oldcoach54

Loudon 4 Oliver Springs 0. Loudon score twice in the last 4 minutes.

A referee I had become friends with was the referee of a game I was playing in years ago. After I whined about some call or non-call he said. "Aw C'mon-I am not refereeing any worse than you're playing". I was laughing to hard to be upset.

I have been following the message board, but generally do not comment. I saw this post last night and I was still angry so I chose not to respond until I had some cool down time. Although new to Tennesee, I have been or was a player, coach, referee or fan for many years. I think what my team and I experienced last night addresses all of the issues in the original post. What was on display was everything that is wrong with a youth athletic event, The fans behavior was reprehensible with insults flying towards me and my players for most of the nights. The thuggery, taunting, and obscenities that my players and I were forced to endure from the opposing players was despicable. My goalkeeper was kicked in the head while he was down covering a ball, there were three or four incidents where he came of his line to cover a ball and be on the receiving end of late two-footed slides. Studs up and two-footed slide tackles were common practice. Coming in late above the ball and from behind also was a common tactic. F****** P****** seemed to be the insult of choice directed towards my players. Finally, one of their players was yellow-carded for the name calling and shoving. Two of their other players received yellow cards for foul play. All of this in the second half when the game was out of control. We received our first cards of the year last night, two deserved, one not deserved. Early in the game one of my players received a yellow for foul langusge after an opponent came through the back of his legs. The other deserved yellow came in the final two minutes of the game when my player retaliated after the other team scored the tying goal on a goa. The goal should have been disallowed for another two footed slide on the goalkeeper who clearly had possession (our photographer got a great shot of this foul). The point of this rant is that neither one of my players who deserved yellow cards were happy to see me after their cards. Thet got chewed out pretty good and knew the consequences they would be facing after the game. The game ends in draw and as we are shaking hands the opposing player who was carded for language and shoving goes offf again with the favorite insult standing a few feet from me. I call the opposing coach's attention to his players behavior and he pulls the player away all the while two of his teamates are insisting he did not say anything. What happened after that is I called my team together, lined them up on a touchline and had them run 40 yard sprints until they were ready to drop. This was the consequence that they knew they would be facing after the game for the yellow cards. After several sprints I told them again the importane of keeping their composure at all times, no matter what the other team is doing. I reminded them agan they are representing themselves, their school, their families, and their communty. We are to win with class and lose with class. Whether the opposing players were disciplined or not I do not know. I did not see or hear them bing disciplined, while I was there. I know this is long, but as to berating the referees. I was very frustrated with the officiating. I was concerned for my players' safety. As a teacher and a coach, their safety is my responsibility. I have not had that much trouble with referees this season. Last night was the second time this season referee over-reacted to something I said and behaved inappropriately. As a former referee, we have a lot of power and we must exercise it in an appropriate manner. At no point could my players and I be clear on what was a foul and what was not a foul. The players were clearly not being protected. Near the end of the first half (after my goalkeeper had been kicked in the head), one of my players won what appeared to me to be a fair tackle. My player turns towards me with is hands out at his side. My repsonse was "I don't know, looked like a fair tackle to me, with what has gone on I am not sure what is a foul and what is not. " The referree runs across the field to get in my face to tell me that if I said one more thing he would throw me out and knowing I was the only coach and school representative on the trip, he asked me which player would be in charge of my team after he threw me out. I had said very little to the referees before this event. Who berated who in this situation? Is this an appropriate exercise of a referees' authority? I realize as I reread this post that I am still angry. I told my wife this story when I arrived home last night. Her response was, "I wiish you didn't do this anymore" I have been involved with the game in some capacity for almost 40 years. For this very reason, I have seen many of my friends and colleagues with much to contribute walk away from the game. As much as I love the sport, at the end of the day it is only a game.

We finally have enough to schedule some JV games. Please contact Coach John Smith jts7979@yahoo.com. Thanks

I have been trying to contact the coach to set up a scrimmage for next week. Please contact John Smith at 678-936-2274. Thanks

Sound like this mght be doable. I am new to the Knoxville area. Where is Berean Christian and What days do you have in mind? Feel free to call me at 678-036-2274 or email me at 678-936-2274. I teach at the high school. My cell phone is an Atlanta exachange because that is the artea I moved from. Thanjs very much for the response.

I am curious to see what the prognosticators say about this division. I already know who will be predicted for #1 and #2 in this district.

Oliver Springs High School 5-10 minutes west of Oak Ridge. 30-45 minutes northwest of Knoxville. Oliver Springs High School is in Roane County about 20 minutes from Kingston.

If any team is looking for a pre-season scrimmage please contact John Smith at jts7979@yahoo.com or 678-936-2274. We can host or travel. If there are other teams looking for a jamboree or play day please contact me. Perhaps we can host if there is enough interest. I am also curious as to any schools that may want to schedule JV matches.

The question I ask my players is Do you control your emotions or do your emotions control you? They have to be able to say yes to the first one to be successful on and off the field. Unfortunately, I had to learn that one the hard way in my playing days. To expand on your discussion, I was once told by a former US National U-17 coach (and former teammate) that the best team has three piano players and eight guys to carry the piano.

We called them jamborees in Georgia. Either way we need some preseason opponents. Contact Coach John Smith-678-936-2274 or email at jts7979@yahoo.com Thanks

Oliver Springs High School is looking for a pre-season-jambore. Please contact jts7979@yahoo.com if you have an opening or a suggestion. Thanks

Thanks for the information

Experienced coach from Atlanta area moving to Oliver Springs. I have experience at select, high school and college levels. I have college and travel team experience as a player that includes NAIA national tournament appearances, and the 1979 USSF National Amateur Cup Final championship. I have NSCAA state, regional and national goalkeeper coaching diplomas. I am currently teaching and coaching in Georgia. I am looking for teaching and coaching position for the 2008-2009 school year. I have a masters in Secondary Education-Mathematics and am certified in Georgia. Any suggestions on who I may contact in search of a position would be appreciated.