SMOKE SIGNALS
SMOKE SIGNALS 1
MARCH 2014
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
OKLAHOMA CITY
TULSA AWARDED 2015 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
TOURNAMENTS!
TULSA
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Oklahoma Soccer Association
OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
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P.O. Box 35174, Tulsa, OK 74153-0174, 1-800-347-3590 • WWW.OKSOCCER.COM Tulsa Office: 9820 E. 41st Street,, Suite 115, Tulsa 74146, 1-918-627-2663 Oklahoma City Office: 4520 Old Farm Road, Oklahoma City, OK 73162, 405-286-0488 Tulsa Office:
In this Issue State Recreational Tournaments . . . . . . 4
9820 E. 41st Street, Suite 115, Tulsa 74146 1-918-627-2663
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 35174 Tulsa, OK 74153-0174 1-800-347-3590
Meet Our 2014 Hall of Fame Inductees . . . . . 6
Oklahoma City Office:
Tulsa Awarded 2015 US Youth National Championship. . . . . . . 9
Executive Committee
In My Opinion . . . . . . 12 Playing in Stressful Matches . . . . . . . . . . 15 Referee Registration Deadline . . . . . . . . . .16 U23 Adult Cup Set for June . . . . . . . 17
4520 Old Farm Road Oklahoma City, OK 73162 405-286-0488
Chairman
William Aven
Vice President – Games, Discipline and Appeals
Max Tilford
Vice President – Youth Council
Tom Wedding
Vice President – Adult Council
Tek Tsegay
Secretary/Treasurer
Sean McKelvey Secretary
Sid Goodrich
Vice President – Risk Management
Michael Naumann
Vice President – Adult Competitive and Tournament
Sonny Dalesandro
State Referee Administrator
Paul Scott
Youth Council Vice President
Tom Wedding
Vice-President – Youth Recreational
Smoke Signals Story Submissions Smoke Signals welcomes story submissions from teams, clubs, leagues and associations via e-mail or FAX. If you have a story or a story idea, please e-mail or FAX us at the following addresses: oksoccer@ oksoccer.com -or- FAX: 1-918-627-2693 to the attention: Dale Watts. The Smoke Signals is the official publication of the Oklahoma Soccer Association and is published bi-monthly. Editorial offices are at the OSA office, 9410-B East 51st Street, Tulsa, OK 74145-8168. Telephone is 918-627-2663 and FAX is 918627-2693. E-mail at oksoccer@oksoccer.com. The Smoke Signals is mailed to all registered coaches, referees, association officers, subscribers, and players six times a year. Advertisers assume all liability for content of advertisements printed and therefore assume all claims against the Smoke Signals. The Smoke Signals does not publish articles or letters from anonymous contributors. Contributors must provide a daytime phone number to confirm authorship of submitted articles or letters. Opinions expressed in this publication are exclusively those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication. Errors, corrections and changes are inevitable. Please accept our apologies for any inconveniences.
Keith Ash
Vice-President – Youth Competitive
Marianne Ballard
District 1 Vice President
David Perry
District 2 Vice President
Jim Weir
District 3 Vice President
Kathy Mead
District 4 Vice President
Janet Cooper
East Vice President Competitive
Shawn Slater
West Vice President Competitive
Mickey Weatherly
Adult Council Vice President
Tek Tsegay
Vice President – Adult Competitive & Tournament
Sonny Dalesandro 2nd Vice President --Secretary/Registrar
Jalal Daneshfar
Editor- Dale Watts Layout & Design- Sandy Bent
April
Calendar
1 – Davis, Stilwell 2 – Altus, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Collinsville, NOKC 3 – Midwest City, Northwest Oklahoma 7 – Metro Tulsa, Norman, Washington County 8 – Claremore, Elk City, Logan County, Mustang, Ponca City, South Lakes 9 – Durant, Mayes County 10 – Beaver River 14 – Owasso 15 - Chickasha, Edmond, Harrah 21 – All County, Choctaw/Nicoma Park, El Reno, Shawnee, Stillwater, Westside 22 – Tri-Lake 23 – Bristow 28 – Glenpool, Yukon
MAY
1 – Cleveland, Inola, Midwest City, NW Oklahoma 5 – Metro Tulsa, Norman, Washington County 6 – Davis, Sand Springs, Stilwell 7 – Altus, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Collinsville NOKC, Ref Committee 8 – Beaver River 12 – Owasso, Wagoner 13 – Claremore, Elk City, Logan County, Mustang, Ponca City, South Lakes 14 – Durant, Mayes County 15 – Bixby 19 – All County, Choctaw/Nicoma Park, El Reno, Shawnee, Stillwater, Westside 20 – Chickasha, Edmond, Harrah, Sapulpa 26 – Glenpool, Yukon 27 – Tri-Lake
Energy FC Partners With OSA For Free Coaching Courses Oklahoma City Energy FC, a professional soccer club in the USLPRO League, and OSA have partnered to provide free coaching courses for OSA member clubs. The announcement was made at the OSA Workshop in February by Energy FC spokesman, Jason Hawkins. Hawkins, former Assistant Director of Coaching for OSA, used the Workshop as an opportunity to share Energy FC’s commitment to the development of soccer in Oklahoma by underwriting the cost of all Youth Module I and II coaching courses as well as the USSF F and E courses.
OSA’s Director of Coaching and Player Development, Kurt Luitwieler, worked with Hawkins and Energy FC to develop the concept. According to Luitwieler, the partnership will encourage clubs across the state to host coaching courses and thereby not place an undue burden on volunteers who would like to coach but cannot afford the cost. “OSA appreciates Energy FC’s contribution to the development of coach training in Oklahoma,” says Luitwieler. For information on coaching courses available, use the OSA website at www.oksoccer.com and then the Coaches tab for Scheduled Coaching Classes. The link to those classes and the applications to attend can be found by using this link: Coaching Classes
JUNE
2 – Metro Tulsa, Norman, Washington County 3 – Davis 4 – Altus, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Collinsville, NOKC, Ref Committee 5 – Coweta, Midwest City, Northwest Oklahoma 9 – Owasso 10 – Claremore, Elk City, Logan County, Mustang, Ponca city, South Lakes 11 – Durant, Mayes County 12 – Beaver River 16 – All County, Choctaw/Nicoma Park, El Reno, Shawnee, Stillwater, Westside 17 – Chickasha, Edmond, Harrah 23 – Glenpool, Yukon 24 – Tri-Lake
Monthly Meetings
Clinton COASL - Feb & Aug Cordell Great Plains Hinton Lawton United NEOASA- Jan, June, Aug, & Dec Red Carpet Tri-City Verdigris All other clubs meet “as called.”
Kurt Luitwieler conducts an E course at Putnam City North HS. Participants were among the first to take advantage of the Energy FC Partnership.
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OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
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Class of 2014 Hall of Fame Inducted
YOUR GAME, YOUR FIELDS TULSA 5817 S. 118th East Ave. Tulsa, OK 74146 918.249.0044 SOCCERCITYTULSA.COM
OKLAHOMA CITY 4520 Old Farm Road Oklahoma City, OK 405.748.3888 SOCCERCITYOKCITY.COM
State Recreational Tournaments To Be Held at 2 Locations Oklahoma Soccer Association will host 2 locations for the Kohl’s American Cup Festival and the Mazzio’s Italian Eatery Governor’s Cup on April 5-6. The decision to offer two locations will provide teams the opportunity to participate and not face driving long distances across Oklahoma. West location: Lawton Soccer Club’s Big Green Soccer Complex East location: Tulsa United Soccer Club’s Complex Final matches in the Governor’s Cup will be played on May 10 in Broken Arrow along with the finals of the President’s Cup.
OSA’s Youth Vice President, Tom Wedding, and the members of the Youth Council wished to provide the many recreational soccer teams across Oklahoma with the opportunity to participate in the Kohl’s Festival and the Mazzio’s Governor’s Cup at convenient venues rather than alternating between the east side and west side of the state. The Kohl’s American Cup Festival is designed for U6 to U10 recreational teams to participate in a tournament that does not have a championship match. All teams play at least 3 games and without the pressure of having to win to advance. Instead, the emphasis is on fun and getting to play teams from
outside their current league or club. Every player will receive an American Cup medal for their participation in the tournament. Registration for the tournament continues through March 28. The final rounds for the teams in the Mazzio’s Italian Eatery Governor’s Cup will be played at Broken Arrow during the finals of the President’s Cup on May 10. The combined event will draw a large number of soccer teams and fans to the Indian Springs complex and will showcase the talent of Oklahoma’s soccer teams from across the state. For more information on the tournaments, use the following link: http://www.oksoccer.com/story/2014/03/07/osa-announces-2-locations-for-kohls--governors-cup/
Four gentlemen with long associations with Oklahoma Soccer were inducted Friday, February 7, 2014 at the OSA Workshop in Midwest City. Wayne Ewing, Wilbert Maximore, Ed Michaud, and John Timmons each were recognized for their contributions to soccer in Oklahoma. Below are small summaries of their many activities and roles in the growth of Oklahoma soccer.
Wayne Ewing
Wayne Ewing has been a fixture in the Oklahoma Soccer Association Referee Corps since 1982 when he helped establish club soccer in El Reno. Always a man of energy and drive when he involved himself in a project, creating soccer in El Reno became his passion and within years it would drive him to become a referee, an assignor, an assessor, an instructor, and then a State Referee. With his vast experience as an official in a game that he never played as a youngster growing up in Oklahoma City and El Reno, it was a testament to his passion for officiating that eventu-
ally led him to become the State Referee Administrator and the leader of the Oklahoma Referee Corps. A graduate of El Reno Junior College, Wayne also served his country in the Medical Corps during the Vietnam era. His military background may have provided his attention to details as a referee and a business man. 47 years ago he married his wife Pat and together with the 3 children, Laura, Anthony, and Dereck they involved themselves in soccer and Wayne’s job with Western Electric. Mentoring came naturally to Wayne and he was always working with young up and coming referees from clubs all around western Oklahoma. He would gravitate to the young refs and surprise them with supportive comments and suggestions. To facilitate guiding referees, Wayne himself began the upgrade process himself and by 1986 he was a State Referee grade 6. Within three years he achieved the highest grade a referee can get in the state: Grade 5. Then it was on to becoming an Assessor, Instructor, and Assignor. All this to improve the game, not for personal gain. His willingness to serve his fellow referees drove him to create his own sporting goods operation for soccer families. The store would provide soccer equipment to players, coaches, teams, and referees. It was not uncommon for him to discount the price to families with several players or to create team uniforms for teams and then not charge for the additional players who couldn’t afford the uniform. Wayne would park his van at an event and either sell or take orders for the materials. His desire to assist those who wished to play but weren’t financially able to play cut into his profit, but that wasn’t what drove Wayne so it mattered little to him. The high school, college, and adult
programs in Oklahoma also benefitted from Wayne’s involvement. With those organizations he officiated, assessed, and instructed while maintaining his position with El Reno Soccer Club. He was elected Vice President of the NISOA college chapter and then President. He was also a regular at indoor soccer matches and officiated many USISL games. In 2007 Wayne was asked to serve as the State Youth Referee Administrator and he gladly accepted the position working with close friend Mike Pollock who was the SRA. In 2009 Wayne suffered a medical condition that required him to resign as SYRA and which affects him to this day, but he maintains contact with many of his friends and young referees he taught and mentored for decades. For many referees he represents what hard work and determination can accomplish not only as a referee, but as a man who has found his passion.
Wilbert Maximore
Arriving in Oklahoma in 1980 to work for Amoco as a computer programmer, Wilbert Maximore quickly found a way to continue doing what he really loved: coach soccer. From a family of 17 children, Wilbert began playing soccer at the age of 4 in Paynesville, Liberia using a soccer ball of rubber and cloth, sometimes even a grapefruit. After graduating high school from Ricks Hall of Fame continued on page 6
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OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
Institute in Liberia, he joined relatives in the United States and attended college at Hunter College in New York and then Black Hills State College in South Dakota where he coached a club team. It did not take Wilbert long to find an opportunity to coach in the Tulsa area after moving to Oklahoma from Indiana. Shadow Mountain Soccer Club’s Jim Hildebrandt offered an assistant coaching position with Hildebrandt’s son and their U10 boys’ team. That became a springboard for Wilbert to teach young players the game he loves. “The skills and development of the players are important,” says Wilbert. “Each player is different and I want them to utilize their potential for their best.” Along the way Wilbert has coached boys, girls, adult men and adult women and had success at nearly every level he became involved with. He coached the Tulsa Rowdies to a Region III championship in the Over 30 women’s bracket and guided his U16 boys’ team, Sandien, to a defeat of Club American in the spring of 1988. Those accomplishments led to his selection as National Soccer Coaches Association of American to name him National Youth Coach of the Year in 1988 and to the US Youth National Coach of the Year in 1988. His skills at player development have been recognized by US Youth when they requested his input in the development of a curriculum for the U7 through U10 player. As the Tulsa soccer scene changed,
Class of 2014 Hall of Fame Wilbert created the Blitz United Soccer Club in 1993, a competitive club within Tulsa United Soccer Club to match his philosophy of teaching players soccer skills, a love of the game, and to believe in themselves. His leadership as coach, club head coach, and Director of Coaching for his club has led the club to years of accomplishments in both league play and state tournaments. Blitz United has won championships at OSA’s State Cup for 6 consecutive years, President’s Cup championships for 7 consecutive years, and had finalists in the state cup for 12 years. A tireless worker for the development of soccer in Oklahoma, Wilbert is a constant fixture at nearly every soccer event in the state where his club’s teams are playing. He enjoys discussing the game with nearly anyone who wishes to talk to him. All of this is Wilbert’s way of making the game of soccer something that players will love and will share with the generations of soccer players to come.
Ed Michaud
In 1974, Ed, Brenda, and children Mark, Dean, and Sharla, moved from Dallas to Tulsa, Oklahoma, as Ed was promoted to Oklahoma Sales Manager with Sentry Insurance. Ed enrolled his oldest son Mark into the local, south Tulsa, soccer program and became a
"soccer dad." He never thought this would be the start of a second career, in the world of soccer. Ed had previously completed a six-year USAF commitment as a C-130 navigator flying missions worldwide, including a tour of duty in Vietnam, for which he was awarded the Air Medal. In July of 1975 Ed was transferred to Midwest City, Oklahoma. Soccer was really growing and with two sons, Mark and Dean, wanting to play, Ed enrolled them with the Midwest City Club. During that era it was common for youth teams to have one of the fathers as a coach, so in 1977 when the regular coach failed to show up for a practice, Ed stepped in and as he says, "the rest is history.” He attended Oklahoma Soccer Association coaching clinics achieving a USSF D license. In the late 1970's, Midwest City had few fields to use for soccer practice much less put in goal posts for league matches. Ed had a vision to have all games played at one site and began a campaign to develop some open land behind Steed School, with help of local soccer families on the project. That site is now the 30 acre, 13 field, Midwest City Soccer Complex. In 1980, Ed became a USSF 08 level referee, progressing up to State Level 05. During this period he participated in several youth regional competitions, plus two adult regional competitions. The top level competition he was assigned to involved the professional Oklahoma City team, both outdoor and indoor leagues. Not limiting his time to refereeing, he also became an assignor, instructor, and assessor and currently serves as ASDA-West. As an administrator, Ed held several offices, including service as President of OK Country Soccer Club, Frontier Country, plus the Oklahoma Soccer Association. During his time at the helm of OSA, he visited many areas to assist new Hall of Fame continued on page 7
Inducted Four, continued clubs with coaching and referee clinics. In 1984, high school soccer hit the scene. Ed was asked to coach the Midwest City HS team. He also went before the Mid-Del School Board urging approval of soccer with other sports. The following year, 1985, OSSAA sanctioned the sport. In 1987, Ed was approached by OSSAA to serve as the Soccer Rules Interpreter for Oklahoma, a position he held for 10 years. At the college level, beginning in 1986, he was also instrumental in forming the Oklahoma City chapter of the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association which serves college soccer in the state. Ed performed as an active official for 20 years and continues his Assessor duties. In 2011 he received the Robert Sumpter Excellence in Teaching Award for his work with college level referees and in 2012 was awarded an Outstanding Service Award, by NISOA. “Starting as a soccer dad, with a sport I was not familiar with, I didn’t know what to expect. But it’s been a wonderful ride full of great memories,“ says Ed. He looks forward to retirement from soccer so he and Brenda, whom he met in college while attending Louisiana Tech, can enjoy their seven grandchildren: Taylor, Jenae, Melanie, Brandon, Ryan, Andrew, and Holly.
John Timmons
In 1981 John Timmons arrived in Oklahoma from his home state of Texas to continue coaching the two sports he loves: American football and World football (known as soccer to most Oklahomans). From 1981-1995 he was a member of OSA’s state coaching staff and worked with Hall of Fame coaches Tom Iadevaia and Ernie Brown. He spent many of those early years traveling across the state as an ODP coach and building the game of soccer by coaching players, parents, and new coaches. John and his wife, Jana, along with son Colin and daughter Erin moved to several locations in Oklahoma before settling in Bartlesville. Both children played soccer and now his granddaughter Kinlee is playing as well. Being a native of Denton, John’s first connection to soccer came from playing futbolito with foreign college students. He played while he attended the University of North Texas in Denton. Upon graduation from the university, John took up the career that he has held since – teacher. A science teacher and coach, John has taught and coached both football and soccer at Tahlequah, Pryor, Catoosa, Bartlesville, and Jenks. He also coached club soccer at many of those venues. In 1983 he volunteered to do pre-season training for the Tahlequah High School and assist in starting that club program. Not only has John coached at many locations, he has also coached club teams at Central Tulsa, Tulsa United, Tulsa Thunder, and Washington County (Bartlesville). His first club team in Oklahoma was co-coaching with Gene Jackson in Central Tulsa. John held the USSF National B Coaching license and has influenced numerous coaches and players throughout his career in Oklahoma, including Hall of Fame coach, Brian Elliott. John is recognized as a leader in the creation of varsity soccer in Oklahoma in 1985 and was one of the founders of the Oklahoma Soccer Coaches Association. John has been associated with
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Oklahoma Secondary Schools Athletic Association as a soccer advisory member since 1993 and was made a lifetime member of that board in 2010. “Soccer development in Oklahoma has improved a great deal,” says John. “Players, coaches, and officials have continued to evolve and the future is very bright.” His positive outlook on coaching, teaching, and players is infectious. His philosophy reflects that in his statement on teams: “Winning championships is great, and teams that overachieve are special. Observing socio-economic boundaries evaporate in a team sport is a life-changing experience.”
Oklahoma Soccer Association is a proud member of US Youth Soccer Association US Adult Soccer Association US Soccer and FIFA
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OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
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Tulsa Awarded 2015 US Youth National Championship
OSA Scholarship
Applications Due
Oklahoma Soccer offers high school seniors and college students who have played on OSA teams for at least three seasons within the past four years the opportunity for a scholarship. The scholarship is awarded annually at the Soccer Workshop held in January or February of each year. Generally, the scholarships are granted to seven applicants chosen based on the application and the required 500 word essay. Additionally, a certified high school transcript is also required with the application. The scholarship winner may use the funds as he/she wishes to apply toward school expenses. For the past several years, OSA has provided the winners $500 scholarships. The amount and number of scholarships may vary from year to year. The essay to accompany the application is to respond to the query: What this scholarship would mean to me. The application is available online on the OSA web site and by using the following link: OSA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
Once again, the deadline for the scholarship application is March 31, 2014.
President’s Cup and State Cup Fill May Calendar Every weekend in May will be filled this year with OSA’s state tournaments. Beginning May 3, the Mazzio’s Italian Eatery Governor’s Cup kicks off the state tournament season at Broken Arrow’s Indian Springs Soccer complex. The President’s Cup continues with finals on May 10 along with the finals of the Governor’s Cup tournament. This will mark the first combined finals for the two tournaments at one location. May 17 begins the State Cup tournament in Edmond and it will cover two weekends of action at the Edmond soccer complex. The first weekend of State (May 17-18) is a preliminary play weekend followed by the finals weekend on May 24-25. Both the President’s Cup and State Cup provide advancement to regional and possible national tournaments with US Youth Soccer. The President’s Cup winners from Oklahoma will participate in the Region III tournament held in De-
catur, Alabama June 12-15 at the Jack Allen Complex/Spirit of America Fields. Use the following link for information: President Regionals. The teams advancing from the Region III President’s Cup will play in the National Presidents Cup tournament July 10-13 in Greenville, South Carolina at the MESA Soccer Complex. To watch a video on President’s Cup and the President’s Cup National tournament, use the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjRAeNtb6g Teams participating in State Cup have the opportunity to advance to the 2014 US Youth Region III championships in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, June 19-26. Winners of the Region III tournament will play at the US Youth National Championships in Germantown, Maryland July 21-27. For information on the Regional and National championships, use the following link: US Youth National Championship Series.
Tournament Scores
The scores below are those submitted through the Tournament Evaluation Form. If a tournament is not shown, the evaluation form may not have been received at the deadline date for publication of this issue.
Highlanders Cup February 14-15 BOYS DIVISION U14 1st – Blitz United - 2 2nd – WSA - 0 U13 1st – FC Bartlesville - 3 2nd – NOW United - 0
U12 1st – NEO FC - points 2nd – Blitz United U10 1st – TSC Hurricane Benbrook - 1 2nd – Blitz United - 0 U8 1st – TSC Coleman - 2 2nd – Tulsa Nationals - 1
GIRLS DIVISION U15 1st – Bixby Sheffield Black – 2 2nd – Solar Chelsea Black - 1 U13 1st – TSC Hurricane - 2 2nd – Tulsa Nationals - 1
U12 1st – TSC Hurricane Arundell - 1 2nd – OFC White - 0 U11 1st – TSC Hurricane Williams - 1 2nd – TSC Hurricane - 0 U10 1st – Blitz United - 2 2nd – WSA - 1
Oklahoma Soccer Association is proud to announce that it will host the 2015 US Youth Soccer National Championships in Tulsa, Okla., on July 20-26 as part of the US Youth Soccer National Championships Series – the country's oldest and most prestigious national youth soccer tournament. Matches will take place at the Mohawk Soccer Complex in Tulsa, Okla. “Oklahoma Soccer Association is honored to host the 2015 US Youth Soccer National Championships,” said Tom Wedding, Youth Vice President of Oklahoma Soccer Association. “With the 96 teams attending, as well as all parents, spectators, coaches and administrators, this event will bring great economic impact to the city of Tulsa. Oklahoma Tom Wedding, Youth VP, and Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett, announce Soccer, along with Tulsa Sports ComTulsa’s Selection for 2015 US Youth National Championship. mission, look forward to showcasing a great tournament for the elite players who have earned their way to nation- ing motivation and commitment these der-14 through Under-18 Boys and Girls als.” youth players have for the game.” age groups to complete the field of 96 The National Championships are Teams participating in the US teams. the final stage of the US Youth Soccer Youth Soccer National ChampionAnnually, the US Youth Soccer NaNational Championship Series and open ships will consist of US Youth Soccer tional Championship Series provides to any US Youth Soccer member. Each Regional Champions in the Under-13 hundreds of the nation's top collegiate year, more than 10,000 coaches with the premier teams play in the National stage to identify and scout 2015 US Youth Soccer National Championships Championship Series, testthe most coveted players in ing their development and Tulsa,Oklahoma the country. skill and pursuing their For more information Mohawk Soccer Complex dreams of being one of the on the US Youth Soccer Nabest youth soccer teams in tional Championships, visit Player Luncheon: July 20 the United States. http://championships.usyRound Robin: July 21-23 "We look forward to outhsoccer.org, – the online working with the Oklahome for the US Youth SocSemi Finals: July 25 (U14-U18) homa Soccer Association cer National Championship and the Mohawk Soccer Series providing the latest Finals: July 25 (U13 & U19); July 26 (U14-U18) Complex staff next year in news, information and for a great US Youth Socmore. Follow the moments cer National Championfrom the US Youth Soccer ships,” said John Sutter, president of US through Under-19 Boys and Girls age National Championship Series on TwitYouth Soccer. “Each year, the National groups, as well as the US Youth Soccer ter and share the moments with us on Championships highlight the outstand- National League qualifiers in the Un- Facebook and Instagram.
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Adult State Cup Completed The annual Adult State Cup Championship featured seven teams of adults competing for two titles. The Division I teams played preliminaries on February 22 at the South Lakes Soccer Complex and their finals on Sunday, February 23. The Division II teams played their final on Sunday as well. Sporting OKC met St. Thomas Guerrero in the final and the outcome was 4-3 in favor of Sporting OKC. The Division I winner, Sporting OKC of Central Oklahoma Adult Soccer League will represent Oklahoma in the Adult regional competition.
The Division II winner was St. Thomas Tigres of Tulsa. They defeated OAC by a score of 6-1. Congratulations to all the teams participating and best of luck in the upcoming tournament. Division I teams St. Thomas Guerrero COASL Sporting OKC COASL Tripods FC University of Central Oklahoma University of Oklahoma Division II teams St. Thomas Tigres OAC
Sporting OKC - Champions of Division I
St. Thomas Tigres – Division II Champions
Oklahoma Sports and Orthopedics Institute is Oklahoma’s source for Orthopedic and Sports Medicine treatment. Norman: 405.360.6764 Oklahoma City: 405.552.5764 Moore: 405.793.2900 Edmond: 405.478.7111
2013-14 US Youth Soccer National League Girls Las Vegas Preview FRISCO, Texas (March 18, 2014) — The 2013-2014 US Youth Soccer National League Girls season will wrap up play March 21-23 at Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex in Las Vegas, Nev., as 48 teams — representing 17 states and 34 clubs — will play their final three games and solidify the division standings. In the Under-15 through Under-18 age groups, each division will be represented by four of the eight teams, while the Under-14 divisions will each feature all eight teams. Nine division championships are still to be decided during the final weekend of National League Girls play, and 17 total teams will punch tickets to the 2014 US Youth Soccer National Championships, held July 21-27 at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Md. “The National League seems to get harder and harder each year as the competition gets better,” said Jon Pickup, coach of Under-17 Kings Hammer Academy, which is in a three-way tie for first place heading into the final weekend of play. “I think consistency, more than anything else, is the key. You can’t afford up-and-down games because the competition is so strong.” Kings Hammer’s group, the Under-17 Red Division, may provide some of the most thrilling games in Las Vegas, as the top four teams in the division are all competing this weekend.
Each team has yet to lose a game and three of the four won all of their games in North Carolina, meaning everything is left to play for in Vegas. While there’s no telling what the outcome will be in the Under-17 Red Division, some of the other groups are a little clearer. Two former US Youth Soccer National Champions have already punched their tickets to Nationals after strong performances at the Disney Soccer Showcase in Orlando, Fla. Eclipse Elite Black 97/98 (IL) wrapped up the Under-16 Blue Division title, while BRYC 95 Elite (VA) secured at least a secondplace finish in the Under-18 Red Division. Futura Academy Forte (MO) was the only other side to solidify a berth to the National Championships, as it wrapped up a top two finish in the Under-15 Blue Division. The National League provides an avenue for teams to play in meaningful matches against top competition from across the country for continued development and opportunities for exposure at the national team, collegiate and professional levels. In addition to recruiting opportunities, the top two finishers from each division (Blue and Red) will earn a ticket to the 2014 US Youth Soccer National Championships, making each match valuable to the team's fate as it could make or break their chance at competing for the National Championship. The top two fin-
ishers in the Under-14, 15, 16 and 17 age groups will also earn an automatic spot in the 2014-2015 National League season. “Our goal each year is to make it to Nationals by finishing first or second in the National League. We were fortunate the last two years. We won the league in our first year and then came in second last year,” Pickup said. “Ideally, we’d love to win the league. Realistically, coming in first or second in such a competitive environment is great and gets us where we need to be come July.” The Kings Hammer coach said he and his team are looking forward to the challenge they’ll face in Las Vegas, and he thinks it should be an exciting weekend for all of the teams — adding that these are the type of games competitors want to play in. But with the level of talent on each team, there’s little room for error. “You really need to have a strong squad, which has been important for us the last two years and this year. We are 16, 17 or 18 players strong,” Pickup said. “When people are tired, we have ability to put players on the field and stay at a high level. In some of the other leagues, you can put anybody on the field for the most part and win games. That’s not the case in the National League, which is fun for everybody involved.”
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Veterans Cup Returns To Virginia Beach The 2014 Veterans Cup will be moving back to the east coast this year, and Virginia Beach will be the host for this event the next two years. The location of the facility is at Hampton Road
Soccer Complex (http://soccercomplex.org/) and next year’s tournament dates are July 8-13, 2014. We do expect a record breaking team attendance at this new venue.
Above are the Oklahoma team members who traveled to San Diego in June of 2012 to play in the 15th annual Veterans Cup. Led by Damon Fell, the team captured the Over 60 bracket. CONGRATULATIONS!
The 2012 Veteran’s Cup Men’s Over 60 bracket was won by Oklahoma United in their match against Fichte Rams of South Carolina by a score of 4-1. This year’s tournament will feature expanded divisions with the addition of Over-70 men, and two new coed divisions, Over-30 and Over-40. We’ll also introduce a new format, 8v8, for our Over-70 men and Over-64 women divisions. In order to ensure an efficient scheduling of tournament matches we’ll be capping the divisions. Teams registering after a division is full will be placed on hold until there’s a sufficient number of teams to form an additional group. Registration is now open! Visit the website-http://usasa.leagueapps.com/ tournaments/22214-2014-veteranscup to register. If you plan to register teams in multiple divisions or need assistance, please contact: Kevin Frusti (kfrusti@ usasa.com, 708-496-6872).
IN MY OPINION
Are We Failing To Develop Ball Skills? By Wayne Trail
I have been coaching my daughter’s recreational/competitive soccer team for the last 12 years. She is a junior in high school now (U19) and I’ll be riding off into the sunset shortly. But first I’d like to make a few observations. Of the girls I see in competitive and recreational soccer in western and central Oklahoma, most have these characteristics: 1) they have been playing for ten or more years, 2) they love the game, and 3) their ball skills are horrible. Despite what I would call Herculean efforts by the Oklahoma Soccer Association’s coaches training program, we as coaches are failing
these kids. The primary failure is in skill (technical) development. If you want to assess your daughter’s soccer coach, here is a simple procedure: Go to training session (a practice) and watch the players who don’t have the ball. Then ask yourself this question: Is their time being used efficiently? Even a casual observer who has never played (or even seen) soccer can see the answer to this question is, in almost all cases, “no.” The vast majority of soccer coaches (recreational, competitive, or school soccer) fail this test. Miserably. For most of the practice players wait in long lines (four, five,
ten, twenty players deep) for a couple of touches, or they are put in extremely low-touch activities with a large group of players, such as a scrimmage or worse (laps, anyone?). In fact, across Oklahoma we don’t have soccer practices, we have waiting practices. Imagine going to your daughter’s music class and seeing a long line of students standing outside the band room each holding their instrument. Students enter the room one at a time, play three notes, have a short discussion with the instructor, then go back to the end of the line. Now imagine In My Opinion, see page 13
IN MY OPINION, story continued from page 12 this goes on day after day after day. It sounds ridiculous, but it is how our soccer coaches teach. Almost all of them. It’s inexcusable. Some coaches think they can develop skill by just playing a busy games schedule— throwing tournaments and scrimmages on top of league play. So let’s ask: how much “ball-time” does each player get in a typical soccer game? Assume each team has only 11 players so everyone plays the whole game. If the game is 90 minutes, then 90 minutes divided by 22 players (both teams) is about four minutes of ball-time per player. 4 minutes. That is assuming the ball is never out of bounds and there are no stoppages and no substitute players: 4 minutes on the ball. (The actual average time on the ball is between one and two minutes per player.) Can we agree that even four minutes is not enough time to improve a player’s ballskill? This is why, as regards skill development, the games hardly matter. But the practices sure do! While it’s difficult to find exact touch recommendations for training sessions, I’ve seen a thousand touches for a practice that lasts 60 to 90 minutes as a reasonable number in articles on USSF and FIFA websites. That’s at least 30 minutes of ball time per player. Yet I’ve watched two and a half hour high school practices in which the players got about 150 touches (I counted). That’s an average of one touch per minute. (Try that in your back yard without falling into a coma.) It would take seven straight days of these practices to get to 1000 touches. Then during the games we listen to the coaches holler “We need better touches ladies!” I’ve seen coaches make their players run laps if their touches were poor. Genius. Many coaches think increasing the time on the ball (or the “touch count”) is simply about including small-sided games in their practices. However, running one 2v2 activity is no different than one 10v10 activity as far as time on the ball is concerned! If you take twenty
minutes to run one 2v2 activity with twenty players, cycling players in and out, the average player gets one minute on the ball. ONE MINUTE! It’s no different than if you run a 10v10 activity for 20 minutes. This kind of coaching turns a ninety practice into less than 5 minutes on the ball with one hour twenty five minutes off the ball. Any time players are waiting it is a failure in coaching. Period. There is no excuse. Practice must start with activities in which every player has a ball. Freezetag, sharks and fishes, and knock-outs (non-elimination variants) are old stand-bys; and don’t tell me your players are too old for these, I’ve seen Olympic teams playing them. If you don’t like them (or more importantly, if your players don’t like them), there are plenty of 1-ball-per-player activities—consult Google/Youtube. For example, Google/ Youtube “1000 touch soccer practice” and you’ll find articles and videos on activities. Twenty minutes of 1-ball-perplayer activities is time-on-ball equivalent to about ten 90-minute games! Only after some 1-ball-per-player time should you go to 1 ball per 2 or 3 players. Notice this transition cuts in half (or thirds) the time each player gets on the ball—do not skip one ball per player! There are many pairs activities (I like to set up a grid of eight or ten 1v1 games--again, consult the Web), but the key is to make sure all (or most) of your players are involved. Just remember to have enough stations that there is no (or very little) waiting! Coaches need realize that the players are pretty good at teaching each other—without the coach’s oversight. Half a dozen 2v2 games (or 3v1 keep away) can be going at the same time with all the players involved, and even though the coach isn’t at the center of the action, the players will improve. Steadily. Furthermore, this affords the coach the opportunity to work on problems with individual players without bringing practice to a halt. Soccer coaches
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should think of their players as employees in their business. What business would have employees standing in long lines waiting to work? And why would they put employees in activities that waste 90 percent of their time? Often, the greatest obstacle between a player and success is the coach. Get out of the way! Wayne K. Trail is an assistant professor of physics at Southwestern Oklahoma State University who occasionally directs and teaches middle school summer science camps. He, like most coaches, was brought to soccer (unwillingly) by his children and has developed a love for the game. If he knows anything about coaching, it is to the credit of the Oklahoma Soccer Association instructors. He may be contacted at wayne.trail@swosu.edu. Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in the above article are those of the author and not necessarily those of either OSA or US Youth.
Check out the Oklahoma Soccer Association website for information, forms and updates.
oksoccer.com
14 OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
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SCORE
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I’m not sure when I developed a mole affliction. Perhaps it was back when my young soccer players would arrive at the fields and would find multiple mounds of dirt piled up in the middle of the practice area. I would line up the players shoulder to shoulder and have them stomp through the piles like an inept bunch of Irish dancers. While our approach didn’t really accomplish much but provide entertainment for the boys, the ground was level for a day. By the next practice our field was again dotted with mole hills. At this point I began to have my first thoughts of Bill Murray and his war with gophers in Caddy Shack. But I reminded myself that gophers are not moles and that dynamite was not an acceptable tool for use on a soccer field. However, when I spent a considerable amount of money two years ago to landscape my home with a sprinkler
system, flower beds, and sod for the front yard the invasion of the moles brought me to full scale affliction. The moles became my primary target for anger and retribution replacing the squirrels who constantly empty my bird feeders and chew on the eaves of my house. To quote Bugs Bunny, “You know, this means war.” So just a few weeks ago I ventured to the Tulsa Home and Garden Show to listen to a man who called himself The Molenator and guaranteed that you could rid your yard of the pesky little critters. He began by asking how many of us had tried various methods of mole control such as pouring water down the holes, poison peanuts, smoke bombs, and poison worms. Everyone in the audience, including me, raised our hands. He also asked if we had tried pitchforks and/or firearms. I cautiously looked around and saw several hands go up. Now, I did once use a spade to whack a mole that a neighbor’s dog had somehow dug out of the mole’s run, but I have no pitchfork and I don’t think my BB gun qualifies as a real firearm. His final question was “Did
any of those efforts succeed in ending your mole problems?” Of course not, because we wouldn’t be in the audience if they had. Then the talk turned to his methodology for terminating the invaders on my property. He shared that he too had tried all of the above mentioned methods to no avail and then met a woman who gave him the secret. Basically, it’s a way to locate their most current runs and use a device that will cease their activity. In other words, kill the moles. I bought his package of devices which included a DVD and a link to a website where I can share the number of moles I have eliminated. Don’t know that I will pursue that, but as spring arrives I will engage the enemy and attempt to defeat them. If I am successful I may return to one of those practice fields and see if my skills can be applied there. I envision a soccer field without mole hills. And then it will be back to the squirrels. (Editor’s note: No moles or squirrels were harmed in the writing of this article.)
Playing in Stressful Matches
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A youth coach wrote in with these comments and question: "A few of the boys I coach in soccer (U13) tend to feel the stress when playing highly competitive games in Division I. Despite trying to reassure them and instill confidence, they tend to freeze up and not play fluidly. This causes them to make mistakes, which only makes the situation worse – they then further lose confidence in their abilities and the cycle continues. When they play games that aren’t high stakes they relax, have fun, and play well. That helps restore some of their confidence.
I try and use those low stakes games as examples for them but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I've also tried positive visualizations (having them picture in their minds & speak out loud how they will play) which has helped a little at times. Do you have any advice to help reach these boys? I know they can do it – they don’t seem to know it though. Thanks!" The scenario described with young players who are learning how to compete is not unusual. That the coach is already practicing visualization is a wonderful step toward help-
ing the players cope with game day stress. I suggest adding to the self-talk and team talk the mantra of the US National Teams – respect everyone, fear no one. Learning to play against quality competition is an ongoing effort with players moving up in the levels see Stressful Matches, page 16
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Stressful Matches, continued from page 15 of play. Just look at the first day of matches of the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup with the successes of Martinique and Panama. In two matches, the lower ranked team knocked off the higher ranked team. This U13 team could draw inspiration from such performances. Here are a few suggestions to build up the team’s performance and confidence: Play training matches versus older teams. Play three 25 minute periods. In this way the coach can change the lineup and/or formation between each period. The coaches should be the referees during this training match so that they can speak to players during the run of play. Playing against a team that is one or two years older will help the younger team to deal with a faster game both physically and mentally. When they then go back to a match versus their own age group the game speed will seem easier to manage. In training sessions, play more two touch and one touch small-sided games (2 vs. 2 up to 8 vs. 8) to get the players accustomed to thinking and playing faster. Speed of play is mostly mental (tactical decision making) and secondarily physical (technical speed and physical movement). In training sessions, build the team up to a full field game of two touch for a 10 minute stretch. The coach might have to gradually increase the length of time literally one minute per training session.
Continue training on visualization. Now add a trigger word. Develop a refocusing technique helps to trigger mental focus to a controlled state of mind. The trigger word helps the player to forget about a mistake just made or to calm oneself just before a stressful moment, such as taking a corner kick. Practice the trigger word by spelling it out in one’s mind during the day of the match. Try the word “support”, which is important for all players to do for their teammates whether attacking or defending and regardless of their position in the team formation. Even during the match when a player senses distress then spell “support” out in the mind and/or say it out loud. The use of the word “support” is a great example of the effective use of a self-talk trigger word used to remain focused during difficult moments in the match. Self-talk refers to the internal dialogue that occurs in one’s mind, such as the instructions or encouragement that a player gives to oneself. Players’ thoughts occur often and are very automatic; for this reason rather than trying to eliminate all thoughts during a match a coach should try to work with players on managing their thoughts. When players begin to doubt themselves or tell themselves what “not” to do, it tends to lead to poor performances and mistakes. By having
a go-to trigger word, it gives the player the skill needed to counter their unproductive thoughts. By replacing the negative talk with their trigger word, they are able to remain focused on the skills needed to be successful. During a match, point out to the players the small victories they are achieving: • A pass well received • A tackle made for possession • An intelligent off-the-ball run • Good communication with a teammate • Constantly looking around the field for tactical cues • Tactically good positioning • Acts of good sportsmanship Remind them that their anxiety stems from their competitive drive. That’s a good thing. Now refocus that drive onto individual performance, not on the outcome of the match. Did I make positive comments to my teammates throughout the match? Did I consistently make recovery runs when we were defending? Did I work hard to move to be in the right place to support my teammates? Did I consistently visualize myself making good passes/distribution to my teammates?
Referee Registration for 2014 Ends The training for new referees in 2014 will close by April 1, according to the State Referee Committee. “We began offering recertification classes and new 09 and 08 classes at the end of July, “says Dale Watts, State Director of Instruction. “The registration cycle for 2015 will begin in late July of 2014 and if someone wishes to attend a referee course, the classes will be posted online on the OSA web site at www.oksoccer.com
The SRC plans to host at least two more recertification courses before the end of March to provide referees who have waited until the season began to recertify. “We plan to hold those two courses in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metro areas so that referees can complete their registration for 2014,” says Watts. Referee registration is from January 1 to December 31 of each year. All registration for recertification and new classes is now done online using the OSA website.
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U23 Adult Cup Tournament Set for June The US Men Under-23 Cup was first established in 1997. This is an open competition, which means that both amateur and professional registered players may participate. The US Men Under-23 Cup Tournament will be played at the Ukrainian American Sport Center in Horsham, Pennsylvania June 13-15, 2014. The format for 2014 is an open tournament. Any affiliated team of a US Adult Soccer member state association, national league or regional league may apply for the Cup. Registration is limited to the first 16 teams that complete registration and payment of the fee. To be eligible, all players must be duly registered through their state association or national/regional league. Play-
ers born on or after August 1, 1990 are eligible for U23 registration. The expected format is group play with teams playing on Friday & Saturday, including semifinals. The final will
take place on Sunday. The team manager will be expected to arrive Thursday evening, June 12, to sign in the team. The DEADLINE to register for the Cup is May 5.
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- Oklahoma Soccer Association -
SANCTIONED TOURNAMENTS 2014 Not a final listing – some applications are still pending
March 28-30, 2014 Orange Leaf Invitational Host: Norman Youth Soccer Association All US Soccer affiliated teams Norman, OK Fields: NYSA Soccer Complex Web site: www.normansoccer.org Contact: Dustin Hooker Phone: 479-659-4353 Email: nysatournaments@yahoo.com U8-U20 Academy Boys & Girls U11-U12 Competitive Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Bill Pevarnik Email: wpevarnik@att.net
April 4-6, 2014 WSA Cup
Host: West Side Alliance SC All US Soccer affiliated teams Sand Springs, OK Fields: RiverCity Parks & West Bank Web site: www.wsasoccer.org Contact: Roger Bush Phone: 918-629-4476 Email: rogerwsa@aol.com U8 – U10 Academy Boys & Girls U11 – U19 Competitive Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Roger Bush Email: rogerwsa@aol.com
April 11-13, 2014 Lexus Tulsa Cup
Host: TSC Hurricane All US Soccer affiliated teams Jenks, OK Fields: Metro Tulsa and Indian Springs Soccer Complex Web site: www.tschurricane.com Contact: Jim Tindell 918-688-9071 Email: jimtindell@me.com U8 – U10 Academy Boys & Girls U11 – U19 Competitive Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Michael Naumann Email: bassignor@hotmail.com
April 11-13, 2014 Spring Spectacular
Host: Midwest City All US Soccer affiliated teams Midwest City, OK Fields: Midwest City Soccer complex Web site: www.mwcsoccer.org Contact: Tom Odhiambo 405-209-8632 Email: coaching@mwcsoccer.org U8 – U10 Academy Boys & Girls U6 – U16 Recreational Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: David Moore Email: coaching@mwcsoccer.org
April 25-27, 2014 Blitz United Spring Classic Host: Blitz United SC All US Soccer affiliated teams Tulsa, OK Fields: Mohawk Soccer Complex in Tulsa Web site: www.blitzunited.org Contact: Robbie Mitchell 918-691-7404 U11-19 Competitive Boys & Girls
April 25-27, 2014 10th Annual Spring Recreational Tournament Host: Broken Arrow Soccer Club All US Soccer affiliated teams Broken Arrow, OK Fields: Indian Springs Sports Complex Web site: www.bascok.com Contact: Scott Hamilton Phone: 918-258-5770 Email: basc@hamiltoncorner.net U6 – U19 Recreational Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Mike Naumann Email: bassignor@hotmail.com
April 25-27, 2014 Spring Twister
Host: South Lakes SC All US Soccer affiliated teams Oklahoma City, OK Fields: South Lakes Soccer Comlex Web site: www.southlakessoccer.com Contact: Brent Gatewood Phone: 405-919-5263 Email: bslsccosmos@yahoo.com U6-U19 Recreational Boys & Girls U8-U10 Academy Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Bill Pevarnik Email: wpevarnik@att.net
May 3-4, 2014 Spring Fling
Host: Lawton Soccer Club US Youth Soccer teams only Lawton, OK Fields: Big Green Soccer Complex Web site: www.lawtonsoccerclub.org Contact: Gene Minietta Phone: 580-429-0896 Email: miniettag@aol.com U6 – U14 Recreational Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Brandon Neris Email: brandon@lawtonsoccerclub.org
May 10-11, 2014 Spring Recreational Tournament Host: Clinton SC Contact: Lucas Martinez Email: martinezb21@yahoo.com
May 31-June 1, 2014 Kick-it 3v3
Host: Union SC All US Soccer affiliated teams Tulsa, OK Fields: Bill Boevers Complex Web site: www.kickit3v3.com Contact: David Dexter Phone: 918-798-6028 Email: dexterb@aol.com National contact: Laura Leber Email: lleber@nasportsgroup.com Phone: 303-948-7108 U6 – U18 Rec. & Competitive Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Nancy Cornett Email: usc.area.referee@tulsacoxmail.com
- Oklahoma Soccer Association -
SANCTIONED TOURNAMENTS 2014 Not a final listing – some applications are still pending
August 15-17, 2014 Beat the Heat
Host: Edmond Soccer Club All US Soccer affiliated teams Edmond, OK Fields: Edmond Soccer Complex Web site: www.edmondsoccer.com/tourn_ts_php Contact: James L. Soesbee Phone: 405-409-2324 Email: soccer999999@sbcglobal.net Referee Assignor: Brandon Story Email: bstory4@gmail.com
August 29-31, 2014 BASC Labor Day Tournament
Host: Broken Arrow SC All US Soccer affiliated teams Broken Arrow, OK Fields: Indian Springs Sports Complex Web site: www.bascok.com Contact: Scott Hamilton Phone: 918-258-5770 Email: basc@hamiltoncorner.net U8-U10 Academy Boys & Girls U6-U19 Recreational Boys & Girls U11-U19 Competitive Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Mike Naumann Email: bassignor@hotmail.com
September 19-21, 2014 Cosmos Cup Host: Southlakes SC All US Soccer affiliated teams Oklahoma City, OK Fields: South Lakes Soccer Complex Web site: www.southlakessoccer.com Contact: Brent Gatewood Phone: 405-919-5263 Email: bslsccosmos@yahoo.com U11-U18 Competitive Boys & Girls U8-U10 Academy Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Bill Pevarnik Email: wpevarnik@att.net
October 3-4, 2014 Festival de Futball
Host: NOKC Soccer Club All US Soccer affiliated teams Oklahoma City, OK Fields: NOKC fields Contact: Gary Boreham Phone: 405-701-5353 Email: borehamsoccer@cox.net U6 - U19 Recreational Boys & Girls U8-U10 Academy Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Brett Dobie Email: referee@NOKCSoccer.com
November 8-9, 2014 Frost Ya Fanny
Host: Lawton Soccer Club US Youth Soccer teams only Lawton, OK Fields: Big Green Soccer Complex Web site: www.lawtonsoccerclub.org Contact: Gene Minietta Phone: 580-429-0896 Email: miniettag@aol.com U6 – U14 Recreational Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Brandon Neris Email: brandon@lawtonsoccerclub.org
November 7-9, 2014 Turkey Shootout
Host: Edmond Soccer Club All US Soccer affiliated teams Edmond, OK Fields: Edmond Soccer complex Web site: www.edmondsoccer.com/tourn_ts.php Contact: James L. Soesbee Phone: 405-409-2324 Email: soccer999999@sbcglobal.net U7-U10 Academy Boys & Girls U6-U19 Recreational Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Brandon Story Email: bstory4@gmail.com
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November 14-16, 2014 BASC 33rd Annual Recreational Tournament
All US Soccer affiliated teams Broken Arrow, OK Fields: Indian Springs Sports Complex Web site: www.bascok.com Contact: Scott Hamilton Phone: 918-258-5770 Email: bascsw@cox.net U6-U19 Recreational Boys & Girls U8-U10 Academy Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Mike Naumann Email: bassignor@hotmail.com
November 22-23, 2014 adidas Sam Shannon Showcase
Host: TSC Hurricane Soccer Club All US Soccer affiliated teams Jenks, OK Fields: Metro Tulsa and Indian Springs Soccer Complex Web site: www.tschurricane.com Contact: Jim Tindell 918-688-9071 Email: jimtindell@me.com U8 – U10 Academy Boys & Girls U11 – U19 Competitive Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Michael Naumann Email: bassignor@hotmail.com
KIDS’ PAGE
20 OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
Knock Knock Jokes Knock-knock. Who’s there? Irish. Irish who? Irish I had a million dollars. Knock-knock! Who’s there? Cows. Cows who? Cows go “Moo”, not “Who”! Knock-knock! Who’s there? Hatch. Hatch who? Bless you!
Tongue Twisters Check out this list of hard to say tongue twisters. Try saying them as fast as you can three times in a row. Pronounce them clearly. If you can say all of them, then you’re better than most of us. Some of these tongue twisters are tough!!!! A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk, but the stump thunk the skunk stunk. One-one was a race horse. Two-two was one too. One-one won one race. Two-two won one too. Smelly shoes and socks shock sisters. Each Easter Eddie eats eighty Easter eggs.
JOKES
Q: What does an octopus wear in the winter? A: A coat of arms. Q: What do porcupines say after they kiss? A: Ouch! Q: What does a cat like to eat on a hot summer’s day? A: A mice cream cone.
Q: What did the duck say when he bought lipstick? A: Put it on my bill.
March Puzzle
This issue of the Smoke Signals will feature questions from Isaac Asimov’s Super Quiz. Answer the three questions and email your answers! Answer the questions, and then email your three answers to OSA, at oksoccer@oksoccer.com It’s perfectly fine to get help from your parents and siblings. Good luck and we’ll have a drawing of the entries to determine who wins the contest for March. The winner will receive a free t-shirt from OSA.
TOPIC: Geography
Sample question: Which Great Lake has no Canadian shoreline? Answer: Lake Michigan.
Here are your three questions to answer: 1. On which island did Napolean die? 2. Which country of South America is last alphabetically? 3. Until 1954, this island was the busiest U.S. immigration inspection station.
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