Smoke Signals May/June - Oklahoma Soccer Association
Smoke Signals May/June - Oklahoma Soccer Association
Smoke Signals May/June - Oklahoma Soccer Association
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SMOKE SIGNALS 1<br />
MAY/JUNE 2012 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION VOLUME TWENTY-SEVEN - ISSUE THREE<br />
SOCCER<br />
CAMP<br />
ISSUE<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY<br />
TULSA<br />
Lawton Hosts Recreational<br />
State Tournaments<br />
Expectations ..................... 3<br />
ODP Camp Dates ........... 5<br />
State,Regional and<br />
National Cup Dates ....... 5<br />
FIFA Ref Sigurdsson ........6<br />
<strong>Soccer</strong> Camps .............. 7-9<br />
On My Whistle ................ 10<br />
Outside the Lines ........... 10<br />
On My Whisstle .............. 10<br />
Adult News .....................13<br />
USASA National Cup ....15<br />
National <strong>Soccer</strong> Hall of<br />
Fame Induction ..............15<br />
Mia Hamm Advice ........15<br />
New US Jerseys ................16<br />
Tournament Scores ........17<br />
Tournaments ...................18<br />
Kid’s Page ........................19<br />
Both the Kohl’s American<br />
Cup and the Mazzio’s<br />
Italian Eatery Governor’s<br />
Cup returned to Red River<br />
Country and the Big Green<br />
soccer complex of Lawton<br />
on April 27-28. 104 teams<br />
enjoyed a weekend of recreational<br />
soccer along with<br />
the many parents, coaches,<br />
Each year, OSA provides<br />
its members with access<br />
to many of the summer<br />
camps offered across the<br />
state. OSA does not endorse<br />
these camps, but provides<br />
its membership the listing<br />
with the understanding that<br />
camps should be researched<br />
for cost, length of the day,<br />
housing, and personnel.<br />
The information below is<br />
from a very useful web site<br />
players, and family members<br />
who traveled with the<br />
teams.<br />
Adding to the excitement<br />
of the annual recreational<br />
tournament was the<br />
presence of the US Youth<br />
Kohl’s American Cup national<br />
touring program. The<br />
young players were treated<br />
to inflatable jumping platforms,<br />
kicking targets, and<br />
other interactive devices<br />
that provided entertainment<br />
and skill development<br />
in between games. This<br />
marks the fourth time the<br />
national group has attended<br />
the <strong>Oklahoma</strong> recreational<br />
tournament.<br />
Summer <strong>Soccer</strong> Camps In <strong>Oklahoma</strong><br />
titled www.soccercampguide.com<br />
and has considerable<br />
information on what<br />
parents should consider in<br />
sending their young player<br />
to camp. Use this link for the<br />
soccer camps in <strong>Oklahoma</strong>.<br />
The cost, length, and<br />
type of a camp are not necessarily<br />
connected with<br />
"results." For example, an<br />
all-day, week-long camp can<br />
produce burned out players<br />
who end the week hanging<br />
by the swimming pool. Players<br />
and parents should think<br />
about the results they really<br />
want. Here are some questions<br />
to ask yourself (and<br />
logical answers):<br />
Do you mainly want to<br />
have fun with your friends?<br />
(Then go to a cheap camp)<br />
Do you want to improve<br />
your ball skills?<br />
see <strong>Soccer</strong> Camps, page 2
2<br />
OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION<br />
KOHL’S SOCCER TOURNAMENT<br />
Photos of some of the<br />
matches will be posted on<br />
the OSA web site (www.oksoccer.com)<br />
soon and can<br />
be downloaded for free. A<br />
professional photographer<br />
was present at the site to<br />
take photos of the Governor’s<br />
Cup champions and<br />
finalists. Plaques containing<br />
the team’s photo and copy<br />
of the medal distributed to<br />
the teams will be presented<br />
to the championship and finalist<br />
coaches within a few<br />
weeks.<br />
(Then you'll need to concentrate--AVOID<br />
your<br />
friends and go to a camp<br />
with coaches who can demonstrate<br />
skills and take the<br />
time to correct problems.<br />
Remedial training can be<br />
very time consuming. So get<br />
an understanding up front<br />
that the camp and its staffto-camper<br />
ratio is committed<br />
to it. You may be better<br />
off hiring a tutor.)<br />
Do you want to improve<br />
your tactical sense-<br />
-that is, to make better<br />
decisions about when<br />
For the Kohl’s players,<br />
all the participants received<br />
medals and the excitement<br />
of being given a medal was<br />
evident Sunday afternoon<br />
as young U6, U8, and U10<br />
players proudly displayed<br />
their gifts to parents, family<br />
members and anyone wishing<br />
to see.<br />
While the Saturday<br />
games played under a warm<br />
April sun and windy conditions,<br />
the Sunday matches<br />
began with a misting rain<br />
and a threat of severe<br />
<strong>Soccer</strong> Camps, continued from page 1<br />
weather. Fortunately, the afternoon<br />
became cloudy and<br />
the temperatures remained<br />
comfortable for both players<br />
and viewers.<br />
Thanks to the many<br />
volunteers at Lawton <strong>Soccer</strong><br />
Club for the hours of work<br />
and preparation. The complex<br />
was easy to access and<br />
the large parking lot provided<br />
ample space for vehicles<br />
of all shapes and sizes.<br />
and where to dribble,<br />
pass, shoot, and move?<br />
(This is tough to get out of<br />
a camp, because tactics are<br />
learned over time and from<br />
mistakes. Therefore, go to<br />
a longer, tactical-oriented<br />
camp with lots of coaches<br />
per camper.)<br />
Do you want your team<br />
to be more competitive?<br />
(Then your coach probably<br />
has ideas about attending a<br />
"team camp.")<br />
Do you want to get in<br />
better physical condition?<br />
(This should only be a concern<br />
of players over 12<br />
years, who will benefit by<br />
cultivating their growing<br />
muscle mass and lung capacity.<br />
Check out camps<br />
that offer this emphasis-<br />
-but be sure you have a<br />
medical exam to verify your<br />
basic physical condition.)<br />
Do you need your<br />
mental batteries recharged<br />
because you're beginning<br />
to get bored with soccer?<br />
(Then go to a camp with a<br />
soccer star you admire or in<br />
a neat locale--all of which<br />
may cost some bucks.)<br />
OSA<br />
www.oksoccer.com<br />
Tulsa Office<br />
9410 E. 51st St. Ste. B<br />
Tulsa, OK 74145-8169<br />
1-918-627-2663<br />
P.O. Box 35174<br />
Tulsa, OK 74153-0174<br />
1-800-347-3590<br />
OSA office in <strong>Oklahoma</strong> City<br />
4520 Old Farm Road<br />
<strong>Oklahoma</strong> City, OK 73162<br />
405-286-0488<br />
Executive Board<br />
Chairman<br />
Brandon Story<br />
Vice-Chairman<br />
Gail Wettstein<br />
Secretary/Treasurer<br />
Larry Faulkner<br />
SRA<br />
Ron Poulsen<br />
Adviser<br />
Scott Hughes<br />
Youth Board<br />
President<br />
Tom Wedding<br />
1st Vice-President<br />
Daryn Story<br />
2nd Vice-President<br />
Marianne Ballard<br />
3rd Vice-President<br />
Paul Scott<br />
4th Vice-President<br />
Risk Management<br />
Michael Naumann<br />
Secretary/Registrar<br />
Russ Lissuzzo<br />
SYRA<br />
David Ooten<br />
Adult Board<br />
The <strong>Smoke</strong> <strong>Signals</strong> is the official publication of the <strong>Oklahoma</strong> <strong>Soccer</strong><br />
<strong>Association</strong> and is published bi-monthly. Editorial offices are<br />
at the OSA office, 9410-B East 51st Street, Tulsa, OK 74145-8168.<br />
Telephone is 918-627-2663 and FAX is 918-627-2693. E-mail at oksoccer@oksoccer.com.<br />
The <strong>Smoke</strong> <strong>Signals</strong> is mailed to all registered<br />
coaches, referees, association officers, subscribers, and players six<br />
times a year. Advertisers assume all liability for content of advertisements<br />
printed and therefore assume all claims against the <strong>Smoke</strong><br />
<strong>Signals</strong>. The <strong>Smoke</strong> <strong>Signals</strong> does not publish articles or letters from<br />
anonymous contributors. Contributors must provide a daytime phone<br />
number to confirm authorship of submitted articles or letters. Opinions<br />
expressed in this publication are exclusively those of the writers and<br />
do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication. Errors,<br />
corrections and changes are inevitable. Please accept our apologies<br />
for any inconveniences.<br />
<strong>Smoke</strong> <strong>Signals</strong><br />
Story Submissions<br />
<strong>Smoke</strong> <strong>Signals</strong> welcomes<br />
story submissions from<br />
teams, clubs, leagues and associations<br />
via e-mail or FAX.<br />
If you have a story or a story<br />
idea, please e-mail or FAX us<br />
at the following addresses:<br />
oksoccer@oksoccer.com<br />
-or- FAX: 1-918-627-2693 to<br />
the<br />
attention: Dale Watts<br />
President<br />
Reza Namavar<br />
1st Vice-President<br />
Sonny Dalesondro<br />
2nd Vice-President<br />
Tekleab Tsegay<br />
Secretary/Registrar<br />
Jalal Daneshfar<br />
SRA<br />
Ron Poulsen<br />
Editor- Dale Watts<br />
Layout & Design- Sandy Bent<br />
National Ad Director<br />
Varsity Sports Communications<br />
1340 Lake City Way<br />
Seattle, WA 98125-3665<br />
206-367-2420
I taught high school<br />
mathematics for 15 years.<br />
Enjoyed it, mostly; I loved<br />
the kids and coworkers. The<br />
paperwork almost killed<br />
me. Really it was my own<br />
fault. I kept coming up with<br />
these creative assignments<br />
that allowed the kids to<br />
dig deep into the topics. Of<br />
course, the projects didn't<br />
grade themselves.<br />
Still, other than grading,<br />
I enjoyed interacting<br />
with the students and getting<br />
to know them. I liked<br />
challenging them to think<br />
and solve problems in new<br />
ways.<br />
Sounds like what a<br />
good coach is supposed to<br />
do, isn't it?<br />
My wife sent me a<br />
text recently from a futsal<br />
game. All was going pretty<br />
well for our daighter's team,<br />
but the boys team they<br />
were playing didn't seem<br />
too happy about losing to<br />
girls. The coach, apparently,<br />
was less pleased.<br />
From my wife's updates,<br />
it seems this coach<br />
was losing it. This is not a<br />
new story. We have all seen<br />
it on the sidelines during<br />
games: indoor, outdoor,<br />
anywhere. Yet her last update<br />
struck me:<br />
"Parents, why tolerate<br />
youth coaches who berate.<br />
I'd yank my kid from team<br />
if she was talked to the<br />
way this guy is talking to his<br />
team."<br />
Tolerate and berate.<br />
My wife is an author of considerable<br />
skill, so I know she<br />
chooses her words carefully.<br />
Tolerate: (v) to allow<br />
VIEWS FROM THE TECHNICAL BOX<br />
By Kurt Luitwieler, OSA’s Director of Coaching<br />
Read Kurt’s blog by visiting this link: http://osadoc.blogspot.com<br />
to be or to be done without<br />
prohibition, hindrance, or<br />
contradiction.<br />
Berate: (v) to scold or<br />
condemn vehemently and<br />
at length.<br />
Think about it: this is<br />
the climate youth soccer<br />
(and youth sports in general)<br />
offers. As parents, we<br />
are allowing our children to<br />
be vehemently scolded at<br />
length without contradiction.<br />
Our failure to speak up<br />
is passive agreement with<br />
the coach’s actions. Our<br />
silence speaks loudly. Our<br />
silence says, "You go right<br />
ahead calling my daughter<br />
an idiot. I have no problem<br />
with that."<br />
"What?!?!?! Steve!!<br />
How many times have we<br />
found the standard deviation?<br />
Come ON! You call that<br />
a square root? My grandmother<br />
does roots better<br />
than that. Seriously, if you<br />
EVER want to be a statistician<br />
for real, you are just going<br />
to have to work harder.<br />
Are you even listening?<br />
You just don't want it bad<br />
enough. Why do I bother?"<br />
We've all heard rants<br />
like that on the sideline.<br />
If I had behaved toward a<br />
student in class this way, I<br />
would have lost my job in a<br />
matter of days.<br />
This brings up the central<br />
issue: Why do parents<br />
feel like we have to tolerate<br />
this behavior with our kids'<br />
coaches? It is NOT “part of<br />
the game”. For some of us,<br />
we grew up in sports that<br />
way. Doesn't mean it was<br />
right then, or, by default,<br />
NOW.<br />
Parents must set as<br />
high a level of expectation<br />
in "classroom behavior" for<br />
our youth coaches as we do<br />
our school teachers. Make<br />
no mistake, if we profess<br />
that youth soccer is about<br />
development of the whole<br />
athlete, then we continue<br />
to hinder that process<br />
each week when we hear<br />
our child's coach yell and<br />
scream at our kid while we<br />
sit in our chairs.<br />
So, what can you do as<br />
a parent when you find a<br />
coach is berating children?<br />
Be an adult. Go to<br />
the coach and express<br />
your concerns, CALMLY.<br />
Often, they do not even<br />
know they are doing it!<br />
Often they are reasonable,<br />
caring people caught in the<br />
moment. A gentle reminder<br />
may refocus the coach<br />
on the kids, nipping a potential<br />
problem in the bud.<br />
Obviously, approaching the<br />
coach yelling and screaming<br />
about his constant yelling<br />
and screaming will not<br />
prove the point.<br />
Go Higher. If that does<br />
not help, and the coach<br />
continues his/her ways,<br />
seek support from someone<br />
in charge of coaches at<br />
that club. Ask this person to<br />
watch the next game/practice.<br />
The important thing<br />
is to let those making decisions<br />
for the club know that<br />
a coach in their club (volunteer<br />
or paid) is not meeting<br />
expectations in the most<br />
basic and most important<br />
ways. (If you don't like their<br />
tactics, or something like<br />
that, that's another story...)<br />
SMOKE SIGNALS 3<br />
Vote with your feet.<br />
Just like buying a used car,<br />
you must be willing to walk<br />
away from the deal. If the<br />
problem persists and you<br />
get no support from the<br />
club administration, you<br />
must be willing to leave.<br />
Review the options. Either<br />
stay and watch a child get<br />
beat down week after week<br />
or walk away. One choice<br />
will provide some possible<br />
short term blow back from<br />
the child, perhaps other<br />
parents, or even the coach.<br />
The other option is simply<br />
unacceptable. Which is<br />
worth it?<br />
Now what? That<br />
could be the hardest one.<br />
Of course, there is not one<br />
answer. Every child and<br />
community is different. But<br />
the most important thing<br />
is to make sure the child<br />
understands WHY. When<br />
they accept that and<br />
internalize it, they are<br />
now better equipped to<br />
recognize it and talk to you<br />
about it next time. Second,<br />
they need to get back to<br />
playing. Not necessarily with<br />
a team right away, but go<br />
play with them in backyard<br />
or with some friends. They<br />
need to associate that<br />
round ball with positive<br />
experiences again. Quickly.<br />
Of course, I am not<br />
advocating yanking a kid<br />
at the first sign of distress.<br />
We don’t want the coach to<br />
yank our child from a game<br />
after the first mistake. There<br />
will be times when a human<br />
adult messes up in dealing<br />
see Technical Box, page 5
4<br />
OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION<br />
Visit the OSA website<br />
for valuable information<br />
for player, coach,<br />
administrator, and referee.<br />
www.oksoccer.com<br />
Follow OSA<br />
on Facebook<br />
Friend <strong>Oklahoma</strong><br />
<strong>Soccer</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
Monthly Meetings<br />
Clinton<br />
COASL - Feb & Aug<br />
Cordell<br />
Great Plains<br />
Hinton<br />
Lawton United<br />
NEOASA - Jan, <strong>June</strong>, Aug, & Dec<br />
Red Carpet<br />
Tri-City<br />
Verdigris<br />
All other clubs meet “as called.”<br />
OSA CALENDAR<br />
JUNE<br />
4 Metro Tulsa, Norman, Washington County<br />
5 Youth Board Mtg, Davis<br />
6 Altus, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Collinsville, NOKC,<br />
FCSA Competitive, GCSA Ex Bd, Ref Committee<br />
7 Coweta, Midwest City, Northwest <strong>Oklahoma</strong><br />
9-10 President’s Cup Regional in Greensboro, NC<br />
10-14 ODP Sub Regional @ OU<br />
11 FCSA, Owasso<br />
12 Claremore, Elk City, Logan County, Mustang,<br />
Ponca City, South Lakes<br />
13 Durant, <strong>May</strong>es County<br />
14 Beaver River<br />
14-21 Region III tournament in Greenville, SC<br />
18 Choctaw/Nicoma Park, El Reno, Shawnee,<br />
Stillwater, Westside<br />
19 Chickasha, Edmond, Harrah<br />
25 Glenpool, Yukon<br />
26 Tri-Lake<br />
JULY<br />
2 Metro Tulsa, Norman, Washington County<br />
3 Youth Board Mtg, Davis<br />
4 Altus, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Collinsville, NOKC,<br />
FCSA Competitive, GCSA Ex Bd, Ref Committee<br />
5 Midwest City, Northwest <strong>Oklahoma</strong><br />
9 FCSA, Owasso<br />
10 Claremore, Elk City, Logan County, Mustang,<br />
Ponca City, South Lakes<br />
11 Durant, <strong>May</strong>es County<br />
12 Beaver River<br />
16 Choctaw/Nicoma Park, El Reno, Shawnee,<br />
Stillwater, Westside<br />
17 Chickasha, Edmond, Harrah<br />
21 Referee Instructor, Assessor, & Assignor recert<br />
@ Stillwater<br />
23 Glenpool, Yukon<br />
24 Tri-Lake<br />
24-29 US Youth National Championships, Rock Hill, SC<br />
AUGUST<br />
1 Altus, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Collinsville, NOKC,<br />
FCSA Competitive, GCSA Ex Bd, Ref Committee<br />
2 Midwest City, Northwest <strong>Oklahoma</strong><br />
4 Referee fitness & Recert @ Stillwater<br />
6 Metro Tulsa, Norman, Washington County<br />
7 Youth Board Mtg, Davis<br />
8 Durant, <strong>May</strong>es County<br />
9 Beaver River<br />
13 FCSA, Owasso<br />
14 Claremore, Elk City, Logan County, Mustang,<br />
Ponca City, South Lakes<br />
16 Bixby<br />
20 Choctaw/Nicoma Park, El Reno, Shawnee,<br />
Stillwater, Westside<br />
21 Chickasha, Edmond, Harrah, Sapulpa<br />
22 Bristow<br />
23 GCSA<br />
27 Glenpool, Yukon
Technical Box,<br />
continued from page 3<br />
with children. The key<br />
is simply to raise our<br />
expectations and standards<br />
as a whole. When<br />
we consistently do that<br />
as PARENTS, then coaches<br />
who want to maintain<br />
their rosters will have to<br />
modify their behavior.<br />
As we approach<br />
the end of the seasonal<br />
year, thoughts turn to<br />
next year. Look and listen.<br />
You already know<br />
how your child’s coach<br />
handles him/herself.<br />
Look around at the other<br />
coaches in your age<br />
group at the season ending<br />
tournaments. Take<br />
stock of them all NOW,<br />
when they are in their<br />
element. If you don’t<br />
like what you see/hear,<br />
then why listen to their<br />
sweet words when they<br />
are recruiting your child<br />
to come to their club?<br />
They will be the same<br />
with your child next year.<br />
On the other hand, if you<br />
like what you see/hear<br />
compared to what you<br />
are currently getting, a<br />
change of scenery may<br />
be worth at least considering.<br />
Small Club, Big<br />
Club none of them are<br />
perfect. No coach is perfect.<br />
However we can all<br />
do better raising the bar<br />
of expectations of our<br />
coaches. (Of course, we<br />
as PARENTS must look<br />
ourselves in the mirror<br />
and raise our level of behavior<br />
across the board,<br />
too. But that is a whole<br />
other story…)<br />
Each spring teams focus<br />
on the attempt to reach<br />
the finals of the state tournament<br />
so that many of<br />
them have the opportunity<br />
to advance to regional<br />
competition. In <strong>Oklahoma</strong>,<br />
two competition venues<br />
are available for teams to<br />
advance to a regional competition:<br />
the Mazzio’s Italian<br />
Eatery President’s Cup and<br />
the WassCorp State Cup.<br />
For teams playing in<br />
the President’s Cup (<strong>May</strong><br />
5-6 in Norman with finals in<br />
Broken Arrow on <strong>May</strong> 12),<br />
the goal is for those teams<br />
in the U13 through U17<br />
brackets to advance to the<br />
US Youth <strong>Soccer</strong> Region III<br />
President’s Cup in Greensboro,<br />
NC. The President’s<br />
SMOKE SIGNALS 5<br />
State, Regional, and National<br />
Tournament Dates<br />
Each summer, the players<br />
from <strong>Oklahoma</strong> selected<br />
to participate in the Olympic<br />
Development Program<br />
attend camps organized and<br />
taught by US Youth <strong>Soccer</strong><br />
administrators and coaches.<br />
Many of the players have<br />
used this experience to advance<br />
to national team sta-<br />
BOYS<br />
July 8-12<br />
July 13-15<br />
July 13-17<br />
GIRLS<br />
<strong>June</strong> 10-14<br />
July 6-10<br />
July 12-16<br />
Cup regional event runs<br />
<strong>June</strong> 7-10.<br />
US Youth <strong>Soccer</strong> divides<br />
the United States into<br />
4 regions and <strong>Oklahoma</strong> is<br />
in Region III.<br />
For those teams entered<br />
in the WassCorp State<br />
Cup, the preliminaries are<br />
<strong>May</strong> 19-20 in Edmond and<br />
semis/finals are the next<br />
weekend <strong>May</strong> 26-27 in Edmond.<br />
Teams in the U13<br />
through U19 age groups<br />
who advance will then attend<br />
the US Youth <strong>Soccer</strong><br />
Region III Championships in<br />
Greenville, SC. This marks<br />
the first time U13 teams will<br />
participate and the event is<br />
now an 8 day tournament<br />
running <strong>June</strong> 14-21. Opening<br />
ceremonies are on <strong>June</strong><br />
ODP Camp Dates Set<br />
tus and the eventual goal of<br />
playing for the United States<br />
in the Olympics.<br />
The player birth year<br />
determines which camp he/<br />
she will attend. The ODP<br />
birth year is based on January<br />
1 to December 31, not<br />
the school year as with club<br />
soccer.<br />
14 and finals on <strong>June</strong> 21.<br />
The teams in the U14<br />
– U19 brackets who are<br />
champions of the Region III<br />
tournament will advance<br />
to the US Youth <strong>Soccer</strong> National<br />
Championships in<br />
Rock Hill, SC at the Manchester<br />
Meadows complex.<br />
The tournament begins July<br />
24 and runs until July 29.<br />
Only 60 teams will qualify to<br />
participate in the national<br />
championship tournament.<br />
For more information<br />
on these tournaments, use<br />
the OSA web site under<br />
Tournaments.<br />
The web site includes<br />
information on team checkin,<br />
hotels, schedules, and<br />
more.<br />
For more information<br />
on the camps, contact the<br />
OSA Director of Coaching<br />
Kurt Luitwieler or Assistant<br />
Director of Coaching Jason<br />
Hawkins. Contact information<br />
is available on the OSA<br />
web site at www.oksoccer.<br />
com.<br />
Camp - 98, 97, 96 (University of Alabama) in Tuscaloosa<br />
Camp - Call backs 98, 97, 96 at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa<br />
Camp - 99, 95 (University of Alabama) in Tuscaloosa<br />
Camp - 99 (University of <strong>Oklahoma</strong>) Norman, OK<br />
Camp - 98, 95 (University of Montevallo) Montevallo, Alabama<br />
Camp - 97, 96 (University of Montevallo) Montevallo, Alabama
6<br />
OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION<br />
FIFA Referee Gylfi Sigurdsson Returns<br />
To Iceland After Year In <strong>Oklahoma</strong><br />
When Gylfi Sigurdsson<br />
arrived in <strong>Oklahoma</strong> in the<br />
summer of 2011, he contacted<br />
local assignor Aaron<br />
Whitewolf about matches<br />
and the possibility of officiating<br />
while studying for his<br />
Bachelor’s degree in History<br />
at the University of <strong>Oklahoma</strong>.<br />
The SRC obtained clearance<br />
to register him in <strong>Oklahoma</strong><br />
and with USSF and<br />
soon Gylfi was officiating<br />
matches in the <strong>Oklahoma</strong><br />
City area.<br />
As the first FIFA referee<br />
living in <strong>Oklahoma</strong>, Gylfi (as<br />
he was called by his fellow<br />
officials) has been eager to<br />
work with youth and adult<br />
teams as well as high school<br />
and collegiate officials. The<br />
native Icelander deals with<br />
the many questions of his<br />
homeland such as: “How do<br />
you stand the cold weather?”<br />
and “Do you have automobiles?”<br />
and “Do you<br />
speak English?”<br />
Laughing at those questions,<br />
Gylfi would patiently<br />
explain that yes, there are<br />
automobiles in Iceland and<br />
that the weather is really<br />
quite temperate (between<br />
Gylfi Már Sigurðsson (right) with David Ooten and<br />
Tony Mensah at the Adult State Cup.<br />
45 and 72 degrees) and that<br />
he is quite fluent in the English<br />
language.<br />
Another facet of Gylfi’s<br />
personality is his dry wit and<br />
humor. He comments on his<br />
fellow officials and enjoys<br />
the repartee of encounters<br />
at referee tents and social<br />
events. At one event in<br />
which he was the referee he<br />
came to the tent at half time<br />
and questioned a fellow referee<br />
on a neighboring field<br />
about the number of times<br />
the referee had blown the<br />
whistle. His question to the<br />
referee: “Do you get paid<br />
here for the number of<br />
times you blow a whistle for<br />
a foul?” The referees in the<br />
tent laughed at the question<br />
because the referee did<br />
indeed have a tendency to<br />
whistle nearly every small<br />
foul.<br />
During the 2012 upgrade<br />
clinic in Stillwater,<br />
Gylfi provided some insight<br />
to the process of obtaining<br />
the FIFA Assistant Referee<br />
badge he holds. The referees<br />
who attended were<br />
treated to his insights on<br />
how to manage matches<br />
and how to work with the<br />
players during a game.<br />
“I am impressed with<br />
how he can officiate a<br />
match of adults and seemingly<br />
calm them down from<br />
anger to acceptance with<br />
very few words,” says Ron<br />
Poulsen, SRA. Gylfi demonstrates<br />
a composure on the<br />
field that referees should<br />
copy, adds Poulsen. “He is<br />
assured and confident in his<br />
approach to the game and<br />
when he is challenged he<br />
simply defuses the situation<br />
quickly with a quiet word.”<br />
The <strong>Oklahoma</strong> referee<br />
corps wishes to thank Gylfi<br />
Sigurdsson for his contributions<br />
to <strong>Oklahoma</strong> soccer<br />
and we know he has<br />
enjoyed his year with us.<br />
Perhaps in the next World<br />
Cup you will see the young<br />
Icelander running line in a<br />
match and point out that<br />
you know him. Best of luck,<br />
Gylfi Sigurdsson and feel<br />
free to return to <strong>Oklahoma</strong><br />
any time you can.<br />
Robin Faulkner Leaves Risk Management Position<br />
OSA’s Risk Management<br />
Administrator announced<br />
her decision to<br />
return to her job of raising<br />
her three soccer players<br />
and being a “soccer mom”<br />
for her family. Robin oversaw<br />
the fall and early spring<br />
Risk Management processes<br />
and was the contact for<br />
the many adults who are<br />
required to obtain background<br />
checks if they are to<br />
volunteer or work with OSA<br />
and the youth in the organization.<br />
She worked with Risk<br />
Management Chairman Michael<br />
Naumann in organizing<br />
the many hearings to<br />
be held when a volunteer’s<br />
background check was reviewed.<br />
With her assistance<br />
the Risk Management Program<br />
was completed well<br />
before the beginning of the<br />
spring season.<br />
We wish Robin best<br />
wishes as she enjoys the<br />
soccer tournament season<br />
as family photographer.
OSA Visits Durant<br />
and Atoka <strong>Soccer</strong> Clubs<br />
Mazzio’s Founder<br />
Ken Selby Dies<br />
SMOKE SIGNALS 7<br />
OSA’s Executive Director,<br />
Sid Goodrich, and Director<br />
of Coaching, Kurt Luitwieler,<br />
traveled to visit with<br />
the Durant <strong>Soccer</strong> Club. As<br />
with previous visits to many<br />
clubs across the state, OSA<br />
staff visits the club to assist<br />
in administrative areas,<br />
coaching, officiating, and<br />
growth of registration.<br />
For the Durant club,<br />
which is growing steadily<br />
and has joined the other<br />
Lake Country clubs such as<br />
Ardmore and Sulphur in<br />
providing youth soccer to<br />
the southeastern portion of<br />
the state, the possibility of<br />
continued growth and development<br />
is nearly certain.<br />
Luitwieler provided<br />
information on how coach-<br />
ing courses for the club are<br />
set up and how the club<br />
could develop their players<br />
through the Olympic<br />
Development Program. He<br />
also explained how the club<br />
could have a Fun Day to encourage<br />
registration and retention<br />
of players. Fun Days<br />
use a relaxed atmosphere to<br />
provide basic skills and fun<br />
events for youngsters who<br />
may not have ever played<br />
soccer.<br />
Goodrich covered the<br />
many aspects of administering<br />
a club which include<br />
registration and risk management.<br />
He also provided<br />
them with information<br />
on the hosting of a Kohl’s<br />
American Cup festival.<br />
For most <strong>Oklahoma</strong><br />
<strong>Soccer</strong> players and parents,<br />
the name Mazzio’s that appears<br />
on OSA’s official publications<br />
may not connect<br />
with Ken Selby, originator<br />
and founder of the company.<br />
A long time sponsor<br />
of OSA and youth soccer,<br />
Mazzio’s Italian Eatery Pizza<br />
was the brain child of Ken<br />
Selby while he was teaching<br />
school Tulsa’s Monroe<br />
Junior High. After working<br />
nights at Pizza Hut as a<br />
Afterwards, the group<br />
visited Atoka’s new soccer<br />
facilities and toured the site<br />
with Atoka’s Wendy Plata.<br />
cook, Selby created his own<br />
brand of pizza and created<br />
the Ken’s pizza franchise.<br />
Selby eventually<br />
changed the name to<br />
Mazzio’s and added many<br />
new menu items to the<br />
franchise.<br />
Selby was an athlete<br />
who played football for<br />
Sapulpa and considered<br />
coaching as a career. But his<br />
life changed when he first<br />
tasted pizza in 1956 on a<br />
trip to Chicago.<br />
OSA wishes to honor<br />
Selby’s long support of<br />
youth sports and especially<br />
his love of soccer by continuing<br />
to do what he believed<br />
important – know<br />
your goals and work hard to<br />
achieve them.<br />
It’s <strong>May</strong> and thanks to<br />
a wonderfully temperate<br />
winter, most schools are<br />
releasing the young ones<br />
early. That cry of anguish<br />
you are hearing is the parental<br />
units across <strong>Oklahoma</strong><br />
determining what to do<br />
with the kiddos for the next<br />
three months.<br />
“Quick, Martha, Google<br />
summer camps and find<br />
something that will occupy<br />
them during the day, provide<br />
them lunch, exercise<br />
them to the point of near<br />
exhaustion so that when<br />
they return home they will<br />
go straight to bed, AND cost<br />
no more than a babysitter’s<br />
evening fee.”<br />
I’m old enough to remember<br />
that a summer<br />
Watts’ What<br />
camp was usually a churchsponsored<br />
event. None of<br />
us growing up here in the<br />
central plains had much opportunity<br />
to “escape to nature”<br />
from the big city. We<br />
were living in nature every<br />
day. If you wanted to go fishing,<br />
you grabbed the pole<br />
and headed to the pond or<br />
the creek. If you wanted to<br />
hunt, you grabbed the rifle<br />
and headed to the woods.<br />
The concept of going to a<br />
forest with 20 other kids<br />
and sleeping in a bunk was<br />
quite bizarre.<br />
So, at some point in<br />
the eighth grade I was loaded<br />
on a church bus and off<br />
we went to Camp Egan on<br />
the Illinois River near Tahlequah.<br />
I won’t share specific<br />
By Dale Watts, Editor<br />
details with you of what<br />
often happens with adolescents<br />
in close proximity to<br />
one another with minimal<br />
adult supervision. Let’s just<br />
say we all learned to love<br />
God and perhaps a few other<br />
things.<br />
This is not to scare you<br />
away from summer camps.<br />
For today’s kids summer<br />
camps can be about an escape<br />
to nature, but for most<br />
it appears that parents are<br />
signing up their offspring<br />
to attend camps that focus<br />
on skills such as athletics or<br />
music or self-improvement.<br />
<strong>Oklahoma</strong> is fortunate to<br />
have a large number of soccer<br />
camps available to its<br />
youngsters. We’ve provided<br />
a listing of those camps in<br />
this issue and on the OSA<br />
web site at www.oksoccer.<br />
com. While I can’t speak<br />
for the quality of every soccer<br />
camp in <strong>Oklahoma</strong>, I<br />
can say that I’ve heard few<br />
complaints about them and<br />
I promise you that soccer<br />
people love to inform us<br />
about events that are not<br />
up to standards.<br />
If you have young ones,<br />
the half-day camps are the<br />
best bet. It will require picking<br />
up and dropping off of<br />
the little kickers, but it will<br />
give parents a few hours<br />
of solitude and yet not interrupt<br />
the neighborhood<br />
play dates. As the player<br />
gets older, a full day camp<br />
see Watt’s What, page 11
8 OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION<br />
<strong>Soccer</strong> Summer Camps<br />
Sponsor Club or Host Location Program Dates Ages Cost<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Guthrie YMCA .......................Guthrie, OK .............<strong>May</strong> 28-<strong>June</strong> 1 ......3-14 ........prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Lawton <strong>Soccer</strong> Club ...................Lawton, OK .............<strong>May</strong> 28-<strong>June</strong> 1 ......3-14 ........prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........McAlester Boys & Girls Club ............McAlester, OK ...........<strong>May</strong> 28-<strong>June</strong> 1 ......3-14 ........prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Ponca City <strong>Soccer</strong> Club ................Ponca City, OK ..........<strong>May</strong> 28-<strong>June</strong> 1 ......3-14 ........prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Stillwater Family YMCA ................Stillwater, OK . . . . . . . . . . . .<strong>May</strong> 28-<strong>June</strong> 1 ......3-14 ........prices vary<br />
Brian Harvey American Youth <strong>Soccer</strong> Camps - <strong>Oklahoma</strong> City University .OKC ...................<strong>May</strong> 29-<strong>June</strong> 1 ......5-12 ........$85<br />
Get Your Kicks Camps Oral Roberts University .....................Tulsa, OK ..............<strong>May</strong> 29-<strong>June</strong> 1 ......5-17 ........$125<br />
AC Milan Camp ... .......AC Milan.. ...........................Tulsa, OK... .............<strong>June</strong> 4-8... .........Ages TBA... . .prices vary<br />
‘British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........G.O.A.L.S ...........................Ardmore, OK ............<strong>June</strong> 4-8 ...........3-14 ........prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> . ..........Bethany YMCA .......................Bethany, OK<br />
...........<strong>June</strong> 4-8 . ..........3-14 . .......prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Canton Public Schools .................Canton, OK ............<strong>June</strong> 4-8 ...........3-14 ........prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Edmond Branch YMCA ................Edmond, OK. . . . . . . . . . . . .<strong>June</strong> 4-8 ...........3-14 ........prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Guthrie YMCA .......................Guthrie, OK .............<strong>June</strong> 4-8 ...........3-14 ........prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Miami SC. ...........................Miami, OK .............<strong>June</strong> 4-8 ...........3-14 ........prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> . ..........Mustang Youth <strong>Soccer</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
......Mustang, OK ...........<strong>June</strong> 4-8 . ..........3-14 . .......prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> . ..........<strong>May</strong>es County <strong>Soccer</strong> <strong>Association</strong> .......Pryor, OK ..............<strong>June</strong> 4-8 . ..........3-14 . .......prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> . ..........Troy and Dollie Smith Family YMCA<br />
.....Shawnee, OK ...........<strong>June</strong> 4-8 . ..........3-14 . .......prices vary<br />
Brian Harvey American Youth <strong>Soccer</strong> Camps - <strong>Oklahoma</strong> City University .OKC ..................<strong>June</strong> 4-8 ...........5-12 ........$100<br />
Get Your Kicks Camps Oral Roberts University .....................Tulsa, OK ..............<strong>June</strong> 4-8 ...........5-17 ........$125<br />
<strong>Soccer</strong> Synergy Camps Oral Roberts University ....................Tulsa, OK ..............<strong>June</strong> 11-14 .........5-17 ........$125<br />
<strong>Soccer</strong> City Camps .......<strong>Soccer</strong> City - Tulsa ....................Tulsa, OK ..............<strong>June</strong> 11-15 .........4-15 ........$95<br />
Mac’s National <strong>Soccer</strong> School University of Tulsa - .................Metro Tulsa <strong>Soccer</strong> Club ...<strong>June</strong> 11-15 .........4-13 ........$140<br />
UCO Camps ............University of Central <strong>Oklahoma</strong> .........Edmond, OK. . . . . . . . . . . . .<strong>June</strong> 11-14 .........5 & up ......$110<br />
<strong>Soccer</strong> City Camps OKC <strong>Soccer</strong> City - OKC .......................<strong>Oklahoma</strong> City, OK ........<strong>June</strong> 11-14 .........4-15 ........$95<br />
Brian Harvey American Youth <strong>Soccer</strong> Camps - <strong>Oklahoma</strong> City University GK Camp..OKC ..........<strong>June</strong> 11-13 .........12-18 .......$150<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Bixby <strong>Soccer</strong> Club ....................Bixby, OK ..............<strong>June</strong> 11-15 .........3-14 ........prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Collinsville SC .......................Collinsville, OK ..........<strong>June</strong> 11-15 .........3-14 ........prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Tahlequah <strong>Soccer</strong> Club ................Tahlequah, OK ..........<strong>June</strong> 11-15 .........3-14 ........prices vary<br />
Mid-American Christian University- MACU campus ..................<strong>Oklahoma</strong> City, OK ........<strong>June</strong> 13-17 .........5-13 ........$90<br />
Brian Harvey American Youth <strong>Soccer</strong> Camps - <strong>Oklahoma</strong> City University College...OKC ............<strong>June</strong> 14-16 .........12-18 .......$175<br />
Get Your Kicks Camps .....Oral Roberts University Resident .........Tulsa, OK ..............<strong>June</strong> 17-21 ......... 9-17 .......$395<br />
OSU Camps ............<strong>Oklahoma</strong> State University - Advanced ....Stillwater, OK . . . . . . . . . . . .<strong>June</strong> 17-21 .........16-19 .......$480<br />
Brian Harvey American Youth <strong>Soccer</strong> Camps - <strong>Oklahoma</strong> City University College Resident ..........<strong>June</strong> 17-12 .........12-18 .......$400<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Okmulgee YMCA .....................Okmulgee, OK ...........<strong>June</strong> 18-22 ......... 3-14 .......prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Midwest City YMCA ...................Del City, OK ............<strong>June</strong> 18-22 ......... 3-14 .......prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Sand Springs <strong>Soccer</strong> Club ..............Sand Springs, OK .......<strong>June</strong> 18-22 ......... 3-14 .......prices vary<br />
Mac’s National <strong>Soccer</strong> School - University of Tulsa .................Tulsa, OK ...............<strong>June</strong> 18-22 ......... 6-13 .......$230
<strong>Soccer</strong> Summer Camps<br />
SMOKE SIGNALS 9<br />
Sponsor Club or Host Location Program Dates Ages Cost<br />
UCO Camps - University of Central <strong>Oklahoma</strong> - College ..............Edmond, OK. . . . . . . . . . . . .<strong>June</strong> 18-20 .........14 & up .....$210<br />
Get Your Kicks Camps .....Oral Roberts University .................Tulsa, OK ..............<strong>June</strong> 24-19 .........5-17 ........$125<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Earlywine Park YMCA .................<strong>Oklahoma</strong> City, OK ........<strong>June</strong> 25-29 .........3-14 ........prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Ada Boys & Girls <strong>Soccer</strong> Club ...........Ada, OK ................<strong>June</strong> 25-29 .........3-14 ........prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Chisholm Trail <strong>Soccer</strong> <strong>Association</strong> .......Duncan, OK . . . . . . . . . . . . .<strong>June</strong> 25-29 .........3-14 ........prices vary<br />
<strong>Soccer</strong> Synergy Camps - Oral Roberts University - High School Girls only Tulsa, OK ..............July 5-7 ............14-18 .......$150<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Thornton Family Branch YMCA ..........Tulsa, OK ..............July 9-13 ...........3-14 ........prices vary<br />
<strong>Soccer</strong> City Camps .......<strong>Soccer</strong> City - Tulsa ....................Tulsa, OK ..............July 9-13 ...........4-15 ........$95<br />
<strong>Soccer</strong> City Camps OKC - <strong>Soccer</strong> City - OKC ......................<strong>Oklahoma</strong> City, OK ........July 9-12 ...........4-15 ........$95<br />
Mac’s National <strong>Soccer</strong> School - University of Tulsa - Female Camp ....Tulsa, OK ...............July 15-19 ..........9-13 ........$420<br />
Mac’s National <strong>Soccer</strong> School - University of Tulsa - Male Camp .......Tulsa, OK ...............July 15-19 ..........9-13 ........$420<br />
Mac’s National <strong>Soccer</strong> School - University of Tulsa - Elite Female Camp Tulsa, OK ...............July 15-19 ..........16-19 .......$420<br />
Mac’s National <strong>Soccer</strong> School - University of Tulsa - Elite Male Camp ...Tulsa, OK ...............July 15-19 ..........16-19 .......$420<br />
OSU Camps - <strong>Oklahoma</strong> State University - Advanced ................Stillwater, OK . . . . . . . . . . . .July 15-19 ..........16-19 .......$480<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........All County <strong>Soccer</strong> Club ................Atoka, OK ..............July 16-20 ..........3-14 ........prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Weatherford <strong>Soccer</strong> Club ...............Weatherford, OK .........July 16-20 ..........3-14 ........prices vary<br />
Get Your Kicks Camps .....Oral Roberts University .................Tulsa, OK ..............July 16-20 ..........5-17 ........$125<br />
Matt Potter <strong>Soccer</strong> Academy - University of <strong>Oklahoma</strong> ................Norman, OK .............July 16-19 ..........6-10 ........$175<br />
OBU <strong>Soccer</strong> Camps - <strong>Oklahoma</strong> Baptist University - Girls ............Shawnee, OK ...........July 22-26 ..........9-19 ........$300-$375<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........Altus <strong>Soccer</strong> Club .....................Altus, OK ...............July 23-27 ..........3-14 ........prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ...........NOSA ..............................Woodward, OK ..........July 23-27 ..........3-14 ........prices vary<br />
<strong>Soccer</strong> City Camps .......<strong>Soccer</strong> City - Tulsa ....................Tulsa, OK ..............July 23-27 ..........4-15 ........$95<br />
<strong>Soccer</strong> City Camps OKC - <strong>Soccer</strong> City - OKC ......................<strong>Oklahoma</strong> City, OK ........July 23-26 ..........4-15 ........$95<br />
OSU Camps - <strong>Oklahoma</strong> State University - College ..................Stillwater, OK . . . . . . . . . . . .July 23-25 ..........16-19 .......$150<br />
OSU Camps - <strong>Oklahoma</strong> State University - Day .....................Stillwater, OK . . . . . . . . . . . .July 25-27 ..........16-19 .......$130<br />
Riverhawk Camp... .......Northeastern State... ...................Tahlequah, OK... .........July 25-28... ........13-19... .....$225<br />
Matt Potter <strong>Soccer</strong> Academy - University of <strong>Oklahoma</strong> ................Norman, OK .............July 29-22 ..........11-18 .......$375<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> ..........Washington County <strong>Soccer</strong> Club .........Bartlesville, OK . . . . . . . . . .July 30-Aug. 3 ......3-14 ........prices vary<br />
Ada <strong>Soccer</strong> Club Camp... ..Ada <strong>Soccer</strong> Club... ....................Ada, OK.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .July 30-Aug. 3... .....3-14... ......prices vary<br />
Brian Harvey American Youth <strong>Soccer</strong> Camps - Northwest Optimist Club . .OKC ...................July 30-Aug. 3 ......5-12 ........$100<br />
UCO Camps - University of Central <strong>Oklahoma</strong> ......................Edmond, OK. . . . . . . . . . . . .August 6-9 .........5 & up ......$110<br />
UCO Camps - University of Central <strong>Oklahoma</strong> - Striker ...............Edmond, OK. . . . . . . . . . . . .August 6-7 .........12 & up .....$80<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> - Bixby <strong>Soccer</strong> Club ...............................Bixby, OK<br />
.............August 6-10 . .......3-14 . .......prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> - Lawton <strong>Soccer</strong> Club .............................Lawton, OK .............August 6-10 . .......3-14 . .......prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> - Mustang Youth <strong>Soccer</strong> <strong>Association</strong> ..................Mustang, OK ...........August 6-10 . .......3-14 . .......prices vary<br />
British <strong>Soccer</strong> - Noble County Family YMCA .......................Perry, OK ..............August 11-15 . ......3-14 . .......prices vary
10<br />
OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION<br />
ODP News…3 <strong>Oklahoma</strong><br />
Boys selected for International<br />
Trip to Mexico<br />
1994 Christian Mata;<br />
1995 Anthony Hernandez;<br />
and 1998 Whitney Gonzalves<br />
(actually a 1999).<br />
The players are on the rosters<br />
on one of the 5 teams<br />
traveling to Guadalajara<br />
Saturday, April 21 for the<br />
matches. CONGRATULA-<br />
TIONS!<br />
Outside the Lines<br />
<strong>Oklahoma</strong>n selected for<br />
U20 men’s national team…<br />
Boyd Okwuonu (Univ. of<br />
North Carolina; Edmund,<br />
Okla.) was named to the<br />
roster of the U20 US National<br />
men’s team by Coach Tab<br />
Ramos. The team trained<br />
for a week, playing against<br />
the University of Portland<br />
and one other team before<br />
attending the national team<br />
camp April 9-16 in Portland,<br />
Ore.<br />
Congratulations to OU-<br />
A, the new OCCSL State<br />
Champion for Spring 2012…<br />
OU-A defeated TU 3-2 in the<br />
OCCSL championship match<br />
held in Tulsa on March 29.<br />
The game was tied 2-2 in<br />
regulation and OU-A scored<br />
the final match in the second<br />
overtime period. The Saturday<br />
preliminary matches<br />
featured TU defeating OU-B<br />
by a score of 3-2 and OU-A<br />
defeating Southwestern<br />
<strong>Oklahoma</strong> State 6-0.<br />
Lost Referee Badge?... 2012<br />
referees who have received<br />
their registration card now<br />
have the ability to purchase<br />
replacement or additional<br />
2012 badges online at<br />
the link below. Badges are<br />
$3.50 each, plus shipping,<br />
handling and taxes. A maximum<br />
of two badges can be<br />
ordered per USSF ID #. If a<br />
referee does not know his<br />
USSF ID#, email oksoccer@<br />
oksoccer.com Lost Badge<br />
- replacement application<br />
Let me start off by saying<br />
that rumors of my death<br />
have been greatly exaggerated.<br />
What do I mean by<br />
that? It seems every time<br />
I turn around someone is<br />
saying that I am going to<br />
quit as SRA. I want to dispel<br />
that rumor right now and<br />
let you all know that it is<br />
the exact opposite of that.<br />
I would really like to be the<br />
SRA for a very long time. To<br />
limit my time by any measure<br />
would limit any good<br />
that we as the SRC would be<br />
able to do. A lot of people<br />
told me it would take a year<br />
for me to just be able to figure<br />
out how things worked.<br />
I thought they were crazy.<br />
But they were right. It does<br />
take about that long just to<br />
figure out how the system<br />
works. So long story short,<br />
On My Whistle By Ron Poulsen, SRA<br />
if you hear rumors about<br />
me wanting to quit as SRA<br />
please correct them and if<br />
you are spreading them,<br />
please stop. You are not<br />
helping the situation.<br />
I would like to say<br />
thanks to so many people,<br />
but that would take up so<br />
much space and time to<br />
do here so let me just say<br />
thanks to my fellow SRC<br />
members both present and<br />
past. Their hard work (as<br />
volunteers) is what keeps<br />
the referee corps going.<br />
Thanks also to all of the SRC<br />
assistants, the instructors,<br />
the assessors, the assignors,<br />
and of course all of our referees.<br />
Thank you for all you<br />
do each and every weekend<br />
for the good of the game.<br />
Let me address the Referee<br />
Academy. Are we still<br />
going to have one? Yes, we<br />
are. Did we run into problems<br />
with it? Yes, we did. Do<br />
we have all the answers on<br />
making it work? No, but we<br />
are working on it. The Referee<br />
Academy is a program<br />
in its beginning stages and<br />
there will be bumps along<br />
the way. Other states have<br />
very prestigious academy<br />
programs and we want the<br />
very best for our <strong>Oklahoma</strong><br />
referees as well. The Academy<br />
will be a work in progress<br />
for some time so please<br />
bear with us as the SRC<br />
works toward our goal.<br />
Upper level Referees –<br />
Recently the SRC traveled to<br />
Chicago and met with the<br />
SRC’s of all USSF and some<br />
of the topics discussed included<br />
“Who are your upper<br />
level Referees? Who<br />
are you working to promote<br />
through the ranks to professional<br />
Referee?” <strong>Oklahoma</strong><br />
has about 1600 registered<br />
referees and yet only 100 or<br />
so are 07 grade or higher. I<br />
would encourage any referee<br />
reading this to consider<br />
taking the steps necessary<br />
to upgrade and become an<br />
07 or higher. That higher<br />
grade will give you the opportunity<br />
to officiate higher<br />
level games.<br />
Another issue discussed<br />
at the SRC meeting<br />
in Chicago was referee retention<br />
and why so many<br />
referees quit officiating. The<br />
most common reasons are<br />
being yelled at, no games<br />
given, and no return on<br />
the investment of time and<br />
money. On average, <strong>Oklahoma</strong><br />
trains 1000 referees a<br />
year and yet we lose nearly<br />
600 from the previous year.<br />
Think of how nice it would<br />
be to train 1000 refs this<br />
year and maintain the 1000<br />
from the past year! We have<br />
so many games to cover and<br />
so few of us to do them all.<br />
My last thoughts for<br />
you are on recruitment.<br />
We need more officials. Encourage<br />
your friends, family,<br />
teammates, or whoever<br />
you know to join the referee<br />
corps. It’s a great way to be<br />
involved with a great game<br />
and a great cause – developing<br />
<strong>Oklahoma</strong> soccer! All<br />
the information you need is<br />
on the web site. Encourage<br />
people to get involved.<br />
Thanks to all for now.<br />
And again a thank you to everyone<br />
for their help in my<br />
first year as SRA.<br />
See you on the field.<br />
Ron
SMOKE SIGNALS 11<br />
Watt’s What, continued from page 7<br />
or residency is a good bet.<br />
Adolescents enjoy being<br />
away from their embarrassing<br />
parents and can feel as<br />
if they are “on their own”<br />
for a few days. The parents<br />
of this age group can still<br />
drop in on the camp of an<br />
evening as most of them<br />
provide some sort of “scrimmage”<br />
matches most nights.<br />
If you, as a parent, ever attended<br />
a soccer camp or<br />
other residency camp you<br />
might grow anxious about<br />
the evenings but rest assured<br />
that camp administrators<br />
are vigilant in their<br />
security. I know all too well<br />
because I served as a camp<br />
counselor at a university<br />
residency soccer camp and<br />
we were all assigned “guard<br />
duty” throughout the night.<br />
<strong>June</strong>, July, and August<br />
await and for most of us that<br />
means at least two months<br />
of non-soccer events. But<br />
for you die-hards don’t forget<br />
the summer Olympics<br />
will feature our US Women<br />
and I plan to watch those<br />
games for sure. Enjoy the<br />
summer, enjoy the children<br />
and their exuberance, and<br />
enjoy their anticipation of<br />
fall soccer.
12<br />
OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION<br />
PLAY HARD. CELEBRATE WITH PIZZA.<br />
$ 5 50<br />
ONLY<br />
PER PERSON<br />
ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT-AND-DRINK PIZZA* AND SOFT DRINKS<br />
Gather your group (15-person minimum) and enjoy All-You-Can-Eat *One Topping Pizzas<br />
of your choice and Soft Drinks for everyone for just $5.50 per person. Just give<br />
us a call to schedule your party at the Mazzio’s location most convenient for you.<br />
Call Us Anytime to Schedule Your Event!<br />
Supporting Our Local Teams and Schools.<br />
mazzios.com
The USASA is excited to<br />
announce a new initiative<br />
to promote our national<br />
coaching license to all our<br />
state associations. We’re offering<br />
$1,000 to the first 20<br />
states or leagues to respond<br />
that have yet to run a coaching<br />
license of their own. The<br />
money can be used to subsidize<br />
operational costs of<br />
staging the event.<br />
Our 26-hour course is<br />
equivalent to the USSF E license<br />
and focuses on the<br />
modernization of the game<br />
while also giving aspiring<br />
Send Us Your <strong>Soccer</strong><br />
News and Photos<br />
For the months of<br />
March and April 2012 we<br />
will awarding USASA merchandise<br />
(see below) to the<br />
first ten (10) members who<br />
submit stories that are chosen<br />
to be featured on the<br />
USASA.com website.<br />
We are calling on you<br />
to become involved in our<br />
adult soccer newscasting<br />
network.<br />
Send us your original<br />
write-up of regional, state,<br />
local, league, team or individual<br />
news. News can be<br />
about anything soccer related<br />
i.e. charity work, inspiring<br />
individual or team<br />
stories, upcoming tournaments,<br />
etc. *Selected stories<br />
may be edited for publication.<br />
Length should be<br />
Adult News<br />
USASA National<br />
Coaching License<br />
coaches a great opportunity<br />
to learn the elementary<br />
principles of coaching.<br />
States or leagues will<br />
be responsible for organizing<br />
a venue and recruiting<br />
candidates, while the USA-<br />
SA Coaching Committee will<br />
provide staff and all materials.<br />
Contact the USASA National<br />
Events Manager Kevin<br />
Frusti at kfrusti@usasa.<br />
com for more information.<br />
Application for Hosting National<br />
Adult Licenses may be<br />
found at http://www.usasa.<br />
com/.<br />
WIN USASA <strong>Soccer</strong><br />
Merchandise!<br />
at least a paragraph and be<br />
submitted by the creator,<br />
accompanying photos are<br />
encouraged. Selected stories<br />
and member(s) will be<br />
featured on USASA.com<br />
Submitted newspaper<br />
or magazine clippings in<br />
your region that mentions<br />
USASA activities will also be<br />
considered. Scan and email<br />
us the high-resolution articles<br />
to be eligible for USASA<br />
merchandise.<br />
We are also calling for<br />
your soccer related photos.<br />
Funny, amazing, artistic,<br />
out-of-the-ordinary are<br />
some of the types of photos<br />
we’re looking for. Selected<br />
photos and member(s) will<br />
be displayed in our "Photos<br />
of the Month" area. The<br />
first ten (10) members<br />
to submit photos that are<br />
It’s been a very “out<br />
with the old and in with<br />
the new” past week for US<br />
Adult <strong>Soccer</strong>. We’ve introduced<br />
our new, modern<br />
logo at US <strong>Soccer</strong>’s AGM in<br />
Miami along with our new<br />
website!<br />
The new logo’s purpose<br />
is to symbolize an official<br />
USA soccer governing<br />
body. The logo incorporates<br />
Red, White and Blue<br />
with a stylistic representation<br />
of an abstract soccer<br />
ball and American flag. The<br />
four stars represent the four<br />
main regions governed by<br />
USASA, which is split into<br />
55 state associations across<br />
those four regions.<br />
SMOKE SIGNALS 13<br />
Introducing USASA’s<br />
New Look<br />
Extreme Makeover: Web Site<br />
and Logo Edition<br />
chosen to be featured will<br />
be awarded USASA merchandise<br />
(see below).<br />
Email us your material<br />
to: aisabelli@usasa.com.<br />
Include the following in<br />
your email:<br />
For Original News<br />
*Your Full Name, Age, State,<br />
The new Web site is<br />
now geared toward content<br />
rather than just an administration<br />
tool. New features<br />
such as videos, photos, articles,<br />
a blog and FAQ will<br />
make the site much more<br />
appealing and useful for<br />
our members. We really<br />
appreciate all the great input<br />
we’ve received from<br />
everyone over the past few<br />
months and are looking forward<br />
to spotlighting some<br />
of you on the site.<br />
We are continuing trying<br />
to improve the usability<br />
of the Web site and we welcome<br />
your feedback. Use<br />
the “contact us” link on the<br />
web site to communicate<br />
with USASA.<br />
Team Name, Your Favorite<br />
Professional Team, Story: (1<br />
paragraph: 3-5 sentences)<br />
Photos: (Encouraged: Jpg<br />
format, >500pix x 300pix),<br />
Email Contact, and Phone<br />
Contact.<br />
see USASA merchandise, page 14
14<br />
OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION<br />
USASA Veterans Cup<br />
The National Veterans<br />
Cup Committee is pleased to<br />
announce that the 2012 US-<br />
ASA National Veterans Cup<br />
will be hosted by Cal South<br />
on <strong>June</strong> 26 - July 1, 2012 in<br />
Escondido, North San Diego<br />
County, California.<br />
Settled in a long valley<br />
in the coastal mountains<br />
of Southern California,<br />
Escondido, which means<br />
“hidden” in Spanish, lies<br />
about 18 miles inland, 100<br />
miles south of Los Angeles,<br />
and 30 miles northeast of<br />
San Diego. Surrounded by<br />
avocado and citrus groves,<br />
Escondido is a diverse, vibrant<br />
community with just<br />
the right mix of small town<br />
friendliness and big-city<br />
buzz.<br />
Cal South has long<br />
been regarded as the premier<br />
youth state soccer<br />
association in the United<br />
States. With over 180,000<br />
member players, coaches,<br />
referees and administrators,<br />
Cal South is the most successful<br />
state organization<br />
on and off the field. They<br />
represent more than three<br />
times the number of national<br />
championship teams than<br />
any other youth state soc-<br />
cer association. Since being<br />
becoming the official adult<br />
state soccer association of<br />
Southern California in 2008,<br />
Cal South has grown to<br />
13,000 affiliated adult players<br />
and has won 3 USASA<br />
National Cup Championships.<br />
Their motto “Excellence<br />
in <strong>Soccer</strong>” is apparent<br />
in their development and<br />
execution of high quality,<br />
affiliated soccer programs<br />
for adults of all ages, all skill<br />
levels and all communities.<br />
For more information on Cal<br />
South, please visit www.calsouth.com.<br />
All the games will be<br />
played at Frances Ryan<br />
Park, a complex owned and<br />
operated by the City. Frances<br />
Ryan Park contains 67<br />
acres, 42 of which are currently<br />
developed. The facility<br />
has seven athletic soccer<br />
fields, five with lights and<br />
two without; parking; and<br />
landscaping. The fields are<br />
currently home to the Escondido<br />
Youth <strong>Soccer</strong> Club,<br />
and are used by many other<br />
non-profit groups. By the<br />
time the tournament starts<br />
they will have added an<br />
8th soccer field. We have<br />
also reserved a couple of<br />
back-up fields with nearby<br />
schools to provide additional<br />
flexibility for scheduling<br />
purposes.<br />
Online registration is<br />
now open - see the Register<br />
page for details. The<br />
USASA & Veterans Cup<br />
website will be updated<br />
by the end of November<br />
with hotel information and<br />
other relevant tournament<br />
information. We are also<br />
in the process of updating<br />
the Facebook site (http://<br />
www.facebook.com/group.<br />
About the USASA Veterans<br />
Cup<br />
The annual Veterans<br />
Cup tournament was established<br />
in 1998 by the United<br />
States Adult <strong>Soccer</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
with the intention of<br />
providing high-level soccer<br />
to both men and women<br />
30 years of age and older.<br />
The current Veterans Cup<br />
tournament is a 6-day event<br />
with an anticipated 75-100<br />
adult soccer teams, comprising<br />
approximately 2,000<br />
players, family members,<br />
and supporters.<br />
COED Cup<br />
No information available<br />
at this time. The web<br />
site for the Coed Cup is<br />
http://www.usasa.com/coedcup11/index_E.html<br />
Check the above site<br />
for news of registration and<br />
location of the 2012 Cup.<br />
Win USASA <strong>Soccer</strong> Merchandise, continued from page 13<br />
For Media Clippings<br />
Your Full Name, Age,<br />
State, Your Team Name,<br />
Favorite Professional Team,<br />
Article Scan: (High Resolution<br />
format), Newspaper/<br />
Magazine Reference (Name,<br />
Date, Page), Your Email<br />
Contact, Phone Contact:<br />
For Photos<br />
Submissions Only<br />
Your Full Name, Age,<br />
State, Your Team Name,<br />
Your Favorite Professional<br />
Team, Photo(s): (JPG format,<br />
>500pix x 300pix),<br />
Photo(s) Description: (Location,<br />
Date, Event Name,<br />
Names of people in photo,<br />
etc.), Your Email Contact,<br />
Phone Contact Required.<br />
USASA Merchandise<br />
Examples<br />
<strong>Soccer</strong> Balls<br />
Official USASA T-shirts<br />
Official USASA shoe<br />
bags<br />
Plus more...<br />
Follow OSA<br />
on Facebook<br />
Friend <strong>Oklahoma</strong><br />
<strong>Soccer</strong> <strong>Association</strong>
Venue: Toyota Park in<br />
Chicago, IL.<br />
Home of the Chicago<br />
Fire and USASA National Office.<br />
Dates: Weekend of<br />
July 20-22nd, 2012<br />
“It is a great honor to<br />
host the 2012 National Cup<br />
here in Chicago. We’re going<br />
to do everything in our<br />
power to make everyone<br />
feel welcome and use all<br />
our contacts to make it the<br />
most memorable National<br />
SMOKE SIGNALS 15<br />
USASA Announces 2012 National Cup Details<br />
Cup to date.” - Branko Ilic,<br />
Illinois State President<br />
The 2012 National Cup<br />
finals will be held at the Toyota<br />
Park complex July 20-22,<br />
2012.<br />
The National Cup Committee<br />
met in Chicago with<br />
representatives of Toyota<br />
Park, Chicago Fire staff, Illinois<br />
State <strong>Soccer</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
and USASA staff, to<br />
view the Toyota Park facility.<br />
The Illinois State <strong>Soccer</strong><br />
<strong>Association</strong> will be the<br />
host State association and<br />
will lead in the planning and<br />
support of any National Cup<br />
needs or requirements.<br />
The current plan is that<br />
there will be a minimum of<br />
2 turf and 2 natural grass<br />
fields that will be used for<br />
the National Cup event. For<br />
all Semi-final round games,<br />
turf fields are planned to<br />
be used. All final games are<br />
schedule to play on natural<br />
grass. For the first time ever<br />
3 final games are scheduled<br />
to be played in the main<br />
Toyota Park Stadium home<br />
of the Chicago Fire <strong>Soccer</strong><br />
Club. Games in the stadium<br />
are planned for taping for<br />
future telecast.<br />
The 2012 National Cup<br />
Championship rounds are<br />
planned to be run at the<br />
highest professional level<br />
that all teams entering the<br />
National Cups aspire to play<br />
at.<br />
NATIONAL SOCCER HALL OF FAME INDUCTION 2012<br />
PRESENTED BY EUROSPORT - LANDOVER, MD<br />
Claudio Reyna, Tony<br />
Meola, Desmond Armstrong<br />
and Tony DiCicco<br />
will be Inducted<br />
as the Class of 2012 Ahead<br />
of Men's National Team<br />
Match Against Brazil<br />
Former U.S. Men's National<br />
Team stars Claudio<br />
Reyna, Tony Meola and Desmond<br />
Armstrong and former<br />
U.S. Women's National<br />
Team head coach Tony<br />
DiCicco will be inducted into<br />
the National <strong>Soccer</strong> Hall of<br />
Fame on <strong>May</strong> 30 in Landover,<br />
Md.<br />
The National <strong>Soccer</strong><br />
Hall of Fame and U.S. <strong>Soccer</strong><br />
will hold Induction 2012<br />
presented by Eurosport at<br />
FedExField ahead of the U.S.<br />
Men's National Team game<br />
against Brazil. The exact<br />
start of the Induction will<br />
be determined in the near<br />
future. Following the inviteonly<br />
ceremony, new inductees,<br />
Hall of Fame members<br />
and invited guests will attend<br />
a reception. Current<br />
Hall of Famers, as well as<br />
the Class of 2012 inductees,<br />
will be recognized on the<br />
field before kickoff.<br />
Both men elected on<br />
the player ballot made a<br />
significant contribution to<br />
the Men's National Team<br />
and had successful club careers<br />
both overseas and in<br />
the USA. Reyna, a four-time<br />
World Cup veteran, had an<br />
impressive career in Europe,<br />
playing for Bayer Leverkusen,<br />
Wolfsburg, Rangers,<br />
Sunderland and Manchester<br />
City. Meola holds second<br />
place all-time for most U.S.<br />
goalkeeper appearances<br />
and was a mainstay in Major<br />
League <strong>Soccer</strong>, earning MVP<br />
and Goalkeeper of the Year<br />
awards with the Kansas City<br />
Wizards.<br />
Armstrong, elected<br />
on the veteran ballot, was<br />
a stellar defender for the<br />
U.S. Men. During an eightyear<br />
National Team career,<br />
he competed in the 1990<br />
World Cup and the 1988<br />
Olympic Games.<br />
DiCicco was elected on<br />
the builder ballot and was<br />
recognized for his recordbreaking<br />
tenure with the<br />
Women's National Team,<br />
posting 103 victories in 119<br />
matches and leading the<br />
squad to the FIFA Women's<br />
World Cup title at home in<br />
1999.<br />
The U.S. MNT will kick<br />
off against five-time World<br />
Cup winner Brazil at 8 p.m.<br />
ET. More than 40,000 tickets<br />
have been sold for the<br />
match, which will be broadcast<br />
live on ESPN2, ESPN3<br />
and Univision. The match<br />
will be the team's last<br />
friendly in the U.S. before it<br />
begins 2014 FIFA World Cup<br />
qualifying.<br />
Established in 1950,<br />
the National <strong>Soccer</strong> Hall of<br />
Fame is dedicated to the<br />
sport of soccer in the United<br />
States by celebrating its history,<br />
preserving its legacy,<br />
inspiring its youth and honoring<br />
its heroes for generations<br />
to come.<br />
Mia Hamm’s<br />
Advice for<br />
Girls, Parents<br />
and Coaches<br />
Interview by Mike Woitalla<br />
American sports icon<br />
Mia Hamm debuted for the<br />
U.S. national team at age 15<br />
in 1987. She helped the USA<br />
to two World Cup and two<br />
Olympic titles. The 158 national<br />
team goals she scored<br />
before retiring in 2004 remain<br />
a world record. We<br />
asked Hamm to reflect on<br />
her early years and offer<br />
advice for coaches, parents<br />
and young players.<br />
SOCCER AMERICA:<br />
How involved are you still in<br />
soccer?<br />
MIA HAMM: It’s a huge<br />
part of my life. I’m still involved<br />
with U.S. <strong>Soccer</strong> on<br />
a couple of committees to<br />
help continue the growth<br />
of the game and make sure<br />
we’re going in the right direction,<br />
in general, as a Federation.<br />
see Hamm, page 16
16<br />
OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION<br />
New Jersey for US Men’s<br />
and Women’s Teams<br />
U.S. <strong>Soccer</strong> and Nike<br />
unveiled the new home jersey<br />
for both the U.S. Men's<br />
and Women's National<br />
Teams. The U.S. Men and<br />
Women debuted the latest<br />
Nike jersey playing their domestic<br />
matches in <strong>May</strong>.<br />
For the first time, Nike<br />
has taken a unified approach<br />
with the USA's home<br />
kits, creating jerseys that<br />
feature the same design<br />
and concept for both teams.<br />
The American flag is utilized<br />
as the jersey's inspiration,<br />
with a shirt that features<br />
horizontal red and white<br />
stripes and a blue crew neck<br />
collar. There is also a subtle<br />
tonal sash echoing the same<br />
design on the jerseys worn<br />
by the U.S. Men's National<br />
Team when it famously defeated<br />
England in the 1950<br />
FIFA World Cup in Brazil.<br />
Both kits are visually<br />
identical, but the women's<br />
kit is designed specifically<br />
for the female athlete to enhance<br />
range of motion.<br />
The new jersey is available<br />
for purchase in stores.<br />
The U.S. Women's jersey<br />
will be available starting on<br />
July 1.<br />
The fabric of the new<br />
home kits is approximately<br />
23 percent lighter and 20<br />
percent stronger than Nike's<br />
previous models. Made with<br />
Dri-FIT technology, the kits<br />
help regulate players' temperatures<br />
on the pitch. The<br />
shirts feature laser-cut ventilation<br />
holes to promote<br />
localized cooling where it<br />
matters most.<br />
Environmentally, each<br />
kit is made using an average<br />
of 13 recycled plastic bottles.<br />
The new kit's shorts are<br />
made with 100 percent Dri-<br />
FIT recycled polyester and<br />
the shirt with a minimum 96<br />
percent recycled polyester.<br />
The base layer apparel<br />
includes Nike Pro Combat<br />
Hyperstrong compression<br />
slider shorts that feature<br />
a padded waist and thigh<br />
protection in the most critical<br />
areas to provide protection<br />
during the rigors of the<br />
game. Mesh fabric is placed<br />
in heat zones for breathability.<br />
The new home shorts<br />
are blue, while the socks<br />
- now with improved cushioning<br />
for greater comfort,<br />
movement and protection -<br />
are white with a blue band<br />
at the top.<br />
U.S. MNT and WNT Authentic<br />
Nike Home Jersey<br />
Features:<br />
- Body featuring red<br />
and white stripes with a<br />
blue crew neck collar<br />
- Inside neck of the<br />
shirt includes the American<br />
Stars and Stripes flag<br />
- Jersey has tonal sash<br />
on the front<br />
- Blue shorts, and the<br />
socks are white with a blue<br />
band at the top.<br />
Comfort and Fit<br />
The fabric is about 23<br />
percent lighter than previous<br />
years' kits; embedded<br />
with Dri-FIT technology;<br />
laser-cut ventilation on the<br />
shirt; double-knit structure<br />
and yarns to make kit<br />
20 percent stronger than<br />
past designs. The Nike Pro<br />
Combat Hyperstrong shorts<br />
feature a padded waist and<br />
thigh protection. Nike Pro<br />
Combat Hypercool 2.0 top<br />
delivers ventilation and<br />
sweat-wicking fabric and is<br />
environmentally friendly.<br />
the shorts made with 100<br />
percent recycled polyester.<br />
The shirts are made with<br />
at least 96 percent recycled<br />
polyester.<br />
Mia Hamm,<br />
continued from page 15<br />
Kristine Lilly, Tisha<br />
Venturini-Hoch and myself<br />
started a soccer academy<br />
called Team First to basically<br />
help share with young girls<br />
our experiences and what<br />
we felt helped make us successful.<br />
I still watch tons of<br />
soccer. Both the men’s and<br />
women’s national teams,<br />
MLS, EPL …<br />
SA: What part of the<br />
coaching you got as a youngster<br />
helped you succeed?<br />
MIA HAMM: Everyone<br />
talks about it being fun.<br />
And it definitely was. That<br />
needs to be the focus. Development<br />
over winning<br />
was something I felt was<br />
there. I think as kids, and<br />
especially the players who<br />
go on to play at the highest<br />
level, they’re naturally competitive.<br />
That’s going to be a<br />
part of what they do.<br />
At a certain age, that<br />
reinforcement is important,<br />
but at a young age it’s about<br />
development and making<br />
sure that the kids really enjoy<br />
the environment they’re<br />
in so they want to come<br />
back and continue to learn<br />
and listen.<br />
SA: How different do<br />
you think youth soccer is<br />
now compared to your early<br />
days?<br />
MIA HAMM: The first<br />
coaches I had were just<br />
dads. And [laughs] probably<br />
wearing too small team uniform<br />
shirts and a really bad<br />
hat or visor on the sideline.<br />
And occasionally saying<br />
things they got from their<br />
days of playing football and<br />
trying to apply it to soccer,<br />
like “get to the end zone.”<br />
see Hamm, page 18
Tournament Scores<br />
SMOKE SIGNALS 17<br />
Broken Arrow Spring Recreational Tournament<br />
Midwest City Patriot Cup<br />
BOYS<br />
U14 1st – Muskogee SC SSC 98 – 3<br />
2nd – Metro Tulsa SC Force – 2<br />
U12 1st – Fort Gibson United 00 (points)<br />
2nd – Tahlequah Renegardes<br />
U12 Silver 1st – McAlester Macu<br />
Wolverines – 4<br />
2nd – Oologah-Talala SC Bennet – 3<br />
U10 Gold 1st – Fort Gibson United 02 – 8<br />
2nd – Muskogee Elite – 0<br />
U10 Silver 1st – Broken Arrow Troopers – 1<br />
2nd – Owasso Dynamite – 0<br />
U8 Gold 1st – Muskogee Boomers (points)<br />
2nd – Coweta Eagles<br />
U8 Silver 1st – Broken Arrow Ballistic (points)<br />
2nd – McAlester Broncos<br />
GIRLS<br />
U14 1st – Broken Arrow Poison Harding<br />
– 2<br />
2nd – Loco <strong>Soccer</strong> Guthrie – 0<br />
U12 Gold 1st – Broken Arrow Eclipse –<br />
Thomas (points)<br />
2nd – NWO Shooting Stars<br />
U12 Silver 1st – Enid Mustangs – 8<br />
2nd – Broken Arrow Thunder – 0<br />
U10 1st – Fort Gibson Futball Storm – 3<br />
2nd – Broken Arrow Girls with<br />
Attitude – 1<br />
U9 1st – Mustang Bruisers – 7<br />
2nd – Broken Arrow Dragonflies – 1<br />
U8 Gold 1st – Broken Arrow Pixies –<br />
(points)<br />
2nd – Fort Gibson Finesse<br />
U8 Silver 1st – South Lakes Victory – 6<br />
2nd – Broken Arrow Storm – 1<br />
U7 1st – Tulsa United Pandemonium – 7<br />
2nd – Broken Arrow Superstars – 4<br />
BOYS<br />
U13 1st – CVFC 99 Red – 3<br />
2nd – SLSC Cosmos 00 Blue – 1<br />
U11 1st – WCSC FC Bartlesville – 2<br />
2nd – Stillwater SC -1<br />
U10 Gold 1st – ESC Barcelona – 1<br />
2nd – ESC Manchester – 0<br />
U10 Silver 1st – CVFC 02 Hagen – 1<br />
2nd – NOKC 03 Amel – 0<br />
GIRLS<br />
U15 1st – SLSC Cosmos 98 Blue – 1<br />
2nd – MWC Fusion 96/97 – 0<br />
U12 1st – OK Footbal OFC 99 – 2<br />
2nd MWC Fusion 2000 – 1<br />
U11 1st – CVFC 01 Red – 2<br />
2nd – OK Football OFC 01 – 1<br />
U10 Gold 1st – Unity SC 02 – 1<br />
2nd – CVFC 02 Jackson – 0<br />
U10 Silver 1st – SLSC Cosmos Academy – 1<br />
2nd – CVFC 03 Claxton – 0<br />
YOUR GAME,<br />
YOUR FIELDS<br />
TULSA<br />
5817 S. 118th East Ave.<br />
Tulsa, OK 74146<br />
918.249.0044<br />
SOCCERCITYTULSA.COM<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY<br />
4520 Old Farm Road<br />
<strong>Oklahoma</strong> City, OK<br />
405.748.3888<br />
SOCCERCITYOKCITY.COM
18<br />
OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION<br />
OSA APPROVED TOURNAMENTS<br />
This is not a final listing. Some applications are still pending.<br />
<strong>June</strong> 1-3, 2012<br />
AC Milan Heartland Cup<br />
All US <strong>Soccer</strong> affiliated teams<br />
International Teams<br />
Tulsa, OK<br />
Fields: Indian Springs <strong>Soccer</strong> Complex in<br />
Broken Arrow<br />
Web site: www.heartlandcup.com<br />
Contact: Alex Alston<br />
Phone: 918-557-6063<br />
Email: alexalston@tulsasports.org<br />
U11-U15 Competitive Boys<br />
Assignor: Neal Mercer<br />
Email: nem55ba@aol.com<br />
<strong>June</strong> 2-3, 2012<br />
Adult 3v3 Kick It Tournament<br />
Union <strong>Soccer</strong> Club<br />
All US Adult <strong>Soccer</strong> members<br />
Tulsa, OK<br />
Union <strong>Soccer</strong>’s Bill Boevers Complex<br />
Web site: www.unionsoccerclub.com<br />
Contact: David Dexter<br />
Phone: 918-798-6028<br />
unionsoccerclub@tulsacoxmail.com<br />
All Adult Recreational and Competitive<br />
ages and gender<br />
Referee Assignor: David Dexter<br />
Email: dexterb@aol.com<br />
Mia Hamm<br />
continued from page 16<br />
It’s changed a lot. Some good,<br />
some bad. Coaching and the players<br />
are so much better at a younger age.<br />
I didn’t specialize until I made the<br />
national team. I still played basketball<br />
and a bunch of different sports, really<br />
kind of followed what my friends were<br />
playing in the season that was being<br />
organized.<br />
I think that helped me not burn<br />
out so early and helped my overall<br />
athleticism.<br />
SA: In your book “Go For the<br />
Goal” you addressed the problem of<br />
youth coaches sacrificing “learning<br />
skills for winning games.” Youth soccer<br />
has continued to get more expensive<br />
and paid coaches are the norm, so it<br />
would seem that pressure on winning<br />
has increased …<br />
<strong>June</strong> 2-3, 2012<br />
Youth 3v3 Kick It Tournament<br />
Union <strong>Soccer</strong> Club<br />
All US Youth <strong>Soccer</strong> members<br />
Tulsa, OK<br />
Union <strong>Soccer</strong>’s Bill Boevers Complex<br />
Web site: www.unionsoccerclub.com<br />
Contact: David Dexter<br />
Phone: 918-798-6028<br />
unionsoccerclub@tulsacoxmail.com<br />
U6 – U8 Recreational Boys & Girls<br />
U9 – U10 Academy Boys & Girls<br />
U12 – U19 Recreational and Competitive<br />
Boys & Girls<br />
Referee Assignor: Nancy Cornett<br />
unionsoccerclub@tulsacoxmail.com<br />
<strong>June</strong> 23-24, 2012<br />
Woodridge Cup<br />
Ponca City Adult <strong>Soccer</strong> Club<br />
All US Adult <strong>Soccer</strong> members<br />
Ponca City, OK<br />
Fields: Ponca City <strong>Soccer</strong> Complex<br />
Web:poncasoccer.com/club/adult-soccer<br />
Contact: JB Bohon<br />
Phone: 580-761-6845<br />
All Adult Recreational and Competitive<br />
ages and gender<br />
Referee Assignor: Jim McDaniel<br />
Email: jim.soccerref@gmail.com<br />
July 7-8, 2012<br />
Owasso Benefit Small-Sided Tournament<br />
Owasso <strong>Soccer</strong> Club<br />
All US <strong>Soccer</strong> affiliated teams<br />
Owasso, OK<br />
Fields: Owasso <strong>Soccer</strong> Complex<br />
Web site: www.oscsoccer.com<br />
Contact: Robert Allen<br />
Phone: 918-272-7407<br />
U6 – U8 Recreational Boys & Girls<br />
U9 – U10 Academy Boys & Girls<br />
U12 – U19 Recreational and Competitive<br />
Boys & Girls<br />
Referee Assignor: Dave Moore<br />
Email: dave_5511@yahoo.com<br />
MIA HAMM: You’re right, with<br />
more money and coaches being paid<br />
they feel a lot more pressure to win<br />
and parents want a greater return on<br />
their investment, whether that’s a college<br />
scholarship or an opportunity to<br />
play on the youth national team or<br />
professionally.<br />
July 7-8, 2012<br />
Owasso Benefit Small-Sided Tournament<br />
All Adult Recreational and Competitive<br />
ages and gender<br />
Owasso <strong>Soccer</strong> Club<br />
All US Adult <strong>Soccer</strong> affiliated teams<br />
Owasso, OK<br />
Fields: Owasso <strong>Soccer</strong> Complex<br />
Web site: www.oscsoccer.com<br />
Contact: Robert Allen<br />
Phone: 918-272-7407<br />
Referee Assignor: Dave Moore<br />
Email: dave_5511@yahoo.com<br />
August 17-19, 2012<br />
Beat the Heat<br />
Edmond <strong>Soccer</strong> Club<br />
All US <strong>Soccer</strong> affiliated teams<br />
Edmond, OK<br />
Fields: Edmond <strong>Soccer</strong> Complex<br />
Web site: www.edmondsoccer.com<br />
Contact: James Soesbee<br />
Phone: 405-409-2324<br />
Email: soccer999999@sbcglobal.net<br />
U11 – U19 Competitive Boys & Girls<br />
Referee Assignor: Brandon Story<br />
Email: bstory4@gmail.com<br />
October 19-21, 2012<br />
Soktoberfest-Adults<br />
US Adult <strong>Soccer</strong> Assoc. Affiliate teams<br />
Tulsa, OK<br />
Fields: Metro Tulsa <strong>Soccer</strong> Complex<br />
Contact: Melanie Tyree<br />
Phone: 918-645-1570<br />
Email: info@neoasa.org<br />
Website: www.neosa.org<br />
Men’s and Women’s Comp. and Rec.<br />
Referee Assignor: Larry Morgan<br />
Email: l.morgan@oksoccer.com<br />
U12 – U19 Recreational and<br />
Competitive Boys & Girls<br />
Referee Assignor: Dave Moore<br />
Email: dave_5511@yahoo.com<br />
Last issue’s winners are listed below<br />
and all receive Mazzio’s Italian Eatery<br />
coupons and US Youth stickers.<br />
Congratulations to all of our winners!<br />
Alex Bradford Sean Corral<br />
Priscilla Esparza Maximos Klein<br />
Precious Olaniran Skylar Poulsen<br />
Cindy Rodgers Justin Snook
KIDS’ PAGE<br />
SMOKE SIGNALS 19<br />
JOKES<br />
What do you call ham that<br />
you really want?<br />
A: Pork – you – pine<br />
What do you call a sleeping<br />
dinosaur?<br />
A: A dino-snore<br />
What do you get<br />
when you cross<br />
a teacher and<br />
a vampire?<br />
A: Lots of blood tests<br />
What do you call<br />
a teacher who<br />
doesn’t fart<br />
in public?<br />
A: A private tooter.<br />
When is a<br />
clock hungry?<br />
A: When it<br />
goes back<br />
for seconds.<br />
RIDDLES<br />
What do you call a gorilla with<br />
a banana in each ear?<br />
A: Whatever you want because<br />
he can’t hear you.<br />
What do you call a kitten drinking<br />
lemonade?<br />
A: A sourpuss.<br />
Why did King Kong climb to the<br />
top of the Empire State building?<br />
A: Because he<br />
was too big for<br />
the elevator.<br />
What do you<br />
get when you<br />
cross<br />
SpongeBob with<br />
Albert Einstein?<br />
A: SpongeBob SmartyPants<br />
PUNs<br />
Did you hear about the man<br />
who lost his left side?<br />
He’s all right now.<br />
Did you know William Tell and<br />
his family were avid bowlers?<br />
It’s true. But, unfortunately, a<br />
fire destroyed all the league<br />
records, so we’ll never know<br />
for whom the Tells bowled.<br />
Why did the little boy who was<br />
part of the wedding party roar<br />
as he walked down the isle?<br />
He was the ring bear.<br />
QUESTIONS TO<br />
ASK YOUR COACH:<br />
When we are in the supermarket<br />
and someone rams our ankle with a shopping<br />
cart, then apologizes for doing so, why<br />
do we say, “It’s all right”? Well, it isn’t all<br />
right, so why don’t we say, “That really hurt,<br />
why don’t you watch where you’re going?”<br />
Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch<br />
something that’s falling off the table you always<br />
manage to knock something else over?<br />
Why, in winter, do we try to keep the<br />
house as warm as it was in summer<br />
when we complained about the heat?<br />
How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?<br />
<strong>May</strong> & <strong>June</strong> Puzzle<br />
Look at the word list which contains words about Summer. Solve the puzzle,<br />
cut it out and mail to me at OSA, c/o <strong>Smoke</strong> <strong>Signals</strong>, PO Box 35174, Tulsa, OK<br />
74153. Good luck and remember to PRINT your name, address, and zip code<br />
on the form below. I’ll publish your name in the next issue if you solve the puzzle. Plus,<br />
you’ll get prizes from Mazzio’s Italian Eatery as well. Deadline is <strong>June</strong> 15, 2012.<br />
Name: ______________________________________________________<br />
Address: _____________________________________________________<br />
City: __________________________ State: ___________ Zip: __________<br />
U F M J F R B W W F M P R U E T V N L R<br />
B E S O T I Q P E I P F E W O Y T D T R<br />
G N C T F J Q C N D Y S R Q D O U V I Z<br />
S U H R A F X E R K D T R B U S U D F V<br />
Z E R F X N A H G A N I E R S J D F T U<br />
E J R C A G G T Z T X V N Z V O H L G K<br />
T I Z S N H E R H D R A U G U S T C N E<br />
M D I L T F D Y A E M I J L G R J K A N<br />
U S R A S K R O W E R I F V A O L N O J<br />
C R E N G H S U N B J A J T V N Q W W M<br />
R H C O M P E T I T I V E D E M F J D Y<br />
S B R I D E P S B I G X O U Z L U W V U<br />
I L E T Q I L M A W H S H E G I F J V K<br />
S Y A A C H T S Z F F B P F F K D H B Q<br />
G N T N V G X M N W K A G S F V Q Q D D<br />
X N I P O O L Z J E R X U P Y P Z S U W<br />
B C O T W I F O U A I E T O I P Q N V L<br />
S J N X H K G O D I F C E L A J O X E W<br />
Q K A P U L M E I D X U L X W M A R I A<br />
T Y L U J M A Y R M X Z K D I Y C S Q D<br />
WORDS TO USE<br />
IN THE PUZZLE:<br />
ANTS<br />
AUGUST<br />
BRIDE<br />
COMPETITIVE<br />
FATHER<br />
FIREWORKS<br />
HEAT<br />
JUNE<br />
JULY<br />
NATIONALS<br />
PARADE<br />
PICNICS<br />
WEDDING<br />
RECREATIONAL<br />
REGIONALS<br />
TRYOUTS<br />
TOURNAMENT
20<br />
OKLAHOMA SOCCER ASSOCIATION<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
www.scoresports.com<br />
American <strong>Soccer</strong> Company, Inc. - 726 E. Anaheim Street - Wilmington, CA 90744 - 800.626.7774