2010 Matt Armstrong Tournament

Yesterday, the 14th Annual Matt Armstrong Memorial 5-A-Side Tournament ended. I played and refereed as I have for the previous two years. This year we played in the Silver division (as opposed to Gold the past two years) because Brice, who I met playing pick-up two years ago and recruited me for his team, didn't play this year as it was his 25th birthday and he wanted to celebrate other than playing in the tournament. So, I joined up with several of the guys from the previous teams and other of their friends.


Back row (L to R): Derek Arndt, myself, Ted, Jeff Gleason, David Arndt
Front row: Sean Malone, Brian Wiley, Josie Olsen, Brittany Bergens
(the picture stinks because our scanner doesn't have drivers for 64-bit Windows 7 or Linux so I had to take a picture of the picture...)

Josie's brother Brett also played with us, but missed the first game driving up. Derek and David played with me the past two years. I knew Ted as a fellow rec league ref. Jeff and Brian I met last summer during MWR's arena football (soccer) league. Brian's dad, Peter schedules the referees each year. Nathan, Brian's younger brother, Josie, and Brittany all graduated from Burroughs last year and played for Burroughs so I knew them from refereeing. They also played in the MWR league. Unfortunately, Nathan had an appendectomy two weeks ago so he was still recovering from that. He came out and watched and was doing well.

We played three games on Saturday. Our first game did not start off well. We didn't really know how to play with each other and got caught out by a young, fast team to the tune of 5-0. We didn't get back on defense very well and also didn't communicate much.

The second game was better. We figured out how to play with each other and communicated much more. We won 3-2 and I scored twice. My first goal gave us the lead (2-1) with a low ~25-yard screamer right between the near post and the keeper. My second goal gave us the win with a similar shot, but it wasn't nearly as spectacular. I noticed their keeper didn't seem like a trained goalkeeper and had trouble getting low so I hit it low, hard, and to his left side (as before) and he got a little something on it, but it was hard enough that it squirted on through.

Our last Saturday game we lost 2-1, but did very well. We had a few decisions go against us (or rather not go for us). I won't normally criticize a fellow referee if they're making an honest effort. However, our referee made no effort to get in positions to make calls. He didn't stray much more than 10 yards from the center spot. The other team slide tackled at least four times which isn't allowed. It's supposed to be a two minute power play (which is pretty significant since the games are two 10 minute halves with no halftime break). The ref called none of these fouls. He also ignored my pleas for a call when we drove down the field, had a good shot, I ran down the rebound towards the far side corner flag, beat my defender and was about to have a decent shot on goal when the defender I just beat dragged me to the ground. I don't know whether I was in the penalty area or not, but either way, I didn't get the call. It was pretty frustrating.

We ended up placing 3rd in our group of 5 teams due to the only two teams below us tying when they faced each other. So on Sunday we played the 2nd place team from the other group. We played Jesus' team. He's the coach I've had a few problems with before due to refereeing. I think I just have to write off his comments during games as emotional, irrational rants and leave it at that. We had a pleasant time the whole weekend and a fun game against them. They beat us 2-1. Unfortunately I gave up a goal by chest trapping a kick from their goalkeeper too far out in front of me and my defensive partner had broken forward for the attack. Jesus was able to get a pass off (I got a little on it), but I couldn't stop the ensuing 2v1 and Derek was too far away because of my mistake. It was a very fun game though and we didn't expect to win since the other team was better, faster, younger (except for Jesus).

All in all it was a fun weekend. I had a blast playing and my teammates were great and fun to play with and chat/watch other games with.

Abby and Daniel were able to come up for a few games. They got to see my two goals so that was neat. They also got to see me give up the goal in the elimination game Sunday, but it was great having them there.


Daniel loved his FC Barcelona outfit that Grandma and Grandpa got him while they were in Paris.


He also loved throwing the ball to whomever would play with him. Brittany and Brian were great sports in that regard. He liked watching the other teams play. I'm not sure how much of that was down to the big red ball they were playing with or the players themselves.

Maybe I'll post about refereeing later, but, other than the U14 semi-final I did, there wasn't much to write about (other than the nearly universal ignorance amongst players and crowd about the foul of handball and the fact that getting part of the ball first doesn't excuse a foul).