U.S. Soccer's "Official Take"

CRC vs CAN

2009-07-10T23:25:00.001-05:00

Today was game day! CJ and I refereed Costa Rica vs. Canada. We did our pregame at lunch. After some rest, the ride to and from the stadium was a little faster, due to the police escort that helped us get through rush hour traffic. The game went well. It was 2-2 draw with two cautions. It was very hot and humid. We also found out that since the U.S. is going though to the quarterfinals, we are

Beach Day! (Sort of...)

2009-07-09T22:30:00.000-05:00

Today is the day before the 3rd game in group A so for us, that means game day preparation for tomorrow. We went to the beach and did our warm up and light workout, because the sand makes sure the workout doesn’t impact our bodies too hard. We then got dinner and watched the other games and got to bed to get rest for the next day.-TV

Heading Down South

2009-07-08T22:07:00.000-05:00

Today we got up and did a recovery workout before getting on the charter flight to Miami. This workout was just to get the heart rate up a little to help flush the lactic acids from the body. With a good stretch to help the muscles recover as well, it was off to the airport where our bus dropped us off at a small airport. We were checked real quickly by security and then we walked right on to the

Matchday 2 for CONCACAF Gold Cup

2009-07-07T21:15:00.001-05:00

Today was matchday 2 for our group. I had the day off while Jair and CJ refereed Jamaica vs Costa Rica. The game went well with one caution and one red card. I got to watch both games up in a box with the administrators, assessors and an instructor. It was nice to relax and watch the games and cheer for our referee team. Earlier in the day, since I did not have a game, I was the only one that had

CONCACAF Elite Referee Training Course Explained

2009-07-07T15:00:00.000-05:00

Every year, CONCACAF organizes a course for elite level referees in the United States. This includes all the referees who participate in tournaments in CONCACAF like the Champions League, Gold Cup and FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. This year, prior to the 2009 Gold Cup, six U.S. referees were invited, of which three are participating in the Gold Cup—Terry, Jair and CJ Morgante. The rest of us had the

CONCACAF Gold Cup Blog continued

2009-07-06T17:03:00.000-05:00

Everyone today did game preparation, except for me since I have a few more days before my game. I did a high intensity training session. The workout started out with a good warm up. I walked 20 yards from the corner flag toward the goal then I turned on a diagonal, jogging forward 20 yards, then turned and ran backwards to the sideline. Once I hit the line, I had to turn and give a full sprint to

Preparing for Match Two

2009-07-05T20:58:00.001-05:00

Today, we woke up in Columbus, Ohio to get ready for our upcoming match. After breakfast we got a bus and went to a soccer field where we did a medium intensity training for 90 minutes, doing a good warm up and interval runs like we would do in a game—some jogging, some full sprints, running backwards and changing back and forth along with some slower walking for recovery. This gets our heart

On To The Next One...

2009-07-04T19:59:00.001-05:00

This morning we woke up to head out for the next venue. Our flight departed at ten in the morning. CONCACAF organized for us to fly a charter flight from Long Beach, CA to Columbus, Ohio, along with the other referees that officiated the first two matches at the Home Depot. We also flew with the Jamaican national team and the El Salvador national team. I would like to comment on how well the Gold

Game Day!

2009-07-03T22:47:00.000-05:00

After days of training and preparation, today was game day. We were working the opening match between Canada and Jamaica. Here is a run down of the day: We woke up and had breakfast and started making plans for the match. We then got some rest and had lunch while we did our pre-game preparation. We like to do our pre-game before we go to the stadium because at these events you never know what is

Closing Out Camp

2009-07-01T20:59:00.000-05:00

The last day of the seminar was today. We had a full day of class, which was focused on making sure we are all on the same page with the things we had covered and a few other subjects were covered too. Then we had another session of practical out on the field. This was more focused and more intense to help us make those decision that we need to work together to get right. While we were waiting

Day 3 of Gold Cup Preparation

2009-06-30T18:27:00.003-05:00

Today we started off with a pool workout as a way to recover from the fitness test we took yesterday. This is a great way to help the body repair and get back to being ready for intense workouts to come. We did resistance work, dynamic stretching, and static stretching. Then we had sessions on serious foul play, violent conduct, mass confrontation, advantage, and simulation. We took two video

Off and Running for Day 1

2009-06-28T19:15:00.000-05:00

Today we had a full day. We started the day by doing fitness at the Home Depot Center. The work out was low intensity, but got the blood moving and stretched the legs out from the travel to L.A. We started out slow and then did lots of motions that we would do in a game such as change of speed along with lots of dynamic stretching and doing things to make sure we were concentrating. We then

1,000,000 Miles and Counting

2009-06-27T18:38:00.003-05:00

I got off a plane in Miami coming back to the U.S. from Trinidad & Tobago. As I turned on my phone I had several voice mails and texts. This is common when returning to the country after being gone for a few days. When I was checking my messages, I was greeted by a person from the airline saying “Congratulations!" Usually when they call it is because my flights have been cancelled or delayed, but

CONCACAF Training at the Gold Cup

2009-06-25T16:11:00.002-05:00

I would like everyone to join us for our Gold Cup experience. This is my first Gold Cup, but for Terry this will be his second. We will be informing you on a daily basis of what we are doing to get ready this tournament. We arrived last night into Long Beach, California. CONCACAF has invited 56 referees from our region to have an elite referee seminar before the kick off of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Working With Professionals

2009-06-05T10:11:00.001-05:00

In another segment written by a referee, get a look inside the game day experience of a referee in the WPS:This past Memorial Day Weekend, I got to referee my first WPS and first ever top level professional division match. The whole experience was awesome and amazing! I had a great crew of referees to work with and a great assessor who were able to help me along the way. These are not the only

Lessons Learned Through Experience

2009-06-05T08:09:00.001-05:00

More thoughts and comments from the referees of the 2009 Development Academy Spring ShowcaseHello from the airport in Sarasota. As the tournament is playing its last games I am at the airport awaiting my flight home. U.S. Soccer calls this the spring showcase but at times it felt like the middle of summer here in Florida. We had a large group of referees working this showcase. It was good to

Spring Showcase Video Production

2009-05-28T11:19:00.001-05:00

Another point of view from the D.A. Spring Showcase provided by full-time U.S. referee Baldomero Toledo illustrates the necessity and challenges of creating instructional videos for developing referees...As a full-time FIFA referee, I think it is always important to be present during the development of young referees. On this occasion, U.S. Soccer assigned us to be part of the Development Academy

A Look Inside the Lines Part II

2009-05-27T09:18:00.001-05:00

Since the 2009 Spring Showcase began this week, some of the referees have been keeping some notes on what it's like to be an official during this hectic but exciting weekend. Over the next few days, we'll share their thoughts and experiences to give you a better idea of the challenge all referees face in keeping matches clean, fair and safe.I am now traveling home from another great event put on

Paul Tamberino Wants You!

2009-05-25T09:39:00.002-05:00

...to watch Referee Week in Review.The weekly combination of video clips and written explanations of close calls has provided an invaluable tool in continually teaching not just U.S. Soccer Federation referees, but officials of all levels. Don't believe us? Take a look at this clip detailing one such success story. Here's the clip in question with the accompanying explanation. Think you could

A Look Inside the Lines

2009-05-23T18:01:00.005-05:00

Week in Review - Week 8

2009-05-16T18:39:00.001-05:00

ussoccer.com has Referee Week in Review - Week 8. Listen to the full podcast here.

Week in Review - Week 6

2009-05-04T16:28:00.003-05:00

Check out the latest episode of ussoccer.com's Referee Week in Review. Brian Hall sits down to discuss all the goings on in MLS in Week 6 of the podcast. Follow along with the audio by looking at the talking points in the text version of Week in Review.Listen to the full show here.

Assessing Referees in Tijuana, Pt. 3

2009-04-30T13:03:00.001-05:00

Expect the unexpected! A theme that has become synonymous with officiating. Well, Tuesday brought the unexpected and, for most of us, it caught us off guard. CONCACAF decided to cancel the semifinal, final and third place game of the U-17 championships in Tijuana, Mexico. It was determined that the potential negative effects from the swine flu virus and the health of the participants

Assessing Referees in Tijuana, Pt. 2

2009-04-27T09:19:00.003-05:00

Sunday brought an end to the first round or group phase of the U-17 CONCACAF championships. This means four teams get to stay for the final round (semi-finals, final and third place game) while others must return home. This same is true for the referees. This is a sad time for officials as some of those that will return home have performed at a high level and the team of participating referees

Assessing Referees in Tijuana

2009-04-24T16:25:00.004-05:00

"Hola" from south of the border! I'm in Tijuana, Mexico, where U. S. Soccer has given me the opportunity to accept CONCACAF’s appointment as a Referee Assessor for the U17 Championships. I have been in Tijuana since Monday, April 20. I will be here through the final of the tournament which is scheduled for May 2.Joining me as U.S. Soccer’s match official representative is FIFA Assistant Referee

Week in Review - Week 3

2009-04-13T15:54:00.002-05:00

Listen ussoccer.com's Referee Week in Review for Week 3 here.You can also follow along with U.S. Soccer's manager of referee assessment and training Brian Hall by checking out the full Week in Review document here.

Opening Day in Colorado

2009-04-09T13:26:00.004-05:00

It is an honor to be appointed to a home opener and the last thing you think about as a referee is SNOW! Well, luckily it is part of my person to check the weather before traveling. It doesn’t matter if it is for business or pleasure. I think most people follow this practice…you have got to know how to pack!After opening San Jose during week 1 and wearing short sleeves I figured Colorado had

Serving Our Country

2009-03-18T13:02:00.002-06:00

As I sit at my laptop and listen to music I am very comfortable. The reason is because so many men and women serve our country so we can be free and safe. We have all heard that freedom is not free and this is true. These men and women that serve us full time here in our country and on foreign soil are not thanked enough. I would like to say thank you to these men and women for what they do for

Getting Ready for the MLS Season

2009-03-13T09:33:00.001-06:00

It is important to pick the right location and appropriate conditions for the best physical results, so I choose Big Bear Moutain, one of Southern California’s largest peaks. I stayed four days in a different environment than what I’m usually used to, where the weather conditions were 35 degrees at an altitude of over 7,000 feet.Day One: I started with light training, due to the fact that I was

Checking in from T&T - "Come on USA!"

2009-03-13T09:23:00.000-06:00

Let me just start by saying “COME ON U.S.!” This was something I would yell in my room as I followed our team on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker. My roommate from Honduras joined me cheering during the second game. (It took him a little getting used to but he came around). The referees were told that if your country made it thru to the semifinal round then those referees would be sent home. This is

Cross-Training with Terry Vaughn

2009-03-07T11:12:00.002-06:00

Today is a cross-training day. This is important so you ensure you are doing different types of training to improve your overall fitness and cross-training shouldn't just be about running. You should still get your heart rate up, but be sure to also work on speed, agility, hand eye coordination, and/or strength. For example, you could also play other sports like racquetball, basketball, or

Live from Trinidad

2009-03-05T13:06:00.001-06:00

Before the start of the U-20 CONCACAF Championship in Trinidad & Tobago, U.S. Soccer full-time referee Ricardo Salazar checked in from the Caribbean...Well, as our U20 team is here on the island of Tobago I am Trinidad ready for the tournament to start. CJ Morgante and I are here representing U.S. referees. Most everyone arrived on Wednesday and we had referee meetings. We covered many things

RefTalk with Ricardo Salazar

2009-02-24T12:54:00.001-06:00

Every business man knows that communication is key to success and in our business as referees it is no different. In 2009 U.S. Soccer invited all the top referees from around the country to “Pro Camp.” This took place in Orlando from Feb. 5-8. At this camp we did many things, including obtaining our communication devices for the upcoming MLS season. These communication devices (RefTalk) are new

For a Good Cause

2009-02-24T12:26:00.001-06:00

There are many ways to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. I was fortunate to be in my hometown this past weekend to participate in our Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. With this illness hitting close to home with my friends and family, I was very happy to represent U.S Soccer in the 5k competitive run. I know perhaps this is a small effort but I know I can contribute in some

Fitness Tips and "Over-training"

2009-02-20T16:17:00.001-06:00

Fitness is a must when it to refereeing, and we have to prepare ourselves to pass the fitness test for the season. We have to build our conditioning so that as the season progresses we remain healthy and in peak condition at the right time of the year. We have to be careful just doing the bare minimum to get by the new fitness test. Doing extra training will ensure that if you become sick, or it

Pro Camp Blog with Jair Marrufo

2009-02-14T09:28:00.001-06:00

With 2009 Major league Soccer season around the corner, I attended our first pro camp in Orlando, Florida this past weekend. With the support that U.S soccer has been given for the past years it made this weekend very instrumental for the 2009 season to start off on the right track. I arrived on Thursday the 5th, flying in during the afternoon. Opening ceremonies were that night, along with

Q&A - Jair Marrufo

2009-02-11T08:11:00.006-06:00

This month there's a big game happening. You may have heard about it? You also may have heard about the cold weather, which has played a memorable part in the USA-Mexico rivalry in the past. With these things in mind, this month we're asking U.S. Soccer's full-time referees about officiating games in the cold and taking charge of games between heated rivalries. In part one we talked to Baldomero

Ricardo Salazar Checks In

2009-02-11T07:40:00.006-06:00

Q&A - Terry Vaughn

2009-02-08T15:38:00.006-06:00

Q&A - Baldomero Toledo

2009-02-04T23:41:00.004-06:00

Another Cold Day Workout - "Ladders"

2009-01-23T11:48:00.003-06:00

It is another cold snowy day in Iowa where it is unsafe to be outside, so today I am working out inside. I will be using the Elliptical machine for the replacement of running. I have found the Elliptical gives a close simulation of running, and has lower impact on the joints. This helps to keep the body from getting beat up from running's constant pounding on the bodyWhen I work out inside I

Training in Cold Weather

2008-12-19T16:07:00.003-06:00

I was just in Lancaster, Calif. for the Development Academy Winter Showcase and it was a great experience for anyone that wants to be part of the pro track. This is one of the best avenues to be seen by the US Soccer staff, and it was great to head across the country where there was good weather for playing soccer.For me and many other referees, we do not get to be in many climates that are

Referee Spotlight at the Development Academy

2008-12-08T19:49:00.003-06:00

As you probably know, the Development Academy isn't a benefit for players only. It is also playing a huge part in developing our nations refereeing corps. One of those referees, Jasen Anno, has moved up through the ranks to ref MLS games as well as internationals. We sat down with Jasen to learn more about how he's progressed through his officiating career:

A Helpful Note from Ricardo Salazar

2008-11-27T20:51:00.001-06:00

I have seen this all too frequently when I both played and coached at the collegiate level. Now I am sending out a warning to you so you don’t get caught: Most athletes don’t realize how many calories they are consuming during the season and don’t adjust their diet when the season is over. It is important that when taking a break (one or two days off) we are mindful of what we

U.S. Soccer Referees Nominated for MLS Awards

2008-10-30T15:57:00.002-06:00

MLS announced the finalists for its season end awards today, with U.S. Soccer Referees Jair Marrufo and Terry Vaughn picking up nods for the 2008 Referee of the Year award. The pair will vie with Mike Kennedy for the award, which is to be given away on November 6 from MLS headquarters in New York. For a full list of the season end awards, click here.

Jair Marrufo Pre-Selected for World Cup

2008-10-30T15:48:00.000-06:00

U.S. Soccer referee Jair Marrufo has been pre-selected to represent the CONCACAF region at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. FIFA released a list of 38 officials from which the referees for the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be chosen.All 38 referees have attended various FIFA seminars and officiated in FIFA competitions since 2006, when the selection process began. Candidates were judged on performance in

2nd Round Blog from the FIFA Futsal World Cup

2008-10-17T10:30:00.006-05:00

U.S. Referee Jason Krnac is representing the United States at the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil. He's blogging about his experience from Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia.Friday, October 10, 2008It is another rest day in Brazil. I woke early for a morning jog so that I could see the sun rise over the lake. After lunch a group of us decided to take a shuttle to a mall that was in downtown Brasilia. It

More from Brasilia

2008-10-11T16:53:00.001-05:00

U.S. Referee Jason Krnac is representing the United States at the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil. He's blogging about his experience from Brasilia.Thursday, October 9, 2008The last day of First Round matches which decide the last 4 teams to qualify for the next round out of Groups C and D. There is much anticipation and nervousness within the group of referees. All decided to travel to the arena

Referee Training Day

2008-09-27T10:37:00.000-05:00

In the morning we traveled back to Marina Barra Club for training, the weather was on our side this morning with warm and sunny skies. Our fitness and practical training took place outside. These were our last training sessions together before the tournament begins on Tuesday. They both were intense sessions. The fitness session we were given a choice of running the entire time or alternate

Marina Barra Club

2008-09-26T23:44:00.000-05:00

In the morning we traveled to Marina Barra Club for both Fitness and Practical training. The club is on an island, the surrounding waterway attracts people who cast nets from bridges attempting to catch small minnows or shiners. This morning, unlike yesterday, a very strong odor was coming from water. Today for fitness training, we stretched and then ran three laps around the trail that was next

Blog from the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil

2008-09-26T20:28:00.003-05:00

U.S. Referee Jason Krnac is representing the United States at the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil. He's blogging about his experience from Rio de Janeiro.I am very honored to have received this appointment to the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil. It is an honor for me to have this opportunity to represent CONCACAF and US Soccer at this prestigious tournament. I want to share my experiences

Referee Academy for 2008 Women's Nike Friendlies

2008-08-24T17:27:00.002-05:00

A combination referees from Southern California and the rest of the country came together from Aug. 20 to 24 for the 2008 Women's Nike Friendlies.A total of 28 high caliber U-15, U-16 and U-17 teams, including three U.S. Youth National Teams, gave the U.S. Soccer Referee Department a chance to provide real-time feed back to a group of talented referees of different experience levels.Sandra

USA WINS

2008-08-21T16:27:00.003-05:00

Wow, what an amazing evening and a wonderful night to be representing the USA. The match was incredible, with of course the USWNT winning GOLD. The support of Women’s soccer was inspiring with over 50, ooo people in attendance including FIFA President Blatter, IOC President Jacques Rogge, Pele, Kobe Bryant, and Michelle Kwan…Following the match, we had a ceremony of our own with all the referees

An Honor

2008-08-20T04:15:00.000-05:00

It is always an honor to work a final match, in any capacity. There is no exception in this case. Kari has been selected to be the 4th official for the Bronze medal match of Germany v Japan. May the best team win and may the ball roll straight for the team of officials. Go USA.

Thank You Official Sports International

2008-08-17T23:35:00.002-05:00

Official Sports International has always been a wonderful supporter of US Referees, and this event was no exception. They supplied us with 90 sac pacs to give as gifts to the referees and administrators at the 2008 Olympic Games. The bags were a big hit, with lots of use on the trip to the Great Wall (I hear). In the photo below Kari, Marlene & Veronica are modeling the great new women's cut

A Night for Brazil

2008-08-15T11:58:00.000-05:00

For most of our Quarterfinal match, Brazil was in full control of the ball and the play over rival Norway. After the first goal was scored on a rocket from Daniela at about 30 yards, you could see the Norwegians lose confidence. That was until the 81st minute when the Brazilian GK (the reserve GK) took down a Norwegian player near the touchline and Norway scored from the resulting Penalty Kick (

USA in the Quarterfinals...

2008-08-13T11:28:00.001-05:00

...and not just the WNT, USA will also have a team officials in the Quarter Finals representing! August 15th Kari, Veronica, Marlene and Dianne (of Guyana) will be the 3rd team for Brazil v Norway.This is bound to be an exciting match. Brazil is on a hot streak, winning their group in the first round, in fact, scoring a hat trick yesterday versus Nigeria. Norway, as you may remember, is the team

Daily Training-What We Do On Our "Days Off"

2008-08-13T11:17:00.008-05:00

Many of you must be wondering, what exactly do we do when we are not working on matches. We actually have a tight schedule with many different things incorporated into our daily program. Every non-game day includes physical training. The physical training is scheduled is modified before and after game day to optimize our game fitness. Our fitness training alternates between workouts in the hotel

Kermit Update

2008-08-11T14:50:00.000-05:00

Well it has been a very good trip so far. I have been fortunate enough to see the Forbidden City and go to the Birds Nest before everyone else was there and get some good pictures. Daily physical training has been good and the on the field technical session have been good because they are working on situations dealing with team work as well as working on offside situations that can happen

Nearing the end of the first round

2008-08-11T09:10:00.001-05:00

The final assignments are out for the first round women's matches today (Aug. 10)As you know team USA had Brazil v Germany on the first day of the tournament. We received positive feedback from our assessors and colleagues alike.You probably figured out we didnʼt get a match on the second day (sans post); a nice few days of recovery. And now for the final day of matches in the group stages Kari

Ni Hao from China

2008-08-11T09:08:00.000-05:00

Well it has been a very good trip so far. I have been fortunate enough to see the forbidden city and go to the birds nest before everyone else was there and get some good pictures. Daily physical training has been good and the on the field technical session have been good because they are working on situations dealing with team work as well as working on offside situations that can happen and

8-8-08

2008-08-10T14:25:00.002-05:00

We travel back to Beijing in hopes of getting to the Opening Cermonies. As you have read before disappointment set in for our trio. We had to stay in the hotel and watch from the TV. We did not have tickets and since Jair had to leave for Shanghai on 8-9-08, so he had to stay. We were not back when the bus left so we had to stay at the hotel.So for first match, great game, great experience,

Match Day

2008-08-07T14:24:00.000-05:00

We depart the hotel at 5:30 for a 10 minute trip. The bus has a police escort that radios ahead we are coming and they stop all traffic at any intersection to ensure we arrive without any problems. People are standing on the streets as we pass by watching us. The first game is going on as we enter so we head to the locker room and begin to prepare for the match. We begin to change and put on

On the Road

2008-08-07T14:23:00.000-05:00

Today we depart for the city of Qinhuangdao, by train the 7 of us are taken to the train station and we are placed in an area and surrounded by security people that do not allow people to enter, then we board and ride the train for 2 hours to the city, with uniformed security people on the train with us and then we were met by more of the event staff for the venue.

Hello From Qinhaungdao

2008-08-07T09:46:00.004-05:00

Today we had the match between Cameroon vs Korea Republic. On a hot and humid night, both sides began the match playing a high-tempo, pressing game. The game ended in a 1-1 tie, with a caution to Korea in the 57th minute and a send off in the 90th minute. The match inspector was very pleased with our performance.After the match, Jair headed to Shanghai to be the Fourth Official for the August 9

The First Game

2008-08-07T09:11:00.000-05:00

We returned to Beijing this afternoon and we are exhausted from travel and last nightʼs match. As wide eyed first timers, we wanted to share a little bit about our experience.We are still pumped up from the match and the realization that we are now officially Olympians! As you probably know, the game ended in a scoreless draw. Last night was an incredible experience! Wu Lihe Stadium is a

The Assignments Are Out

2008-08-04T09:38:00.002-05:00

* The USA will be represented by a trio in the Germany v Brazil match on Aug 6th. Yes, the same match up as the final of the Women's World Cup 2007. On Aug. 5th Kari, Marlene & Veronica fly to Shengyang where, on the following day, we'll be officiating in a stadium designed to seat 60,000 people and rumored to be a sell-out!* The USA will be represented by a duo for the start of the group play

Exciting Day

2008-08-03T23:41:00.001-05:00

It has been a long and exciting day. Starting with training, both fitness and technical, followed by a group mental preparation session with our "team" Psychologist. The goal of this mental preparation session was to learn relaxation techniques in preparation for the upcoming matchesThe sun was out and it was hot today, we’ve heard anywhere from 35-40 degrees Celsius (95-100 degrees Fahrenheit).

Communication Systems!

2008-08-03T14:42:00.001-05:00

This afternoon we had a meeting regarding the Communication System, which we'll be using for the Olympics. Since only about 1/2 of the referees have used it before, we got a brief overview of how it works an some tips in its use. Each referee was then given their own system to manage for the duration of the tournament. In the attached photo you can see the bag with all the equipment. The belt in

Rise and Shine!

2008-08-03T11:43:00.000-05:00

Bright and early every morning we wait in the lobby of our hotel for our transportation to arrive to take us to our training sessions. Our credentials are a requirement every time we depart our hotel for security purposes. Today our training sessions were on penalty kick, offside, and assistant referee involvement. The penalty kick session was about the decisions of the referee when attackers and

Hello again, we're back!

2008-06-19T08:57:00.003-05:00

Summer found us here in Korea, the mornings start off nice and cool but by match time, the heat and humidity poke their way through onto the pitch. Compared to the 115 degree heat and 400% humidity back home in NC, it ain’t so bad, so no worries.The matches are going well so far, I was able to practice my Italian and hack my way through some Portugese/Spanish/sign language with the Brazilians,

On the Road Again...

2008-06-18T14:41:00.003-05:00

I am staying in the Salt Lake airport Hilton for the next couple of days and am here as a 4th official for the MLS game between the visiting San Jose Earthquakes and hosting Real Salt Lake. It will be Jasen Anno’s first game back after a three year sabbatical.I flew in late last night after a three-hour delay and arrived around 11:45 p.m. It was a good thing I had dinner before I got on the plane

Cedar Rapids Flood Disaster

2008-06-17T13:56:00.006-05:00

As most of you know, Cedar Rapids and many surrounding communities have experienced a flood disaster like we’ve never seen before. In Cedar Rapids, more than 24,000 people have been displaced and thousands of homes and businesses have been severely damaged or destroyed. Numerous roads, highways and bridges closed as a result of very high water. Our public water supply was also compromised,

Greetings from Korea!

2008-06-14T13:51:00.002-05:00

We made it! Nothing like a 15-hour flight to make one appreciate freedom of movement. Apparently, Korean Air is infatuated with the early movies of Dustin Hoffman, the time warp to “The Graduate” and “Kramer vs Kramer” did wonders to help us adjust to the 13-hour time difference. Our lovely colleague Mi Suk Park greeted Sharon Wheeler (aka ‘Wheels’) and I at the Seoul airport with a smile, coffee

Referee Week in review

2008-05-15T09:01:00.002-05:00

With the introduction of the referee week in review, the staff at US Soccer watch games, note certain incidents and review game tape. We then make clips of the incidents and write a review of them. It is then posted on ussoccer.com for everyone to learn from. To take this further, myself, Alfred Kleinaitis and Brian Hall speak to the same material on a podcast, which can also be found on

U.S. vs. Canada Recap

2008-05-12T09:04:00.000-05:00

Happy Mother’s Day everyone! Looks like Saint Medard (patron saint of good weather) smiled upon us once again on Saturday night. A cool, dry 60 degrees greeted us at RFK Stadium in the nation’s capital, the pitch was kind to the knees, and the locker room was open every time we needed to get in! The crowd was great, the weather perfect, Mike Squire was gifted a well-earned “Incredible Hulk”

Allowance for Time Lost

2008-05-09T14:41:00.000-05:00

In a recently played MLS game, the referee did not follow the standardized procedures by which additional time is allowed in a period of play. This problem also occurred in recent UEFA matches. The UEFA Referee Committee determined that the referees were ending the game before the full added time was played. They have issued a directive to their referees reminding them to allow the full time

The Curse of the Iron Bowl

2008-05-05T08:59:00.001-05:00

Well, that was a wild one! Back from Birmingham and wanted to give a post-match hello. Whoever did that sun dance, a thousand thank you’s! The weather couldn’t have been more perfect at kickoff, which was great because we (the referee crew) had a bit of an adventure making it onto the pitch. Legion Field is known as “The Iron Bowl”, a nod to Birmingham’s past of iron and steel manufacturing.

Welcome to Birmingham - Part I

2008-05-03T04:30:00.000-05:00

Ok, I’m up. It’s 4:30 a.m., which to most reasonable people, outside of clinicians and military folks, is still the middle of the night. My flight to Birmingham, Ala., for the rematch between the U.S. Women’s National Team and Australia leaves RDU at 7:30 a.m. This is the time of year when I know what the TSA guy on morning shift in Terminal A takes in his coffee, and the Starbucks people give

Greetings From The Pan Pacific

2008-03-13T09:24:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone. I was at the Pan Pacific Tournament in Hawaii from February19-24 and wanted to let you in on how the trip went. I arrived on February 19 at night. The following day, I had the opening game between Galaxy from U.S and Osaka from Japan. This was the first game of the tournament, so I went to the game with the mentality to set the tone for the rest of the tournament. The game was a very

DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY WINTER SHOWCASE

2008-02-21T15:06:00.001-06:00

This last weekend, three of the full time referees, Jair Marrufo, Ricardo Salazar and me joined U.S. Soccer Referee staff Alfred Kleinaitis, Paul Tamberino, Dick Triche, and Craig Lowry at the Development Academy Winter Showcase in Dallas, Texas. This showcase is not just for players, coaches and teams, but it is also a showcase for referees. It is a great environment to work with and develop

THE SUPER CLASSIC OF CONCACAF

2008-02-06T23:40:00.001-06:00

How does a referee approach the biggest rivalry in CONCACAF, USA vs. Mexico? This is the biggest game on our continent anytime these two teams clash. They say this is an international friendly but we as referees know there is no such this as a “friendly” in soccer. The referee for this game Carlos Batres from Guatemala and he will have his hands full. He will have to use his many years of

What happens at National Camp

2008-02-04T21:42:00.000-06:00

My name Terry Vaughn and I am one of the full timers and I wanted to let you know what goes on at the National Camp. The full time Referees (Jiar Marrufo Ricardo Salazar, Baldomero Toledo and Terry Vaughn) spent Jan 24-27 in Carson California at what is called National Camp one as presenters . Here is a quick look at our agenda. When we arrived on Thursday, we checked in to the hotel and

GETTING READY FOR NATIONAL CAMP

2008-01-22T23:09:00.001-06:00

Hello my fellow referees. As you may or may not know, it is time for U.S. Soccer's National Referee Camp. This is the time when the top referee's in our country are called in to re-certify for the upcoming season. (More on the camp later.) I wanted to spend a few moments to let you know how I (and the other referees in Illinois) prepare for the camp.The two main things we have to prepare for is

Greetings from China – Part IV – The Final Installment

2008-01-21T08:32:00.000-06:00

Morning greetings from China! Last we visited we were sleeping off an enormous meal courtesy of the CFA and headed to the gym the next morning to work it off. Satisfied that the calorie count was a little more balanced between import and export, the Chinese officials picked us up for another round of shopping. After a few close calls for some bicycle-riders – I swear we just about picked off 4 or

Greetings from China – Part III

2008-01-20T19:34:00.000-06:00

Afternoon greetings from China! Somehow we are on the last match day already, the time has gone very quickly. Last time we visited, it was the night before the second day of matches, where I was appointed as the referee for Canada versus China. I’m happy to report that all went smoothly. We met a little earlier than usual to give ourselves lots of time for the pregame, which gets tricky when

Greetings Part II

2008-01-17T10:04:00.001-06:00

Evening greetings from China!Winding down from a busy couple of days here, last we visited we were preparing for the first day of matches. All went smoothly for the officials, the US played against a young Canadian side in their first game under a new coaching staff. The final score was 4-0, our Finnish referee Kirsi did a very nice job, and her team of Chinese officials worked well together.

Greetings from China!

2008-01-15T23:37:00.000-06:00

After twenty-two hours of fly time, a quest to find a referee’s luggage, a blissful arrival at a lovely hotel, a smoking travel converter, and a triumphant search and rescue mission for a power strip adapter, oh, and one serving of chicken feet later, I am happy to send everyone a big hello from The Grand Royal Hotel, which will be home for the next several days during The Four Nations Cup

Brian Hall Named OSI Referee of the Year

2007-11-05T08:48:00.000-06:00

U.S. Soccer and Major League Soccer refree Brian Hall was named OSI Referee of the Year for the 2007 season on Monday. It is the fourth time, and third consecutive season, that Hall has been honored with the recognition, having previously earned it in 2003, 2005, 2006.Hall has been officiating MLS matches since the league's inaugural season and has represented the United States in several FIFA

Jair Marrufo Finalist for OSI Referee of the Year

2007-10-30T12:29:00.000-06:00

Jair Marrufo, one of U.S. Soccer's four full-time referees, was named as a finalist for Major League Soccer's OSI Referee of the Year award. The other two candidates for the award are U.S. Soccer and former World Cup referee Brian Hall and Alex Prus. The winner will be named on Monday, November 5.

U.S. Soccer Fall Showcase Weekend

2007-10-16T10:25:00.000-05:00

From October 5-8, 2007, I was very fortunate to participate in the first ever segment of the newly implemented Developmental Academy Program. The showcase event took place at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., beginning with a meeting on Friday night, games all day on Saturday and Sunday, and concluded with just two games on Monday morning.The teams that participated were from all across

U.S. Soccer Development Academy Fall Showcase

2007-10-15T10:18:00.000-05:00

The thing I liked the most about the Academy experience was that it brought me into close contact with the finest referees in Southern California. Being able to observe so many good refs during such high quality games sharpened my skills and brought my level of refereeing up a notch or two, both on and off the field.Another thing that struck me was that it demonstrates U.S. Soccer's genuine

U.S. Soccer Development Academy Showcase

2007-10-12T16:22:00.001-05:00

To be a participant in the first U.S. Soccer Development Academy Fall Showcase at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., was a great experience as a referee fortunate enough to be selected to officiate matches involving elite soccer programs from various parts of the United States. The mentorship and instruction provided by elite U.S. Soccer administrators and FIFA referees: Esse Baharmast,

Fall Showcase Weekend

2007-10-11T12:33:00.000-05:00

Friends,The first U.S. Soccer Fall Development Academy Showcase at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., was a great success.A total of 38 games were played at The Home Depot Center from Saturday, Oct. 6, until Monday, Oct. 8. The overall organization from U.S. Soccer was excellent.On our side, the referee side, we had our own Academy going. Participating referees came from all over Southern

What an amazing experience

2007-09-29T21:06:00.000-05:00

Wow, the Women's World Cup 2007. What an amazing experience. Jen and I have been privileged and honored to represent the USA in the capacity of referees here at the World Cup in China. As always it is our deepest desire to conduct a match that is considered fair, safe and exciting for the players. I believe we have been successful in that endeavor and of that I am truly proud.We could not have

Not quite yet

2007-09-28T21:27:00.000-05:00

Thank you everyone for your support and well wishes. They are much appreciated. . Unfortunately there was a delay in announcing appointment and we will not know final appointments until Saturday afternoon (Shanghai time). Please check back often on Saturday for the latest news. Until then keep your positive vibes coming.

Semifinals

2007-09-27T02:48:00.000-05:00

Wednesday was the first semi-final Germany v Norway.As usual, the day started with training in the morning (fairly intense with 16x100 meter sprints, followed by 100m jog) and a technical session on the field. We focused on a variety of actual scenarios with players going to goal. The objectives was to determine if there was an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity. It was imperative that we

Hello from China

2007-09-25T12:12:00.000-05:00

Last night the referees celebrated the conclusion of the first part of the tournament with the first round and Quarterfinals completed. We had a wonderful dinner at Villa Rouge a "french" restaurant (which serves Chinese food). We had the whole back patio for the FIFA referees and LOC members for dinner, live music and dancing. With only 8 referees and 11 AR's staying for the next round, there

FAQ: WWC 2007

2007-09-23T00:48:00.000-05:00

We apologize for not responding to the comments you have been posting. In China, blogs are blocked and we have been having difficulty accessing the comments on our blog. FAQ#1: Is any US ref going to be assigned to a knockout game?At this point, the quarterfinals are almost complete. Jen is going to be a 4th official for the Norway vs. China match, but Kari is resting in Shanghai. We do not know

Arrival in Wuhan for Quarterfinal - Norway vs China

2007-09-23T00:45:00.001-05:00

Jen and her team arrived in Wuhan around 5pm Saturday evening. As before, we were greeted at the airplane as VIPs with flowers. We arrived at the hotel at 6pm and watched the second half of the Germany vs. North Korea quarterfinal which ended 3-0. After the match, we had dinner and then watched the USA vs. England match together. England put up a good fight, but simply could not find the back of