Lake Highlands Officiating

Dallas Cup recruits refs from all over the world. I ended up in the homestay program expecting to host a team with my club and ended up hosting 2 referees from Japan. I think they list all the states and countries the refs are from in the program. My refs were in a group that included a Women's World Cup referee.

Different experience hosting refs for Dallas Cup than players, though.

CBTeamworks wrote:

CUZete90 wrote:

CBTeamworks wrote:

Lefty wrote:

CBTeamworks wrote:Just curious but what percentage of refs speak english?

I don't think it matters a bit.  Some of the best ones I've see as far as seeing and controlling the game as well as getting their message across didn't speak a bit of English.

Were they legal to work in this country or paid in cash? Also curious if their job requires background checks like coaches do?

Looks like someone had a little time on their hands sitting in their seat at the AAC tonight waiting for the Donald Trump rally to start.

Sounds like you don't know and don't care. BTW, if they don't speak english then most likely they're undocumented and there would be no way to do a background check for an official that works with our kids.

CBT,  you are so clueless on so many levels.... Who brings that crap here?? Your 2 questions and 2 statements revealed more about you than I cared to know. I think Cuz offered some good advice-take that crap to to the trump rally.  

By the way- I DO KNOW AND I DO CARE--Don't hide your bias behind "our children". Geez!

I'm not biased against legal immigrants that use the English language. I am biased against illegal immigrants who crossed our borders illegally (they've broken our laws). I don't have a problem with Spanish speaking refs as long as they can also speak English. Pretty simple. No reason for any of our leagues to be using any illegal immigrants. Every reason for all officials to have to undergo background checks just like coaches. If you disagree with this then please explain yourself.

I have to firmly agree all officials would have background checks prior to being on the field. I know in Texas Assocoation of Sports Officials (TASO), it is mandatory. TASO covers officiating in many high school sports including football.

Wow!!!!

This is insane. All referees are registered with US Soccer, thru US Youth Soccer, thru North Texas Soccer. There's 3 background checks for you right there.

Still has nothing to do with the ability to speak English being necessary to referee a youth soccer game. Still has nothing to do with illegal immigration.

CBT, you're over your head on this one and dead wrong. Surely your last name is Running Bear and you're a registered Native American considering most everyone in this country came from somewhere else.

I think we should build a wall around the UTD Fields and make the Mexican Refs pay for it.

soccerjack wrote:I think we should build a wall around the UTD Fields and make the Mexican Refs pay for it.

I nominate CBT to head up gate duty checking passports and green cards.

As long as a ref can run well enough to get into position to see the play at hand, and be willing to call it as he see's it....That's pretty much all I need from a CR's and AR's...and it does not depend on language spoken.

I don't mind them missing a call here and there but I get really perturbed when they stay near center circle and miss-call something in the corner...or miss it totally. A lazy ref is without excuse.

If you elect me as LH Commish, I will send all the Mexican refs packing and bring in good looking Czech women to officiate for free, might even find a future wife. The problem is the current Commish does not know how to negotiate a good soccer deal. This will not cost anyone a dime. Trust me.

soccerjack wrote:If you elect me as LH Commish, I will send all the Mexican refs packing and bring in good looking Czech women to officiate for free, might even find a future wife.  The problem is the current Commish does not know how to negotiate a good soccer deal.  This will not cost anyone a dime.  Trust me.

LOL, I see what you did there.  Now get out of the GOP kit and get back to work.

Packrabbit wrote:

CBTeamworks wrote:

CUZete90 wrote:

CBTeamworks wrote:

Lefty wrote:

CBTeamworks wrote:Just curious but what percentage of refs speak english?

I don't think it matters a bit.  Some of the best ones I've see as far as seeing and controlling the game as well as getting their message across didn't speak a bit of English.

Were they legal to work in this country or paid in cash? Also curious if their job requires background checks like coaches do?

Looks like someone had a little time on their hands sitting in their seat at the AAC tonight waiting for the Donald Trump rally to start.

Sounds like you don't know and don't care. BTW, if they don't speak english then most likely they're undocumented and there would be no way to do a background check for an official that works with our kids.

CBT,  you are so clueless on so many levels.... Who brings that crap here?? Your 2 questions and 2 statements revealed more about you than I cared to know. I think Cuz offered some good advice-take that crap to to the trump rally.  

By the way- I DO KNOW AND I DO CARE--Don't hide your bias behind "our children". Geez!

Why do you have to bring our next President into this?

I second soccerjack as commish. We can call him Commissioner Gordon and we'll get him a red phone that lights up. That way he can call go99 when the refs don't do what we want them to.

RightWingDad wrote:As long as a ref can run well enough to get into position to see the play at hand, and be willing to call it as he see's it....That's pretty much all I need from a CR's and AR's...and it does not depend on language spoken.

I don't mind them missing a call here and there but I get really perturbed when they stay near center circle and miss-call something in the corner...or miss it totally. A lazy ref is without excuse.

When a player cannot beat another player with skill, they resort to physical play...the more the skill gap, the more physical the player gets until they start winning balls. Referees too often let this go until the more skilled player gets hurt. That's my issue with the refereeing at this age.

Coaches are to blame as well, as many do not teach tactics. There are ways to defend a player that is more skilled or faster than you. i.e. Marking tight, denying the ball, proper positioning, staying goal-side to deny shots/passes, etc. Conversely, if you are on offense going against a skilled defender, give and go's, quicker, more precise passing, switches, etc. can cause a skilled defensive player to lose their shape and open up opportunities, rather than bulldogging your way through. If referees were to control the game from the outset instead of waiting until somebody gets hurt, coaches would have no other option than to teach these actual soccer tactics.

10sDad wrote:When a player cannot beat another player with skill, they resort to physical play...the more the skill gap, the more physical the player gets until they start winning balls.  Referees too often let this go until the more skilled player gets hurt.  That's my issue with the refereeing at this age.

Coaches are to blame as well, as many do not teach tactics.  There are ways to defend a player that is more skilled or faster than you.  i.e. Marking tight, denying the ball, proper positioning, staying goal-side to deny shots/passes, etc.  Conversely, if you are on offense going against a skilled defender, give and go's, quicker, more precise passing, switches, etc. can cause a skilled defensive player to lose their shape and open up opportunities, rather than bulldogging your way through.  If referees were to control the game from the outset instead of waiting until somebody gets hurt, coaches would have no other option than to teach these actual soccer tactics.  

So true. What's bad is when it seems normal for kids to grab jerseys and constantly use their hands for a push. This has become acceptable, see it in most games and rarely called. It just gets worse when never called.

10sDad wrote:When a player cannot beat another player with skill, they resort to physical play...the more the skill gap, the more physical the player gets until they start winning balls.  Referees too often let this go until the more skilled player gets hurt.  That's my issue with the refereeing at this age.

Coaches are to blame as well, as many do not teach tactics.  There are ways to defend a player that is more skilled or faster than you.  i.e. Marking tight, denying the ball, proper positioning, staying goal-side to deny shots/passes, etc.  Conversely, if you are on offense going against a skilled defender, give and go's, quicker, more precise passing, switches, etc. can cause a skilled defensive player to lose their shape and open up opportunities, rather than bulldogging your way through.  If referees were to control the game from the outset instead of waiting until somebody gets hurt, coaches would have no other option than to teach these actual soccer tactics.  

Best post on this subject.
Good soccer does not have to be dangerous soccer.   .

10sDad wrote:When a player cannot beat another player with skill, they resort to physical play...the more the skill gap, the more physical the player gets until they start winning balls.  Referees too often let this go until the more skilled player gets hurt.  That's my issue with the refereeing at this age.

Coaches are to blame as well, as many do not teach tactics.  There are ways to defend a player that is more skilled or faster than you.  i.e. Marking tight, denying the ball, proper positioning, staying goal-side to deny shots/passes, etc.  Conversely, if you are on offense going against a skilled defender, give and go's, quicker, more precise passing, switches, etc. can cause a skilled defensive player to lose their shape and open up opportunities, rather than bulldogging your way through.  If referees were to control the game from the outset instead of waiting until somebody gets hurt, coaches would have no other option than to teach these actual soccer tactics.  

And if the games were called overly tight vs overly loose, as they currently are, then it would encourage and reward the development and use of skills and tactics.

Lefty wrote:

10sDad wrote:When a player cannot beat another player with skill, they resort to physical play...the more the skill gap, the more physical the player gets until they start winning balls.  Referees too often let this go until the more skilled player gets hurt.  That's my issue with the refereeing at this age.

Coaches are to blame as well, as many do not teach tactics.  There are ways to defend a player that is more skilled or faster than you.  i.e. Marking tight, denying the ball, proper positioning, staying goal-side to deny shots/passes, etc.  Conversely, if you are on offense going against a skilled defender, give and go's, quicker, more precise passing, switches, etc. can cause a skilled defensive player to lose their shape and open up opportunities, rather than bulldogging your way through.  If referees were to control the game from the outset instead of waiting until somebody gets hurt, coaches would have no other option than to teach these actual soccer tactics.  

And if the games were called overly tight vs overly loose, as they currently are, then it would encourage and reward the development and use of skills and tactics.  

I believe that the development of skills and tactics will better be served through the change of age group years, and I think US Soccer is on-board with that as well.  

SickofSilliness wrote:

Lefty wrote:

10sDad wrote:When a player cannot beat another player with skill, they resort to physical play...the more the skill gap, the more physical the player gets until they start winning balls.  Referees too often let this go until the more skilled player gets hurt.  That's my issue with the refereeing at this age.

Coaches are to blame as well, as many do not teach tactics.  There are ways to defend a player that is more skilled or faster than you.  i.e. Marking tight, denying the ball, proper positioning, staying goal-side to deny shots/passes, etc.  Conversely, if you are on offense going against a skilled defender, give and go's, quicker, more precise passing, switches, etc. can cause a skilled defensive player to lose their shape and open up opportunities, rather than bulldogging your way through.  If referees were to control the game from the outset instead of waiting until somebody gets hurt, coaches would have no other option than to teach these actual soccer tactics.  

And if the games were called overly tight vs overly loose, as they currently are, then it would encourage and reward the development and use of skills and tactics.  

I believe that the development of skills and tactics will better be served through the change of age group years, and I think US Soccer is on-board with that as well.  

I doubt it will change it that much. It is still a 1 year span...just now the January babies will be bigger than the December babies, instead of the September babies vs the July babies.

10s, I agree. I'm not sure how the age group changes (Age Pure) helps produced more skilled players. North Texas soccer has a reputation of winning through physicality rather than skill and tactics (soccer IQ). It's what pay-to-play demands.

RightWingDad wrote:10s, I agree. I'm not sure how the age group changes (Age Pure) helps produced more skilled players. North Texas soccer has a reputation of winning through physicality rather than skill and tactics (soccer IQ). It's what pay-to-play demands.

The pay for play needs to win can be managed if you change the way the games are called.

It would change what player attributes determine who wins in most cases, and what coaches will focus on to try and win.

Lefty wrote:
... if you change the way the games are called.  

Honestly I'd welcome, no...love to see games called tighter. But don't you think it's systemic in youth soccer? Haven't you been to tournaments in Oklahoma, South Texas...Nevada, California and elsewhere and seen the same type of officiating? I'm not the smartest chimp in the zoo, but I don't think they are flying NTX refs all over the country.

It must be the $ or the fact that "hey, it's just youth soccer...who gives a rip".

I think gone are the days where people took pride in their craftsmanship regardless of pay. Goodness knows that's true in the marketplace.

Having multiple standards in officiating isn't specific to youth soccer, just watch the English teams in the UCL. They're like bulls in a china shop. Kinda like our girls going out of state. Hard for them to adjust when everything is pretty much allowed in LH.

ElClassico wrote:Having multiple standards in officiating isn't specific to youth soccer, just watch the English teams in the UCL. They're like bulls in a china shop. Kinda like our girls going out of state. Hard for them to adjust when everything is pretty much allowed in LH.

My dd has played in LHGCL, ECNL, and college.  She's played in tournaments all over the country, and we never really saw much difference in the way games were called anywhere.  The most physical games she's had, where we were actually in fear that someone would be badly hurt before the game was over, were not even close to the Southwest, let alone restricted to North Texas or Lake Highlands.

Refs all over, call the game differently.  Some will allow almost no contact, with whistles blowing constantly, while others seemingly would allow a mugging with a billy club.  

In my experience, most players adjust to however the game is being called.  Would I like to see tighter games called?  Yes I would.  You'd see better soccer and fewer injuries.  What's not to like?

But it's just crazy to read how screwed up the referees (and virtually everything else) are in LHGCL, and how good everything is elsewhere.  There are some awesome referees here, and some really crappy ones.  Same as everywhere else.

The problem is a soccer problem, not restricted to Lake Highlands or North Texas.

ballhead wrote:

ElClassico wrote:Having multiple standards in officiating isn't specific to youth soccer, just watch the English teams in the UCL. They're like bulls in a china shop. Kinda like our girls going out of state. Hard for them to adjust when everything is pretty much allowed in LH.

My dd has played in LHGCL, ECNL, and college.  She's played in tournaments all over the country, and we never really saw much difference in the way games were called anywhere.  The most physical games she's had, where we were actually in fear that someone would be badly hurt before the game was over, were not even close to the Southwest, let alone restricted to North Texas or Lake Highlands.

Refs all over, call the game differently.  Some will allow almost no contact, with whistles blowing constantly, while others seemingly would allow a mugging with a billy club.  

In my experience, most players adjust to however the game is being called.  Would I like to see tighter games called?  Yes I would.  You'd see better soccer and fewer injuries.  What's not to like?

But it's just crazy to read how screwed up the referees (and virtually everything else) are in LHGCL, and how good everything is elsewhere.  There are some awesome referees here, and some really crappy ones.  Same as everywhere else.

The problem is a soccer problem, not restricted to Lake Highlands or North Texas.

The so called 'problem', if it is actually a problem, is that on the women's side the problematic style works (measuring stick being wins) all the way through the World Cup.