History of Old Announcements:

8/10/2003 - Referee Classes for the 2003 Fall Season

Each team is required to have two certified referees, at least one of which does centers.  Just as each and every team needs a coach and assistant coach in order for the league to function, so too do they need referees.  The referees are volunteers just like the coaches, no one is paid.  After team breakouts, someone will be calling all the team coaches to let them know if two of their player's parents are certified referees, or signed up for the training.  Those teams that do not have two referees will be asked to send one or two parents to the referee training.  The dates for referee training are:

Sessions for the Regional Referee training class for new referees:

For more information please contact one of the following:

1/21/2003 - Referee Classes for the 2003 Spring Season

Each team is required to have two certified referees, at least one of which does centers.  Just as each and every team needs a coach and assistant coach in order for the league to function, so too do they need referees.  The referees are volunteers just like the coaches, no one is paid.  After team breakouts, someone will be calling all the team coaches to let them know if two of their player's parents are certified referees, or signed up for the training.  Those teams that do not have two referees will be asked to send one or two parents to the referee training.  The dates for referee training are:

Sessions for the Regional Referee training class for new referees:

Referee Safe Haven  for Returning Referees:

Safe Haven is an integral part of the Regional Referee course now as is taught the first hour.  If you have not taken either Referee Safe Haven or Coach Safe Have you must take one.  You may attend the first hour of any Regional Referee course to get this certification.

Location:  All classes will be taught at Back Creek Presbyterian Church 

The season begins play on Saturday, March 1st.

11/9/2002 - The Season is Finished... Now the Area Tournaments

Congratulations to all the teams that have won their respective division titles.   They will go on to play in the Area Tournaments:

We need volunteers to help referee and line at the tournaments.  

For Spartanburg:  [Our region's referee and game schedule]  Our region will be responsible for refereeing eight games on Saturday the 16th and three or four games on Sunday.  The number of games to referee is based upon the number of teams that our region sends to the tournament.  We will be sending eight teams (two boys and two girls from division U10 and one boys and one girls from each of divisions U12 and U19.)  We will need about 12 individuals on Saturday to be able to staff this number of games.  Because of the logistics of field locations and time schedule, we cannot do it with any less.  There are 10 to 12 fields, between two or three locations.  We will not have enough parents of players attending the tournament to staff accordingly.  If you can attend either or both days please let us know as soon as possible.  Each region referees each match as a group (that is, we supply the center and the two assistants.)  So, if you are hesitant/nervous about volunteering, know that you would be working with the same folks you have all along.  If you don't want to center, not a problem... we need Assistants/Lines (twice as many as Centers!)

[Simplified map of Spartanburg area] 
All Area Codes on the map are 864, not 803.  Some motels may have closed or changed name since this map was first drawn.
[Detail of field locations]
This shows detail of the field layouts at the two sites (Old Canaan Rd. Soccer Complex, 8 fields, and the 295 Sports Complex, 2 fields) in Spartanburg
[Detailed map of the Spartanburg area] 
This map was generated from MapsOnUs.  It has lots of detail of roads and shows the same area as the simplified map above.  The motels are not label on this map.
[Detailed map of the Spartanburg area with motels listed] 
 
[Weather Forecast for Spartanburg] 
 
[Our region's referee and game schedule] 
The games in yellow are our region's home games and we must referee them.  The games in gray are our region's visitor games and we do not referee.

For Waynesville:  Our region will be responsible for refereeing two games on Saturday the 23rd and one or two games on Sunday.  We will be sending two teams (one boys and one girls from division U14.)  If you can attend either or both days please let us know as soon as possible.  That is all the details we have for the Waynesville tournament.

8/21/2002 - The Fall Season Begins This Saturday!

We have a new online referee schedule and sign up process!  You can now see the referee schedule, sign yourself up online and see your signup right away.  Simply start at the AYSO 605 Referee Schedule Sign-on page.  Everyone will use the same Username, ref.  The password was emailed to everyone that is an active Referee or Assistant Referee this season.  After signing on, following these basic steps to view the schedule and sign up:

  1. Select one or more filters to display those games that you wish to see.  You can choose to view games of a certain division (category), on a certain date, at a certain time, at a particular set of fields (location), games already signed up for by a particular referee (name), games for a particular team, or only games with open slots or not.  You can also choose to sort your results by time, date, location or category, in either ascending or descending order.
  2. Press the "View Records" button.  Your browser will display each game in it's own box.
  3. Scroll to the game(s) for which you want to sign up.  
  4. Type in you last name and first initial (e.g. Klaus L).  The "C" field is for the Center Referee.  The two "A" fields are for the two Assistant Referees.  When signing up for AR, please type the team number for which you are working after your name (e.g. Klaus L-3).
  5. After entering your name for all the games you wish to work, press the "Make Request" button at the bottom of the page.
  6. Your name will immediately be posted online!  If you need to be removed from a game, or switch to another game you will have to call or email one of the Referee Schedulers to do so.  You cannot modify any signups, only submit requests for open slots. To send an email to the Scheduler for that week, simply click on the category link at the top of a game box.

That's all there is to it.  The format of the game listings will take some getting used to, but this method should prove to be much better.

6/30/2002 - Referee Classes for the 2002 Fall Season

Each team is required to have two certified referees, at least one of which does centers.  Just as each and every team needs a coach and assistant coach in order for the league to function, so too do they need referees.  The referees are volunteers just like the coaches, no one is paid.  After team breakouts, someone will be calling all the team coaches to let them know if two of their player's parents are certified referees, or signed up for the training.  Those teams that do not have two referees will be asked to send one or two parents to the referee training.  The dates for referee training are:

Sessions for the Regional Referee training class for new referees:

Referee Safe Haven  for Returning Referees:

Safe Haven is an integral part of the Regional Referee course now as is taught the first hour.  If you have not taken either Referee Safe Haven or Coach Safe Have you must take one.  You may attend the first hour of any Regional Referee course to get this certification.

Location:  All classes will be taught at Back Creek Presbyterian Church 

The season begins play on Saturday, August 24th.

2/25/2002 - The Spring Season is Underway and Esse is Coming.

We are now two weeks into the Spring season and all is going well.  We are getting better referee and assistant referee coverage on our games this season, but many teams still do not have a referee.  Please continue to sign up to be an AR (assistant referee) at your child's games.

Esse Baharmast is coming to Charlotte.  You don't know who that is?  Do you remember this from World Cup '98 in France: 

Our U.S. referee Esse Baharmast called a foul in the box on Brazil defender Junior Baiano (left) in the final minute of the Brazil-Norway match. Norway converted the resulting penalty kick to win, 2-1.  Only this picture, from a Norwegian television network tells the story!  Esse was probably about to be given his plane ticket home when this video was released.  It appeared, from all other views, that there was some contact but no clear foul.

Anyway, Esse will be in Charlotte to speak on Sunday, March 24th, 2002 at UNCC, from 9am to 3pm.  I do not have any details as to location or format, but it should be an event not to be missed by any soccer referee.  I will post more details as soon as I get them.  UPDATE:  This event will be held in the Belk Gym, adjacent to the West Parking deck.

1/2/2002 - Referee Classes for the Spring 2002 Season:

Each team is required to have two certified referees, at least one of which does centers.  Just as each and every team needs a coach and assistant coach in order for the league to function, so too do they need referees.  The referees are volunteers just like the coaches, no one is paid.  After team breakouts, someone will be calling all the team coaches to let them know if two of their player's parents are certified referees, or signed up for the training.  Those teams that do not have two referees will be asked to send one or two parents to the referee training.  The dates for referee training are:

Sessions for the Regional Referee training class for new referees:

Referee Safe Haven  for Returning Referees:

Location:

All classes will be taught at Back Creek Presbyterian Church (in the old Fellowship Hall in the Church Office bldg), 1821 Back Creek Church Road (at Hwy. 49.)  

The season begins playing on Saturday, February 16th, and continues for six weeks through March 23rd.  If make-ups are needed, they will be played on April 6th.

11/3/2001 - Division Playoff Championships for U12, U10, U8 and U7 to be held at UNCC on Saturday, November 10th

The division championships will be this Saturday, November 10 at UNCC.  All games will be held at the OLD game field next to the Field House.  See a map of the UNCC campus with the field and parking highlighted.

8/21/2001 - Rescheduled Session 3 Referee Class and Additional Referee Safe Haven:

We have rescheduled the 3rd Regional Referee class.  It is now going to be held:

A Referee Safe Haven clinic, for returning referees, will be held in conjunction with this new referee class:

The location for both of these events will be the Countryside Montessori School, 9026 Mallard Creek Rd., between W.T. Harris Blvd. and Mallard Creek Church Rd.  We will meet in the "Cave" in the Lower Elementary building.

7/8/2001 - Referee Classes for the Fall 2001 Season:

Each team is required to have two certified referees, at least one of which does centers.  Just as each and every team needs a coach and assistant coach in order for the league to function, so too do they need referees.  The referees are volunteers just like the coaches, no one is paid.  After team breakouts, someone will be calling all the team coaches to let them know if two of their player's parents are certified referees, or signed up for the training.  Those teams that do not have two referees will be asked to send one or two parents to the referee training.  The location for training will probably be the Countryside Montessori School, 9026 Mallard Creek Rd., between W.T. Harris Blvd. and Mallard Creek Church Rd.  We will meet in the Lower Elementary building.  The dates for referee training are:

Sessions for the Regional Referee training class for new referees:

Session for the Assistant Referee (Linesperson) training class:

Refresher Session/Safe Haven  for Returning Referees:

4/1/2001 - Week 6 Wrap Up:

Well, we barely got the games in.  We will have make ups next week, April 7th.  The online referee schedule is posted and ready.  The rained out games from week 2 are being played.  The times and fields have been altered somewhat from the original week 2 schedule.  Even though not rained out in week 2, Boys division 3 will also play one or two games on the 7th.

3/3/2001 - Week 2 Wrap Up:

It was a great day... for ducks!  Parks and Rec closed the Mallard Creek fields at the conclusion of the 10:30am games.  We will make up the Noon, 1:30pm and 3:00pm games on May 5th (week 7).  Specific game times will be posted later.

Games at the Citgo fields were cancelled beginning with the noon games.

Don't forget about the Area Referee class THIS WEEK, Tuesday and Thursday.  See details below.

1/23/2001 - Layout of Mallard Creek Park added:

I have added a layout map of the Mallard Creek Park soccer fields.  The field numbering will change beginning this Spring 2001 season.  

There is also a layout map of the Citgo (UNCC Park) soccer fields.

12/7/2000 - Referee Classes for the Spring 2001 Season:

Each team is required to have two certified referees, at least one of which does centers.  Just as each and every team needs a coach and assistant coach in order for the league to function, so too do they need referees.  The referees are volunteers just like the coaches, no one is paid.  After team breakouts, someone will be calling all the team coaches to let them know if two of their player's parents are certified referees, or signed up for the training.  Those teams that do not have two referees will be asked to send one or two parents to the referee training.  The location for training will be the Countryside Montessori School, 9026 Mallard Creek Rd., between W.T. Harris Blvd. and Mallard Creek Church Rd.  We will meet in the Lower Elementary building.  The dates for referee training are:

Sessions for the Referee training class for new referees:

Refresher Session  for Returning Referees:

Area Referee Class for Regional Referees:

First Saturday of play is February 24th, 2001!

11/08/2000 - Division Championships at UNCC for Week 11

The division championships will be this weekend, Friday night and Saturday, November 10/11 at UNCC.  All games will be held at the OLD game field next to the Field House.  See a map of the UNCC campus with the field and parking highlighted.

10/10/2000 - Rain-out Makeups and Championship Schedule

The online referee schedule has been updated to reflect some rainout makeups and upper division playoff finals.

Division 6 games rained out on Week 4 will be made up on Week 9, instead of a round-robin style playoff originally scheduled.  No playoff is planned at this time.

Division 5 and 4 rained out games will probably NOT be made up.  These championships will be held on Week 11 (Nov 11th), hopefully at UNCC.

Division 3 games rained out will be made up on Week 8.   Playoffs will be on Week 9 and final championship games on Week 11 (Nov. 11th), hopefully at UNCC.

Please see our online referee schedule

9/23/2000 - Week 4 Games Cancelled Due to Weather

I just called out AYSO Hotline and all games today have been cancelled.

7/7/2000 - Referee/Coach SuperCamp 2000...

This referee training event, sponsored by Section 5, has been scheduled for August 4, 5, 6.  Details are here.

5/12/2000 - Referee Classes for the Fall 2000 Season:

Each team will be required to have two certified referees, at least one of which does centers.  Just as each and every team needs a coach and assistant coach in order for the league to function, so do they need referees.  The referees are volunteers just like the coaches, no one is paid.  After team breakouts, someone will be calling all the team coaches to let them know if two of their player's parents are certified referees, or signed up for the training.  Those teams that do not have two referees will be asked to send one or two parents to the referee training.  new.gif (951 bytes)The location for training will be the Countryside Montessori School, 9026 Mallard Creek Rd., between W.T. Harris Blvd. and Mallard Creek Church Rd.  We will meet in the Lower Elementary building.new.gif (951 bytes)  The dates for referee training are:

Sessions for the Regional Referee training class for new referees:

Refresher Session  for Returning Referees:

new.gif (951 bytes) A major Law change starting this season has to do with Goal Keeper steps.  The Keeper is no longer restricted to four steps!  Now, he/she must mearly put the ball back into play within 6 seconds.  They can run all around the Penalty Area, as long as they get rid of the ball in 6 seconds.

Area Referee Class for Regional Referees:

First Saturday of play is August 26th!

4/14/2000 - Charlotte Parks and Recreation Have Closed the Fields for 4/15/2000!

It appears that our makeup Saturday for rained out matches is also rained out.   The Parks and Rec Weather Hotline, 336-5800, was finally updated at about 10:30pm tonight to say that all outdoor activities are cancelled for Saturday.  There is now also a web site for such information:

Parks and Rec Weather Infohttp://www.gocarolinas.com/recreation/parkandrec/rainout.html

I have not yet heard from the Regional Commissioner, but I guess that he will check the hotline in the morning.  The coaches should be getting phone calls then.

Don't forget that Fall registration will be May 6th and 13th, 9am to 1pm, University Meadows Elementary school.  Be on the lookout for reminder postcards in the mail.   Thanks to everyone for all your help this season.

3/19/2000 - The Spring 2000 Season is Half Over:

Well, three weeks have come and gone.  Only three weeks left.  Unfortunately, the games at the Citgo fields got "mudded" out yesterday (week 3.)  Even if the mud had not been so bad, the lines were completely washed away.  I don't know if those games will be rescheduled or not.  I don't think that we have an extra week built into the schedule for such a massive make-up.

As far as I know, we still plan to make up the two division 3 games from week 1.   The girls game is rescheduled for this Friday night, 3/24/2000, at Nevin park, 7pm.   No date yet for the boys game.

Here are a few general reminders for officiating our games:

1/30/2000 - Spring 2000 Schedule is Set:

The game/referee schedule for the Spring 2000 season is now online.  This is the Board's first pass, so it can change.  If you see any problems or conflicts please let Larry or Jack know.

1/23/2000 - Now an On-line Signup Form for Regional Referee Class:

Instead of calling, you can now R.S.V.P. to one of the Regional Referee Class session by using our on-line form.  Simply fill it out and we will confirm your signup via e-mail.

1/19/2000 - Referee Classes for the Spring 2000 Season:

Well, Y2K has come and gone.  Registration for the Fall season was held back in December.  We had 75 volunteers express interest in the beginning (Regional badge)   referee training.  Let's hope that they all still agree to become referees!   A new twist has been added to encourage additional new referees this season.   Each team is going to be required to send one new parent to the Regional class.   After team breakouts, someone will be calling all the team coaches to let them know if one of their player's parents already signed up for refereeing at registration.   Those teams that do not already have a parent signed up will be asked to find one.   In any case, these volunteers will be set a letter at the end of January letting them know what is going on and that we need at least one new referee per team.  So, here are the dates for referee training:

Sessions for the Regional Referee training class for new referees:

Refresher Session  for All Referees:

Area Referee Class for Regional Referees:

A New Feature:  Words from the Big Guy (your Regional Referee Administrator, Jack Summers)

This link will take you to a page that Jack can update directly (instead of that cumbersome Guest Book that barely anybody ever uses.)  Just click the link to read words of wisdom from Jack!

11/18/1999 - Area Tournament Update

Added our region's referee/game schedule to the 11/6/1999 announcement below.

11/13/1999 - Area Tournament Update

Additional Spartanburg map added to the 11/6/1999 announcement below.

11/10/1999 - Area Tournament Update

We WILL referee seven games on Saturday.  Although we don't know WHEN the games will be, we do know that they will be our region's HOME games.  Each of our teams will play two games on Saturday, as mentioned before.  In one game a team will be the visitor, in the other they will be the home team.  We will referee the home games.

11/6/1999 - The Season is Finished... Now the Area Tournament

Congratulations to all the teams that have won their respective division titles.   They will go on to play in the Area Tournament on Saturday/Sunday, November 20/21.

We need volunteers to help referee and line at the tournament.  Our region will probably be responsible for refereeing seven games on Saturday and three or four games on Sunday.  The number of games to referee is based upon the number of teams that our region sends to the tournament.  We will be sending seven teams (a boys and a girls from each of divisions 5, 4, and 3, and a girls division 2 team.)  Usually, we need about nine individuals on Saturday to be able to staff seven games.  Because of the logistics of field locations and time schedule, we cannot do it with any less.  There are 10 to 12 fields, between two or three locations.  We will not have enough parents of players attending the tournament to staff accordingly.  If you can attend either or both days please let us know as soon as possible.  Each region usually referees each match as a group (that is, we supply the center and the two lines.)  So, if you are hesitant/nervous about volunteering, know that you would be working with the same folks you have all along.  If you don't want to center, not a problem... we need Assistants/Lines (twice as many as Centers!)

Our region 605 Board of Directors has authorized some expense money to referees volunteering to travel to the tournament that do not have children playing.  Expenses will consist of gasoline reimbursement, $15 per day for meals and half the cost of a motel room for Saturday night if you wish to referee both days.  Car pooling is encouraged because parking at the fields is limited.  These are some of the motels in the Spartanburg area, along I-85 and I-26.  Some of the phone numbers are missing and some may be wrong.  I am getting them off a fax from several years ago:

[Simplified map of Spartanburg area] 
All Area Codes on the map are 864, not 803.  Some motels may have closed or changed name since this map was first drawn.
[Detail of field locations]
This show detal of the field layouts at the two sites (Old Canaan Rd. Soccer Complex, 8 fields and the 295 Sports Complex, 2 fields) in Spartanburg
[Detailed map of the Spartanburg area] new.gif (951 bytes)
This map was generated from MapsOnUs.  It has lots of detail of roads and shows the same area as the simplified map above.  The motels are not label on this map.
[Detailed map of the Spartanburg area with motels listed] new.gif (951 bytes)
 
[Weather Forecast for Spartanburg] new.gif (951 bytes)
It's looking good so far!
[Our region's referee and game schedule] new.gif (951 bytes)
 

10/10/1999 - The Fall Season is Well Under Way

We're Past the Mid-point

Thanks to all of you who have helped out with extra games, particularly in division 6.   And thanks to all of you that have jumped into the "center spot" so quickly.  We need more of you to do so.  Just ask the new guys... it's not so hard.

Testing of On-line Referee Signup! new.gif (951 bytes)

You all have been asking, begging, screaming for it.  Well, let's try it out... signup on-line.   We can test this out for awhile and see how it goes.  Simply fill out the fields and select from the given choices.  The information will be e-mailed to us.   We will attempt to confirm with an e-mail, but cannot guarantee this just now.   Check the schedule later to see if you got added.  Call Jack or Larry if you don't see your name on the schedule within a day or two.  Thanks for your patience.  

8/15/1999 - The Fall Season is About to Begin!

Reminder letters have been mailed out to those of you who signed up for the Regional Referee training class for new referees.

You were asked to  R.S.V.P. to a particular session.  Regional Referee classes are scheduled for:

Refresher Session  for All Referees:

We will also be holding a short "Refresher" get-together for all certified referees to go over any law changes and to be sure we are ready for the Fall season.  This will be at Back Creek Presbyterian Church, Tuesday, August 17th from 7pm to 9pm. 

Area Referee Class for Regional Referees:

We had a very successful Area referee class at the end of May.  Several of the attendees already had all the other requirements except for the class and test, and you will see them with their AREA REFEREE badge soon.   The others will be refereeing their 5 games in division 3 (U-14), getting an Assessment on one of them, and earning 5 service points.  Congratulations to all of our new, and soon to be, Area referees. 

7/6/99 - Referee SuperCamp 1999...

This referee training event, sponsored by Section 5, has been scheduled for August 6, 7, 8.  Details are here.

5/9/99 - Fall Registration is Complete, Referee Classes are Scheduled...

Regional Referee Class for New Referees:

We had 66 volunteers indicate that they might be interested in attending our Regional referee training class.  Confirmation letters will be sent out later this summer asking each volunteer to R.S.V.P. to a particular session.  Regional Referee classes are scheduled for:

Area Referee Class for Regional Referees:

We will also be holding an Area referee class at the end of May.  Many of you certified Regional referees have already express interest in this advanced training class.  We will be mailing out a post card very quickly to you, and those others that we feel would benefit from this advanced training.   If we forgot you or you do not receive a card, please R.S.V.P. too.  The Area class is scheduled for:

Where: Back Creek Presbyterian Church, old Fellowship Hall in the Church Office bldg, 1821 Back Creek Church Road (at Hwy. 49.)
When: Friday evening/Saturday morning, May 28/29.  Friday 6.00pm to 10.00pm and Saturday 9.00am to 1.00pm.
Bring: Yourself
RSVP to: Jack Summers, Regional Referee Administrator, at 549-4695.

Refresher Session for All Referees:

We will also be holding a short "Refresher" get-together for all certified referees to go over any law changes and to be sure we are ready for the Fall season.  This will be at Back Creek Presbyterian Church, Thursday, August 17th from 7pm to 9pm. 

1/13/99 - Referee Class for Spring Season Scheduled...

We had just over one hundred volunteers indicated that they might be interested in attending our referee training class.   Confirmation letters were sent out Saturday, 1/9/99 (just before the postage rates went up!)  We hope that EVERYONE will still R.S.V.P. and come to the class.   Details about the class:

Where: Back Creek Presbyterian Church, old Fellowship Hall in the Church Office bldg, 1821 Back Creek Church Road (at Hwy. 49.)
When: Friday evening, February 5, 1999, 6.00pm to 10.00pm and Saturday morning, February 6, 1999, 9.00am to 1.00pm
Bring: Yourself (and a friend if you want.)
RSVP to: Jack Summers, Regional Referee Administrator, at 549-4695.

If you did not sign up at registration, but have reconsidered and would like to attend, please feel free to contact Jack and confirm your attendance!

12/9/98 - Come to Our Referee Christmas Party...

The Fall season is over and it’s time to celebrate!  Please join all the other referees for pizza and beverages. We are sorry for the late notice and know that everyone is busy this time of year, but try to make it anyway:

When: Wednesday, December 16, 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Where: Luigi’s Villa, 1704 Harris Houston Rd., at the corner of Hwy. 49, just past Wexford Village.

This is the same place we got together last February. Please RSVP to Jack Summers @ 549-4695 or e-mail us.  We have put postcards in the mail too.   See you there!

11/21/98 - Fall Season and Area Tournament are Finished...

Well, it's all over for another season.  It seems like just last week that things were gearing up for the Fall...  Here I am with my first free Saturday after the season, and what am I doing?  I still can't get AYSO soccer refereeing out of my system... I'm writing this to update the web site.

Our general AYSO Region 605 web site has the results of all the playoffs for each division.  We had a good showing down in Spartanburg last weekend... Our boys division 5 team, the Bulldogs (coached by Steve Potter, who is also one of our extraordinary referees) played for their division championship and WON!  (Read the Wed Nov 18 message from coach Potter in our Guest Book.)  The Revolution was in a multi-way tie for the top seed in boys division 4, but, alas, our Regional Commissioner lost a coin toss and they did not get the chance to play for the championship.

I want to say thanks to all you referees that volunteered your time this past season.   I want to say a SPECIAL thanks to those that had children playing in the Spartanburg tournament and helped referee there (Ken Gorni, Jeff Kaiser, Steve Potter, Lynn Watkins, Tom Henry and Dennis Rubin,) and a REAL SPECIAL thanks to those that did NOT have children playing in Spartanburg, but went to referee with me anyway (Jay Anderson, Roy Currie and Paul Pollinger!)   Without everyone's help we would not have such a quality program.  (Read the Thu Nov 19 message from our Referee Administrator, Jack Summers, in our Guest Book.)

Registration for the Fall season is coming up REAL SOON, December 5th and 12th, 9:00am to 1:00pm, at University Meadows Elementary School.  Please encourage your friends and neighbors to stop at the referee volunteer table and sign up to come to a referee class in January or February.  We have not decided how many sessions to hold, or what dates we might conduct them.  But, we should have all that decided by registration time so everyone will know.  We always need more referees.  Some of you still only doing Lines need to screw up your courage and jump in the Center next season!

11/1/98 - Area 5K/5E Tournament Will be Held in Spartanburg, November 13th/14th...

I am sorry for the confusion, but there have been some late breaking changes.  Due to some miscommunication, we will NOT be hosting the Area tournament in Charlotte this year.  The Area tournament will be held in Spartanburg instead.  It will be the weekend of  November 13th/14th.  We will be sending one boy's and one girl's team from divisions 5, 4 and 3. 

We need to start getting a list together of you referees that are willing to help out.  The Spartanburg Tournament Director requires that our region provide 6 referees.  This number predicated on the assumption that all 6 will work both Saturday and Sunday.  This is great if all of our referees that work are parents of players in the tournament.  This is usually not the case.  We will probably need some referees that do not have children participating and they usually do not choose to spend the night and work both days.  So, even if your child is not participating, we would love to have you help on just one day if you can swing it.  In that case, we will need more that 6 referees.  Please send an e-mail to  Jack and Larry  letting us know if you will help out.  If you only wish to participate as an Assistant Referee that is okay (remember, for every ONE center referee we need TWO assistants!)  

The format of the tournament is this:  All teams will play two games on Saturday and earn differing amounts of points depending on the outcome:  win, tie, loss and sportsmanship (i.e.: NOT receiving yellow or red cards.)  Based upon point standings from Saturday, each team will be seeded and play only one game on Sunday.  That is, by the end of the day Saturday each team will know for which position they will be playing on Sunday.  Games usually begin on Saturday between 7 and 8am and should be completed by 5 or 6pm.  Games on Sunday usually begin a little later and the championships are the last of the day.

9/20/98 - This Site Now FrontPage Enabled...

Please change your bookmarks to refer to this site without the tilde (~) character.   So, instead of: https://members.tripod.com/~lklaus, you should now use https://members.tripod.com/lklaus to be able to view FrontPage extensions that are used by this site.  Try it now!  (You won't see any differences right away, other than the hit counter at the bottom of the page is different.   Loading the page without the tilde in the name makes the web server think a different page is being shown, even though it is the same file, index.html.)

9/14/98 - Two Weeks into The Fall Season

We've had two good weeks so far... well... except for the Nevin fields!  The first Friday night the lights went off on both fields an hour early, at 9pm.  Then, the second Friday night the lights did not come on at all on one of the fields!  I think Tom H. is going to bind and shackle a park ranger to the light posts this Friday night.  

Bad news... we are going to cancel our fifth referee class (session 5, 9/15/98 and 9/17/98) because we received no R.S.V.P.'s. 

For any referee assignments the weekend of 9/19/98 please call Jack.

8/15/98 - The Fall Season is Set to Start!

The Fall 1998 schedule has been created and I have posted the referee sign up sheets.  You all should have received postcards about the upcoming Referee Refresher sessions.  We will have the game sign up sheets there for you to get a jump on the first week.

We have held three referee classes so far this summer and now have 15 new referees!   We still have two more sessions.  You referees that were new last Fall and Spring and have not yet jumped in the Center... we need you now.  Come to a Refresher and be ready to do the Center.

5/12/98 - Fall 1998 Referee Classes Scheduled

Registration was held on April 25th and May 9th for the Fall 1998 season. We had over 100 youth and adults express interest in becoming volunteer Referees and Assistant Referees (linespersons) by signing up to attend one of our Regional Referee courses. If past experience is any gauge, only about 25% will actually attend one of the classes.

AYSO is an all volunteer organization. The coaches, assistant coaches, team parents and, yes, referees are ALL volunteers. We need more parents to become referees and assistants and participate every weekend. Many of our coaches and assistant coaches are ALSO referees. They do this because they are committed to giving your children a quality experience. If you think about it, its not really fair to ask that much of one person. They are out on the practice field one night each week in addition to coaching a game and refereeing a game (maybe two!) on Saturday also! I, for one, am glad that they do both coach and referee because, if they did not, many of the games you enjoy watching would not happen.

Please, parents, don't say that you cannot do it. You can. We current referees train you. You start with the younger children. Start refereeing when your children first start playing in division 6 and 5 and learn the game with them! Please don't say "I'll think about it next year after I've had chance to see what it's all about." Next thing you know, your children are in the upper divisions and you don't want to start out doing the older kids! And you won't want to drive over to the younger kid's fields after you watch yours play... If I can do it, you can do it.

The Regional Referee class about 9 hours long, taught in two 4-1/2 hour parts. These courses will be held at Back Creek Presbyterian Church in the old Fellowship Hall. The church is located on Back Creek Church Rd., at the intersection of Hwy 49.

We have scheduled five (5) classes for the Fall season. You need only come to ONE of these sessions:

We will also have TWO Referee Refreshers for current referees of all levels. These will also be held at Back Creek Presbyterian Church on:

Directions to Back Creek Presbyterian Church from East bound Hwy 49 (heading away from Charlotte):

  1. Turn right onto Back Creek Church Rd.
  2. Go across the railroad tracks and take the first or second left into the church parking lot.
  3. Go down the stairs from the parking lot, first door on your right. This is the entrance to the church Office.  Go in the door and take the first hall to the right.   There you are!

4/5/98 - Spring Season is Gone!

Well, we did good with only one rain out this season. Thanks to everyone for picking up the slack for me while I was out of commission. I'll be back at it in the Fall. A big thank-you and farewell to a couple of guys leaving... John B. and Steve R. will not be back in the Fall. Both have job transfers taking them away from Charlotte.

Jack and I are planning this summer's Regional Referee classes. Encourage your friends to come to one of these so you won't have to work so hard! We hopefully will have the dates by the time Fall registration is here... which, by the way, is April 25th and May 9th, at University Meadows Elementary School (the usual place) from 9am to 1pm.

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