FLAG & WHI STL E Official Newletter of the BC Soccer Referees Association • Dec. 2014 BC Referee attends Couple of Referees’ Meetings in the German Province of Lower Saxony Ingo Dependahl (left), President Referees Association of Landkreis Osnabruck (NFV) shows BCSRA’s banner. Inset: Dieter Freundt of the VASRA gives Banner to Ingo. See page 6 for article. Head Referees Meeting a Success! On November 11th the BCSRA education & mentoring, referee meeting related video clips. The two hours went Executive brought Head Referees together tips (how to get referees out, keep it fun, too quickly, and there was limited time for to share ideas about how to meet the chal- and keep them coming), BCSA’s planned informal sharing of ideas, but there was a lenges of on-going referee development. program, and the importance of the sched- valuable exchange among the partici- In spite of a number of soccer tourna- uler in referee development. pants. ments scheduled for the same day, 14 The 2nd half of the meeting was Feedback from attendees confirmed that Head Referees, two Referee Development devoted to sharing and explaining educa- the meeting was well received and that Officers, BC Soccer’s Referee Develop- tional materials developed by the BCSRA. Head Referees value opportunities to get ment Co-ordinator and five BCSRA Each attendee was given a USB stick and together to discuss common challenges. Executive members made their way to DVD loaded with educational materials. Head Referees who were unable to Vancouver to attend the meeting. Bill McNaughton, VP of BCSRA attend and who are interested in getting The first half of the meeting covered showed everyone how to access the con- copies of the materials can contact: the topics such as the importance of on-going tent and present the PowerPoints and the BCSRA: email. [email protected] Art Bandenieks (Head Referee of Aldergrove Soccer Association) addresses the Participants. Inset: Jose Branco, BC Soccer Referee Development Coordinator 2nd from left. Positions Up For Election On Vancouver Area Branch (VASRA) Executive Four positions will be voted on at the Joe Ciresi to run can approach any member of Vancouver Area Branch’s Annual General [email protected] or 604-431-9507 the nominating committee to express a Meeting on Monday, January 26, 2015. wish to run for a position. A nomination committee has been Dominic Pace Nominations will also be accepted from formed to find individuals to run for the [email protected] or 604-299-0024 the floor at the meeting. following positions: President, 2nd Vice- The VASRA Annual General Meeting President, Secretary and Director. All Ron Schaeffer will be held at the Bonsor Community positions are two year terms. The nomi- [email protected] Center in Burnaby (South Burnaby Metro nating committee is comprised of: or 604-922-6628 Club Room) starting at 7:00 pm January 26th, 2015. Elvio Chies Although these gentlemen will be Members signed up as of that day are [email protected] or 604-266-0741 searching for individuals, anyone wishing eligible to both vote and run for a position. 2 FLAG & WHISTLE – December 2014 issue Women’s World Cup Draw: 6 Months and Counting It was fitting that on the field adjacent to Canada, after waiting agonizing minutes Jerome Valcke during the draw, unusual the Hillcrest Community Center, a girl’s for the pre-draw festivities to finish, the to see in a highly choreographed event match was being played. For inside the moment everyone had waited for began. such as this, only added to the excite- Center, the Local Organizing Committee The drawing of teams finally put the ment. for the Women’s Women’s World Cup had event center stage, and not without drama. And with that, the race for the Cup has arranged for a viewing party to witness the A mistake by FIFA General Secretary officially begun. draw for next year’s quadrennial event. In keeping with the spirit of Christmas, the weather outside was frightful. Well, west coast style pouring rain and wind. Thoughts On The World Cup Draw Inside, the mood was so delightful – antic- ipation of not only who Canada would Ed note: With the results of the Draw bring in the same for the women. It would play but also which teams fans in Vancouver now in, we asked members of the F&W only be fair. would get to see. Staff to weigh in on how the draw went. I’m not well versed in the world ranking “The Women’s World Cup Draw on so I won’t give you wise insight into December 6 was an exciting time and the Elvio Chies, the draw. But I will say that with their officially viewing party in Vancouver was F&W Editor player development program being light a great event,” said Jose Branco Referee While everyone years ahead of most, the Germans will be Development Coordinator for BC Soccer talks about the hard to beat. who was on hand for the viewing with his USA, Aus tralia, daughter. “Vancouver will get to host Sweden, Nigeria Emil Udovich, Switzerland, Cameroon, Ecuador and group being the F&W Research the reigning World Champions Japan. “Group of Death,” Assistant But the city will also see a match nobody mentions Canada has between USA and Nigeria which will the “mini-Group of drawn a difficult definitely make for some amazing group Elvio Chies Death” in Moncton: group. I believe that stage matches.” France, England. they will have a Approximately two hundred people got Mexico, Columbia. difficult time ad - up early on Saturday, December 6th- six This is sure to cause a few interesting vancing to the next months to the day of the opening match- to moments during the group stage. round. witness the draw which was broadcast Although many will feel disappointed Emil Udovich Based on their from Ottawa on TSN. with Japan being seeded in Vancouver, recent perform- On hand were members of Canada’s despite being the reigning world champi- ances, we may not even see them play Women’s National Team, sans Christine ons, in retrospect it makes sense. at BC place stadium at all. Sinclair who was in Ottawa for the event. A large part of the tournament is getting After watching CSA President and people to games and Vancouver is a big Dieter Freundt, former BC Soccer President Victor attraction for Japanese tourists. They will F&W lay-out Montagliani welcome the world to come for the two times they play here. As Having watched will everyone from Seattle for the USA- Germany play Can- Nigeria match. ada earlier this year, FLA G & WHISTL E is published 6 times I don’t consider the a year by the BC Soccer Referees Tom Babic, side the favourite to Association. The material presented F&W Staff Writer take the hardware is from contributors. The BCSRA I don’t have too home. That distinc- assumes no responsibility for its content. much to say about tion belongs to ... the Women’s World France. Yes, you Dieter Freundt Editor:Elvio Chies Cup. read it here. They Staff Writer: Tom Babic The game is very defeated the German squad few months Research Emil Udovich, simple at its roots. ago 2:0 in a friendly. It is not so much the Mynor Campos But for some reason result but how they did it. Lay-out and Typesetting FIFA continues to This leads me to refer to the groups. Tom Babic Dieter Freundt complicate things Contrary what Elvio wants you to believe, when they can and his “mini-group of death – Group F” must should be simple. This is taking away from be considered together with Group B the Letters to the editor are welcome the build up to what is a pinnacle moment weakest one. and should be directed by email to: [email protected] or [email protected] in the players’ careers. They have spent As the top 2 teams of each group and the or by mail to: years to get to the ultimate tournament. four best 3rd-place teams qualify for For it to be anything less due to tech- the next round, my prediction is – group BC Soccer Referees Association nical issues is sad commentary. I can only finish in this order: Canada, Netherlands; c/o 8130 Selkirk Street say, if they can bring in real grass to a Germany, Norway; Japan, Switzerland; Vancouver, BC, V6P 4H7 temporary facility like Empire Stadium Sweden, USA; Brazil, Spain; France, for an exhibition match between Man Mexico. 3rd place teams: China, Nigeria, City and the Whitecaps – then they can Korea, England. December 2014 issue – FLAG & WHISTLE 3 GROUPS AT 2015 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP These are the six groups and its order of finish as forecast by Dieter Freundt. The four Countries in bold italic type will also qualify as they have the best third place finish record. However, Ivory Coast might just eke out Nigeria, because the former will trounce Thailand and end up with the better goal difference. Group A Group B Group C Group D Group E Group F Canada Germany Japan Sweden Brazil France Netherlands Norway Switzerland USA Spain Mexico China PR Ivory Coast Cameroon Nigeria Korea Republic England New Zealand Thailand Equador Australia Costa Rica Colombia Christmas Wish List So what exactly went wrong during the Draw? Flag & Whistle Style? Ed note: Jonathan Cohen, a referee group further to Group F, while Korea Ed note: The F&W staff have been very friend of F&W Editor Elvio Chies living Republic was then allocated to the spot good this year.