From: major@shuksan.boeing.com (Mike Schmitt)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: Referee's Whistle
Date: 30 Aug 92 16:41:11 GMT
Organization: The Boeing Co., MMST, Seattle, Wa.


   I have a topic for discussion for this august body.  Dialogue and comments
   that I'm seeking are from players, coaches, referees, or just good fans
   of our game.

   The topic is: "Are girls/womens games called differently by referees than
   boys/mens games?"

   This discussion surfaced two weekends ago during a girls premier soccer
   tournament held here in Tacoma, Washington (Pacific Lutheran University).
   The significance of the 'pacific northwest' will become apparent.

   Three teams from Taiwan played - also a team from Canada, three teams
   from Portland, and a team from San Diego.

   (GU17 FC Portland Academy, GU16 FC Portland Academy, GU15 Oregon Select)
   (GU19 Bonita Vista Rebels - San Diego)

   It began with the Portland Academy coach (Clive Charles) expressing his
   concern that the referees were "calling a girls game and not calling
   soccer!"  The hue and cry was picked up by other coaches and heated
   discussions ensued about "you wouldn't call that in a boys game!" -
   "you call too much - you whistle too much" - "you're trying to protect
   the girls instead of letting them play soccer..."  and on and on and on.

   Now, this is not the first time that I've heard this - nor has it always
   been said for just girls games.  When Majid Jay (US FIFA referee) visited
   and gave us a talk/clinic - there was also mentioned that here in the
   Pacific Northwest - we call too much - we're too fussy, there's too much
   whistle.  The "whistle" syndrome seems to fade as we travel eastward
   in the U.S.  The facts are that our teams seem to fare well within our
   state - but when we travel outside our state - our teams get physically
   trounced and are not prepared for the degree of refereeing which allows
   lots of physical contact.

   If the pacific northwest style of refereeing is a systemic problem - then
   WHAT is the problem?  And what do we do about it?

   My question that I throw out to all of you is - IS there a problem of
   calling TOO MUCH in girls youth soccer games?  ARE pacific northwest
   referees TOO FUSSY?  Has anyone else - by state or region - experienced
   this syndrom or been called Too Fussy?

   Referees, coaches, players with experience with inter-state games, and
   Regional Games, National games and international games, I would welcome
   your comments.

   One of our very fine referees - Gary Pickering - on a business trip to
   England, was invited to referee (in the middle) of - and I think he said
   - of an Ipswitch game a couple weeks ago.  Said, it was the experience of
   a lifetime.  However, a few minutes into the game and the Ipswitch coach
   called out to him (insert British accent here) "You ARE from the States,
   aren't you?  Would you mind putting away your whistle.  That's a fine
   fellow.)
 
   Anyway - all comments are welcome.
 
   Thanks,
 
   Mike Schmitt
-- 
Mike Schmitt - Disclaimer: These opinions are not my employer's.  My opinions 
are protected by the 1st Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of
America.  If you don't like it - get out of my country.   
"Professionals are predictable, it's the amateurs that are dangerous."