Stott's pre-WC preparations

[MassachusettsRef]

What are they?

Since 1/1/2006, he's done:

Guadalajara v. Necaxa [1/10]
Galaxy v. South Korea [2/8]

That's it (insofar as professional level matches within the United States, and excluding a couple 4ths). And only that first assignment was with his two ARs (Strickland/Barkey) Is he working other matches?

Meanwhile, during this same timespan, the following assignments have been made in the United States for international matches:

Mexico v. Ghana - HALL
South Korea v. Mexico - SALAZAR
South Korea v. Costa Rica - VAUGHN
Mexico v. Norway - VAUGHN

So my question, I suppose, is why these guys are being showcased on these international matches while Stott is, obstensibly, at least, attempting to win a spot at the World Cup still? Is Stott working abroad and it just hasn't been reported? Or is the USSF just keeping him hidden, under the assumption that his spot is now safe and more matches can only hurt him? I suspect that's the reason he's not visible right now, but in the event someone else had more concrete information, I thought it was worth a discussion.

[Englishref]

What are they?

Since 1/1/2006, he's done:

Guadalajara v. Necaxa [1/10]
Galaxy v. South Korea [2/8]

That's it (insofar as professional level matches within the United States, and excluding a couple 4ths). And only that first assignment was with his two ARs (Strickland/Barkey) Is he working other matches?

Meanwhile, during this same timespan, the following assignments have been made in the United States for international matches:

Mexico v. Ghana - HALL
South Korea v. Mexico - SALAZAR
South Korea v. Costa Rica - VAUGHN
Mexico v. Norway - VAUGHN

So my question, I suppose, is why these guys are being showcased on these international matches while Stott is, obstensibly, at least, attempting to win a spot at the World Cup still? Is Stott working abroad and it just hasn't been reported? Or is the USSF just keeping him hidden, under the assumption that his spot is now safe and more matches can only hurt him? I suspect that's the reason he's not visible right now, but in the event someone else had more concrete information, I thought it was worth a discussion.

I wouldn't have thought friendlies would affect his participation. :confused: I thought it was predominantly based on the four FIFA competitions, plus I would have thought confederational tournaments (e.g. UCL/UC, WCQs, etc).

[MassachusettsRef]

I think any match has the potential to affect any referee's chances--at least in a negative way. Granted, greater scrutiny is going to occur at the FIFA tournaments, but if a referee has a nightmare in a domestic match, a friendly or, in the case of UEFA, a UCL match, it will almost certainly have an adverse affect on a referee's chances of going to Germany.

That's the reason I think Stott hasn't been seen on any of these internationals (USSF not wanting to risk what they believe is a sure thing). I guess the federation (or Stott himself) believes that's more important than prepping with international matches. I'm just guessing, really; threw this out here because I've seen Hall and Vaughn recently and thought someone might have solid information.

[blind_clown]

One more:
Sat, Mar 4, 2006
10:00 AM (Local) Houston Dynamo @ Metrostars
The Home Depot Center
2006 MLS preseason
Stott, Kevin
Harper, Blake
Tovar, Fabio

[Statesman]

I wouldn't really count MLS preseason warmup as "preparation" for the World Cup.

[Chas (Psyatika)]

I thought i saw him at the upper gym in my last AYSO matches doing the U12 games, but then again that could have been someone else :)

[blind_clown]

I wouldn't really count MLS preseason warmup as "preparation" for the World Cup.

Perhaps you'd count it as a proffesional assignment that was missed in the original list outside of his 4th official assignments?

[Statesman]

Not that it matters, but I believe the reference is to international games as warmup. MLS games pale in comparison.

[whistleblowerusa]

I think any match has the potential to affect any referee's chances--at least in a negative way. Granted, greater scrutiny is going to occur at the FIFA tournaments, but if a referee has a nightmare in a domestic match, a friendly or, in the case of UEFA, a UCL match, it will almost certainly have an adverse affect on a referee's chances of going to Germany.

That's the reason I think Stott hasn't been seen on any of these internationals (USSF not wanting to risk what they believe is a sure thing). I guess the federation (or Stott himself) believes that's more important than prepping with international matches. I'm just guessing, really; threw this out here because I've seen Hall and Vaughn recently and thought someone might have solid information.
It could be more about availability. When he goes to Germany he will be missing a lot of work time, even as a teacher. He may be short on his time allowed away from work and saving that. It may be something else asked of by FIFA.

[blind_clown]

Since 1/1/2006, he's done:

Guadalajara v. Necaxa [1/10]
Galaxy v. South Korea [2/8]

That's it (insofar as professional level matches within the United States, and excluding a couple 4ths).

read more carefully next time

[Alberto]

It could be more about availability. When he goes to Germany he will be missing a lot of work time, even as a teacher. He may be short on his time allowed away from work and saving that. It may be something else asked of by FIFA.


Yes, but the World Cup kicks off in June. Most kids are out of school by then. Even with pre-world cup training and meetings, the most he would miss is two weeks of school. I agree with MassRef, the reason is probably an attempt to keep a low profile to avoid the possibility of a poor performance having a negative impact prior to the selection. The same thing happened with Brian Hall in 2002.

[BC_Ref]

Yes, but the World Cup kicks off in June. Most kids are out of school by then. Even with pre-world cup training and meetings, the most he would miss is two weeks of school. I agree with MassRef, the reason is probably an attempt to keep a low profile to avoid the possibility of a poor performance having a negative impact prior to the selection. The same thing happened with Brian Hall in 2002.

How many vacations days does a teacher get while school is in session? Generally none - your vacation times mirror those of your students. So he would have to make special arrangements for some type of leave.

Not saying this is the only reason, but school teachers have very limited flexibility barring special arrangements with the board. Hopefully any board of education worth their weight in salt recognizes that having a teacher with World Cup reffing experience working for them is a "good thing" by anyone's standards.

[whistleblowerusa]

How many vacations days does a teacher get while school is in session? Generally none - your vacation times mirror those of your students. So he would have to make special arrangements for some type of leave.

Not saying this is the only reason, but school teachers have very limited flexibility barring special arrangements with the board. Hopefully any board of education worth their weight in salt recognizes that having a teacher with World Cup reffing experience working for them is a "good thing" by anyone's standards.
He would still need to watch how many days he takes off. There are still his MLS assignments plus like today, the CONCACAF assignment in Mexico. The students will be in school till about mid June. Teachers usually go longer than that. A school board may give him time off but it will still cost them money in doing so for substitutes.

[MassachusettsRef]

One of the articles I read stated that the referees would arrive ahead of all the teams, and would do group training and workshops for a few weeks before the tournament started. The World Cup, if you count the 4 day camp this month and some other workshops, sounds like a 2 month commitment for a referee this time around, rather than just a little over a month.

[Alberto]

The last teacher work day for Kevin's school district is June 19th. The World Cup kicks off on June 9, 2006. The referees will have to be in Germany at minimum a week perhaps 10 days prior to the start of the competition. I am sure substitutes can be arranged to cover the close of the school year.

[Chas (Psyatika)]

And even if they can't, tough, i doubt he'd cancel his FIFA opportunity. Perhaps if he were teaching in the World Cup of Geometry, then it would be different. But he has two major items in his life (that we're immediately aware of), and he's reached the top in one of them, so it's going to get his precedence no matter what (i would think so anyway).

I know it would get mine (i start teaching this fall).

[MassachusettsRef]

If anyone's got actual information, I would hope we get back on topic, as it was never my intention to have this thread stray in this direction. I simply thought people might have answers--or even other theories--as to why Stott is, in my opinion, notably absent from many of the top assignments.

The speculation on Stott's teaching and how it relates to his refereeing, I feel, is inappropriate. For one, it's by no means a guarantee that he's going to Germany. More importantly, I don't think any of us are in the position to, or should be attempting to, speculate on another referee's personal life.