SMOKE SIGNALS
SMOKE SIGNALS
AUGUST 2014
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
OKLAHOMA CITY
STATE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS TULSA TO HOST US YOUTH NATIONALS COACHING COURSES & LICENSES NEW REF INSTRUCTORS
TULSA
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Oklahoma Soccer Association
OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 35174, Tulsa, OK 74153-0174, 800-347-3590 • WWW.OKSOCCER.COM Tulsa Office: 9820 E. 41st Street,, Suite 115, Tulsa 74146, 918-627-2663 Oklahoma City Office: 4520 Old Farm Road, Oklahoma City, OK 73162, 405-286-0488
IN THIS ISSUE Sport Networking Spain Returns to Oklahoma. . . . 4 Tulsa Selected Site US Youth Championships . . . . . . . 5 Nate Hopkins SYRA. . . . . 6 State Cup & President’s Cup Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Coaching Courses and Licenses . . . . . . . . 8 State Cup Champions. . 9-18 Award Nominations . . . . 19
Executive Committee Chairman
William Aven Vice President – Youth Council
Tom Wedding
Vice President – Adult Council
Tek Tsegay
Secretary/Treasurer
Sean McKelvey Secretary
Sid Goodrich Vice President - Games, Discipline, & Appeals
Max Tilford
Vice President – Risk Management
Michael Naumann
State Referee Administrator
Paul Scott
Youth Council Vice President
Tom Wedding
Goalkeeper Bootcamp. . . 20
Vice-President – Youth Recreational
Referee News. . . . . 22-24
Vice-President – Youth Competitive
Tournaments. . . . . . . . 25
Keith Ash ---
District 1 Vice President
David Perry
District 2 Vice President
Jim Weir
District 3 Vice President
OSA Smoke Signals Story Submissions OSA 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.
Kathy Mead
District 4 Vice President
Janet Cooper
East Vice President Competitive
Shawn Slater
West Vice President Competitive
Mickey Weatherly SYRA
Nate Hopkins
Adult Council Vice President
Tek Tsegay
Vice President – Adult Competitive & Tournament
Sonny Dalesandro Secretary/Registrar
Paul Scott
Editor
Dale Watts Layout & Design- Sandy Bent
SMOKE SIGNALS
Calendar
For upcoming Tournaments, Coaching classes, or Referee courses, visit the OSA website link for events – click here
CLUB MEETING DATES AUGUST
2 – Referee fitness & Recert @ Stillwater 4 – Metro Tulsa, Norman, Washington County 5 – Davis 6 - Altus, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Collinsville, NOKC 7 – Midwest City, Northwest Oklahoma 11 – Owasso 12 – Claremore, Elk City, Logan County, Muskogee, Mustang, Ponca City, South Lakes 13 – Durant, Mayes County 14 – Beaver River 18 – All County, Choctaw/Nicoma Park, El Reno, Shawnee, Stillwater, Westside 19 – Chickasha, Edmond, Harrah, Sapulpa 21 – Bixby 25 – Glenpool, Yukon 26 – Tri-Lake 27 – Bristow
SEPTEMBER
1 – Labor Day – (meetings may be moved) Metro Tulsa, Norman, Washington County 2 – Davis, Sand Springs 3 – Altus, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Collinsville, NOKC 4 – Coweta, Cleveland 8 – Owasso 9 – Claremore, Elk City, Logan County, Muskogee, Mustang, Ponca City, South Lakes 10 – Durant, Mayes County 11 – Beaver River 15 – Atoka, Choctaw/Nicoma Park, El Reno, Shawnee, Stillwater, Westside 16 – Chickasha, Edmond, Harrah 22 – Glenpool, Yukon 23 – Tri-Lake
Governor’s Cup and Kohl’s American Cup Move to November 1-2 Oklahoma’s state recreational championship tournament, the Mazzio’s Governor’s Cup, and the Kohl’s American Cup will return to a fall venue this year. Citing requests from many sources to move the two tournaments from a spring offering to one in the fall, the Youth Division of OSA has determined to place the two tournaments on the first weekend of November. Two reasons for the change: 1) more opportunities for the older teams to participate; and 2) the reduction of multiple weekends of state tournaments that have been running from April through May. Due to high school league play in the spring, many clubs do not register U16 through U19 teams for spring play. When the Governor’s Cup was played in the fall, many older squads participated in the tournament.
OCTOBER
1– Altus, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Collinsville, NOKC 2 – Midwest City, Northwest Oklahoma 6 – Metro Tulsa, Norman, Washington County 7 – Davis, Stilwell 8 – Durant, Mayes County 9 – Beaver River 13 – Owasso 14 – Claremore, Elk City, Logan County, Mustang, Ponca City, South Lakes 20 – Atoka, Choctaw/Nicoma Park, El Reno, Shawnee, Stillwater, Westside 21 – Chickasha, Edmond, Harrah 22 – Tri-Lake 27 – Glenpool, Yukon 31 – Halloween
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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.”
Over the past several years, the spring state tournament season ran as long as six weekends in a row. With the American and Governor’s Cup moving to the fall and the Adult state tournament in February, the remaining two state tournaments (President’s Cup and State Cup) will occupy four weekends of play. This reduction in weekends of play allows for referees and OSA more time to prepare for the state’s largest tournaments. “We have seen a considerable number of our referees endure stress from not only physical demands but domestic stress when they are away from home six weekends or more,” says State Youth Referee Administrator Nate Hopkins. Allowing time between the major tournaments is beneficial to OSA volunteers and staff as well. “The biggest demand on OSA is during the months of April and May,” says Dale Watts, Director of Publications for OSA. “To have extra time to prepare will allow us to better serve the tournaments and the teams, players, and coaches.” Applications to host available online at http://www. oksoccer.com/tournaments/ hosting_state_tournament. aspx
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OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
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
Sport Networking Spain Returns To Oklahoma
Albert Rude, Eric Lira, Jaime Fortuno Vidal
As many of you may know, recently OSA brought in our friends from Sport Networking Spain to our OSA workshop to share the Coach and Player Development Methodology they use in Barcelona. The coaches and players who were able to attend the workshop events enjoyed the experience and wanted more. OSA is pleased to announce that we have arranged with them to take time out of an America/ Canada Tour to share more of their expertise with our Oklahoma Members!
OKLAHOMA WORKSHOPS Postponed to December in conjuction with ODP Training
be addressing the modern trend toward what is called Functional Training and how to bring that to your teams/players for ages 13 and up.
Watch the OSA website for registration costs and more details. Organization: (both cities will have the same schedules) • 8:30am–11:30am:Working with young players from ages 8 to 10 and from ages 10 - 12. • 2pm – 5pm: Coaches Methodology. This methodology will
• 6pm – 8pm: Elite players training. We will be working with players from ages 13 - 15 and ages 15 – 17. (Same time, just two groups.)
SPORT NETWORKING STAFF: You can click on the names below for information on the coach.
Albert Rude Eric Lira Jaime Fortuño Vidal
SMOKE SIGNALS
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Tulsa Selected As Host Of 2015 US Youth National Championships US Youth Soccer is proud to announce the dates and locations for the Regional and National Championships of the 2015 US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, the country’s oldest and most prestigious national youth soccer tournament. After another banner year in 2014, the 2015 US Youth Soccer National Championships will be held at the Mohawk Soccer Complex in Tulsa, Okla. “We are excited to host the 2015 US Youth Soccer National Championships in Tulsa, Okla., and look forward to working with the Oklahoma Soccer Association and the complex staff,” said John Sutter, President of US Youth Soccer. “Each year, more than 10,000 teams play in our National Championship Series as teams test their development and skill;
earning their way from state to regional events, with the ultimate goal of earning a ticket to the US Youth Soccer National Championships. The event continues to get better each year, and we expect Tulsa to help make the 2015 National Championships a great experience for the players.” The US Youth Soccer National Championships will consist of US Youth Soccer Regional Champions in the Under-13 through Under-19 Boys and Girls age groups as well as the US Youth Soccer National League qualifiers in the Under-14 through Under-18 Boys and Girls age groups to complete the field of 96 teams. Each year brings about new challenges and highlights the motivation and commitment of these youth as they continue pursuing their dreams
2015 US Youth Soccer Region III Championships Little Rock, AR - Burns Park Soccer Complex Opening Ceremony: June 18 Round Robin: June 19- 21 Quarters: June 22 (U14, U15, U16) Semis/Quarters: June 23 (Semifinals U13 & U19/ and Quarters U17 & U18) Finals/Semis: June 24 (Finals U13 & U19/ Semis U14-U18) Finals: June 25 (Finals U14-U18)
of being one of the best youth soccer teams in the United States. The National Championships are the final stage of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series and open to any US Youth Soccer member. The U.S. Soccer Federation initiated the open youth championships with the James P. McGuire Cup, the oldest trophy in youth sport, (Under-19 Boys) in 1935 and the tradition continues in 2015 with the McGuire Cup’s 80th anniversary. Annually, the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series provides the nation's top collegiate coaches with the premier stage to identify and scout the most coveted players in the country. In 2014, more than 700 coaches attended the US Youth Soccer Regional and National Championships.
2015 US Youth Soccer National Championships Mohawk Soccer Complex - Tulsa, Oklahoma Player Luncheon: July 20, 2015 Round Robin: July 21-23, 2015 Semi Finals: July 25 (U14-U18) Finals: July 25 (U13 & U19); July 26 (U14-U18)
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
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OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
Nate Hopkins Named SYRA The OSA Youth Vice President Tom Wedding has announced the appointment of Nate Hopkins to the position of State Youth Referee Administrator. Nate will fill the office that has been vacant for more than a year and has already attended the 2014 Regionals with the referees and assessors. Nate entered the referee corps as an 09 referee in 1994 and gained his 08 badge the next year. In 2004 he became an 07 grade referee and two years later achieved the State 06 badge which he held for seven years before becoming a State Emeritus. Nate also assesses matches for USSF and OSA and became a State Assessor in 2013. With his many skills as referee, assessor, assignor, and instructor, Nate certainly qualifies for the task of leading the Oklahoma referees as their Youth Administrator. Nate’s
primary duties include administering referees at all youth leagues and tournaments. He will be the person in charge at the OSA state recreational and competitive tournaments as well as main contact for US Youth Soccer when the National Championships are held in Tulsa in 2015. Congratulations to Nate on his appointment and the referee corps wishes him the best as he assumes the leadership role as SYRA in Oklahoma.
Visit Oklahoma Soccer Association website for more information, forms and updates.
www.oksoccer.com
Tamara Cherry and Nima Saghafi Officiate US Youth National Tournament Two Oklahoma referees were in Maryland at the US Youth National Championships in June. Tamara Cherry and Nima Saghafi worked the national championships. Tamara drew the U18 girls semi-final and Nima officiated the U18 boys semi-final. Neither were able to work the finals due to the teams in both were from Region III. Great job Tamara and Nima and thanks for representing Oklahoma and Oklahoma Referees. To right: Referees at the US Youth National Championships group photo. Tamara and Nima are the last two refs on the right side of row two.
SMOKE SIGNALS
SCORE
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OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
State Cup and President’s Cup Dates Announced
Youth Division President, Tom Wedding, announced the dates for the upcoming spring state tournaments. With the change of dates to November for the recreational state championships, the competitive tournament schedule was given some leeway in its assignment of dates. According to the Youth Council, a concern of the past state cup schedule was the conflict players had with high school playoffs and
senior events. By moving the preliminary games for both the President’s Cup and State Cup to April, the majority of the older teams will have fewer conflicts with those allimportant senior events. The weekend of May 15-17 will be left open for high school playoffs. It will also provide a weekend off for coaches, players, referees, and tournament administrators. Clubs are now being sought to host the tournaments. “OSA is con-
sidering ways to continue to improve both State Cup and Presidents Cup. We are looking at 2016 to change the format and weekends for 2016,” says Wedding. “OSA is accepting bids for these weekends,” says Wedding. “Also the application will be online soon for those wanting to register and save money by registering early. Locations have not been set. OSA hopes to have most of this in place by Fall.”
2015 State Cup and President’s Cup Tournaments Dates
April 18-19 Preliminaries Presidents Cup U17-U18 Preliminaries State Cup U17-18
May 8-9 Finals Presidents Cup all ages. (Play entire weekend) U11-16 State Cup Prelims
May 1-3 Preliminaries Presidents Cup U11-16 State Cup U17-18 (1 Game/day)
May 15-17 NO PLAY, HIGH SCHOOL PLAY OFFS
May 22-25 Finals State Cup U11-16, Also Under 19’s entire weekend depending on teams.
Coaching Courses & Licenses Each fall OSA offers numerous coaching courses for its members. Thanks to Energy FC, Youth Modules I & II as well as the USSF E course is paid for and free to OSA members. For those non-members, the fees are listed on the OSA website for each course. The courses are listed on the OSA website link for you: http:// w w w. o ks o c c e r. co m /co a c h i n g / coaching_classes.aspx Check the site for new postings as clubs will select dates during the fall and spring seasons for Youth Modules and E courses. The USSF National D course and USSF National C course are offered
when possible. OSA will host the USSF National C in 2015. The USSF/USYS National Youth License is an annual event held over two weekends. The 2014 event wrapped up its final weekend August 1-3. Clubs, if you wish to host a coaching course in your community, use the OSA website for the form to request a Youth Module, E course, Goalkeeper course, or D course. The link is titled Application to host a coaching course: h t t p : / / w w w. o k s o c c e r. c o m / UserFiles/file/Coaching/Application%20to%20host%20coach%20 course%20web%202012.pdf
Visit the OSA website today for more coaching information: www. oksoccer.com then go to the Coaches drop down tab.
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Champions of OSA’s State Tournaments Each year, hundreds of OSA’s US Youth Soccer teams compete for the championship of their age and gender bracket. OSA offers a state championship for recreational teams and competitive teams through the Mazzio’s Governor’s Cup for recreational. Mazzio’s President’s Cup
and the State Cup offer championship venues for competitive teams and the opportunity to advance to regional competitions. Spring 2014 held the typical drama for all the teams as they played for the elusive title of “champion” for the year. Congratulations
to all the teams who participated in the state tournaments and OSA appreciates the many who supported those teams and prepared them for the tournaments. Included in this issue are the photos of the championship teams from the three state tournaments: Governor’s, President’s, and State.
MAZZIO’S GOVERNOR’S CUP
U10 Girls - BASC STORM
U10 Boys - NWO DA HEAT
U12 Girls - LAWTON MacARTHUR LADY SCOTS
U10 Boys Rec Select BASC MANCHESTER UNITED
Coach Kyle Houston
Coach David Dalton
Coach Paul Lopez
Coach Ruben Torres
Photos of Governor’s Cup and President’s Cup provided by Captured Moments and Alicia Heineman
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OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
MAZZIO’S GOVERNOR’S CUP
U12 Girls Rec Select - UNITY ‘02 Coach Hector Guzman
U12 Boys Rec Select COLLINSVILLE ELITE STRIKERS Coach Chris Henry
U14 Girls - CLINTON FUSION
U12 Boys - TULSA UNIFIED TERMINATORS
U14 Girls Rec Select BROKEN ARROW RAGE
U14 Boys Rec Select Unity SC Deportivo Alemania
Coach Chris Weil
Coach: Rick Heineman
Coach Danny Halpain
Coach: Jesus Lozano
SMOKE SIGNALS
MAZZIO’S GOVERNOR’S CUP
U16 Girls - BROKEN ARROW REBELS
U14 Boys - BASC HAVOC EXPRESS
U19 Girls - BROKEN ARROW FURY
U16 Boys Rec Select TRI-CITY NEWCASTLE EXTREME
Coach Dawn Dout
Coach Michael Wood
Coach Keith Ash
Coach Jim McIntire
Visit Oklahoma Soccer Association website for more information, forms and updates. U19 Boys - BASC ARSENAL ‘96 Coach Steve Mosinski
www.oksoccer.com
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OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
MAZZIO’S PRESIDENT’S CUP
U11 Girls - OFC ’03 BLACK
U11 Boys - BLITZ UNITED ‘03 BLACK
U12 Girls - TSC HURRICANE ‘02
U12 Boys - OFC ‘02 WHITE
U13 Girls - OFC ’01 WHITE
U13 Boys - TSC HURRICANE ‘01
Coach Chris Spendlove
Coach Cory Butler
Coach Tommy Hubbard
Coach Jason Taylor
Coach Dean Matacchiera
Coach Douglas Melton
SMOKE SIGNALS
MAZZIO’S PRESIDENT’S CUP
U14 Girls - OFC ‘00 WHITE
U14 Boys - TULSA NATIONALS ‘00 RED
U15 Girls - BASC ‘99 POISON
U15 Boys - OFC ‘99 WHITE
U16 Girls - NYSA FURY ‘98
U16 Boys - WSA ‘98 RED
Coach Tommy Hubbard
Coach John Harding
Coach Ryan Trudgian
Coach Nick Minden
Coach Tony Orsi
Coach Valentin Flores
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OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
MAZZIO’S PRESIDENT’S CUP
U17 Girls - SLSC ‘97 BLUE COSMOS Coach Russell Randolph
U17 Boys - NWO ‘97 WHITE Coach Neil Stockwell
Substitution Changes for OPL Gold Division and Recreational Leagues This fall will see the OPL Gold Division fall in line with the US Youth National Championship rules of competition regarding substitutions in the U15 through U19 brackets. With boys and girls U15 through U19 teams in the OPL Gold Division, a maximum of 7 substitutions shall be allowed in each half of play and during overtime play. After leaving the game during a half of play, the substituted play may not re-enter the game during that same half of play. After leaving the game during overtime play, the substituted player may not re-enter the game. Substitutions may be made with the consent of the referee at the following times: 1.Prior to a throw-in in your favor; 2. Prior to a goal kick by either team; 3. After a goal by either team; 4. After an injury by either team when the referee stops play; 5. At half time; 6. When the referee stops play to caution a player, only the cautioned player may be substituted prior to the restart of the game.
U18 Girls - WSA ‘96 Coach Kevin King
This change in the substitution of the rules of competition for the OPL Gold Division does NOT APPLY to any other leagues in either OPL, OCL, or recreational. Substitutions in the OPL Silver and OCL leagues U12 through U14 remain as the same as in prior years (see the 6 substitution possibilities above). U11 OPL and OCL boys and girls teams will continue to have unlimited substitutions at any stoppage. Recreational substitution in the U13 through U19 brackets allows for substitution by either team at a throw-in. This policy was adopted in the spring of 2014. U6 through U12 recreational teams may substitute at any stoppage.
SMOKE SIGNALS
OKLAHOMA STATE CUP 2014 Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
U11 Girls 8v8 - CVF ‘03
U11 Boys 8v8 - UNITY ‘03
Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
U11 Girls 11v11 - TSC ‘03
U11 Boys 11v11 - BLITZ ‘03
Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
U12 Girls - TSCH ‘02
U12 Boys - OFC ‘02
Coach Zenati Al Zenati
Coach Chris Amos
Coach Matthew Griffin
Coach Youssef Elghezlane
Coach Robert Mitchell
Coach James Soesbee
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OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
OKLAHOMA STATE CUP 2014 Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
U13 Girls - OFC ‘01
U13 Boys - WSA ‘01 SHARKS
Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
U14 Girls - OFC ‘00
U14 Boys - TSCH ‘00
Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
U15 Girls - OFC ‘99
U15 Boys - OFC ‘99
Coach Stephen Phillips
Coach Jimmy Hampton
Coach Jimmy Hampton
Coach Ryan Bush
Coach Ryan Pore
Coach Stephen Phillips
SMOKE SIGNALS
OKLAHOMA STATE CUP 2014 Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
U16 Girls - OFC ‘98
U16 Boys - OFC ‘98
Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
U17 Girls - OFC ‘97
U17 Boys - OFC ‘97
Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
U18 Girls - OFC ‘96
U18 Boys - TSC ‘96
Coach Alex Vizarelis
Coach Alex Vizarelis
Coach Stephen Phillips
Coach Brian Harvey
Coach Jesse Faily
Coach Mike Nsien
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OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
OKLAHOMA STATE CUP 2014 Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
Oklahoma State Cup Champions 2014
U19 Girls - TSC ‘96
U19 Boys - OFC ‘95
Coach Jerry Lundy
Coach Jacob Kurey
Photos for State Cup provided by Richard Clifton and Dale Watts
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AWARD NOMINATIONS DUE SEPT. 1 If your club or team wishes to honor a coach, volunteer, referee, TOPSoccer volunteer, administrator, family, a save of the year, or a goal of the year, you MUST go to the link below and complete these award applications. Don't hesitate! The time to submit the applications is already passed, but if you hurry and get these nominations to OSA as quickly as possible, you can still recognized the various people who make soccer function at your club level.
Coach of the Year - 2014
Each year, OSA recognizes two outstanding coaches from across the state. In addition to receiving recognition at the state level, Oklahoma’s Coaches of the Year are automatically placed in nomination for the national Coach of the Year Award announced at the US Youth Soccer workshop. Any certified coach working with OSA teams in Oklahoma is eligible. The nomination form asks several questions about the nominee and does require documentation. Applications may be submitted prior to due date. Due date is Sept. 1st of each year mailed to OSA, PO Box 35174, Tulsa, OK 74153. Application
The adult Referee of the Year may attend the US Adult regionals. Applications may be submitted prior to due date. Due date is Sept. 1st of each year mailed to OSA, PO Box 35174, Tulsa, OK 74153. Youth application Adult application
Hall of Fame Nominee 2014
Deadline not changed on this application! The purpose of the Oklahoma Soccer Association Hall of Fame is to recognize the achievements of outstanding Oklahoma soccer participants whose accomplishments and effects upon the sport merit the highest acclaim. A participant may be a Player, Coach, Referee, Administrator, Volunteer, or Supporter.The award will be a plaque displayed in the Tulsa office of OSA. A duplicate plaque will be given to the recipient. Applications may be submitted prior to due date. Due date is still Sept. 15th of each year mailed to OSA, PO Box 35174, Tulsa, OK 74153. Application Check here for policies and requirements for nomination.
Referee of the Year - 2014
Oklahoma recognizes two levels of outstanding referees: youth and adult. The youth Referee of the Year must be a grade 08 or higher and not older than 19. The adult referee must be at least an 07 grade referee or higher and at least 20 years of age. Youth Referee of the Year will attend the Southern Regionals to officiate matches.
Volunteer of the Year-2014
Oklahoma is proud of its many volunteers and the endless hours they spend promoting the sport of soccer. To recognize such volunteers, the Volunteer of the Year award was created. The award is given for dedication to soccer in areas other than coaching and
refereeing, although those activities may be mentioned in showing the amount of time devoted to the sport. For details on the application, use the link below. The winner of this award will be forwarded to US Youth Soccer for regional competition. Applications may be submitted prior to due date. Due date is Sept. 1st of each year mailed to OSA, PO Box 35174, Tulsa, OK 74153. Application
Family of the Year - 2014
Oklahoma Soccer is proud of the many voluntees and the endless hours they spend promoting the sport of soccer. It has become evident in recent years that volunteers are not only individuals working together but entire families volunteering to help grow the game of soccer. To recognize such families and their efforts, OSA created the Family of the Year award. The award is given for dedication to soccer in areas other than coaching and refereeing, although those activities may be mentioned in showing the amount of time devoted to the sport. For details on the application, use the link below. Applications may be submitted prior to due date. Due date is Sept. 1st of each year mailed to OSA, PO Box 35174, Tulsa, OK 74153. Application
Administrator of the Year - 2014
Oklahoma is proud of its many administrators who work diligently behind the scenes to prepare for the More Award Nominations, on page 20
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OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
Award Nominations, continued from page 14 fall and spring seasons of Oklahoma soccer. To recognize such administrators, the Administrator of the Year award was created. The award is given for dedication to soccer in areas other than coaching, refereeing, or volunteering although those activities may be mentioned in showing the amount of time devoted to the sport. For details on the application, use the link below. The winner of this award will be forwarded to US Youth Soccer for regional competition. Applications may be submitted prior to due date. Due date is Sept. 1st of each year mailed to OSA, PO Box 35174, Tulsa, OK 74153. Application
Goal of the Year - 2014
A video clip of no more than 60 seconds in length must accompany the nomination form and be submi-
ited as a clip, not electronically submitted. The goal must have occurred during the season year immediately prior to the season year for which the clip is being submitted and for US Youth Soccer U6-U18 age groups only. Applications may be submitted prior to due date. Due date is Sept. 1st of each year mailed to OSA, PO Box 35174, Tulsa, OK 74153. Application
Save of the Year - 2014
A video clip of no more that 60 seconds in length must accompany the nomination form and be submitted as a clip, not electronically submitted. The save must have occurred during the season year immediately prior to the season year for which the clip is being submitted and for US Youth Soccer U6-U18 age groups only. Applications may be submitted
prior to due date. Due date is Sept. 1st of each year mailed to OSA, PO Box 35174, Tulsa, OK 74153. Application
TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year - 2014
An individual may be nominated and selected as the TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year for extraordinary accomplishments if the individual, in carrying out the US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer program and its events and activities has demonstrated qualities of patience and understanding as well as fulfilling roles such as coach or role model. Due date is Sept. 1st of each year mailed to OSA, PO Box 35174, Tulsa, OK 74153. Application
Goalkeeper Boot Camps ODP UPDATES OSA completed its 3rd annual Goalkeeper Boot Camps under the direction of OSA’s Director of Coaching, Kurt Luitwieler and his staff. Edmond Soccer Club hosted the first weekend at their complex and the second weekend was hosted by Tulsa United Soccer Club. Both events drew young goalkeepers from around the state who wished to learn more about their unique position as a goalkeeper. As Luitwieler says, “A goalkeeper is 5 parts crazy nut-job who likes to throw his/her face at other players’ feet as they try to kick the ball. Not every player can be a good goalkeeper. It takes a lot of training, hard work and a certain mentality. A
good goalkeeper LOVES being a goalkeeper. They love getting dirty, wet, muddy and all bruised and scraped up. Those things are badges of honor for a true goalkeeper.” For the keepers who range in age from 9 to 19, the camp not only provides training and skills but also an opportunity to meet and become friends with keepers from around Oklahoma. Many of the skills are taught by experienced young keepers who have been selected to train the young campers. While the 2014 GK Boot Camp has ended, watch for this exciting and fun-filled camp next year and don’t be late in signing up.
ODP Girls – 97’s selected to Regional Pool: Jaci Jones, Jocelyn Nelson ODP Girls – 00’s Honorable Mention: Brianna Amos, Bronwyn Luitwieler ODP Girls – 00’s selected to Regional Pool: Hensley Hancuff, Juliet Moncho ODP Boys Selected to Regional Pool: 97’s: Garrett Mclaughlin, Austen Parker; 98’s: Kacey Owensby, Austin Wormell; 99’s: Victor Bernal, Dante Brigida, Matthew Cuellar, Whitney Gonsalves, Joseph Ruiz, Cole Sandberg, Martel Smith; 00’s: Ben Ayers; 01’s: Riley Dunham, Nathan Hayes, Matthew McLaws.
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Watts’ What By Dale Watts, Editor
So what’s the deal with the weather? I mean, when was the last time you had to wear a jacket at State Cup? As if that weren’t weird enough, then we had blazing heat followed by minor flooding. Are these signs? We’re now in the first weeks of August and the highs around parts of the state are in the 80s. The 80s? Good grief you would think it was October. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not really complaining about the awesome summer of 2014 but as with most Okies, what’s really bothering me is “What is coming next?” If the summer was so amazing will our fall soccer season be extreme in heat or cold? The first weekend of August has been set aside for years to hold the annual fitness and recertification for our upper level referees. A follow up fitness was held the first weekend of December. The joke amongst referees for years was “run in the heat” in August or “freeze your tail off” in
December. Last year the temperature at the beginning of the August fitness was 85 and climbed to 101 before noon. This weekend the high is to be 85! Two Decembers ago, the temperature at the beginning of the fitness was 17 degrees! Last year it was 68! Edmond has hosted a tournament called Beat the Heat for years. With the weather this year they may need to call it Beat the Mildness. And who knows what the Lawton “Freeze ya Fanny” tournament may hold as far as temperature? Will it be called “Toast your Toes?” Or what of the Tulsa United “Chill fest” tournament? Will we have to call it “Sun Fest?” I’m not going to include climate change in this message. That’s a whole different discussion, but if you can’t depend on the weather in Oklahoma to follow its normal pattern we Okies are going to be more confused than we normally are. Will Rogers has been attributed to saying: “If you don’t like the weather in Oklahoma, just wait a minute or two and it will change.” I can handle that short term change of weather but when it runs across two soccer seasons I’m getting concerned.
Pity the poor parents who are trying to prepare for an upcoming tournament. Do we take jackets or sun screen? For snacks at half do we prepare hot chocolate or Gatorade? Do we take a lawn chair or a thermal blanket? And are those questions for the first game or the season? And to think I haven’t even mentioned rain. When I first joined OSA and traveled to the tournaments, the spring state tournaments were always wet. You could count the number of days without rain on one hand. For the past few years it’s been hot and dry with an occasional rainy tournament, but nothing like those old days when some of the tournament officials and referees began to worry about their appendages becoming webbed. And now a July in Oklahoma with thunderstorms, rain, and flooding. Oh, my! So, as we head toward the season opening in September, I suggest you have your smart phone nearby before heading to the fields. Those weather guys and gals are going to have a field day this fall and I doubt their predictions are more reliable than my Farmer’s Almanac.
Professional Teams Information OKC FC Teams Wrap Up 2014 Season
Tulsa Spirit FC Closes Out Frustrating Year
With the NPSL season completed, the Oklahoma City FC squads (men and women) end the year on winning records. The men tallied a 7-3-1 record for the season and the women compiled a 9-1-2 season.
Spirit FC, Tulsa’s Women’s Premier Soccer League squad, wrapped their season without winning a match. They recorded a 0-7-2 season and scored six goals. Coach Ali Adibi, who has coached the team for four years, continues to provide Tulsans with a squad of young players from in and around the Tulsa area.
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New Referee Standards For 2015 United States Soccer Federation has released its new policies regarding the requirements for referees as to grade levels and upgrading to advanced levels. The new policies are designed to standardize the movement of referees from entry level at the grade 09 Recreational to the State Referee Grade 06 level.
09 AND 08 GRADES
No changes in entry courses or recertification. New 09 classes will require online viewing of material prior to attendance at the course which consists of two sessions of three hours of classes. New 08 classes also require online viewing of material prior to attendance at the course which consists of three sessions of three hours. Recertification for 09 and 08 referees is held during a three hour course and the two grades of referees take the same recertification course and exam of 50 questions.
07 GRADE
For the 2015 registration year, Oklahoma will offer two levels of the 07 grade. Grade 07 basic requires attendance at the upgrade clinic held annually in January, a game log count of 100 games (75 as a center referee), and successful passing of the 07 exam. Referees at this grade will be eligible to referee adult matches and youth matches. Grade 07 advanced requires attendance at the upgrade clinic held annually in January, a game log count of 100 games (75 as a center referee), and successful passing
of the 07 exam. In addition, these referees must also pass a fitness exam and pass a field assessment. Referees at this grade are eligible to advance to the State Grade 06. Referees at this grade will be eligible to officiate youth matches, OPL matches, adult matches, and state tournament matches on a priority basis.
06 GRADE
The only change in acquiring the State 06 badge concerns the fitness exam which will be based on the FIFA Sprint and Interval tests. The requirement for 06 candidates to obtain an assessment as an AR has been eliminated. All other requirements of attending the upgrade clinic, and recertification are unchanged.
BADGES
For the 09, 08, and 07 referees, the badges for 2015 will be of the same color.
NEW REFEREE CLASSES & RECERTIFICATION
Every club should attempt to hold an entry level course for new referees by communicating with your club’s coaches and parents to find candidates to attend. Once you have at least 6 willing to attend, use the OSA web site to complete a Course Contract with OSA. There is no charge to host the course, but a minimum of 6 is required to conduct the courses. Candidates register to attend the course online and no money is collected at the course.
Recertification courses are requested in the same manner as a new course. The contract must be completed with date and time and location. Again, no charge to host as the referees all pay online prior to attending.
BACKGROUND CHECKS
Every referee 18 and older must complete a background check before he/she can be registered. Clubs should remind any referee candidate of this prior to their attendance at a new clinic or recertification clinic. REGISTRATION FEES: For new 09 and 08 referees, the registration is $60. Fees for Referees Re-Registering for 2015 Referee: 09 - $75 ; 08 - $75 ; 07 - $80 ; State - $110 ; Emeritus - $110 Instructors : Instructor - $80; State - $110 Assessors: Associate - $75; Referee - $75; State - $110 Assignors: $45 Late fee of $10 applied after January 1, 2015.
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National Youth License Completed OSA annually hosts the US Youth National Youth License Coaching Course in various locations. This year’s course was held in Tulsa at Holland Hall School and was quickly filled with coach applications from across the state. The National Youth License is designed to provide coaches with the knowledge to successfully structure soccer environments for children ages 4-12. The role of the coach in the NYL is that of a facilitator who can deal with the physical, mental, and emotional needs and capabilities of players 4-12 years of age. Lessons are created by the participants exploring developmental psychology and the art of teaching.
Candidates are videotaped for analysis during the live training sessions. In Oklahoma, the NYL is strongly recommended for all coach in the U6-U10 age groups. It is a re-
quirement of Academy coaches and highly recommended for U11 and up recreational coaches.
Ten New Referee Instructors Trained OSA held a training session for new Referee Instructors on July 12 at the Tulsa office. The new instructors were given training for two days that will allow them to teach the 09 class and recertification courses. Eventually, they will be teaching the 08 courses as well. “I am very pleased with our new instructors,” says Dale Watts, State Director of Instruction. “Nearly all of them have education backgrounds or have experience with educational concepts. The State Referee Committee is happy to now have Instructors in several clubs that were without them and this will aid the growth of the referee corps in those areas.” Of the ten Instructors, only one is from Oklahoma City. All the others are from suburban cities or communities which will allow for easier access to instruction for those communities.
Congratulations to the new Instructors! Nicki Collins – Guthrie Marcus Edison – Broken Arrow Joseph Forler –Claremore Brandon Neris – Lawton Jorge Robledo-Olvera – Oklahoma City
Stephen Rose – Broken Arrow Kenneth Shade – Lone Grove Alan Sutherland – Norman Val Raymond – Lawton Timothy Rehmel – Enid
LtoR: Jorge Robledo-Olvera, Nicki Collins, Marcus Edison, Timothy Rehmel, and Kenneth Shade. 2nd row: Alan Sutherland, Val Raymond, Stephen Rose, Joseph Forler, and Brandon Neris.
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Referee Clinics To become a referee in Oklahoma, you must first attend an 09 Recreational Referee course. The classes are listed on the OSA web page under the link Scheduled Referee Classes. To view that link use this link: http://www.oksoccer.com/ referees/scheduled_classes.aspx Requirement: there is no age requirement to attend the 09 course, but it is recommended that the candidate be at least eleven years of age. All candidates 18 and older must submit an annual background check. The 09 class is six (6) hours in length and candidates must view videos of the Laws of the Game before attending. These instructions are given on the registration site embedded in the links. A 50 question multiple choice, true/ false test will be given at the completion of the course. The candidate must score a 37 or better to pass. 09 referees may officiate matches from
U6 to U14 recreational. They cannot referee competitive matches of any age. Cost = $60.00 payable online. Classes are offered from August through March. Once a referee has attended an 09 Recreational Referee class, he/ she may attend an 08 class. Requirement: there is no age requirement to attend the 08 course, but it is recommended that the candidate be at least fourteen years of age. All candidates 18 and older must submit an annual background check. The 08 class is nine (9) hours in length and candidates must view videos of the Laws of the Game before attending. A 50 question multiple choice, true/false test will be given at the completion of the course. The candidate must score a 37 or better to pass. 08 referees may officate all youth and adult matches in the state.
Cost = $60.00 payable online. See the Scheduled Referee classes link at the left for classes near you. Classes are offered from August through March. Recertification All referees must attend a recertification class every fall to allow them to register for the following year. Referee registration is from January 1 to December 31. Registration closes June 1 of each year. Recertification for the next year’s registration begins in August of each year and runs through April. Upgrade Clinic 08 grade referees who are 17 may upgrade to grade 07 at the annual upgrade clinic held in January. For more information on how to upgrade, use the following link: http://www.oksoccer.com/ UserFiles/file/Referee/How%20 to%20Upgrade.pdf.
Tulsa Athletics Fall to Chattanooga After a fantastic 2014 season, the Tulsa Athletics were eliminated from playoffs Saturday night in the South Region finals by hosts Chattanooga FC, 0-2. The home side opened up the scoring in the 5th minute when midfielder Luis Trude led a 3-on1 counterattack off a Tulsa corner kick. Trude curled a shot in from top of the box into the bottom right corner to give Chattanooga a 1-0 lead. Throughout the match, Tulsa dominated possession but their play would be fruitless as the back of the net was elusive. The A's out-
shot their opponents 10-5, and had 10 corners to Chattanooga's 2. FC keeper Greg Hartely would come up with multiple game-saving stops to keep the clean sheet. Chattanooga would score off a counterattack again in the 79th minute when Luke Winter got in oneon-one with Ben LaCourse and slotted the ball home, their third and final
shot on goal for the match. Chattanooga advanced to the NPSL Championship match August 2.
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- Oklahoma Soccer Association -
SANCTIONED TOURNAMENTS 2014 Not a final listing – some applications are still pending
August 15-17, 2014 Beat the Heat
October 3-4, 2014 Festival de Futball
August 29-31, 2014 10th Annual Indian Springs Labor Day Tournament
October 11-12, 2014 Chillfest 2014
Host: Edmond Soccer Club All US Soccer affiliated teams Edmond, OK Fields: Edmond Soccer Complex Website: http://edmondsoccer.com/ Contact: James L. Soesbee Phone: 405-409-2324 Email: soccer999999@sbcglobal.net U11-U19 Boys & Girls Competitive Referee Assignor: Brandon Story Email: bstory4@gmail.com
Host: TSC Hurricane and Broken Arrow SC All US Soccer affiliated teams Broken Arrow, OK Fields: Indian Springs Sports Complex Web site: www.bascok.com/ Contact: Randy Atherton Phone: 918-258-5770 Email: basc@hamiltoncorner.net U8-U10 Academy Boys & Girls U6-U19 Recreational Boys & Girls U11-U19 Competitive Boys & Girls U11-11v11 Competitive Boys & GirlsReferee Assignor: Mike Naumann Email: bassignor@hotmail.com
September 19-21, 2014 Cosmos Cup Host: South Lakes SC All US Soccer affiliated teams Oklahoma City, OK Fields: South Lakes Soccer Complex Website: 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
September 26-28, 2014 Sheffield United Cup
Host: Bixby Soccer & Sheffield United All US Soccer affiliated teams Bixby, OK Fields: Bixby Soccer Complex Website: www.sheffieldunitedsc.com Contact: Michael Horn Phone: 918-798-1791 Email: michaelhorn918@att.net U8-U10 Academy Boys & Girls U11 – U19 Competitive Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Reza Namavar Email: rezanamavar@aol.com
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
Host: Tulsa United Soccer Club All US Soccer affiliated teams Tulsa, OK Fields: TUSC complexes Website: www.tulsaunitedsoccerclub.com Contact: Tim Faux Phone: 918-665-2870 Email: tusc@tulsaunitedsoccerclub.com U7-U16 Recreational Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: John Evans Email: acessoccer@cox.net
October 18-19, 2014 Soktoberfest
Host: NEOASA All national Adult State Associations Fields: Metro Tulsa Soccer Complex Contact: Shae Roggendorff Phone: 918-622-8948 Email: info@neoasa.org Website: www.neoas.org U19 Boys & Girls Adult Men’s and Women’s Competitive and Recreational Referee Assignor: Larry Morgan Email: bokconstr@aol.com
October 17-18, 2014 DATE CHANGE!! Frost Ya Fanny Host: Lawton Soccer Club US Youth Soccer teams only Lawton, OK Fields: Big Green Soccer Complex Website: 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
October 24-26, 2014 Blitz United Fall Invitational
Host: Blitz United Soccer Club All US Soccer affiliated teams Tulsa, OK Fields: Indian Springs Soccer Complex – Broken Arrow Website: www.blitzunited.org Contact: Robbie Mitchell Phone: 918-691-7404 Email: adoc@blitzunited.org U11 – U19 Competitive Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: John Evans Email: acessoccer@cox.net
November 7-9, 2014 Turkey Shootout
Host: Edmond Soccer Club All US Soccer affiliated teams Edmond, OK Fields: Edmond Soccer complex Website: 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
November 14-16, 2014 BASC 33rd Annual Recreational Tournament All US Soccer affiliated teams Broken Arrow, OK Fields: Indian Springs Sports Complex Website: 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 14-16, 2014 Norman Classic Cup
Host: Norman Youth Soccer Association All US Soccer affiliated teams Norman, OK Fields: Norman Soccer Complex Website:www.normansoccer.org/ Contact: Dustin Hooker Phone: 405-573-0070 Email: nysatournaments@yahoo.com U8-U10 Academy Boys & Girls U11 – U17 Competitive Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Bill Pevarnik Email: wpevarnik@att.net see more Tournaments, page 26
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SANCTIONED TOURNAMENTS continued from page 25
Not a final listing – some applications are still pending
November 21-23 Tulsa Friendship Cup
Host: TSC Hurricane Soccer Club All US Soccer affiliated teams Broken Arrow, OK Fields: Indian Springs Soccer Complex Website: www.tulsafriendshipcup.com Contact: Michael Nsien Phone: 918-625-2150 U7 – U10 Academy Boys & Girls U11 – U14 Competitive Boys & Girls
November 22-23, 2014 –Updated! adidas Sam Shannon Showcase Host: TSC Hurricane Soccer Club All US Soccer affiliated teams Jenks, OK Fields: Metro Tulsa & Indian Springs Soccer Complex Website: www.tschurricane.com Contact: Jim Tindell 918-688-9071 Email: jimtindell@me.com U15 – U19 Competitive Boys & Girls Referee Assignor: Michael Naumann Email: bassignor@hotmail.com
Applications to host available online at www.oksoccer.com/ tournaments/hosting_ state_tournament.aspx
Shannon MacMillan
A World Champ’s View on Coaching Kids
Interview by Mike Woitalla from Soccer America’s Youth Soccer Insider Shannon MacMillan, 1996 Olympic gold medalist and 1999 World Cup champion, is the Director of Club Operations of San Diego's Del Mar Carmel Valley Sharks, which she joined in 2009 after assistant coaching stints at her alma mater, the University of Portland, and UCLA. MacMillan, who scored 60 goals in 176 appearances for the USA, spoke with us about the joys and challenges of youth soccer in America. What was your aim when you left college coaching to become a youth club director? SHANNON MACMILLAN: Youth soccer in San Diego is crazy. It’s such a business now. Kids being recruited, treating kids like little professionals. When I got the call, I said, “If I’m going to do this, it will about the kids and not the results. It has to be about the kids’ development.” They believed in my vision. How much is recruiting a part of youth soccer? SHANNON MACMILLAN: Some clubs in this area recruit players at U-9 and U-10. They promise them the world. “We’re going to get you in college … We’re going to get you on the national team.” You don’t even know if they’re going to like soccer in five years. What drives coaches to recruit players at so young an age? SHANNON MACMILLAN: They put too much emphasis on results. They say we
win all these championship, we get so many kids into college -- some parents get caught up in it and say I want that for my kid. But no college coach asks, “Did you win a State Cup at U-9?” What should be the emphasis at those young ages? SHANNON MACMILLAN: Let’s teach these kids how to be good sports, how to be confident, how to believe in themselves, how to work with teammates, and teach them some life lessons, while teaching the basic foundations of soccer, so they fall in love with the game and will want to play through the difficult times down the road. What’s your advice to coaches at the younger ages? SHANNON MACMILLAN: It’s really important at the younger ages not to play kickball, not to just look for the biggest, strongest kids who can kick it the farthest. Let’s lose some games while we’re trying to keep possession and play out of the back. Let’s lose some games while creating center backs who have the confidence to turn and play it to the keeper to release pressure. see MacMillan, page 27
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Shannon MacMillan, continued from page 26 Maybe we’re going to make a mistake and get scored on, they’re learning the right way to play and will be ready when we go to 11-a-side. If they learn the game the right way the chances are higher that they’ll find success later. When they start getting to U-15, and they’re still playing and they’re highly competitive, they have the potential to play in college. What do you enjoy most about coaching? SHANNON MACMILLAN: When you’re teaching the players something and you see the light go on. Whether it’s in training or the game, and they’re trying something they haven’t quite gotten, and it clicks for them, and it happens, and they look over at you with a big smile that says, “I got it now!” That’s awesome to see. I put a big emphasis on my girls just enjoying the game. It makes me happy when they have a smile on their face and they’re not afraid to make a mistake. What’s the most difficult part of coaching? SHANNON MACMILLAN: Reining in the expectations of the parents. Do we need private lessons? How do we do this? How do we do that? Your kid’s 9. Let them just play. Let them just relax and enjoy the game. When the kid gets in the car, just say, “I enjoyed watching you today!” Don’t critique them. Don’t wear them out. Don’t have them do three or four private lessons on top of training. Let them be kids. What do you expect from your club’s coaches in dealing with parents? SHANNON MACMILLAN: I stress to my coaches to over-communicate with parents, because the more you communicate, the less you’re going to hear from them. If you’re going into a tournament, send a quick e-mail: We’re focusing on finishing, so my focus this weekend will
be on how can we create more opportunities and how can we finish them. Or explain, we worked on defending and not diving in all week. And then send an e-mail at the end of the weekend, “I thought we did X, Y and Z well, but this was a weakness so we’re going to work on that.” Include parents in your thought process and they’ll understand what’s happening while they’re on the sideline and be more likely to sit back and enjoy it. I also make sure they make time for evaluations and sit down with the families. Any “rules” for parents? SHANNON MACMILLAN: We have a 24hour rule. Don’t approach a coach right after the game in the heat of the moment. Do girls and boys require different coaching methods? SHANNON MACMILLAN: Yes and no. As long as you have an understanding for the game and you find a unique trait that you can draw out of each kid individually, what works best for them, it doesn’t matter if it’s a boy or a girl. If you’re a yeller and screamer, you’re probably not going to be a good fit for most teams, but especially not for a girls team. To be a good coach, whether it’s boys or girls, you must know how to teach each kid. This kid needs to be pushed a bit. This kid needs to become more confident. Figuring out how to reach each kid individually because they are different. Do you think youth soccer needs more female coaches? SHANNON MACMILLAN: Players need coaches who know the game, can teach the game, and also know how to be a people person. I’m always eager to hire female coaches but there are just not that many out there.
I think of all the great female players who have come through the system in the U.S., the opportunities that soccer has afforded them, to not give back to the sport or not have the desire to, I think it’s a shame. I wish there were more out there because I think women can be great coaches, whether it’s a boys or girls team, or youth team, college or professional team. Do you think that it’s harder for women to get opportunities? SHANNON MACMILLAN: I know that when I got into coaching I was sometimes told I didn’t have experience, even though I played 176 times for the U.S. national team. I firmly believe if you are a male and you have an accent, and you say you played for an English Premier League team -- even just for a youth team that’s tied to big club -- the doors are going to open more easily. Are there things some of your coaches did, when you were a player, that you avoid as a coach? SHANNON MACMILLAN: Plenty. I learned a lot of what I wouldn’t do. I’m not a yeller or a screamer. The majority of the game you’ll find me in a chair. It’s not that I’m not coaching, but I don’t want robots out there. I don’t want one of my players to receive the ball and say, “Pass to so-and-so.” I want my kids to think for themselves, and I’ve had coaches trying to have little puppets out there and dictate every move. Do you have an example of how one of your former coaches influenced your own coaching philosophy? SHANNON MACMILLAN: My coach at the University of Portland was Clive Charles. From the day I stepped on to that campus he cared about me as a person first and foremost -- and it made me want to run through a brick wall for that man.
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Toughest Job in the World – World Cup Referee? Panic surged through Horacio Elizondo late in the 2006 World Cup final as players from both teams encircled him and awaited his decision. An Italian defender lay on the ground writhing in pain, clutching his chest and pointing at French star Zinedine Zidane, but Elizondo had been watching the ball and had no idea what happened. The Argentinian referee asked his assistant closest to the play if he'd seen the incident. No luck. Elizondo asked his assistant on the far side of the pitch. Again nothing. Then, just as Elizondo feared he was about to make a mess of the most high-profile match of his career as a referee, the voice of a fourth official typically in charge of administrative duties crackled in his headset. "It was the voice of an angel," Elizondo said. "Yes, the fourth official, Luis Medina Cantalejo, uttered in his very Sevillian, very Andalusian accent, 'I have seen it, Horacio. A really terrible headbutt by Zidane on [Marco] Materazzi. Again, a terrible headbutt.' And I said, 'Hey, hey, hey, stop. Calm down, Luis. Tell me a little bit about what happened. Who provoked whom?' Well, by the time I got to the spot, I knew Zidane was going to leave the pitch." Elizondo's near-blunder on the most iconic call of his career illustrates how difficult officiating the highest levels of soccer can be even for the sport's best referees. Officials in every major sport must keep pace with world-class athletes half their age, make split-second judgment calls and brush off insults from
hostile fans, but none have a more pressure-packed or physically demanding job than a referee in the World Cup. To stay within 20 yards of the ball at all times, World Cup referees must run about 8-10 miles per match — even more ground than most of the players cover. As a result, FIFA requires candidates for the job to pass a fitness test in which they must run six 40-meter sprints in six seconds or less apiece and finish 10 laps around a 400-meter track with an average running pace of 5:20 per mile. Adding to the challenge for soccer referees is that they're more on an island than peers in other sports. For example, the NBA asks three referees to cover a court 94 feet long and 50 feet wide. In soccer, one referee is essentially responsible for calling any foul that occurs on a playing surface 16 times as big as a basketball court, though he does have the aid of two assistants who judge when the ball has left the field of play and when offside has occurred. The low-scoring nature of soccer also magnifies the importance of any call that either creates or denies a goal-scoring opportunity. Whereas a bad call early in a basketball or football game is usually forgotten since the victimized team still has many chances to overcome it, that's not always the case in a sport like soccer that averages fewer than three goals per World Cup match. "Of all the sports, soccer is probably the most difficult to officiate," said U.S. referee Brian Hall, who officiated a pair of matches at
the 2002 World Cup. "A decision by a soccer official can have so much impact on a game. Penalty kick or no penalty kick? Red card or yellow card? Offside or no offside? And let's face it, because soccer is so low-scoring, those kinds of decisions that can lead to goals carry much more weight than decisions in other sports. Over a season, you hope the calls balance out, but at a tournament like the World Cup, sometimes you don't have time for that to happen." Though being vilified after bad calls and ignored after good ones is the norm for referees in every sport, the pressure on officials at a World Cup is immeasurable as a result of the consequences of a missed call. The stakes are arguably higher than any other sporting event since it's held every four years, the pride of entire nations is on the line and more people watch it than even the Super Bowl. In this summer's World Cup, a referee from New Zealand was the subject of death threats and a petition calling for his resignation after hewrongly disallowed a critical Bosnian goal and was photographed hugging a Nigerian playerafter the final whistle. Twelve years earlier, Italian fans sent Ecuadorian referee Byron Moreno a barrage of death threats and the country's cabinet minister labeled the official a "disgrace" after he disallowed a goal and handed out an unjust red card in the Azzurri's shocking round of 16 loss to host South Korea. Fan furor in soccer is hardly limited to the World Cup though. see World Cup Ref, page 29
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World Cup Referee, continued from page 28 Stories of fans charging the field to attack a referee or pelting the officiating crew with coins or eggs are common at both soccer's club and amateur levels. In the most egregious example, a mob of Brazilian fans gruesomely quartered and beheaded a referee and displayed his head on a wooden stake last July after he stabbed a player who assaulted him during an amateur match. Even in the U.S., referees in Utah and Michigan have died the last two years as a result of injuries stemming from vicious attacks by amateur players irate over calls that went against them. It's easy for Hall to empathize with referees who have been targeted by players or fans because he has been in their position. Though the Major League Soccer matches he worked seldom inspired that level of furor, Hall recalls a handful of scary incidents from his days as an amateur referee in the San Francisco area. "I had to learn survival skills," Hall said. "I've been assaulted. I've been attacked. I've been chased to my car. I've been chased across a four-lane highway as I was running to hide in a supermarket. All those things have happened to me. That's part of what happens as you grow and learn the trade, but at the highest levels, I have been fortunate thus far." How can men like Elizondo and Hall justify pursuing a career as a soccer referee despite the constant threat of violence or verbal abuse? Both say their passion for the job outweighs any potential downside.
Elizondo first dabbled in refereeing during a handball game while studying to become a PE teacher more than three decades ago. His professor was so impressed by his performance that he encouraged Elizondo to pursue a career as a referee. "I didn’t really think of it as a possibility until one day, many years after the fact," Elizondo said. "I was walking down the street and passed by the AFA (Association of the Argentine Footall), where there was a poster that read, 'Refereeing Courses Registration.' I kept walking, but when I got to the corner, there was a red light, so I couldn’t cross the street. It was then that I remembered my professor and turned around." Refereeing quickly became Elizondo's calling soon after he enrolled at the AFA. A passionate soccer fan who had dreamed of being Argentina's Attorney General before becoming a PE teacher, Elizondo liked that refereeing combined his love of sports and sense of justice into one job. From the moment he decided to pursue refereeing full time, Elizondo made it his goal to reach Argentina's first division, to become an international referee and to work a World Cup. Twenty-three years after launching his refereeing career, he marked the final box on that checklist when FIFA selected him to officiate the 2006 World Cup in Germany. From a controversial red card for England'sWayne Rooney, to a penalty kick awarded toFrance, to a disputed Switzerland goal
against South Korea, Elizondo had an eventful World Cup even before Zidane's infamous headbutt. Still, red carding one of the sport's best players with 10 minutes left in the World Cup final will forever be what Elizondo is known for most. Strangers still recognize Elizondo all the time because of that call and approach him to discuss the details. He and Zidane even had breakfast together in 2007 when they discovered they were staying at the same hotel in Spain. And he and Materazzi also crossed paths two years later in Panama when Elizondo was refereeing an exhibition match featuring Lionel Messi and other top South American stars. "I was getting ready in the locker room when someone knocked the door, and it was Materazzi," Elizondo said. "He approached me with a smile, said hello, and asked if he could take a photograph with me. So he went to look for the camera and when he came back he had his whole family with him — his wife and his children. So I took pictures with him and all his family." The Zidane call might not have been a moment worth memorializing with photos for Elizondo were it not for the input of the fourth official on his staff. More than 300 million people worldwide watched that 2006 Final and many of them would not have been charitable to Elizondo had Zidane gotten away with the vicious headbutt. Fear of making a high-profile mistake like that often hounded both Elizondo and Hall in the hours leading up to the start of World Cup see World Cup Ref, page 30
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WHAT IS A CONCUSSION? A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury. Concussions are caused by a bump or blow to the head. Even a “ding,” “getting your bell rung,” or what seems to be a mild bump or blow to the head can be serious. You can’t see a concussion. Signs and symptoms of concussion can show up right after the injury or may not appear or be noticed until days or weeks after the injury. If your child reports any symptoms of concussion, or if you notice the symptoms yourself, seek medical attention right away. WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF A CONCUSSION? Signs Observed by Parents or Guardians If your child has experienced a bump or blow to the head during a game or practice, look for any of the following signs and symptoms of a concussion: • Appears dazed or stunned • Is confused about assignment or position • Forgets an instruction • Is unsure of game, score, or opponent • Moves clumsily • Answers questions slowly • Loses consciousness (even briefly) • Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes Symptoms Reported by Athlete • Headache or “pressure” in head • Nausea or vomiting • Balance problems or dizziness • Double or blurry vision • Sensitivity to light • Sensitivity to noise
• Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy • Concentration or memory problems • Confusion • Just “not feeling right” or “feeling down”
HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR CHILD PREVENT A CONCUSSION OR OTHER SERIOUS BRAIN INJURY? • Ensure that they follow their coach’s rules for safety and the rules of the sport. • Encourage them to practice good sportsmanship at all times. • Make sure they wear the right protective equipment for their activity. Protective equipment should fit properly and be well maintained. • Wearing a helmet is a must to reduce the risk of a serious brain injury or skull fracture.
– However, helmets are not designed to prevent concussions. There is no “concussion-proof” helmet. So, even with a helmet, it is important for kids and teens to avoid hits to the head. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU THINK YOUR CHILD HAS A CONCUSSION? 1. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION RIGHT AWAY. A health care professional will be able to decide how serious the concussion is and when it is safe for your child to return to regular activities, including sports.
2. KEEP YOUR CHILD OUT OF PLAY. Concussions take time to heal. Don’t let your child return to play the day of the injury and until a health care professional says it’s OK. Children who return to play too soon—while the brain is still healing—risk a greater chance of having a repeat concussion. Repeat or later concussions can be very serious. They can cause permanent brain damage, affecting your child for a lifetime. 3. TELL YOUR CHILD’S COACH ABOUT ANY PREVIOUS CONCUSSION. Coaches should know if your child had a previous concussion. Your child’s coach may not know about a concussion your child received in another sport or activity unless you tell the coach.
World Cup Referee, continued from page 29 matches they worked. Both men knew the many challenges of their job and the consequences of an illtimed blunder. "Before any match, you always have these feelings of nervousness and anxiety," Elizondo said. "Fear of making a mistake, fear of being misunderstood, and fear of failure. In my personal experience, I always faced a fear of making a mistake and had to work hard to cope with it." Carolina Casares, Editor-inChief of Yahoo! Hispanic Americas, contributed to this report. Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him atdaggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
KIDS’ PAGE SMOKE SIGNALS
Knock Knock Jokes Knock Knock Who’s there! Sabina! Sabina who? Sabina a long time since I’ve seen you! Knock Knock Who’s there! Sauce! Sauce who? Sauce together, now she’ll tell everyone! Knock Knock Who’s there! Savannah! Savannah who? Savannah you going to open this door!
Tongue Twisters Shave a single shingle thin. Stick strictly six sticks stumps. Cinnamon aluminum linoleum. Flora’s freshly fried fish. Cooks cook cupcakes quickly.
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Questions to ask your Coach If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, then doesn’t it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed? What hair color do they put on the driver’s licenses of bald men?
Back to School Puzzle Because we haven’t had anyone submit answers to our word search puzzles, we will no longer offer the contest. Just enjoy the puzzle and have a wonderful school year!
N C Z H F E B T S P E S X V O
E F F M N D I I P U X U F A C
T L T U M M Z X A I I K L O P
R T E M K F Z J D Q Y W O C S
A K O M O O R S S A L C O V R
G Z C S E N I O R H I G H K J
R C L O F N A T K T T G C L D
E D U P W I T M E F I R S T D
D W N H O H F A H H I X E K N
N F C O P D C T R S J H R C N
I F H M C H N O H Y E T P F Q
K O T O E E I G H T H R K N A
S F X R V N S P R I P U F W S
C J I E U R S I R L M O S U B
V Q S J S E G D R L W F L F B
CLASSROOM EIGHTH ELEMENTARY FIFTH FIRST FOURTH FRESHMAN JUNIOR JUNIORHIGH LUNCH TRAY KINDERGARTEN PRESCHOOL SECOND SENIOR SENIORHIGH SEVENTH SIXTH SOPHOMORE TEACHER THIRD
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