Executive Board

• President, Manual Ortiz, Jr. (Garland, TX).
• Vice President, Todd Abraham (Glencoe, IL).
• Secretary, George Wescott (Mantua, NJ).
• Past President, Joseph Miller (Meriden, CT).

Regional Representatives

• Region I – Jim Triplett (Oxford, MA).
• Region II – John Puglisi (New Rochelle, NY).
• Region III – George Wescott (Mantua, NJ).
• Region IV – Dan Lukash (Rockville, MD).
• Region V – Robert Fischer (Norfolk, VA).
• Region VI – Pierce Richardson (Covington, GA).
• Region VII – John Kipp (Brunswick Hills, OH).
• Region VIII – Greg Cole (Crystal Lake, IL).
• Region IX – Gary Huber (Weldon Spring, MO).
• Region X – Grier Cooper (Phoenix, AZ).
• Region XI – Chris Barnes (Lynnwood, WA).

In addition, the following individuals will remain in appointed positions and serve as part of the Executive Board:

• Executive Director – C. Cliff McCrath (Seattle, WA).
• Director of Operations – John Van de Vaarst (Cape May, NJ).
• Associate Director (Membership) – Thomas Richardson (Kernersville, NC).
• Director of Instruction – Todd Abraham (Glencoe, IL).
• Director of Assessment – Gary Huber (Weldon Spring, MO).
• Director of the National Referee Program – George Noujaim (Upland, CA).
• Director of Assigning – Dan Keohane (San Mateo, CA).
• National Rules Interpreter – Kenneth Andres, Jr. (Haddonfield, NJ).
• Interscholastic Representative – Joe Manjone (Columbia, SC).

It is permissible ~ and within the jurisdiction of the referee ~ to suspend the game temporarily for what he/she deems necessary. Indeed, a similar question was asked by an Ohio official this morning the answer to which follows:

Game officials can stop the match at anytime for whatever reason they deem appropriate. Although the rules book does not address, nor include this issue as a specific option for suspending play, there are plenty of precedents for stoppages that can be used for hydrating all participants. An example of one protocol is to inform, in advance, both coaches and/or administration ~ entering a game where extreme and potentially dangerous situations may occur ~ that there will be a TV timeout at the 23 minute mark. Others: The referee may (permissible) call timeout ~ as appropriate ~ for any situations already addressed in the rules: Examples are: Jewelry; equipment change; injured player(s); suspicion of concussion; check on variable substitution matters; consult with Assistant Referees, etc. We all know that even without heat index factors many players head for the bench area to get a quick squirt while an injured player is being attended during temporary suspension of play. As long as the cause is not inordinately contrived or frivolous there is no sustainable argument prohibiting such action. Final note: The item will be on the agenda for the annual meeting in February.

I hope this helps.

C. Cliff McCrath, Secretary-Rules Editor

Intercollegiate Referees

This sixteenth issue of our monthly NISOA column presents additional continuing education articles intended to help our NISOA Intercollegiate Referee members develop the skills, information and techniques needed to improve their refereeing for the nation’s Intercollegiate soccer game.

All articles are authored by Intercollegiate Soccer Referee-oriented colleagues from around the country who share their experience and expertise in this specialized skill, or by other writers considered to put forth reliable soccer referee continuing education subject matter. The aim of NISOA is to create a continually growing base of personal development resources to help all Intercollegiate Soccer Referees reach the level of personal excellence they have set for themselves.

As with all of our publications, we encourage readers to submit their comments and suggestions for improvement to the Editor via email to me. Anyone wishing to submit an original article for consideration in a future column should submit it to the Editor.

Our authors this month are:

1. Rodney Kenney, NISOA National Clinician and Assessor, Florida, whose article: “When to Caution or Eject”, discusses a key discretionary decision a NISOA Referee must be able to master for successful game management.

2. Bob Sumpter, NISOA, Florida, whose article sets forth successful techniques from a group of top Clinicians and Referees about how to isolate a player when misconduct or possible misconduct is involved.

Interscholastic Referees

This seventeenth issue of our monthly column contains an article designed to serve as part of the expanding reference resource of continuing education materials to help the Interscholastic Soccer Referee improve field performance and development as a qualified NISOA Interscholastic Official. All articles are authored by Interscholastic Soccer Referees and selected writers who have experience in high school officiating, instruction, assessment, and administration.

This month our authors are:

1. Bob Jones, NISOA National Clinician, Maryland, whose article: “How Ya Goin Ta Act?” discusses the type of commitments by, and  expectations of, the Interscholastic Referee.

2. Bob Sumpter, NISOA, Florida, Florida, whose article:
”Ethics and the 2010 World Cup; An Opinion Piece”, discusses a growing concern within the game about less-than-desirable ethical conduct by participants in top-level competitions and the lack of adequate safeguards to insure that misconduct is not allowed to cause false game and competition results.

Intercollegiate Referees

This fifteenth issue of our monthly NISOA column presents additional continuing education articles intended to help our NISOA Intercollegiate Referee members develop the skills, information and techniques needed to improve their refereeing for the nation’s Intercollegiate soccer game.

All articles are authored by Intercollegiate Soccer Referee-oriented colleagues from around the country who share their experience and expertise in this specialized skill, or by other writers considered to put forth reliable soccer referee continuing education subject matter. The aim of NISOA is to create a continually growing base of personal development resources to help all Intercollegiate Soccer Referees reach the level of personal excellence they have set for themselves.

As with all of our publications, we encourage readers to submit their comments and suggestions for improvement to the Editor via email to me. Anyone wishing to submit an original article for consideration in a future column should submit it to the Editor.

Our authors this month are:

1. Rodney Kenney, whose article: “Managing Players”, furthers our insights into the type of practical techniques and approaches the Intercollegiate Referee can try when controlling participant behavior.

2. John Van deVaarst, whose article “When to Caution and Eject” reminds us how powerful these two disciplinary techniques can be in controlling player misbehavior.

Interscholastic Referees

This sixteenth issue of our monthly column contains an article designed to serve as part of the expanding reference resource of continuing education materials to help the Interscholastic Soccer Referee improve field performance and development as a qualified NISOA Interscholastic Official. All articles are authored by Interscholastic Soccer Referees and selected writers who have experience in high school officiating, instruction, assessment, and administration.

This month our author is Bob Sumpter of Florida, whose article reviews both the procedures required by the NFHS Soccer Rules, and the guidelines for effective mechanics and alternatives to consider in managing the Penalty Kick.

Tom Richardson (NC)

Tom Richardson, (North Carolina) has accepted the position of Associate Director with primary responsibilities for membership.  Tom has had a long career with the Triangle Chapter of NISOA and has also served as Area Coordinator.  Tom accepted the duties of membership chairperson and will take care of all new member, renewals, assessors, interscholastic, and assignor dues processing.  Tom will also take care of chapter transfers and address updates.  This is a critical position and Tom’s professional approach to everything he does will be a great asset.  In addition,  Tom has accepted the duty of check issuance and will send out all payments that are required to conduct NISOA business.

Intercollegiate Referees

This fourteenth issue of our monthly NISOA column presents additional continuing education articles intended to help our NISOA Intercollegiate Referee members develop the skills, information and techniques needed to improve their refereeing for the nation’s Intercollegiate soccer game.

All articles are authored by Intercollegiate Soccer Referee-oriented colleagues from around the country who share their experience and expertise in this specialized skill, or by other writers considered to put forth reliable soccer referee continuing education subject matter. The aim of NISOA is to create a continually growing base of personal development resources to help all Intercollegiate Soccer Referees reach the level of personal excellence they have set for themselves.

As with all of our publications, we encourage readers to submit their comments and suggestions for improvement to the Editor via email to me. Anyone wishing to submit an original article for consideration in a future column should submit it to the Editor.

Our authors this month are:

1. The Associated Press, whose article “Referees Learning English Swear Words” summarizes training for the 2010 World Cup Referees in unacceptable language control.

2. David Biderman, whose article “A Field Guide to Fakers and Floppers” presents an all-too-short review of a study of research on simulated fouls and how to recognize the types discussed.

Interscholastic Referees

This fifteenth issue of our monthly column contains an article designed to serve as part of the expanding reference resource of continuing education materials to help the Interscholastic Soccer Referee improve field performance and development as a qualified NISOA Interscholastic Official. All articles are authored by Interscholastic Soccer Referees and selected writers who have experience in high school officiating, instruction, assessment, and administration.

Readers are encouraged to submit their comments and suggestions to the Editor by e-mail to me.  Anyone wishing to submit an original article for consideration in a future column should submit it to the Editor.

This month our author is Georges-Frantz Louis, whose extended article discusses a number of factors that affect game control, and how to meet these challenges.

Vince Forst

Long time NISOA member, Vince Forst, passed away on June 21, 2010 at the age of  91.  Vince received several top NISOA awards including life membership in 1987, Hall of Fame Induction in 1986, and the Raymond Bernabei Honor Award in 1987.  He was the founding member of the Midwest Chapter of NISOA and the St. Louis High School Referees Association.  He served as an active official from 1947 through 1985 and officiated numerous NCAA championships, NAIA championships, and NJCAA championships.  Vince also received the Silver Boot for 25 years of service to soccer in St. Louis and elected to the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame and was named a member of the Old Timers Hall of Fame.   Vince worked behind the scenes for NISOA and helped recruit many top officials in the St. Louis area.