USA CUP 1

After settling into the dorms we made our way over for a rules clinic for the Tournaments. Dad got a polo even though he technically wasn’t supposed to get one. Ah whos keeping track anyways?

Friday was the first day of games and ended up being plenty fun. I worked with a few Brits and they are always trying to have a laugh. I was an AR on 15 boys, 16 girls, and 19 Boys. I was also the center on a 15 girls. All my games on that day ended up with one team being shut out. The 19 boys game had an incredible pace and was fun to be on the line. The center was a Brit and he told them in the captains meeting he would let them be physical. A different approach but I think they appreciated his honesty. He got away with showing only one yellow as well. However in my girls game I gave 3 yellows. I should have held back but they were three easy yellows. The first for a bad tackle, the second for a little kick at an opponent while on the ground and the third for running into the keeper. The game ended up 1-nil and I was happy with my performance. I was just upset that I wasn’t assessed because I think it would have helped me get higher level games.

Since the first day I have been going down in level of play. Friday brought 4 more games but I was actually scheduled for only 2 while on standby for another time slot. I picked up a game during that slot and then filled in on another slot. My centers ended up being 13 boys, 12 girls, and another 13 boys. The one AR slot was a 12 boys game. I ended up seeing the Australia team twice. Once as the line on the 12 boys game and then as the center on the 13 boys game. I ended up with 4 yellows. 3 for tackles and one for dissent. One of the Aussies just mouthed off a little too much for his age and for the game. My 13 boys center at the end of the day went all the way to penalties which was the first for me. It was fun getting everything organized and keeping things on track. The Aussies ended up winning 4 to 1 on the penalties as the Minn. Team could not convert their first and third attempts.

Saturday night saw the coaches and referee game and that was fun. I ended up running around for another 2 hours. Probably not the smartest but it was fun.

Sunday saw me on the line for a semi-final on a 12 girls game. The Canadian team went up 1 – nil into the break but then ended up losing 2 to 1. I was then in charge of a final for the 11 boys flight B championship. Everything went well in the game while the team who seemed better ended up losing basically on two defensive errors. The first goal coming on a ball through the keepers legs. Yet the excitement mounted in the end of the game when I had to show a red card for denying an obvious goal by handling the ball. I wonder if that 11 year old will be scared for life due to that red card. Yet no one was really upset and everyone understood including his coaches. The game ended 2 to 1 with the team down a man winning (They were from ND).

I then got my medal for being in a final match. Along with my assistants Art (From MD) and Hamilton (from Jamaica).
Sunday evening brought another viewing of Harry Potter IV with my dad before he departed along with some mellow time. Monday meant a trip to the Mall of America which I can confirm is still huge and still has about 3 footlockers, 3 footactions, and 3 finishlines. Half the sign of the beast if you tell me. But on the ride back I got to talking to the Jamaican referees which includes a FIFA AR and they told me about life down in the Caribbean. I was then invited down to referee and prove myself down there because they said if I can referee there, then I can referee anywhere. We then had a clinic from Steve Mortimer and George Cain on Offsides along with just overall game control. Some interesting tips to use out on the pitch next time. Then the opening ceremonies in the stadium. There is one team from Damascus MD and a few from Colorado but otherwise no teams directly representing any place I might call a somewhat home. When the referees were announced I did waive my DC flag (I got at the Mall for the occasion) and promptly had to correct someone saying that was the state flag of DC by saying that we are not a state.

Tomorrow I have two lines on 12 girls and then a center on 11 boys. If my Wednesday games stay the same I might get a little frustrated.

So Far – 5 Centers = 7 yellows and 1 red.

Pictures to come