I have had the privilege of coaching our great game at the high school level for 17 wonderful years. In that time I have seen several different changes. One area I have seen very little change is in our current referee pool.

I would like to take time to recognize and appreciate all the dedicated referees who have served me, our sport, and the many players who have benefited from their service. Men like Gary Keisker, Gary Strunk, Dave Massey, Jack Streck, Tim Noonan, and others have been shouldering the load for many a year. Yes Keisker, you and I have had way too many games together, (to date I have coached 740 high school games and I’m sure you have officiated 700 of them).

Joking aside, it is time to call the soccer community to help with this situation. We have had boys’ soccer in the community since 1984. The girls program since 1995. If you count just one school it is roughly 30 athletes per season at 35 seasons or about 950 players from one school who have enjoyed high school soccer. Where are all of you? If we cannot increase our number of referees, our sport will be told what nights to play on or maybe told we can’t play certain games. We need to give something back. We complain about the referees, but we don’t do it ourselves. C’mon soccer moms and dads, former players, college students, and coaches, who don’t coach in both seasons. We are in desperate times with this scenario. Our sport is starting to flourish with more kids playing and schools adding soccer all of the time. Everyone has some spare time at least one day a week for a few hours.

The current referees will tell you that they are not getting rich doing this, but they do get paid. The current rate of pay is $50 for a varsity game and $42.50 for a junior varsity game. This isn’t bad for a few hours of work. I am currently at a school where 11 of our coaches, administrators and teachers do some refereeing. Other sports are not in this pinch. Why is it that so few feel the call to service? Do we not feel like our kids are important enough to help them? I’m searching for answers to our dilemma! Please help!

Our sport needs you. If you believe in this sport and are willing to help, you can contact the Missouri State High School Activities Association at MSHSAA.org. It’s a simple process and easy to become an official. Thanks for your service and see you this spring.

Sincerely, Tom Davidson

Excellent turnout this weekend for the Referee Certification course. Taught by Jim Philpot, there were approximately 40 folks who gave up the best weekend we’ve seen around here in months in order to earn their Grade 8 Certification. Aaron - I think you’re going to go far!

Well done folks!

COURSE DATES: February 29, March 1-2
Friday, February 29 5:30p - 9:30p
Saturday, March 1 8:00a - 6:00p
Sunday, March 2 1:00p - 5:00p

Location: Lake Country Soccer (if more than 20 registrants, an alternate location will be required) * This entry level certification course is approximately 16 hours *

Registration fee = $15 to register for the course

USSF registration fee of $25 will be due if the registrant successfully passes the written examination which is administered on the 3rd day of the course. Checks are to be made payable to the “Missouri Referee Development Program”

Registrants are required to provide their personal social security numbers to register with the “MRDP”

Registration forms are available at the information table at Lake Country Soccer.

For The Integrity of Soccer opens a series of articles on Joe Machnik, Major League Soccer’s Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner for On-Field Competition, the guy who acts as the league’s liaison with the US Soccer Federation on officiating issues. He opens with a story about playing for KU against Rockhurst 30 years ago, when both schools had club teams, and the common issues we still face trying to be part of the international game.

US Soccer Players digs a bit deeper with Major League Soccer’s Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis, regarding the standards of refereeing in MLS and how it might improve, and how the poor bench behavior of some coaches and players isn’t helping the officials to do their jobs .

Finally, A Refs Blog discusses How To Be Mean as he recaps the Top 10 posts of 2007. This one stood out for me based upon some discussions I’ve had with Springfield’s most senior referee, Andy Ellsworth, and his experiences at National Referee camps. There are also several good reports on his experiences at the Region II Tournament last June in Des Moines that are worth a read. I’m fairly certain this guy is based in MN based up his writing although understandably he remains anonymous as he tells his story of working his way up the ranks of US Soccer.

Credit: Cleats comic strip, December 29th.

Happy New Year

That’s only part of her story however. She was interviewed by KOLR 10 last month and I’d like to share that part of her story with you as well. It’s not an easy story to tell, I don’t feel qualified, but it’s an important story.

“I referee soccer at two different places, work down in Branson and do personal training,” Lacy explained her work schedule. This 23-year-old also has a full load of classes and goals at Missouri State University.

“I am planning on graduating with a bachelor’s in psychology and minors in business and Latin and then applying for Ph.D. programs in psychology,” she said.

Plus she volunteers on several state legislative committees, including the Taskforce on Children’s Justice. “I think I can provide some input that normal researchers wouldn’t be able to,” she explained.

Her opinions, especially on foster care are influenced by her past.

“I was really, really scared,” she remembered. When she was 15, Lacy and her five siblings were taken from a dangerous home and placed in foster care.

Here’s the entire story, including the video clip from the news story.

I did explore a bit more some of Lacy’s background in soccer which is below.

How did you get involved in soccer? I was fortunate enough to be able to play for 2 years in high school, though because of my prior situation it was never an option for me to play on a club team.
In particular, as a referee? i started refereeing at the YMCA for fun, and took the USSF certification class initially to get a pay raise and to better understand the game. After I understood the game better, I began to get involved in refereeing at Lake Country. I tried to start out slow, but the assignors threw me into some more advanced games and have loved it ever since.
When was that? Fall 2006
Why do you keep doing it? I love the game of soccer and will continue to be involved in any way I can. I love the physical and mental challenge it provides. It’s also a good opportunity to practice conflict resolution skills which will be part of my practice as a counselor someday I still play indoor and pick up games whenever I can.
Do you have longer term goals in refereeing? I hope to keep advancing to my full potential. I am going to start my first season as a MSHSAA referee this year which I hear is a different sort of challenge. My goals for the next few years are to get upgraded to a 7 & and hopefully get involved in refereeing at the college level.
Are any of your siblings active in soccer? My youngest sister plays for the park board in Nixa (she’s 9)
Do you plan on staying in Springfield as you pursue your advanced degree? Unfortunately there are no PhD programs in Psychology in the Springfield area, but I am sure that soccer and refereeing will continue to be a part of my life wherever I go.

Lacy was a member of the Ozark Tigers soccer team in 2000-2001. That team won districts both years and made it to the state playoffs in 2001. One of her teammates was Roxanne Rasti (Drury 2007) and a story I need to delve into further before all those ladies have moved onto bigger and better.

McGrath was born in Pando, Uruguay, in 1950, and has been residing in Kansas City since 2002, while she completes a master’s degree in Astrology/Parapsychology from Stratford University. Between completing her studies and managing her business, she rarely has time these days for refereeing soccer. The sport, however, has played a major role in her life, and when she first came to the United States five years ago, she got her U.S. certification as a professional referee, becoming the first Latina referee in the United States.

Check out the complete story here.

Dolly, pictured 2nd from left, and her family are active members of the soccer community. From what I understand, she’s a fan of the Drury Panthers, because of their active recruitment of Falcon players. I worked with her father Mark as a Coach for the Pershing girls team in 2005 (the same Spring I started this website) and I enjoyed having his daughter Ujala on the JV1 team I was responsible for. Congratulations to Dolly for her contributions to the community and to Mark and his family. Shake his hand the next time you see him refereeing your game.

Pictured from left: Ujala (16, sophomore JV soccer player, artist at Glendale), Dolly (Glendale 07 varsity cheerleader, Missouri State freshman), Mark (Pershing coach, active area referee), Nisha, 21, (finishing AA at OTC next semester, Glendale 05)

Register at the Lake Country SoccerDome main floor. Registrants who successfully pass the entry level exam are certified to officiate USSF sanctioned games, including Lake Country Soccer league games. Registration prior to the course is required.

More information may be found on the Lake Country Soccer website. Or call 417-862-3211.

The article mentions Eddie’s four kids. It doesn’t mention that Eddie Jr. plays for Kiley Cirillo at Missouri Southern. Congratulations to Eddie and his family, and thank you for your efforts on behalf of soccer Eddie.

Registrants MUST be at least 13 years of age to referee games played at Lake Country Soccer.

The course will be held:
Friday, March 9th 5:00pm - 9:30pm
Saturday, March 10th 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday, March 11th 1:00pm - 5:30pm
The written examination will be given Sunday the 11th from 4:00p - 5:30pm (approximately)

A clinic fee of $15.00 per person is due at the start of the clinic. Make checks payable to “MRDP”

Each registrant MUST complete a USSF Referee Registration form with SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.

LOCATION: Missouri State University - School of Business Glass Hall - Room 438

All registrants who successfully pass the written exam, will then pay the $25 registration fee for USSF registration & certification.

For a map to Glass Hall on the Missouri State University campus, go to www.MissouriState.edu/map/CampusMap.asp

Editorial comment by Ole - Hey kiddo’s, this is a great way to earn money (ref’s are paid by the game) and work during the day without interrupting your studies or social habits. I know a number of soccer players who have found it to be a great way to earn extra cash in a game they love. Check it out!

At the 2006 Annual General Meeting of Lake Country Soccer, held November 16, some significant changes were approved by the attending members. The attending members approved changes in the representation and governance of the organization as well as the appointment and election of officers and board members. Additionally, the changes enhance the representative opportunities of our member teams that participate in our leagues.

Jan Stahle (pictured at left) was appointed President of Lake Country Soccer. He will serve a two (2) year term. Tal Kroll has been elected as Treasurer and will serve a two (2) year term. Tal currently works for Ozark Technical College and came highly recommended through our most recent treasurer, Jeff Hoskins.

Other changes in the board include, Angela Fiester who is serving as interim vice-president and Dan Wichmer who is serving as interim secretary. Don Christenson, whose term as President expired this year, has been re-elected as a board member serving a three (3) year term. Mike Pyles, an area manager for Steak-n-Shake has been elected to the board for an initial three (3) year term.

The board and membership approved a significant revision to Lake Country Soccer’s constitution and by laws. These are our governing documents. These documents are downloadable from the “About LCS - Board of Directors” page. We will also be posting copies of the approved board meeting minutes on this page. This is being done in an ongoing effort to educate and inform our members and patrons of the business affairs of Lake Country Soccer.

The representative opportunities for our member teams referenced above grants voting power to an appointed representative of all teams that play in our league, at the Annual General Meeting of Lake Country Soccer. The AGM is held the second Tuesday of November each year. Please read By-Law 2010 which details voting rights.

As always, if there are questions, please direct your inquiries to the immediate attention of Kelly Ross, Executive Director via email at kelly@lakecountrysoccer.org.

Folks, if you know or meet Don Christenson, the out-going Board President, shake his hand and thank him for his dedicated support of Lake Country Soccer. From my viewpoint, he’s focused on doing the right things for LCS and by renewing his commitment, approaches his second decade of Board membership. Jan Stahle, pictured above, is a familiar face and has a strong history of support for soccer in this region with Harry Cooper. Seek him out and let him know your thoughts on what is needed to grow soccer and the opportunities it brings for the youth of Springfield.