HSL Community Blog

Great New Year Tourney!

2010-01-04T12:33:00.000-08:00

Wow...It was great to show up Saturday morning and see colorful jerseys and excitement as the games begun. There were goals galore happening on all the fields and we saw some great footy out there over the two days.

I want to thank the HSL Board for putting this together, especially Mauro, Nell, and Paul. You all did a fantastic job getting people together to make this event a great experience. Well done.

What are the dates for next year?

Cheers,

Phil

Winter Cheer

2009-11-23T14:39:00.001-08:00

HOLIDAY TOURNEY - January 3rd and 4th!

Ever wonder how that scale seems to add a few pounds when you venture that post-Holiday weigh-in? I can say that for myself, if I do not find ways to play and get out with the ball in the coming months between Turkey Day and the beginning of the Spring season in April, well...Frankly, it sucks. I could go on and on about how it feels to be out of shape come that first game and how, despite our best intentions "during the break" that first match can hurt!

So, why not sign up for the Tourney and keep your fitness up over the break? There is also a very "religious" group of players that meet each Sunday at the bowl...even when the track is covered in ice! Stay with it and be ready come Spring!

10-Man Hooligans Calm the Stormers 4-0

2009-09-08T21:38:00.000-07:00

One of the great mysteries of this game is how a team of 10 can best a full side. Honestly though, I cannot tell you what we did right and where the Stormers were lacking; it just happened this way. It remains a mystery to me. It may be as simple as we focused on passing to each other and not passing to the guys in blue. I don't really have an answer. But, this is how it went...

FIRST HALF
Hooligans were looking for any red jerseys emerging out of the parking lot, but there would be none. They would start and finish the match with 10 players. The game was back and forth for the first ten minutes as the teams settled into a rhythm. Pedro and Pepe were controlling the midfield and alternated working the ball through to Cody, Kevin, and Antonio. It was about 20 minutes in when the Hooligans won a corner kick on the West side of the field. Gary was in goal for the Stormers and he was looking directly into the setting sun when Kevin Conway's curving corner kick whizzed by his ear and landed in the side netting for the first goal. The Stormers pressed hard for about 10 minutes and forced some defense from us until Eric Little picked up a clearance and took on a Stormer on the right side of the attacking third, got around him and centered a great ball to Jim who nodded his header past Gary for a second goal. It looked like an attacking play that we might have rehearsed..it looked so good. The half soon ended and the Stormers had a strategy session to see what to do about the ten of us.

SECOND HALF
For some reason we seemed to be content to pass to each other in a strange effective way. Us Hooligans usually do not do this so this was a really strange experience for us. We actually found each other and played simple passes to each other on the ground. Imagine our surprise when this simple plan resulted in us keeping possession of the ball, even as the Stormers increased their pressure on the ball. It was miraculous and revolutionary for us!
We kept the Stormers in their own half somehow and continued to take shots from a variety of players. Cody was peppering shots from the left, Kevin continued to work combinations with Pedro and Pepe to get in behind the defense, while Antonio worked the right side effectively. Finally we broke them down to score a third when Kevin fed Pedro and he shot at close range which Gary blocked straight back to him and he finished the second time.

Stormers had their share of chances with Anthony Kontos testing our keeper with a nicely placed chip when he caught him out of position. Chuy leaped up at the last minute and deflected the ball out for a corner. Stormers continued to break us down and create chances, with Wade and Jorge working hard to get in behind the defense. But the Hooligans kept flushing the ball out and away. Stormers wouldn't find the net on this day. With about 15 minutes left we were awarded a direct free kick just outside the box when Kevin was fouled. I stepped up and took the shot while the Stormers were building their wall and bent it around toward the near post. I thought Gary wasn't looking as he shouted to his wall, but he leaped over and got a hand on it, although it wasn't enough and he was only able to parry the ball into the nearpost side netting. Some defenders complained, but the ref did what they were supposed to by allowing the attacking team a quick restart. There are a few myths about restarts that resurfaced for a brief moment...but the goal rightly stood as valid.
Defenders will argue that they can ask for ten yards when it is not even their kick! Refs are instructed to punish defenders who walk up and stand in front of the ball, as well as players who encroach and try to block kicks, with a minimum of a yellow card! The best thing to do as a defender is move back and defend.

In the end, Hooligans stuck it out and held the Stormers. Like last week, I feel our success was partly because we were focused on playing and not on reffing. If you think about it, arguing with the ref is a complete waste of time (I AM aware of the irony of me telling you this, as I have wasted many minutes out there!). In all my 38 years of playing and dissenting, I have not once changed the refs mind to reverse their decision! Referees give us all information in their calls that tell us how they saw the play, how the game is likely to be called based on their comfort level with the contact on challenges, and basically are giving us information with which we have an obligation to use. If we used this information, we would alter our game slightly; maybe avoid offsides by giving a few steps cushion instead of a milimeter, maybe challenging balls in the air with our hands in, maybe accepting the call and showing some respect and acceptance of a difficult job...to name a few. I guess after 38 years, I finally figured this out...Well done!

Wild Bunch Edges Hooligans 4-3

2009-09-01T22:05:00.000-07:00

I might say up front that the comments that follow are influenced by a number of pints at Humbrews after the game....which is generally just as fun as playing.

I don't really know what happened in the first 30 minutes of the game because I was late....

But, shortly after I subbed in the Wild Bunch scored, so I guess you could say I had an "immediate impact." Anyhow, I don't remember who scored...But they orange men took the lead.I can't remember if they scored again before the half, but who cares. Eventually they led by two and sometime in the second half we scored to make it 2-1.

Our keeper "Chuy" turned away at least five good chances that most third graders would have finished easily so we were naturally grateful. We tied it up with a goal from Kevin Conway who was a threat the entire game.

Wild Bunch kept countering and added two more to provide a cushion of a lead. With 10 minutes left, Kevin got behind the orange jerseys and sent a long ball to the far post which I somehow placed into the net with not much of an angle....

Most of the game the Wild Bunch spent reffing, so really they could have beaten us with a wider margin if they had stayed focused on their role as players and NOT as refs. We enjoyed their distraction and created many chances in the second half while they were busy reffing and obtaining yellow cards. However, we did not finish a host of chances, so we deservedly lost.

Stormers "Rain Down" On Dirty Dogs 1-0

It was interesting to see Bobby McGuire and Joe Dacus in tears at Hum Brews after the match. Joe seemed to think he had somehow cursed the 'Dogs while Bobby speculated on the "hockey-like" substitutions that seemed to bolster the ranks of the Stormers at times. Despite their emotional state, it was clear that scandal and losing had affected the men in yellow and it was taking its toll on them. It should be an interesting match-up with the Wild Bunch when they meet the Dirty Dogs next week. It could be the end of their attempt to retain the prestigious "Old Fart's
Cup Trophy." Stay tuned!

SEASON OPENER - Dirty Dogs Bite Hooligans 6-3.

2009-08-25T21:57:00.000-07:00

This is always a fun match-up because you never know what will transpire. You can usually count on goals and shots and there were plenty tonight. I liked the new pregame routine which has players check in and shake hands before the contest. After all we are all soccer brothers and hope to survive the game uninjured, so why not start the game with a deliberate act of friendship?

We had some long-time players reappear as Anthony Perrone and Rick Littlefield emerged out of some cryogenic vault in Southern Humboldt to join us once again. Welcome back gents!Hooligans welcomed Anthony to the squad and immediately put him to work defending, while Rick roved the midfield and kept feeding Eric and Mauro up front for the men in yellow ( I was gonna say "yellow men" but is that PC? I didn't think so).

Hooligans also welcomed new players Noah Beck, Cody Lambuth, and the "not-so-new" and returning Reed Tudor and Dave Rowe. Everyone else on the Hooligans has played in this league for at least 40 years, so they need no introduction.

The first half was even and calm for about 20 minutes and there was pretty even possession by both teams and chances here and there. The goals have a strange way of coming when Eric arrives, and he provided one soon after he took the pitch. We will probably mark him with three people next game or I might just try and annoy him by being his shadow...if I can catch him.

Dogs scored a second, but just before the half ended they back-passed to their keeper, Glen who, no longer in his normal role as an attacker, promptly picked the ball up! Hooligans took advantage of a quick restart in the penalty area with only one defender back, and Noah Beck gave a short pass to Kevin Conway who slotted it into the net. The halftime whistle sounded shortly after the goal and us Hooligans felt we were back in it.

Second Half Fouls -
Now that only a goal separated us I think the half started pretty physical. The officials maintained good control by issuing cautions for a few fouls that needed their attention beyond the whistle and that helped.

Dogs scored again early on when Eric waltzed into the box unmarked and headed a cross from Mauro past our keeper. Oops...I think that was my bad for watching him instead of marking him. Oh well.

Hooligans continued to get into their attacking third and put some pressure on their defense but the Dogs found the net again as Eric (is his name coming up often when I mention a goal being scored?)went past three defenders and despite being fouled by two of them tucked the ball in the left corner like it just didn't matter. Our keeper had to console the defenders who really felt bad about having this happen, but kudos to Eric for showing us some good finishing.

Hooligans struck back to make it 4-2 when Kevin Conway was played cleverly through the defense by Antonio Vega. Todd and Mike were busy talking about Facebook when Kevin suddenly burst past them cracked a shot of the left post which came back across goal before Kevin blasted the ball at Glenn and the ball careened into the right corner of the goal.

Not long after, the game was marred by a hard foul on Eric by the Hooligan keeper. The ref issued a caution on what could have been a straight red, when the player was played(or should I say "checked" as in hockey) and the ball was left well alone. While the resulting kick from outside the box was fruitless, the Dogs managed to score shortly after on a goal so thrilling...that I have actually forgotten who scored and how. It was likely Eric though, and Mauro can edit me if he happens to remember. That is what happens when you have headed soccer balls as I have for 38 out the 44 years I have been alive. I just can't remember some things. Last week I totally forgot I was married and had two children, but my loving family set me straight.Where was I? Oh yeah, soccer recap.

It was now 5-2 and the dogs were starting to cruise into the last 15 minutes with a hint of success in their grasp.Hooligans kept mounting attacks and came close, as Glen denied me on a well-saved chance I cracked at the top of the box. But right after that as a throw in was played into the penalty area and quickly cleared....PENALTY. Which at first puzzled everyone because it was not clear what happened. Hooligans were more than happy to benefit from the award and I slotted it past the keeper. I must say that the last time I took a PK from that very spot I hit a car...about three rows back! I made sure I did not shank it this time. Now it was 5-3 and only 10 minutes to play.

Dogs sent a ball into Paul Swenson who was clobbered by our keeper just outside the box. This additional body block resulted in a second caution and the keeper was rightly sent off for not changing the behavior that resulted in the first caution. Anthony Perrone took on the role nobody wanted and stepped in goal as our keeper.
Most of the attackers were badly damaged at this point and they failed to score from the subsequent free kick.

However, with a few minutes left, somebody...I think it was Paul launched a shot from close range on a pass from Eric, which Anthony read well but slipped through his hands and flopped over the line. The score would stand at 6-3 as the final whistle sounded. It was a fun game, the refs did well, and we saw plenty of goals scored.

Spirit of HSL Awards

2009-06-29T11:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had a nice gathering for our spring season party. For those of you who missed it, we recognized all the teams, and the team managers. I will say it again, for those of you who missed it - thanks to all of you players for supporting the HSL, for your fair and competitive play, and for your efforts to keep things on a positive note! A special thanks to all managers for your work in organizing your teams and for leading by example in your play and sportsmanship! It is your role as leaders that define our league. One thing I neglected to do, but should have - thanks to all our referees for their critical work in often stressful conditions!

We announced the winners of the divisions:
Coed 25/30 - Humbrews, Robin Hewitt manager
Coed Open - Amalgamators, Michael East manager
Men's 30/37 - Dirty Dogs, Paul Swenson manager

Finally, we announced the recipients of the Spirit of HSL awards. These awards are given based on direct input from you, their peers.

I've copied my words below as I read them to the gathering yesterday.

SPIRIT OF HSL
Positive, a tough competitor, an encourager, a sense of team and community,
These are some of the qualities that embody many of you out there. The following players have been admired and singled out by their teammates and often by the players whom they have played against. Some of these players I know well, and some not at all, so it is a pleasure to in a sense view these players and their exemplary play and attitude through the eyes of other players. I just want to say that there are many more of you out there on our fields and in this room who share in these qualities. You know who you are and I thank you. I hope to hear more stories from you, your thoughts and feelings about other players deserving of recognition.

It’s my hope we can change the old and tired American attitude that griping and complaining is part of winning. What I hear you saying in our league is that being respectful and encouraging of all players out on the field is more important than winning, and that’s saying a lot because we all know how hard we all play out there.

So without further ado, let’s recognize a few of our exemplary players,

BYRD MINKLER
One player wrote, “I have never seen anything but a "quiet effectiveness" from this player. He embodies a high work rate, combines skill and clean, hard play, and has defensive and offensive competency. He seems friendly to all who know him and generally is there to play. He has an attitude I think I would like to model more than my own. That player is Bird Minkler.”

JENNIFER GARCIA
One player wrote, “She has started off being an absolute beginner a couple of seasons ago and has stuck it out in our sometimes fairly competitive 25/30 coed league. She has gone from practically running away from the ball and blindly kicking at it to challenging some decent players on the field, positioning herself well, making some passes, and last game even taking a shot on goal. She has steadily increased the number of times she is involved in play during games, is always positive, and shows up each week for the games. I like that our league offers the room for players of all levels to improve.”

RAFAEL RIVERA
I said, “A great attitude, always positive, willing to play anywhere on the field, though he would always say, “goalie man, it’s what I do”. Above all this is a person whose warmth and kindness puts out good vibes that cross the boundaries of not just the teams he plays on, but to all players.”

MONA SCOTT
One player wrote, “Every game she could possibly make, she was there. Even when we were down 9-1 she would still talk it up with the team, pickup up the players who were hanging their heads. She was a pleasure to have in the goal and I wouldn't have anyone else back there.”

MICHAEL ROSCOE
One player wrote, “New to league as a team manager, he conducted himself the right way, with humility. He He always treated every last player with respect. He never dictated, but rather served as an example and a reminder of the right way to be out there.

On the field, he played hard. even late in an out-of-reach game, he gave 100% . Good Will seemed to always be the top priority...even though he was always playing to win.

He treated the refs with respect, and instantly jumped in as a mediator to put out fires, and calm any player who was starting to become temperamental toward the refs. He wanted his team to be a class operation. I never saw him show pride over wins(even though I know he would love to have gone undefeated), but I did hear him take pride in any compliments that our team received as far as our conduct on the field. That, rather than winning, seemed to be the thing that he considered to be the true feather in our cap.

He also treated our opponents well, before, during, and after games. He consistently engaged in friendly exchanges with everyone. His presence always increased the level of fun, energy, and positive spirit, at any time or place on the field. He showed a spirit and maturity, both on the field and off, that was beyond his years. I think he is an exemplary player and leader.”

LAURA OLSEN
I said, “Our league is full of players who have played for many years, I’m talking 10, 15, 20 years and more. I’m not sure how long this player has been involved with the league, but one thing’s for sure she still has the skills and smarts and athleticism of a top player. She’s quiet on the field, always mature and respectful. She speaks with her play, which is as it should be.”

CARLOS CAMPOS
I said, “Recently I watched this player battling it out for his team in a losing cause. His team was shorthanded, and he found himself the lone striker for most of the game, trying to collect the ball and turn it against the other team’s back line. Again and again, he would get the ball, and in an exhausting effort, try to maneuver through the defense. Even with his team down 10 goals to 0, this level of effort never waned. It was like watching Sisyphus try to push the boulder up the mountain. Never once, did he allow any frustration to sour his attitude all the way to the closing whistle. That’s on the field.

Off the field, This player is always willing to step up for the league and for the teams and players he has managed, and he has done it happily. Almost always to be seen with a smile on his face, he would much rather see other players get the kudos, but I think he exemplifies the Spirit of the HSL and deserves to be recognized.”

WEEKLY SOCCER RULES DISCUSSION

2009-06-16T16:39:00.000-07:00

It's free and it's already there! US Soccer has an active program called "Week in Review" which looks at the issues that arised based on matches and referee decisions in each week of the MLS. While this site is aimed primarily at referees, it a very good resource for all players of the game. CHECK IT OUT!

US Soccer Week in Review

THE WILD BUNCH’ LAST STAND

2009-06-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

Sounds like a Sam Peckinpah western. But it was more like something along the lines of “Remember the Alamo”. Near the start of the game the WB had 8 players. I counted them three times. We had 14 to start. HSL rules state that 9 is required to avoid a forfeit. The truth is that, at least in recent memory from the last few seasons, no team with less than nine has chosen to play without borrowing players and forfeiting. Coming off a two game winning streak, Nacho was sure someone would emerge from the heavens (read: parking lot) within the first few minutes of the game to give them nine. They always do. You can play with eight as long as you like, I said. If it gets out of hand, at any time feel free to forfeit and borrow players. The refs went along with it and we shook on it.

The Dirty Dogs all lined up, with the win already locked up in there minds. The 8 orange jerseyed WB players stood, perhaps with some trepidation on the other side of the half, facing the North goal and with the kick off. I watched from the sidelines as, expectedly we pressed their end, but with little in the way of results. Jason, showed for us on the sideline and we now had 15.

Was it the lacking of the killer instinct? The classic playing only as hard or as smart as we had to given they had 8. Nothing was clicking for the Dirty Dogs. Shot after shot went over the cross bar or wide of the post. There was no rhythm to our play, considering our numbers, no teamwork. The WB, beginning to sense our lack of commitment began to realize, that even though they were 8, they had a chance.

Early on the WB counter attacked, with accurate passes and solid player movement. Scott Bauer dribbled the ball toward our box and was shadowed from behind by Pete Fuller. Now playing on the field, I had a bird’s eye view of the “contact”, but the Ref on the sideline was shielded, and Scott made a dramatic show and went down earning a free kick near the outer edge of the box. The resulting free kick did not earn them a goal however, but I wondered, as I’m sure many of the Dogs did, what the HELL was going on?

At one point Lenny McMillin rolled his ankle and it looked like the WB would be down to 7. But he continued to near hobble around the field. At one point one of our players tossed him a lace up ankle brace and he removed himself from the sidelines to put it on, leaving the WB with 7. It must have seemed like an eternity for the WB players, as their players would look over to the sidelines wondering what the heck McMillin was doing. Playing against seven, perhaps, we were able to score our first goal.

Near the end of the first half the DD were able to muster their second goal, one probably preventable because the WB goalie, Craig Carroll, for some reason was way off his line. Pete slapped the ball inside the near post with a clinically placed shot. The half ended and we were up only two to nothing. More DD had arrived and we were numbered at 17 against their 8. Out of character for me, I hope, I shouted at my team. Everyone knows that 2-0 is the most dangerous margin of lead going into a 2nd half. I couldn’t fathom losing to 8. I exhorted my players to go back to the basics. Play their positions. Perhaps in the feeding frenzy of playing against 8 we were over committing up front – everyone wanting a piece of the action, with no responsibility in the midfield. How was it, that with our vastly greater numbers, that they were always finding themselves open? We needed to mark tightly and exploit our advantage.

At the opening of the 2nd half, we seemed to be back on the right track. Michael East played a nice through ball to me and I was able to carry it home and slot a low shot at the far post to make it 3-0. but it seemed only minutes later that somehow the WB broke down our defense and Scott Talbot hit a nice shot past Noah for an incredible short handed goal. It was 3-1 and we were back to that dreaded 2 goal margin.

The Dirty Dogs flowed in and out of the pitch from the sidelines, but somehow our play was without continuity, our defense sloppy. Players held the ball, touching it way to many times and either losing it, or forgoing the easy short pass, forcing the long ball.

Shot after shot after shot, over the WB cross bar, or past the post.

Santayana’s men, wave upon wave, threw themselves against the Alamo walls, and finally the goals began to come late in the half, from Hec and Todd. At 5 to 1 there was a visible slump in the shoulders of the Wild Bunch. At 6-1 on Eric's goal, the Dirty Dogs had finally regained and branded their rhythm into an exhausted team.

It was a night for gladiators in orange and the surge of the yellow dog pound

It would be the third and final time the WB would face off against us this season and their third loss to boot. The WB had been having a solid time against the other two teams, but had yet to give us a game. Every week I had steeled myself; that this would be the week that they would show up and bring their real team to us. For our team it was a bitter sweet win. To beat 8 players is somewhat like mercy killing. But we found in their 8 more than we bargained for.

Brewery anyone…

Referees and Dissent

2009-06-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

This year will mark my 20^th year playing in the HSL. I moved here in 1989 and one of the first things I did was look for soccer. My search turned me onto the Humboldt Soccer League. Over those years I have heard all the stories, like the early days of the coed leagues, where a Portuguese men’s team, knowing nothing of “coed”, played every week with only 7 men against 11 and won every week. I have played in every division (except women’s!). I have managed at least two teams and served on the board in various capacities, as well as refereed. As far as adult soccer in Humboldt County, I’ve seen and heard it all.

Over those years the referees have come and gone, and, as you might expect, the quality of officiating has varied from game to game and season to season. Some of you might be surprised to find out that Refs don’t actually grow on trees, and that they are real people with feelings and emotions like you and me. In fact for all refs here in our area, none make a living at it. It is part time weekend or week night work. I mention this obvious fact because, based on what I often observe in games, they are treated as though they must be the best refs in the world because of the perfection that is demanded from them. Were the same perfection be demanded and gotten from our HSL players, we’d all be playing professionally for the English Premiere League.

Refereeing is a very difficult job. If you have never done it yourself, I don’t think you can really appreciate how hard it is. A typical scenario: For a split second two players and a ball come together with speed. If there is any kind of contact the referee must instantly evaluate the moment, based on whatever his angle and distance is from the event. All fouls are not always "clear cut". If both players are using their arms, who is gaining the advantage? A player stabs at the ball with his feet, and he gets the ball, but was it from behind? Did he get the man before he got the ball? Our Referee cannot be swayed by the emotions of the two players involved – or the shouts from the field and the sidelines. Even with great positioning, his view of the play (though clear as glass to you on the sideline) may be screened by players on the field. He has no instant replay. He does not have the advantage of bias colored glasses which both teams wear, not to mention the complete lack of pressure and often, lack of knowledge of the laws of the game that your average player has. He will be expected by both teams to make a decision, get this call right and in their favor.

Now take this moment and multiply it one hundred times per game.

Because of the shortage of refs that our league invariably experiences I have asked players from within our ranks to step forward and receive training as refs for our league. Just a couple answered the call in time for spring season. This is a bit like the children’s story of the little red hen who wanted help baking the bread. No one was willing to help make the bread, but everyone wanted a piece. No one wants to help us with refereeing, but many are quick to criticize them. Look, I am fine with folks recognizing that reffing is not for them for whatever reason, but I am going to say flat out, if you have never reffed on a regular basis, you really don’t have any idea how hard it is to call a game, and so, please, adjust your attitude accordingly.

Because of the HSL’s need I myself for two seasons have taken on the referee role for our Saturday league, but I can’t say it has been a picnic. I take my role as a referee, as serious as I do a player. For those of you that know me, you know that means I give it everything I’ve got. But still I have players telling me I am not doing my job, not trying hard enough, and taking my calls against them as personal slander, – which REALLY hurts my feelings and makes me angry, not to mention the constant second guessing and wisecracks about my apparent ineptitude. But what makes me even madder is that all our refs are treated this way. For those of you who think you can do better - by all means prove it. I have a set of ref jerseys I will sell you cheap.

Folks, It’s just a game.

Perhaps the refs should give a running commentary pointing out all the mistakes players make out on the field. For some of our players, what about the fouls you commit, or the dive you took, that didn’t get called. Since you are so concerned with fairness, I am sure you are quick to ask that the foul you committed be called. No, I didn’t think so.

Do I and other refs get calls wrong? Of that there is no doubt. Let’s all agree right now, and any good ref will tell you, it is a given he will not get every call right. If we all accept this in advance, then there’s really no need to argue or dissent during the game, is there? Note I said "during" the game. By all means, talk in a courteous and respectful manner with an official at half time or after the game if you have a question about a rule or a ruling, or a concern.

Personally, I do not really enjoy reffing that much though I’ve really tried to, and I hold great admiration for most of our refs who do actually like it and take professional pride in their role. Refereeing can be mostly a thankless task, filled with minute to minute pressure to get every call right, and no matter the call, have to listen to players derogatory remarks. Yes, we refs can hear those comments over on the sidelines. Sunday I heard a bystander heckling one of our linesman, whom I know personally to be a bright, friendly conscientious young man, who I know always does his best. It was ugly behavior directed at good and gentle person trying to do his job.

Perhaps my skin is not thick enough for the job, I’ll admit it. And when I take my dark mood home to my family, then I have to admit that perhaps I need to give it up – and probably will after this season ends. My story is shared by other referees who don the striped shirt. They are human beings with feeling out there, trying their best. Without referees we have no league. Period. Dissent is like a virus, it is contagious, and it sickens the game. I can’t recall any arguing ever changing a call. But some players can’t resist showing their superior view of the game by letting the refs know they are wrong at every turn. For those players with that kind of attitude, I would love to see them have to ref a game, and to go a little further, with someone like themselves playing in the game.

Okay. With all that said, I understand the frustration of seeing a perceived wrong call. Been there many times. Here is where we, as adults, have to show maturity, keep a cool head and change our behavior. And I know there are many players in our league who do have a sensible attitude, and I really want to thank you for setting a positive example We have to understand it’s not personal. It’s just a game.

From FIFA Laws of the Game - Handling

2009-05-15T14:58:00.000-07:00

Handling the Ball

Handling the ball involves a deliberate act of a player making contact
with the ball with his hand or arm. The referee must take the following
into consideration:
• the movement of the hand towards the ball (not the ball towards
the hand)
• the distance between the opponent and the ball (unexpected
ball)
• the position of the hand does not necessarily mean that there is
an infringement
• touching the ball with an object held in the hand (clothing,
shinguard etc.) counts as an infringement
• hitting the ball with a thrown object (boot, shinguard etc.) counts
as an infringement
Disciplinary sanctions
There are circumstances when a caution for unsporting behaviour
is required when a player deliberately handles the ball, e.g. when a
player:
• deliberately and blatantly handles the ball to prevent an opponent
gaining possession
• attempts to score a goal by deliberately handling the ball

A player is sent off, however, if he prevents a goal or an obvious goalscoring
opportunity by deliberately handling the ball. This punishment
arises not from the act of the player deliberately handling the ball but
from the unacceptable and unfair intervention that prevented a goal
being scored.

Restart of play

• Direct free kick from the position where the offence occurred
(see Law 13 – Position of Free Kick) or penalty kick
Outside his own penalty area, the goalkeeper has the same restrictions
on handling the ball as does any other player. Inside his own penalty
area, the goalkeeper cannot be guilty of a handling offence incurring a
direct free kick or any misconduct related to handling the ball. He can,
however, be guilty of several handling offences that incur an indirect
free kick.

One Night at Cooper's Gulch

2008-10-31T12:41:00.000-07:00

Hope you like my story. -Paul

Where do old soccer players go? I think most just fade out gracefully. They sense their time is up. One injury too many. The pain in the knee or the hip that used to subside between games, never goes away now. One day you realize, hey haven’t seen Hank in a while. What’s he up to some one asks? You have no idea, but he’s probably out walking the sideline of some soccer field every Saturday, the dew soaking his Sambas, watching the kids he coaches roam the field. On Tuesday nights, at dinner time he’s with his family. He looks up at the clock, it’s nearly six…what was it I usually did on Tuesday night? Think , think…

A FEW HOURS IN THE LIFE OF THE MEN’S 30/37 SOCCER LEAGUE

(I can’t swear all the following statements have not been embellished in some way, but I swear it’s all true.)

Tuesday, October 28 - Week 8 - The last night of Fall League

3:30 p.m. My phone rings. It’s Noah Rodriguez, the Men’s 30/37 commissioner. “You want to hear something funny?” He says. My gut feeling is that this is sarcasm. I could really use something funny, but I don’t think it’s coming my way just yet. “Eureka Parks and Rec just called me,” he says, “apparently some people tore the goal anchors out of the ground and moved one of the goals over by the shed.” We play our Tuesday night games at Cooper’s Gulch in Eureka, because it is the only lighted field in all of Humboldt County we have access to. In addition to that, the HSL has to provide our own goals and nets, and line the field. The steel goals, once assembled, weigh A LOT. One of the goals has been apparently slid across the field some 30 to 40 yards from it’s designated spot.

5:30. Game 1, Hooligans versus Stormers begins at 6:00. Noah has arrived, turned the lights on, unlocked the shed to get the nets out. Players begin to amble in. They will, as needed, move the goal back into position, put up the nets, start donning various knee and ankle braces, slapping on the Icy Hot, and begin their warm up, which might amount to jogging up and down the length of the field one single time in a kind of gait that resembles running. Good enough. To most of us the first 15 minutes of the game is the “warm up”. I will not arrive until shortly before my game which follows at 7:30.

My team, the Dirty Dogs, had gone unbeaten for all of last season and most of this season, until we had lost to the Hooligans, our arch rivals, 3 - 0 two weeks ago out there at Cooper’s under the lights. Then a week ago we lost again to the Stormers, 3- 0. Deja-vu all over again. Now if the Hooligans beat the Stormers today, we will be in a situation where the Hooligans will win the league, having tied our record but having a better goal differential, that’s assuming we win tonight against the Wild Bunch, which ought to be a given. They have not won a game all season.

7:10 I arrive in time to “warm up” and witness the end of the Hooly/Stormer’s game. I see the Hooly’s Chris Ramey dribble into the Stormer’s penalty box. He beats one player, then cuts the ball back and beats another. He slots the ball inside the near post. The Stormers hardly react, which is when I realize they must really be losing. Someone tells me the Hoolys are winning 5 to nil. “So,” Mauro Staiano calculates, “if we win by 13 goals tonight we could still take the league,” he jokes, but with that laconic tone that makes me wonder if he isn’t a little serious. The truth is that every guy out there plays to win, wants to win, but never at the cost of just being able to play. Most of us have known one another for years, and I consider every player out there a friend. I’ll be the first to admit, that I hate losing, which I see as a character flaw in myself. Tonight the Hooligans have won the league. Tonight I’ll play for no other reason, than to have fun. It’s a good feeling. There’s no pressure, I can just enjoy the game.

7:30 I have a slightly torn hamstring from a week ago, and bruised ribs from playing keeper two days ago. I told my wife, (as I was putting on my shinguards), that I wasn’t planning on playing…(much). The truth is that probably half the guys out there are nursing injuries, or have one waiting in the wings, with a date and time pre-ordained. As the fog thickens across the field, Craig Carroll counts his Wild Bunch. He hasn’t been able to field a full team in weeks, and has had to resort to borrowing players. But tonight, they are coming out of the wood work, he counts 9, 10, 11…12

My team which is usually flush with subs counts 11. As I walk across the field, I’m trying to decide which will hurt less, running with my torn hamstring and the jarring of the sore ribs, or playing in goal, which will involve diving onto my tender side. I toss a coin in my head and go for playing in goal.

I am able to handle two or three balls into the box, scooping them up with my gloves, somewhat agonizingly. I am encouraged when Patrick Stranahan, a Wild Bunch striker and expert goalkeeper in his own right tells me I am doing well. It’s like that out there some nights, we as adversaries can encourage and admire one another’s play. Tonight is a night like that.

Kevin Hoyt breaks free in the top of the box and hits a hard low strike that, even if I were healthy, I probably wouldn’t be able to get down to. 1- 0 Wild Bunch.

In the hills that surround the field, night time revelers drawn by the field lights, roam through the shadows of the skirting trees, making odd howling and whooping noises, that for some reason makes me think of the movie Deliverance.

The fog is even heavier now. At the other end of the field my team scores. I can’t see it, but only hear the celebration. 1 – 1.

Minutes later, a shout comes from that same end of the field. One of our players, I don’t know who, has gotten injured. These cold foggy nights play havoc with our tight old man muscle tissue. There is one guy standing on the side line, Andre from the Stormers. Though he has already played in the previous game, he has stuck around to get another game in if needed. Now since we are short, players are calling out to him to see if he wants to come on. I run over to the sideline and grab a yellow Dirty Dogs jersey for him from my bag.

Play continues, and I still don’t know which one of my players got hurt. Someone tells me it was Mark Verhey, but I can’t see him anywhere on the sides of the field. The other end of the sidelines are shrouded in fog, and there are those voices in the trees. “Maybe the fog monster got him,” someone suggests.

Another thru ball into the edge of our box, I hesitate, and groan, not necessarily in that order, trying to get to the ball first. Kevin Hoyt dances in and lightly tips the ball around me into the goal. This is ridiculous, I shouldn’t be in here I realize, but I don’t know if I can play out there, as I watch these men sprinting, actually sprinting after the ball. Somebody shouts, Glenn Hurlburt I think, “Be careful Paul, don’t get hurt.” Glenn, like most of the guys out there, except maybe Gilbert Castro (62 years old), was young once. When I came to the HSL in 1989, Glenn was one of the fastest guys out there, unmerciful speed. Almost 20 years later he still surprises me. Despite his middle aged belly, and “adjusted” style of play, he still has a rocket of a shot good for at least two or three goals per season. Gilbert, another one of the league’s “seasoned” players has a knack for always being in the right place at the right time defensively. It used to leave me shaking my head in wonder, now I just accept it as fact.

I’ll be honest, though most of these players are in their 40s and some in their 50s and beyond, they are still for the most part, strong and quick. This is a damn competitive soccer league, and I think the few younger players in their 30s will tell you that.

Patrick Stranahan in a scuffle in our penalty box takes an arm to his face. One knee on the ground taking stock, he wipes a little blood onto the back of his hand from his mouth. “Is that all..” someone jokes. Patrick gets up and we all get on with the game.

I notice Andre, who is a big guy and hard not to notice, running around with his jersey on backwards, the Dirty Dogs logo should be on the front. With Andre I can’t quite be sure if he has done this on purpose, kind of a rebellious statement, “I will wear your jersey, but I am a Stormer to the core.” “Hey Andre, you’re wearing that jersey backwards!” I shout.

Mark Verhey has materialized over on the sidelines limping badly. “What happened,” I shout from my goal box? Play goes on down the field “Pulled my calf,” he shouts back, “at least I hope that’s all it is. I heard something, a noise. I know it’s not my Achilles though.” (Mark had a complete rupture of his Achilles a couple of years ago) It’s week 8. For many of us men’s league is like a marathon, you hope to make it through the 8 to 10 weeks, and then it’s healing time. I see Doug Frey of the Wild Bunch over on the sideline, done for the night, pulled something. Most of the time we don’t even know the names of the muscles we’ve hurt. When you play long enough, you discover parts of your anatomy you didn’t even know existed, until you tear it. I call it “adjustment”, kind of a balance of limitations. (Caution technical jargon ahead) This muscle/tendon thingymajingy part is hurting, so your body starts favoring another part, and then that part starts hurting, and so on, to infinity apparently.

The half ends, it is 2 to 1 Wild Bunch.

I have elected to come out of the goal and “take up space” or “help flatten grass” in the mid-field. Rafael Rivera our normal tried and true keeper is back between the posts. Like many of the guys on our team, he’ll play anywhere cheerfully, but as he has said, “Keeper, that’s what I do man!” There are at least one or two other guys willing to go into goal at this point, like Noah who has a bruised foot. Craig Carrol is in goal for the Wild Bunch because of an injury keeping him from playing in the field, and he’s doing an awesome job.

My first couple of touches on the ball are satisfying. Because it hurts my ribs so much to run (and now my back – see definition of “adjustment” above) I try to just trap the ball, turn, and pass, and that seems to be working fairly well. We are able to develop a few attacks out of the midfield. On one, Mauro makes a run down the right flank, and at a very difficult angle is able to leverage a shot from about 20 yards near the corner of the box, and it goes in. I was thinking, better cross that ball Mauro or play it back, until he shoots and scores, at that point I am convinced his was the right decision. Game tied 2 – 2.

Andre in the middle of play decides he is done, “Can’t take any chances he says,” and walks off the field, placing my jersey back by my bag. Most of us try to play smart and know our limits. He has played 1 and ½ games of soccer tonight already, in damp cold weather. My injury problems started two weeks ago when I decided to play two games in a row on a night just like this.

I have the ball at my feet at the top corner of the Wild Bunch’s penalty box. I loft it into the mixer in front of the goal, like a Hail Mary. Somehow Noah Rodriguez gets hold of it and slams it home. 3 – 2 Dirty Dogs.

On defense, because of my lack of mobility, I do my best to play “smart”, or in other words, “not run too much”. My limit is about 20 yards of so called chasing someone, before my body says to me, “KNOCK IT OFF!” But when I do get the ball, being forced to slow down actually makes me play better. I’ve experienced this before, playing injured, like having a superpower where everything around you seems to slow down and you can see what to do more clearly, more economically…errr, or maybe that’s because everyone else is getting tired and slowing down too. Oh Well.

One thing I know is that standing there on the wet grass, under the lights, forgotten the pain, I am having a blast.

THE SHOT THAT DEFIED PHYSICS,
OR GRAVITY,
WELL, ONE HELLUVA SHOT.

Lennie McMillin is one of those players who actually does make the game look beautiful. There is a choreography to his movement, quickness, and in the vernacular of today’s youth, his skill is “sick”. Today from about 30 yards out he lets one rip. The ball knuckles savagely toward goal and Rafa throws his hands up in pure reflex and blocks the shot. The ball careens upward over the top of the goal. Then it comes back down bounces off the cross bar coming back down into the goal like a cruel joke. Rafa flails for the ball, just out of reach and tips it into the goal. Game analysis over beer after the game raised the question as to whether the ball actually had gone out of bounds. At least two eyewitnesses swore the ball actually tipped up over the cross bar and went out, by definition fully crossing over the goal line while in the air over the goal, then through some bizarre Coriolis effect wound back into play before going in for the goal. It’s, of course, academic. Wild Bunch 3 – Dirty dogs 3

Mat Isaac carries the ball against me, after 20 yards I stop running. At some point there is calamity in front of our goal. The ball drops halfway between Michael East our rock solid sweeper and Rafa our Keeper. Michael who is now hurting and would normally clear it leaves it for Rafa, who assumes that Mike is going to take care of it. Disaster is somehow narrowly averted before a Wild Buncher can get to it and score.

Kevin Hoyt for at least the second time during the game is hopping up and down in agony over having his injured big toe stepped on. “I thought I could play carefully and avoid that,” he says to me. Rumor had it that he had actually broke it a week ago. Brian Griffiths told me he had seen the toe when Kevin originally hurt it and that it looked like it had been bent sideways, permanently.

I look out over the field. I believe we are now 10 on 10, eking out the end of the game, the end of the season. The ref goes running by me, “This is one f**king great game. What a treat.” This is a ref who is a former HSU player, who I imagined probably looked somewhat cynically down on our adavanced age men’s league. “Just for you,” I say, “ I am going to run back and play some defense.”

On the ensuing corner kick, in one of those weird melees in front of the goal where the defense seems to be stuck in molasses, like in a dream, Mat Isaac pokes the ball unceremoniously into the net.

Final score, Wild Bunch 4, Dirty Dogs 3.

We all stand on the sidelines, the season over and clap for the Wild Bunch. Well done, we say, well done. Time to get some beer.

Though this story is dedicated to ALL the men of the 30/37 league, here are those that were there for 7:30 game. My apologies if I have inadvertently let anyone out:

Players present that night for the Wild Bunch:
Brian Griffiths
Christopher R Hickok
Alan I Cook
Craig J Carroll, Manager
Patrick Stranahan
Kevin P Hoyt
Lennie McMillin
Mohamadad Alnakhlaw
Hassan Rezakhani
Mat Isaac
Gilbert J Castro
Doug Frey

Present for the Dirty Dogs:
Noah R Rodriguez
Mauro R Staiano
Rafael Rivera
Mark A Verhey
Ron Cordova
Glenn Hurlburt
Paul Swenson, Manager
Benjamin A Okin
Michael East
Byrd E Minkler
Ken Bareilles Jr.

Present from the Stormers:
Andre F Fairon

Stories from the Fall Season

2008-10-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

If you have a positive story or anecdote to share from the Fall Season,let's hear it!
-Paul

Safety on the Soccer field

2008-09-26T11:44:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday during Coed Open play two players went up for a ball and heads collided. As I understand it, one player was knocked unconscious, and the other received a gash on the head and was taken to the hospital for medical attention. Injuries are never good. Serious injuries like this one that took place truly make me sad.

Since the incident, I have spoken to players involved in the game, and in turn our referee commissioner, Alan Exley. Refereeing a highly competitive league, such as our Coed Open, is a challenging job! I know, because I too am a referee, in addition to being a player and a coach. I've heard some voices expressing frustration that the referees allowed the intensity to rise to a level that led to the accident. Whether that is true or not, I believe we, players and refs, all share a responsibility for the safety of one another on the field. So as the League President, I take your safety concerns seriously and am in constant contact with our referee commissioner regarding these issues.

As players we need to do our part to protect one another out there on the field. The truth is, we have much more power than the referees, to maintain a fun and safe environment on the soccer field. I wanted to offer up some things to think about when you are out there playing this week.

1) 50/50 balls are one of the biggest places for you or the person you are challenging, to get injured. If you are not 100% certain that you are going to get to the ball first, or if you are but your not certain, that the other person's momentum is not going to take you out, Back Off! Remember, it's just a game.

2) Keep control of your body. Don't put your foot down on the ole gas pedal so hard you can't control where you are kicking or who you are running into. On the same token, keep your emotions in check, play with a level head out there on the field.

3) Watch challenges from behind. You shouldn't be kicking at a player or the ball if their back is turned to you. This is patently dangerous and a cause of injuries. Do not push from behind, watch your hands!

4) Sliding is prohibited in the HSL. Keep your feet when challenging for a ball.

5) If you have the ball and are being challenged, keep your elbows down. This is dangerous and can result in face or head injuries to the other player.

6) When going up for a header, go straight up. Do not back into the player behind you, or attempt to lean over the player in front of you. Again, keep your elbows down and do not push into the player in front of you.

7) Be a sportsman. Do NOT swear or yell at the refs or other players. Do NOT tolerate dissentful behavior from your teammates toward the refs or players on the other team. if you have an issue, please bring it up with your captain/manager, so they can address the ref or a commissioner or board member, a few of whom are often present on the playing field.

8) Be encouraging. Help the other guy up. Smile. You're playing soccer, the BEAUTIFUL game. Life is good.

I welcome your comments on this and other issues. Please keep your words constructive and respectful. Thank You.

-Paul

Welcome

2008-08-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

For the lack of a better introduction, here is the new blog for the Humboldt Soccer League! You can comment on any posts made here, or submit your original posts or pictures related to the HSL to our moderator at webmaster@humboldtsoccerleague.com

Look forward to hearing from you.

-Paul