1st national camp

[oldmanreferee]

Is it true that 40 people failed the running test at national camp?
Is it true that 1/3 of the old boys network got rehired and promoted and 2/3 got fired let go or taking a "better Job"? I hear that Dan Flynn is shaking it all up but is he going about it the right way. Keeping Tamberino the A@@ kisser who would throw his own brother under the bus like he did when the indoor people were fightening is the last person i would put there

[falcon.7]

I can't speak to the fitness test part, but I heard recently that Esse Baharmast and Julie Ilacqua were leaving US Soccer. I don't know if it's true, it's just what I heard, and if it is true I'm not willing to speculate why. I am not nearly high enough on the totem pole to even ask questions.

One thought about the fitness test - they hold it in January/February, so unless you're doing MISL or Academy Games, you're not actively doing games. And while their answer is probably "well, if you're a national you should be training all year long", let's be realistic.

And if you're wondering, "how does a national referee fail a fitness test", let's not forget that Martin Atkinson and Uriah Rennie (both professionals), failed a fitness test last summer or fall, so even FIFAs can get out of shape.

I'd also like to know what the definition of "failed" is - failed to meet MLS standards, or failed to meet the lowest set of marks which qualify you to do professional game.

[campton]

And if you're wondering, "how does a national referee fail a fitness test", let's not forget that Martin Atkinson and Uriah Rennie (both professionals), failed a fitness test last summer or fall, so even FIFAs can get out of shape.

I


Exactly a very good point.

I ran a 5:55 mile this fall. I came into indoor, sprained my ACL, inactive for 3 weeks. GOt pnemonia, got the flu right after, there we sit at 7:35 mile time. Isnt there more than one attempt to do the test?

[whistleblowerusa]

Is it true that 40 people failed the running test at national camp?
Is it true that 1/3 of the old boys network got rehired and promoted and 2/3 got fired let go or taking a "better Job"? I hear that Dan Flynn is shaking it all up but is he going about it the right way. Keeping Tamberino the A@@ kisser who would throw his own brother under the bus like he did when the indoor people were fightening is the last person i would put there

Yes, 32% failed the test. But most because of a technicality and not their fitness. The test should have been organized better. Too many running at once. If you failed to reach the start or stop point for each 150 run or 50 walk you were "flagged" and if you were "flagged" twice you were forced to stop running. If you were just behind another runner or runners those guys would start to stop at the cone before the guys who were behind could and it prevented some from getting there on time. They were very strict about measuring inches from the line. Many got 2 flags. Some were even flagged on teh 40 meter sprints. There was also no retest offered on Sunday so the failure rate is very high. Should indicate that there was a problem. Those that failed will be given a chance to make up at a pro clinic that is offering the FIFA test (not the Cooper). Few that failed actually quit during the run. Without proper guidance from USSF on training it was not a fair test in my opinion even if 68% passed (most barely).
Julie is leaving USSF and Tamberino is taking over for her. Esse is taking a job with FIFA and is leaving USSF. The 2nd camp will not be taking a fitness test nor a written test. How fair is that????

[Alberto]

Glad to see Esse go. Obviously his ass kissing was rewarded.

[nylaw5]

Glad to see Esse go. Obviously his ass kissing was rewarded.
You people are unbelievable sometimes

[whistleblowerusa]

Don't lump us all together like that. That was one persons opinion.

[campton]

Anyone with some background as to this boys club we hear about? Grade8: not really sure about the upper level politics.

[nylaw5]

Background for newer refs? Here is my take from 8 years of observing Bigsoccer.

I won't pretend to know everything that has gone on in the USSF brass for the past 20 years, but suffice to say - like any large organization- some people have felt like they have been wronged over the years....there is probably some truth to that, but that is a part of life and we are all on the receiving end of crap now and then.

These people who have been wronged, or pushed out, or thrown out, or blacklisted, OR supported until they managed to get themselves into trouble; have made their voices heard loud and clear on the internet. Sometimes they have very legitimate points and good insight into refereeing and sometimes it seems as though they are that crazy guy you pass on the street corner shouting about how evil aliens are coming to take your puppy.

There is no love by these bloggers and posters for the brass from Chicago. As in politics, any possible positive move is ignored and a negative one is paraded from site to site. Unfortunately, these knowledgeable people who could do great work, have chosen to ignore their wide open classroom (the web) and instead bash the faces of US Soccer.

Two weeks ago many of our national referees attended a camp where there was a higher then average percentage that failed the new fitness test. Some were incorrectly punished through a system that was new, others were not fit enough to be national referees. I am sorry to those in the first category and hope that the federation does them justice. To those with fitness issues- a state one referee is not anything to be ashamed of.

So the inner workings of USSF - the "good ole boys" network. It has flaws. Just like any other organization/business/group. But change comes from positive action and consistent pressure, not through degradation and slander.

[Pierre Head]

There have been problems at the upper levels of the USSF referee program for several years. Much of it stems from the conflicts caused by the MLS refereeing philosophy, which as we all know, in certain important areas, runs contrary to TLOG. But there are also people issues. The departures are possible indications of where some of the problems originated. It will be interesting to see if others also equally culpable, will follow them out. The instructional and assessment programs especially at the very top levels have been a mess for several years. Many good referees have been treated poorly and have given up and left the program. They have seen other officials who were advanced and promoted at rates that were not really justified by their obvious abilities, and resulted in problems on the pitch in both domestic and international matches. Much of this has been recently discussed on these and other boards. Those with excellent credentials who tried to work within the system, but whose ideas, although absolutely correct, differed from those of the leadership were simply gotten rid of. (For example Bob Evans, who eventually started his own blog to point out the failings in the program). Additionally, there were also rumblings of discontent from several of the state programs and their SDI's SRA's etc. So finally it appears that someone in the top levels of USSF has decided that enough is enough and changes will be made. We can only hope that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated, and those who are leaving the program will not be replaced by their disciples and acolytes.

[Alberto]

You people are unbelievable sometimes

Why, because we should be blind to how someone has conducted themselves throughout their term at the USSF?

Excuse me if ass kisser, which is truly the best adjective to describe his actions was offensive.

How about this personal observation. Esse, cared more about advancing himself in FIFA than he cared about the Federation. His mantra was always to follow and agree with FIFA. He was never the best advocate for the USSF or it's referees. In this regard, it does not matter how good a referee Esse was, you have to be your Federation's best advocate. You would think having lived in the USA for so many years he would understand what it means to be an American. I feel no need to be nice to him. He is not a nice person. He is arrogant, close minded and at times can be surly and dictatorial.

Lastly, his getting a position in FIFA will not necessarily translate into more appointments for US FIFA Panel Referees.

[SamGamgee]

In response to Alberto's last post,
There is nothing new that Esse or anyone else is doing to 'get ahead' that
hasn't already been seen or done. In the end, and that requires us to wait until it is all over and done with, he and others like him will get his just due.
People like him have to sleep at night and one day will be accountable for their actions. So, until then ...
Now, with that being said, even if USSF, MLS, & etc. get their act together we, as 'lower level' referees, will suffer the fallout for many seasons and years to come as those who have observed the games foolish refereeing try to implement the same tactics on our pitch. We will have to make a decision to either uphold the LOTG or not. Generals come and go but the war cannot be won without the foot soldier.
We have to be principled and guided by the LOTG and carry those out regardless of what others, who have unethical principles, say or do.
As Benjamin Fraklin said,
"Either we all hang together or we will all hang separately!"
dlb
.

[thearbiter]

Any news from the second national camp?

[WhatWouldSODo?]

Any news from the second national camp?

Word on the street is that the group didn't have to run the fitness test.
Can anyone else confirm this?

[whistleblowerusa]

Word on the street is that the group didn't have to run the fitness test.
Can anyone else confirm this?This is what I was told at the first camp. They also did not take a written test. Sounds very fair to the rest of us doesn't it?

[oneref]

Referees at the 2nd camp did not take thee fitness test. However, they must all attend one of the Regional Pro Clinics, at their own expense, and take the fitness test prior to receiving any pro assignments. It was also stated that anyone not taking the fitness test would be downgraded to a state 5.

[USSF REF]

Referees at the 2nd camp did not take thee fitness test. However, they must all attend one of the Regional Pro Clinics, at their own expense, and take the fitness test prior to receiving any pro assignments. It was also stated that anyone not taking the fitness test would be downgraded to a state 5.

Something seems fishy about that to me....

What I mean is that I thought they were only running the former fitness test at all but 2 of the pro clinics. Does that mean that they will now be running the new fitness test at all of the pro clinics or no?

I'm sort of confused at all of conflicting reports that we've seen.

[bluedevils]

Received this via email; presume it will be posted soon to ussoccer.com/referees area...

From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center -- February 12, 2008

Referees who attended the 2008 National Referee Certification/Recertification Seminars held in Carson, Calif., on Jan. 24-29 and Feb. 7-10, 2008, but did not complete the physical fitness testing there will have the opportunity to be tested at the following 2008 Professional/Regional Referee Seminars:

March 1, 2008 – Maryland/DC Virginia
March 15, 2008 – California South
April 12, 2008 – Ohio South

Testing will also be available at MLS Pre-Season tournaments in California North (February 15) and Texas South (March 6).

Interval testing is required for national certification. Any referee who wishes to be tested to complete certification requirements at any of these five sites must pre-register with Alfred Kleinaitis (akleinaitis@ussoccer.org). Directions and information will be given to you at that time. DO NOT reply directly to this email. It will not be received by Alfred Kleinaitis.

Special arrangements can be made to take the fitness test at any of the remaining 12 professional/regional clinics sites. If you choose to take the test at one of these sites, you must contact Alfred Kleinaitis at least one week prior to the date of the clinic. We do need to know how many people will be tested at each site to make sure we can accommodate everyone.

A complete list of clinic dates and locations can be found at our web site: http://www.ussoccer.com/referees/refdev/scc.jsp.html.

If you have any questions, please contact our office.

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U.S. Soccer Federation, 1801 S. Prairie Ave, Chicago IL 60616
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[WhatWouldSODo?]

Received this via email; presume it will be posted soon to ussoccer.com/referees area...

I can't really blame them for cutting out the fitness test. If I had to choose between watching the hours of clips depicting Jair and Geiger missing SFP right at their feet, I would find the popcorn and pop.

[DWickham]

The announcement for the PRO clinic in Southern California always has stated that there would be two fitness tests given: the first, for national referees/candidates using the FIFA test and the second, immediately after, using the Cooper test. I think that announcement went out before the first National Camp.