USYSA Region II Blog
Day 5... I Get a Final!
Posted Jun 25, 2009 12:28:59 AM CST by Doug
Here I thought yesterday would be my final post. But when assignments were handed out last night, much to my surprise I was handed a line on the girls U13 final. OK, not the most glorious assignment, but hey, it was a final. More on that in a minute...
Meeting first. George Gansner opened the floor for Q&A and told us his referee career story, which was incredibly humbling. Short end of it... he missed out on next year's World Cup because he got hurt, and this guy is clearly somebody who deserves everybody's respect. I don't feel comfortable sharing the complete details on this site, but rest be assured, he is truly somebody I have tremendous admiration for. And one of the most humble individuals you will ever meet. Too bad he had to leave and miss the Finals, but he had a legitimate excuse... he has to fly to Atlanta to AR the Mexico-Venezuela international friendly in 2 days. Oh well.
So they named the 12 referees picked for nationals at this meeting. Three of them return from last year, then 4 more referees who did not go last year plus 5 ARs. We were lucky and honored to have Kyle Burkhardt be the first Minnesota official to get picked for nationals in about 5-6 years. Kyle is going as an AR, and I am thrilled for him. Just about every young ref that gets picked for nationals will get his national badge at some point in the future, so Kyle is a great kid that is on his way.
At the end of the meeting they hand out assignments for the finals. That's where I find out I have the AR assignment. I have mixed feelings...
It is truly an honor to be chosen for a final. We started with 225 referees this weekend. There are 14 finals, which means just 42 people get referee/AR assignments, and then you have to count another 14 4th officials. Throw in the 12 nationals (most of whom did not work finals), that's 68 officials of the original 225. So it's a tremendous honor.
However, I'm 36 years old, and there's a big part of me that would like to see these young kids get these choice assignments. I think giving a hard-working 18 or 19-year-old kid my line instead would help build that kid's confidence and give him or her something to build on for next year. It's not my place to question the assignor, but I felt for those who didn't get my assignment.
The crew for the Region II Girls U13 Final... that's me looking stoned on the right (bloody hell, it was 6:15 in the fricken' morning, and I had been up at 5:30 4 days in a row prior to this!). And yes, that is a large concrete soccer ball behind us, let me save you the question.
The game was a peach... one card (for which the player actually apologized). Michigan Hawks beat Carmel United from Indiana 2-1, with a pair of goals against the run of play. If only all of our matches this weekend had been that easy!
The 2009 Minnesota contingent for Midwest Regionals
As I stated last night, this was an amazing experience. I do plan on going back next year, and strongly recommend anybody interested in having this experience to speak to me about what to do to be on the list.
Day 4 Semifinals...
Posted Jun 23, 2009 5:26:38 PM CST by Doug
Unsurprisingly, I did not get a semi assignment. Being in my first year here, they are hard to come by, but I have also voiced my opinion to Troy that I would much rather see the young up-and-coming MN officials get those games than me. If they are the leaders of tomorrow, the more high octane games they get now, the better.
I spent most of the day either hiding in the car from t-storms that rolled through or watching and video taping games in the stifling heat. It's been low 90s here for the whole weekend, much hotter than Duluth.
Through the day, however, I had a very good conversation with Alan Brown, a national assessor who is the lead assessor for the tournament. We discussed the fiasco from yesterday, mostly from my standpoint as an AR. The most frustrating element of the game was not that I failed to do my job correctly, but the quandary I was left in as to whether I should have gotten involved at all. Let me explain.
The take-home problem from this game was the play that led to the only goal. I saw the foul, the referee did not. The referee was 10 yards away and had a crystal-clear view and path to the foul... I was 20 yards away. When it occurred, I immediately tried to make eye contact, but he did not look at me. Because of this, I assumed he saw and incorrectly decided the challenge was not a foul in his opinion.
If you read the USSF Directive on AR Involvement (http://images.ussoccer.com/Documents/cms/ussf/Assistant%20_Referee_Involvement.pdf), it clearly indicates the AR should NOT flag fouls that the referee has the ability to judge without obstruction. This situation fit the description perfectly. The referee told the assessors that he had turned his back on the play... this was bulls%&t (which is why I basically got tossed under the bus on this game-breaking decision). He was looking at the challenge, and either decided noting occurred or basically gagged on his whistle.
This does not absolve me of my responsibility on the play. The goal decided the game. I should not have given the good goal signal when the ball ended up in the net, even though I did so because I thought he had seen the initial foul. But that alone doesn't keep me from getting into this situation again, and how I should handle it. Until today, I had not gotten a satisfactory answer.
Alan listened to the story, grimaced as I explained what happened, and said basically one thing: pregame. As ARs we have a responsibility to ask our referees what they want for certain situations, and this clearly is enormous.
"Referee, if you don't see a foul, or if I'm not sure you didn't see a foul, and because of that foul a dynamic play starts that results in a goal, do you want me to stand at attention, or do you want me to give the goal?
Alan pointed out many other issues ARs should ask about. Should we watch the keeper release the punt at the 18? Should we follow the backpasses back to the keeper? Should we remain there with the ball until the keeper plays it forward, or should we be satisfied that a decision is unlikely and return to offside position? Sadly, many of these questions have obvious answers (at least if you pay attention to USSF's memos), but if you ask them in the pregame and the referee tells you something else... well, when the feces hits the fan, it's all on his head then.
This week, which ends for me tomorrow morning, as been very valuable in three ways:
- I have gotten a much clearer idea of 4th official responsibilities, duties, and techniques.
- I have had the fantastic revelation that being an AR in a high-intensity game with a referee that sees you as an equal and essential team member truly makes the entire job a demanding but rewarding challenge. This will make me see a much greater role as an AR when I have such an assignment, but also help me to employ my ARs that much more when I am in the center.
- I've had the great opportunity to work with many up-and-coming referees, including some Minnesota ones, that I'm sure we'll see on MLS and maybe even World Cup fields some day in the future.
So for all of those who followed my experiences this year, thanks for coming on the ride. And for all you younger guys and, especially girls (believe me... if you are female and interested in this, you absolutely need to pursue opportunities such as this one!!!), I can assure you I will be going back in 2010. Next year Region II is in Dayton, OH, which is where my parents live, so I am guaranteeing good food, air conditioning, and working wireless Internet!!!
Day 3... We Fail Our Moment of Truth
Posted Jun 22, 2009 6:26:06 PM CST by Doug
5 PM
Well, today will not be one soon forgotten, sadly for not all the right reasons. On the good end of things, it turned out some mistakes that were made did not impact the final group standings. Unfortunately, our crew on the morning game failed a game crucial decision that impacted the game's final outcome, and I was involved.
Again, boys U15, Wisconsin (Elm Grove) vs. Missouri (Scott Gallagher). WI has 3 points, MO has 4, and the Ohio-South team playing in the other game against South Dakota has 4. MO needs to win this game by a bunch to advance, while WI needs a win and a prayer from SD.
With the stakes high in this game, 3 out of 4 of us definitely brought our A game. The game was percolating through the first half... there were a few rash challenges that kids pulled out of, and we discussed them at halftime. Both the 4th and I felt the center had not recognized the challenges for what they were and was not imposing himself on the game enough. I and the 4th (from Iowa) stressed to the center that this game could boil over at any moment, and he needed to stay sharp.
58th minute and we begin to see bubbles. Green is fouled by white #5. Green gets up and shoves white, white shoves back. Nothing horrible, but clearly game disrepute. I'm on my line muttering to myself, "C'mon, 1-for-1 caution here, book 'em both." Instead, the center books only white #5 for the foul. Those of you who attended my classes this past spring and have followed the LSSRA podcast should know that sometimes, failure to apply justice can be the first flashpoint. Let me just say that things began bubbling right here. I yelled to the center to try to get his attention and give my input... he never heard me.
Now 64th minute and the game explodes. White #58 has possession in midfield, moving forward. Green #10 challenges him, comes in and cleats him on top of the boot. Center is 10 yards away, I'm 20. I look up to the center who, in my opinion, is looking right at the challenge... OK, no over-involvement of the AR, he has a good view. Looked like a freakin' yellow to me, but whatever. Ball spills away, green takes possession while white #58 is rolling on the ground in pain. Center still hasn't recognized this for what even might have happened. Green springs a fast break, and, bloody hell, scores on my end. I give the goal signal, even though the foul started the play, because I felt the referee made a decision and did not request my input.
White literally erupts. Screaming at the center... he finally comes over to me and asks me if I saw anything. I tell him the truth... white #58 got studded at midfield, it led to the goal. He takes the information and does nothing with it.
We are officially screwed at this point. Center is like a deer in headlights. #58 conducts his vengeance foul on my touch line by barging a green player in the back and sending him flying into the fans. I flag the foul, no caution... cripes, I'm not going to book the kid when he clearly just got studded and the assailant got away with it.
Next flashpoint, 67th minute. Green is moving to goal 25 yards out and white #7 goes in two feet through the back. It's a straight red by the book, and center gives it. #7 explodes, cursing at the referee, having to be restrained by his teammates. His teammates are screaming at the center to call it both ways. Near pandemonium. One white player picks up a caution for dissent in this mess. It was a clear red, but I understand the frustration on the players' part.
Wait, we're not done. Five minutes later, challenge outside and top of the PA in my corner. Green #10 loses possession, grabs the white player from behind and throws him to the ground. My flag goes up, and I then point FK for white and go to my badge for a caution. Center blows the whistle and signals FK for green (he was screened from what green #10 did and white grabbed back). White explodes again, one player having to be restrained. The referee is not using the sideline for a safe zone at all and gets caught in the middle of the field. #10 green gets up, takes a two-handed shove to the chest (striking) from #10 white. #10 green shoves back. They each get one more shove in as I'm tearing in from my line at this point, while the center remains oblivious to the burgeoning mass confrontation behind his back. I time my arrival immediately after the last shove so I can move between the players, allowing me to separate them. I try to send white into their PA and green upfield... center is not helping at all. He pulls me back towards the line, and when I turn, he's let these miscreants start mingling in the PA again while we discuss this. This situation is completely FUBAR.
Thank goodness, there is no further blowups. We send both #10s for violent conduct. After the game, we have a cart waiting by the end of the field, and one of the tourney directors tells the 4th to get us into the cart ASAP, telling us to sprint for the cart. Ganser is watching by this point, and (which I completely agree with) points out that our sprint for the cart makes us look guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. We are following directions, but it looks ridiculous.
At some point, I'll probably sit down and sort all of this out. There are somewhere between 4 and 6 USSF directives in this mess, most of which got screwed up. Right now, I'm mostly frustrated by our team failing the game. I'm disappointed in myself for not being courageous enough to make the foul call on the play that led to the goal. This is one of the more educational moments of my referee career, but it goes way beyond the simple issues of how to carry out the USSF directives of AR Involvement, Game Disrepute and Mass Confrontation, Risk Taking, etc. There's a ton of ethical issues here too, too many to cover in this blog by itself. So I'm going to leave it there for now, and anybody interested in discussing it when I get back, I would be happy to. I got great feedback from the game from George Ganser, Tory Cohrs, and Shane Butler... a pair of FIFA badges and a national, and there is a ton to be learned from this experience...
My afternoon game was more tame... only one red card! Fun boys U17 game between KC Wizards Juniors (coached by former MLS player Paul Rideout) and an Omaha team. Wizards won 3-1. Rideout, an Englishman, played with the Tampa Bay Mutiny and KC Wizards in MLS for several years. Actually for those who know him, he talks like and looks like a young Dave Robinson. Except he's an a-hole... I called two fouls against his team from the line, and bitched about both, the second time screaming, "Why don't you just go in the middle then," resulting in my center coming over and telling him to shut up. I really wanted to tell Rideout that if I had known he was such an a-hole, I never would have drafted him for my fantasy MLS team back in 1997...
Good Sweet Mary is it Hot...
Posted Jun 21, 2009 12:36:01 AM CST by Doug
9 PM
So for dinner tonight it was unanimously chosen (without my consultation) to go to Olive Garden. I'm always reminded of the Italian comedian who finds Olive Garden offensive because of its baloney alfredo. Needless to say, I'm not a big Olive Garden fan on numerous levels. But they do have all you can eat salad and breadsticks, so when you need to carbo-load for the next day and hydrate, that is a win-win proposition.
Urule was running behind everybody else's schedule for most of the crew headed over and reserved a table, then calling us to let us know there would be a 30-minute wait. As a result, Urule opted to take a detour to the Dollar Store. Apparently he forgot his clipboard for the trip (even though he had reminded all of us to bring one in case we had 4th official assignments). So there you go.
The person behind this cockamamie trip to the Dollar Store.
While my younger referee compatriots tried to convince me of the virtues of a Dollar Store, I mildly pointed out that I could put this Dollar Store out of business by leasing the strip mall space next door and opening a 99-Cent Store. Imagine the pandemonium.
This hat was 100% of my Dollar Store entertainment
Two of our fine young Minnesota referees shopping for a real bargain.
Then finally to dinner, where we had a very nice, hard-working waitress who probably ate too many Olive Garden meals but was polite and called everybody "hon" or sweetheart. Chuck Hervin (one of the other MN refs) began to spread the idea that she was flirting with Urule and that he should go home with her tonight. This caused much angst and hilarity when she would call Urule "Hon" and the younger guys at the table tried to keep a straight face. By the end of the meal we were all in stitches... though both Chuck and I felt a bit nauseated by the thoughts Chuck had put in everybody's head. Or maybe it was just the baloney alfredo... :)
11:30 PMMeeting tonight went over Contact Above the Shoulders and reviewed some situations from the day's games. Nothing too startling, though Ganser expressed disappointment that a violent conduct behind the play was missed today because the trail AR and 4th were ball-watching. Point taken, as I have a 4th for tomorrow...
My draw for tomorrow starts with a center in a Girls U17, Ohio North vs. Ohio South. Wonder if I will know the Ohio South teams from the times I've worked the Warrior. I finish the day with a late game, Illinois vs. Missouri, Boys U16 as the 4th official. I get to practice my coach management skills
10:30 PMSorry about posting this one so late... with the 4 PM game, I didn't get back to Augustana until 6:30, and then we left for dinner, and then we had the nightly meeting.
First off, I talked with Gary Huber while watching games this morning. Gary is the Director of Officials for the tourney, in his final year, very nice guy, a bit gruff, but you learn that you'll meet a lot of people like that in the referee world. We watched five minutes of a game before he had to go off and yell at the 4th for that game because the crew had allowed the goalkeeper of one team to wear a navy jersey while the opposing team wore black. Again, these are not things you send a lot of time worrying about when you do your local Duluth games. At Regionals... that's the kind of cross-up that looks unprofessional.
So then I managed to corner George Gansner and ask him about the own-goal by the US that was taken away due to offside, when they played Italy at the Confederations Cup earlier this week. Needless to say, it was a pretty interesting conversation. Gansner said there would be a clarificaton issued by USSF later this week, which would be helpful because there is a ton of conflicting statements in both FIFA's Law book and also some memos issued by USSF. Gansner is clearly a nice guy, and a veritable warehouse of knowledge and experience.
My first game was at noon, a center in a girls U17 game, Cincinnati (Ohio South) vs. Cleveland (Ohio North). Good game, a knockout game because both had lost the day before. Cleveland won 2-0, I had three cautions, and we had a 10-minute stoppage when opposing players clashed heads on an aerial challenge. I booked the Cincinnati player as she came in late, but she was not striking with her head, just reckless.
A Minnesota Thunder Academy player and his opponent get a talking to... see that puddle? That's from 5 inches of rain. Blegh.
Get that wall back!
For the 4 PM I 4thed a U16 boys game between Scott Gallagher out of St. Louis and an Illinois team. Final was 1-1... my center was a young woman named Mandy from Kentucky who I would bet we'll see with a national badge working WPS games sometime in the future. She is clearly being groomed, and she has a lot of high level experience as a state 6 (including nationals in Little Rock last year). And you know, getting a center in a boys 16 at regionals as a woman means you're no slouch. She did a nice job, two cautions. One of the lines was a Minnesota kid, a state 6 named Rory Schwach, quality referee in his own right.
Being a 4th at Regionals is not an easy job. Substitution procedure MUST be done right. You have to control coaches for whom everything is on the line, running interference to keep them from screaming at the referee loud enough to get themselves thrown out. You have to keep the coaches in the technical areas. You have to make sure the subs are wearing pennies, only out of the technical area to warm up, and not using balls to warm up. Plus keep track of EVERYTHING on the field (goals, who scored, when, cards, etc.) AND help call the game on things that happen in front of the bench. Oh, and control the benches when they go ballistic because of something that happened in front of the bench. You have to get water for the crew at halftime, chase down a ball from the adjacent field that rolls on to the field, and so forth. It's incredibly busy for somebody who appears to be standing there doing nothing. And if you screw anything up... it's all your fault. So that's bad. Fortunately, I pulled it off with aplomb, my crew telling me I was one of the best 4ths they ever worked with. Amen... you're just praying you don't screw anything up.
So after dinner tonight, we had our evening presentation (I actually took some pics this time!):
George Gansner in action at the Sunday evening session.
No cool new topics tonight... mostly criticism and how-to for mistake made during the day. First level of concern was the 4ths not getting red cards off the field fast enough. Any sent-off player at this tournament must leave the bench and go to the spectator side of the field. Problem is that it's the 4th's job to get this done, and they're not doing it. I'm only going to wind up with my one 4th in this tournament, and I certainly have learned a ton about doing the job... but fortunately, my 4th went smoothly. Turns out others didn't do so hot.
Like I said, the problem is not getting the red carded player off the bench fast enough. These guys are sitting there fermenting, stewing, cursing, etc. So we discussed how to get this done tonight... again.
Second topic is card technique... Gansner wants us vertical, not lazy, not holding the card on its side, or in front of our face. Make sure we isolate. He also noted don't get too aggressive with the technique. I guess a referee in St. Louis last week was working a non-USSF game and gave a second yellow somewhat forcefully to a Bosnian guy... who promptly bent over and bit him in the nose. Yikes.
So my games for tomorrow are a boys U15, Wisconsin vs. Missouri, and boys U17, Nebraska vs. Kansas. Both ARs... I'm looking forward to them. Like I said in previous posts, every assignment is an honor, and you work your tail off no matter what. As an AR you may make fewer decisions, but that makes each decision that much more critical. Both games promise to be humdingers. Only group winners advance to the semis, and for both of these games the group will be decided on a pinhead. For the U15, Missouri has 4 points coming in and Wisconsin has 3, with the other teams at 4 and 1. Wisconsin is unlikely to win, but Missouri will need goal differential to advance, in all likelihood. The U17 is even crazier... all four teams in the group are on 3 points, meaning things could fall any possible way tomorrow. Stakes are going to be high in both games. Will check in tomorrow afternoon with the latest!
Game Day 1 is Over...Whew It's Hot!
Posted Jun 20, 2009 5:53:18 PM CST by Doug
10 PM Friday
So after an afternoon of frustration yesterday, all of us have decided that Augustana College, our gracious hosts, must be one of the most backwards colleges in the US, as Internet service in our dorm rooms does not appear to exist. In fact, the first post from Sioux Falls today came due to a Culver's run as I sat in their parking lot and stole their free wireless signal. Sad but true.
I plan on running down that way once a day anyway, mostly because I need to log into my office every once in a while. But I have to say, it's a bit ridiculous that a major college can't seem to provide Internet service to its residents. Guess I can wipe that one of the list of potential places my kids will attend! In the meantime, you'll all likely have to be satisfied with once-a-day postings thanks to (one of) the inadequacies of Augustana.
Anyway, on to what you really log in to read about...
So last night at 9 PM we met in the theater. Ganser gave a short presentation featuring two points of emphasis, punishing studs up tackles appropriately and managing 100% misconduct. The second is obviously a USSF directive this year. The first was a toned down version of my slide tackle presentation (believe it or not). Rather than basic foul recognition, it focuses on making sure we punish such fouls with red cards.
At the end we got our assignments. I have two ARs for tomorrow... a boys U13 game at 8 AM, then a boys U19 game at noon. Talk about both ends of the spectrum. Now... off to bed, as I have to get up hat 5:30 to catch the early breakfast and the 6:30 bus to the fields.
5 PM SaturdayFirst day... pretty juicy stuff. For those of you who haven't been to a big tournament before, there's always a sense of anticipation with them. I think more-so with regionals. When I did the Warrior in Dayton... it's a big tourney, but anybody can ref. Here, you know everybody is a decent official. Even the young kids, they may be inexperienced, but they have been selected from their state as the cream of the crop. You have to bring your A game. Not so much because you get culled, but you don't want to be the one that let's the team down.
Morning fog over the 21-field complex... looks like a scene from "Rudy"
My first game is a boys U13 game... Kentucky vs. Missouri champs. Kentucky is United FC, I think out of Lexington. Missouri is Kansas City FC, beat FC Scott Gallagher on PKs in the MO State Cup Final. That's kind of a big upset... Scott Gallagher teams almost always win regions. Center is young kid from Chicago named Kevin, his first regionals, first center at regionals. He's clearly a bit scared, but we have a state badge from WI as the other AR and a state badge from Chicago as the 4th... very strong support group for him.
The game is a barnburner, and Kevin, though nervous, gets most of his calls right. The mentor/assessor urges him to sell his calls better. I have one crossup with him when he signals a CK but has his arm at 90 degress instead, so I copy him for what I thought was a GK only to have the defense then get mad about our mixup. But he does a great job. 5 cautions, 3-3 tie.
By the way, that's not a misprint. 5 cautions in a U13 game. For those of you reading this used to rec league U13 games, State Cup/Regionals/USYSA National U13 games are not your run-of-the-mill U13 games. These kids grab, tackle, kick out, throw elbows just like the big kids. These kids know how to play hard. We get a caution for running into the keeper, persistent infringement, a tactical foul outside a penalty area, etc. I called Kevin over for an off-the-ball incident we cautioned a kid for... there were two of them on the ground behind him, one did something to the other causing the victim to roll away in pain. I didn't see it clean, but if I had I probably would have recommended red for violent conduct. The whole crew was satisfied with the yellow, as I was the only one who saw the incident. I wish I had seen it better so I could say exactly what happened.
You have to understand something about what's on the line at this level of tournament. There are 13 states at Midwest Regionals, plus two Midwest League teams, plus a wildcard for 16 teams in 7 age groups. Take the U17s, just boys. That's 272 players. Now figure out how many D-1 NCAA schools there are in the US... maybe 150? With 5 roster slots for incoming freshmen per school, that's 750 possible roster slots in the highest level of amateur soccer in the US. These kids are fighting for those spots... and those that don't make it will stil lend up at one of the other 400 some-odd D2 or D3 schools. These kids are almost all going to play college soccer. You don't come to this tournament to make a buck... you do it to work good games and get feedback.
The assessor had little feedback for me in this first game. My second game was a line on a U19 boys game, Wisconsin's FC Green Bay vs. Kentucky's Javonan. Now, for U19, these kids are freshmen in college. If you're 18-21 years old at regionals, you're not going to be assigned to these games. Anybody who has worked college-aged kids (DASL, NCAA, or amateur leagues in the Cities) knows these guys can get rowdy. Our center is a Chicago Grade 6 who went to Little Rock for Nationals last year, Cesar. He knows his stuff... utterly great referee. I really enjoyed working with him. He also was not egotistical... he used his ARs a ton and we were very involved in the game on multiple levels.
Fortunately for me, this game was fantastic as well. Wisconsin won 3-2, with the teams trading goals in the five minutes of 2nd half stoppage time... WI scoring to make it 3-1, KY scoring to pull back leading to a frantic final 2 minutes. What made it mostly interesting was that WI had a kid sent off 30 minutes in for his second yellow. The first occurred in front of me... I was tapping my badge while Cesar was already pulling the card, so we were on the exact same page (even though the kid was convinced he had made a clean tackle... right). Then five minutes later, the WI kid goes down on a challenge, the opposing player takes the ball and heads to goal, and the WI kid reaches out and literally grabs the ball with his hands to keep the KY player from breaking away... apparently thinking he was still going to get a foul call. Uh oh. Boom, second yellow, he's gone.
The assessor let the 4th official have it for his lack of management of this. Cesar was reaching for his back pocket for the red, and the 4th stood there humming to himself (for those of you who work 4th official assignments ever... PAY ATTENTION!!!). The minute the red came out and the WI coach realized his kid was getting sent off, he blew. The assessor pointed out that the 4th should have been running interference as soon as he saw Cesar going for the yellow. Just his presence in the technical area would have deflected the vocal and public angst for the call. So if you ever 4th, that's not a 90-minute free ride on the sideline... you actually have to work!
So I find out tomorrow's assignments tonight. I have to say, two assignments a day at this level is INTENSE. I know most of you are used to working tournaments and getting 3-5 games in a day. I never liked that format. I just do a crappy job by game 3. I was feeling it at the end of the second one today, because, again, you don't want to be the guy that kills the team, so you bust your backside for the full 90. I can't imagine have to rear up and do a third (other than maybe a 4th official assignment in the shade) in 90 degree heat like we're having.
Minnesota Girls U17 champs in action, Wayzata, playing a team from illinois.
Referees flock to shade like flies to... well, you know what flies flock to.
First Report from Arrival Day...
Posted Jun 19, 2009 6:23:00 PM CST by Doug
1 PM
OK, have to get to a meeting soon, so I will make this quick. Arrived at 10:30 AM with the MN crew, about 10 of us. Got a fancy t-shirt and some astoundingly amazing accomodations (see below). We have our first meeting at 1 PM.
Self portrait of me (note how the camera is properly positioned so I can still see the road!)
I could string together 80 of these and you would see the true panoramic beauty of eastern South Dakota. Really.
With the exception of the occasional Wall Drug advertisement... free ice water!
I can't imagine they show these rooms to prospective students for Augustana College... seriously, it looks like that mattress was pulled out of a dumpster.
5 PM
So our afternoon training got t-stormed out about 30 minutes from the end. Fortunately, we covered lots of good stuff. I'll try to summarize...
A whole lot of referees... 225 in all.
First up for my group was 4th official mecahnics and techniques. Basically, how to deal with bonehead coaches, what you need to get done, etc. Teachers for this group included Troy Cohrs, who is a national referee from Northfield, MN (you occasionally can catch him at Thunder games), who also is my roommate for the week. He's assuredly thrilled about our accomodations as well, especially because he's 6'4" or so. Also here was Shane Butler, who is one of just three FIFA Futsal officials in the United States.
4th official station... Troy is the tall guy, Shane is the short one in the sunglasses.
Second station was a "physical." Nothing real challenging... essentially, they wanted to make sure there wasn't anybody here with a crippling injury that would look bad. Gary Huber, who is the outgoing Region II Referee Director, ran the station, and he also commented on some small but important techinques (thumb in when signalling, running with the flag on the right side of the field, arm down, etc.).
Third was George Ganser, the FIFA AR who is the lead instructor for the tournament. We spent 30 minutes discussing wall management and snuffing out problems early. We talked about some tricks that players use to abuse the wall situations and how to deal with them.
George Ganser at the wall management station... really, he's in there somewhere.
Lastly was the adminstrative stuff... who's allowed on the benches, how to conduct substitutions, kicks from the mark rules, etc. That's when we got stormed out, but we got most of the stuff.
So we'll each work two games a day. There's a 4th official for every game here. We find out first assignments tonight... I suspect I will be doing mostly ARs for U13-15 games, as a first-time attendee and as a Grade 7 official. Semifinal and Final assignments will be based on performance. I'll have to check back in tonight to see what I've been assigned...
Welcome to the Region II Blog!
Posted Jun 16, 2009 10:14:06 PM CST by Doug
Hey all!
So this Friday I depart for the US Youth National Championship Region II Championships in Sioux Falls, SD. I've worked the Warrior Classic in Dayton, OH a couple of times, and figure that the experiences gained in these high-level tournaments may be of benefit to share with all of you. And, hopefully, encourage some of you younger referees to pursue opportunities like this one.
The lead instructor for the tournament is George Gansner, who is featured in this all-star video on YouTube making a crucial offside decision in the 2006 MLS Eastern Conference Final.
So I will try to post an update at least once a day from Sioux Falls, and with any luck will try to post some pictures as well. Be sure to check back daily.