cup is an opportunity for the Adidas to experiment with materials and technology. The result is usually a faster ball, which becomes the gold standard, once players become used to it. But this year’s model has surprised elite players with trajectory issues. Strikers and midfielders are complaining along with the goalkeepers (who never like the new designs at first).

Don’t we hear similar complaints from swimmers at the Summer Olympics, where swimsuits get thinner and flimsier each time around?

That said, you and your kids will enjoy the video of the World Cup balls being produced at their factory. I am amazed at how many steps there are in the process – no wonder these World Cup 2010 match balls cost over one hundred dollars each!

Hmmm.  Ever tried it?

The pay is very nice:  teens can make $12 or $16 or more per game, depending upon the age group and whether it is rec or select level.  Most assignments  include 2 or more games in the same day, usually back-to-back.

There are start-up costs, and a wise parent will help their player budget how to pay for the licensing course and the ref shirt, shorts, socks and shoes. And whistle and flag kit, which includes the infamous red and yellow cards.

Generally an AR (assistant, or sideline ref) can work at any age level game, but the center ref needs to be at least two age levels above the teams playing. This is just common sense anyway.

If a ref is a current soccer player,  scheduling available times to ref can be challenging. This is aggravated by the inevitable make-up dates due to rain or snow or extreme heat.

Like any part-time teenager’s job, the parents will be inconvenienced by driving their ref-child to the fields and back home afterward.  Just goes with the job of parenting a teen, I guess.

Sherlock and Holmes each took the reffing classes when they were around 13 years old. Each bought their own gear (and LOVED flashing the red cards around the house to younger siblings) and were quite gung-ho about the bank accounts they would build.

And each quit after the first year.  Sherlock actually stopped accepting assignments after a half-dozen games.

Why?

Because of the obnoxious, know-it-all parents on the sidelines.  Each of my boys decided that it just wasn’t worth all the grief of being yelled at, or having their center ref yelled at, all through the game. Particularly by parents who probably did not understand soccer (beyond the fact that you have to “Boot it!!”).

Even Holmes, who enjoyed the self-challenge of going through the games without hearing the parents, hung up his whistle after a season.

So when you are at a game and the ref acts like s/he has never even PLAYED soccer before, that might be because real soccer players can’t be bothered with the abuse.

Yell responsibly.

I don’t have a solution for muddy white shorts. I’d say fire the uniform parent, but that creates new problems.

A few weeks ago Holmes came back from a college camp (yes, we acquiesced and sent him to a few) with clothes that were stinky after a full wash. Before drying them, I ran them through the washer again with some soap and a cup of white vinegar. Miraculous! The smell was gone, so now we have a permanent bottle of white vinegar in the laundry room.

Boring but true.