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The Soccer Season That Almost Wasn't
by Dale Brown, 2008

ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED AT TheBigFiveOh.com Blog @ Yahoo.Com, August 12, 2008

Tonight was the last night of a two-day review of the Laws Of The Game for my fifth season as a kid's AYSO soccer referee.

I actually hadn't planned on refing this season. My son Hunter didn't want to play soccer this year (schoolwork and Cub Scouts take up more of his free time), and since that's the main reason why I took referee training to begin with, I didn't sign up on Volunteer Night. Work is taking up more and more of my time as well.

But the e-mails from the new referee administrator said our AYSO region was in dire straits. Only 8 certified referees had signed up this year for 32 teams; only 12 had signed up to be assistant refs and a dismally low 3 had signed up for full regional certification. It should be a 1:1 ref/player ratio; we were at 1:4.

That didn't faze me. I'm there for my son, not for soccer.

But it was something that my buddy Bill recently told me: his Boy Scout troop once had an 80 year-old Scoutmaster who was still leading troops decades after his kids left Scouting. He did it because he like Scouting and because he had knowledge and skills that benefited other kids.

Even though I was only certified 4 seasons ago, I was in the same position: I have knowledge , experience, and skills that a lot of refs didn't have.

But even more than that: I realized that I really don't give back much to my community. I'm a resident; I behave, pay taxes, and play by the rules. But I really didn't contribute much beyond that.

But this place is not just my residence: it's my home. I had to give more.

If I didn't serve, dozens of kids might not get to play. It doesn't matter to me, but it matters to them. A few hours out of my week could make all the world of difference to a kid.

The ref training (which I was not required to attend) was a great refresher for me. It also cemented the feeling I have that maybe I'm destined to do even more--perhaps become the next Regional instructor. I not only know the Laws, but I can explain the Laws, and I enjoy doing so.

So I'm in again. Last year I did 30 games, including the Carson Shootout tournament. I signed up to be a team ref for an Under-12 Boys team, and for the first time I won't be the team ref for my son's team. I anticipate I'll be doing a lot of other team's games as well.

I'm actually excited to start, and I look forward to getting my Referee Instructor rating next year. It might not be for my son's benefit this time, but maybe I'll benefit some other kid who might think soccer is cool.

Kid's soccer has been a source of frustration and even self-doubt very often to me in the past. We'll see how this added dynamic of not having my son play works out. I'll report back on what happens. Stay tuned!

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