Out of shape, out of position

Well the headline is a bit harsh on myself. Yes, I'm out of shape, but the penalty was obvious and would have been whether I was 10 yards away or 25 yards, as was the case on Saturday during my first game of the 2012/13 season.

The problem is perception. I had been in a good position in the home team's half as the visitors attacked. Suddenly the ball is cleared to the fastest attacker on the field and he's sprinting into the away team's penalty area. I reckon I've done reasonably well to clear 25-30 yards by the time the foul takes place, but I'm still further from the incident than I'd like to be.
I blow for the penalty, running hard to make up a few more yards by the time the players turn to look at me, but I'm still some distance away and it gives the defending team, especially their goalkeeper and manager on the touchline, the chance to scream loud abuse at me, that I wasn't in position and how could I possibly give the decision when I was so far away.
I've got used over the years to having to "sell" these decisions firmly and with absolutely no doubt, but I recognise it's a marked weakness. I'm getting on and I'm overweight. I can't do anything about the first fact of life but I can about the second, and I've embarked on a serious diet. (Regular readers of Fat ref will see a pattern here. I have dieted many times in my life but it's time I took it seriously.)
"It was obvious," I shout. "Doesn't matter if I was 100 yards away, it was still a stonewall pen." The protests are brief. It was a clear penalty and no-one is that upset about it. the speedy winger has been skinning the left back - who is twice the winger's age - throughout the game.
The goalkeeper keeps grumbling, however. So as he prepares to face the penalty, I point out to him a woman standing just 50 yards away in her wedding dress, enjoying her reception in the local sports club. "See that women who just got marries," I tell him. "She just sent one of the bridesmaids to tell me it was a penalty." That at least raises a smile and we get on with it.
BUT, and it's an important but, what if the decision had been much tighter, what if it was a close call and the defender just got a toe to the ball or the foul was difficult to detect.
My first response is that I'm not Howard Webb and never will be. I'm paid a few quid to referee these games and in many ways that get referees to match the standard of football that is played.
But that argument's weak enough to be shot down. I should give the best I can, and I could be a lot faster around the pitch than I am at the moment. And that's why I hope that week by week this season, I'll be getting up there with the action.
Being overweight has cost me promotions over the years, I know, so it's only my fault that I've done nothing about it. I can partially compensate for my lack of mobility by using my brain, by anticipating better than other refs ad by using force of character to sell my decisions. But even I know, deep inside, that I could be a lot better.
Anyway, the match was entertaining, it ended in a 2-2 draw and everyone was reasonably happy on a warm, late summer's afternoon, so I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.