August 2006

PAGE 17

REGIONALS:

Yes, Virginia, referees DO have a family!

By Roberto Alvarez

SYRA

he US Youth Soccer Regional

T

Championships is a high-pressure

environment, and not only for the play-

ers and coaches, but the referees as well.

For referees, everything must be done

perfectly the first time around, because

there is no second chance; nor is there

much free time.

This year, a referee's typical day

started with an early wake-up call and

arrival at the fields at least an hour

before their first assignment. Referees

usually worked two assignments per

day, sometimes three. Each assignment

followed the same pattern ­ a detailed

pre-game meeting with the full crew,

working the match, and a detailed

debrief after the game with the crew and

referee assessor. This process took

approximately 3-4 hours to complete.

After that the referee had a short break

before going back and doing it all over

again. In the evenings, there were

instructional sessions, sometimes involv-

ing dinner, with next day assignments

being distributed around 9:15 pm.

So with all this pressure and very lit-

tle free time, how do referees manage to

The Washington family at the US Youth Soccer Regional Championships in Boise.

eat, rest, and stay sane, not to mention

focused, for the full week? One word ­

Fadden, Rick Houser, and Scott

sure we all ate and drank enough.

cozy? The hotel hallway took on the

Family.

look and feel of a college dorm. One

When things needed doing, Suzanne

Lawrence. They offered good guid-

One of the Washington referee

night about 25 of us enjoyed Thai

knew how to get them done. She

ance and advice!

team's proven secrets for success is the

·

take-out, proudly turning the hotel

took care of everything that did not

Every family has its cousins, and we

emphasis on turning the team into a fam-

hallway floor into a big "family

happen on the fields.

had ours in Gail Zimbelman, Todd

ily. Yes, referees DO have a family. And

·

table".

Every family needs a "Dad" (or as we

McGann Leslie Poirier, Dale Warren,

without our referee family, Washington

·

And every family counts on its mem-

say in Spanish, "Papi"). As the SYRA,

and Mike Margolies. They shared our

referees would not be as successful as

bers to help, support and encourage

that duty fell on my shoulders. This

"home", they supported our family,

we have been. Here is a big THANK

each other. We did this in many

"Team Papi" took care of all the on-

and they were there when we need-

YOU to all the members of our referee

ways ­ by cheering for every refer-

field issues, upcoming assignments

ed extra help. Plus Todd drives a

family who helped make Boise 2006 a

ee's assignments, by watching our

and handled any problem-solving

mean golf cart.

very successful week!

·

fellow referees at work, by giving

·

needs, in addition to managing the

Every family needs a home, and this

Every family needs a "Mom", and

each other rides to and from the

daily family meetings.

year the 300 level at the Holiday Inn

this year our team mom was

field, and by looking out for each

·

Every family needs the uncles, and

became it. Fortunately the Washing-

Suzanne Lambalot. What a miracle

other.

we had ours in the referee assessors,

ton team was housed together, giv-

worker! Suzanne did everything

Family is a wonderful thing to have! s

including  Wain  Jackson,  Bob

ing us that cozy, homey feel. How

from laundry to shopping to making

Manchester United Premier Cup

The tournament opened on Friday morning

play from the teams involved. The level of play com-

By Josh Wilkens

with constant rain and thunderstorms. Even though

bined with the quality of referee instruction makes

Washington Referee

the rain did not let up over the next three days, the

this tournament perhaps the most worthwhile tour-

fields on the Nike campus were in fantastic shape

nament on the West Coast for referees in the grade

n Memorial Day weekend, Nike hosted the

O

and the games continued.

07-06 category. For this tournament, state adminis-

Manchester United Premier Cup inviting the

As the tournament came to a close, Washington

trators Roberto Alvarez and Betty Schmeck assem-

top U-15 teams in the nation to compete for trips to

referees were rewarded with great assignments;

bled a group of young referees with a wide range of

the World Finals. Washington was asked to once

Aaron Riner, Jeremy Hanson, and Jadon Berry had

experience. Janet Irigoyen the referee administrator

again send a delegation of referees to help manage

middles of boy's quarterfinal match-ups, while Scott

did a nice job of mixing up the experience levels,

these matches. The fourteen referees who attended

Groce and Vince Bair were in the middle of the girl's

assigning the matches, and epitomized the tourna-

the tournament were led by three of US Soccer's

semifinals. For the Finals, Jadon Berry, Jordan

ment's overall professionalism and treatment of the

best instructors; Alfred Kleinaitis, Dick Triche, and

Wilson, and James Lawson worked the girl's final.

referees. This tournament showcases the talent of

Washington's Mohammad Zarrabi-Kashani. Through-

The boy's final was refereed by Josh Wilkens with

youth players from across the country and we in

out the weekend these three coached the officials,

Aaron Riner as an assistant and Jeremy Hanson as the

Washington are extremely fortunate to have the

pointed out both positives and negatives, and helped

fourth official.

opportunity to showcase the talent of our youth ref-

referees make adjustments when particular tactics

Throughout the weekend many of the referees

in attendance were impressed with the high level of

erees as well. s

were not working.