Pretty interesting two-parter on the U17 GK. Part 1: http://www.examiner.com/x-642-Socce...National-Team-residency-member-Spencer-Richey Part 2: http://www.examiner.com/x-642-Socce...onal-team-U17-residency-player-Spencer-Richey
Pretty interesting is putting it mildly. Not just on Bradenton, but ... http://www.examiner.com/x-642-Socce...onal-team-U17-residency-player-Spencer-Richey On a recent training trip to Central America for international games… You really have to … outplay a team to win the game in Central America. I mean we had, in six games I think we had four red cards, and in the Honduras game, one of my players got called for a PK in our box for -- the ref wouldn’t even tell us what the call was for. And he sent one player off the field against Guatemala -- I wasn’t playing in the game -- because he had a hole in his sock (two minutes left in the game), and so when we had 10 players they scored to tie it up … and they made another of the of the players come off because his sliders didn’t match his shorts, which is actually an international rule, and he should have matching sliders on, but in a friendly, it’s never something you should call. And they scored when we had 10 guys then too … that’s why we go on the trips, is just to get frustrated. I mean fans are spitting on you…
Surprised isn't quite the right word, at least in the larger sense of anti-USA bias, which is by definition never surprising. I was surprised by the particular examples cited, uniform 'issues,' because a red card seems like a non-standard way to address them. Catching a player with a hole in his sock is not like catching a lacrosse player with a short stick or a hockey goalie with too much padding - there's no competitive advantage. "Go change those socks!" (while your team plays short-handed {or subs}) sounds plenty draconian enough. And yes, I realize the red card is the point, not the technical violation. But there would be so many more opportunities during play to go 'card happy,' that waiting until late in the game to red-card someone for 'mis-matched sliders' seems very curious. Why not just yellow-card a player for an innocuous challenge, and - when he raises an eyebrow or shrugs his shoulders or demonstartes any form of protest - red card him? Why go looking for holes in socks? Curious ... Maybe I should wander over to the referees' forum!