A Celebration of Soccer Officiating
A Celebration of Soccer Officiating
United Soccer Coaches has declared 2022 as a year to recognize the contributions of soccer officials at all levels beginning with a “Celebration of Soccer Officiating” at the 2022 United Soccer Coaches Convention in Kansas City, MO to be held January 21-22, 2022 at the Kansas City Convention Center.
United Soccer Coaches (formerly the National Soccer Coaches Association of America; NSCAA) has long recognized the need to include soccer officials (Referees and Assistants) without whom the organized game cannot be played, into its extended family with the understanding of the importance of sharing common ground information as well as the need to improve communication, cooperation and camaraderie between Referees and Coaches which have long suffered from an unfortunate disconnect.
Classroom, field sessions, social activity with presentations by top instructors from NISOA, US Soccer, CONCACAF, PRO, NCAA, AYSO, ECSR, US CLUB Soccer, SAY Soccer, and others will highlight this first of its kind event.
US Soccer and NISOA “Hall of Fame” member “Dr. Joe” Machnik and former FIFA World Cup Referee and Referee Instructor Esse Baharmast will co-host and coordinate the event.
REFEREE SUMMIT PRICING
Referee Summit Registration
A Celebration of Soccer Officiating – Referee Summit Registration Includes:
- Access to all “A Celebration of Soccer Officiating” sessions
- Access to Walt Chyzowych Fund Award Ceremony and Reception
- Unlimited access to the Exhibit Hall
- Registration Welcome Packet
- T-shirt (only available to those on-site, while supplies last)
REFEREE SUMMIT SCHEDULE
Friday, January 21, 2022
| Time | Session | Presenters | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:15 – 9:30 a.m. | Welcoming Ceremonies, Introductions, Motivational Video | Esse Baharmast, Joe Machnik, Gary Huber, Rick Eddy, & Others | CC 2101, Sponsored by SCORE |
| 9:30 – 10:15 a.m. | Bringing Your “A” Game/Dynamic Personality & Passion Needed | Brian Hall | CC 2101, Sponsored by SCORE |
| 10:15 – 11:00 a.m. | Game Preparation at All Levels | Howard Webb | CC 2101, Sponsored by SCORE |
| 11:00 – 12:00 p.m. | Game and Player Management Issues: College to Pro | Alex Prus | CC 2101, Sponsored by SCORE |
| 1:00 – 1:30 p.m. | Officiating Indoors from Futsal to Arena Soccer Part 1 | Shane Butler & Rich Grady | CC 2101, Sponsored by SCORE |
| 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. | Assistant Refereeing Panel | Rick Eddy, Cory Richardson, & Corey Rockwell | CC 2101, Sponsored by SCORE |
| 2:30 – 3:15 p.m. | Officiating Youth Soccer | Matt Almaraz, Alex Diaz, Doug Wood, Matt Tiano, Matthew Buckman, & Francisco Villarruel | CC 2101, Sponsored by SCORE |
| 3:15 – 4:15 p.m. | Officiating Coordinator and Assigning Issues Panel | Gary Huber, Richard Grady, Roger Morton, & Manuel Ortiz Jr. | CC 2101, Sponsored by SCORE |
| 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. | Officiating Field Session | Lance VanHaitsma | adidas Demo Field Hall A |
Saturday, January 22, 2022
| Time | Session | Presenters | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. | Officiating Indoors from Futsal to Arena Soccer Part 2 | Shane Butler & Richard Grady | CC 2101, Sponsored by SCORE |
| 9:00 – 10:15 a.m. | Gender Differences in Soccer Officiating | Christina Unkle | CC 2101, Sponsored by SCORE |
| 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. | NCAA Issues On and Off the Field | Ryan Cigich & Richard Grady | CC 2101, Sponsored by SCORE |
| 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Referee/Coaches Communication and Understanding/Dealing with the Disconnect Panel | Ralph Polson, Sandy Hatfield Clubb, & Coaches/Officials from Various Levels | CC 2101, Sponsored by SCORE |
| 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. | Understanding the Ever-Changing Handling Rule | Corey Rockwell | CC 2101, Sponsored by SCORE |
| 2:15 – 3:15 p.m. | What it Means to Be a Referee | Esse Baharmast | CC 2101, Sponsored by SCORE |
| 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. | Officiating Field Session | Rick Eddy & Abbey Okulaja | adidas Demo Field Hall A |
| 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. |
Walt Chyzowych Fund Award Ceremony and Reception. Esse Baharmast will receive this year’s Walt Chyzowych Fund Lifetime Achievement Award. Count Basie Ball Room Marriott Hotel |
Mariott Hotel Count Basie Ballroom |
REFEREE SUMMIT PRESENTERS
Dr. Joe Machnik
US Soccer and NISOA Halls of Fame, FOX Sports Soccer Rules Analyst
Esse Baharmast
FIFA World Cup Referee, Colorado Soccer Association Director of Referees
Howard Webb
FIFA World Cup Referee, Professional Referee Organization (PRO) General Manager
Brian Hall
FIFA World Cup Referee, CONCACAF Director of Officials, NISOA Hall of Fame
Matt Tiano
Twin Cities Soccer Leagues CEO, Youth Assignor, Division 1 Referee, ECSR Board Member, Supervisor of Officials for 4 Conferences
Ryan Cigich
US Youth Soccer National Referee Administrator, NCAA National Coordinator of Soccer Officiating
Cory Rockwell
FIFA Assistant Referee, NISOA Senior Director of Education
Alex Prus
FIFA Referee, PRO2 Match Officials Director, NISOA Hall of Fame
Greg Barkey
Former FIFA Assistant Referee, PRO Manager of Video Review
Rick Eddy
US SOCCER Director of Referee Development
Francisco Villarruel
US Youth Soccer Midwest Region Referee Administration, Former Michigan State Youth Referee Administrator, Former Midwest Region Referee Advisory Committee Member
Matt Almarez
AYSO Director of Referee Instruction
Roger Morton
United States Youth Soccer Referee Administrator, NCAA Regional Advisor
Christina Unkel
Lance VanHaitsma
CONCACAF Manager of Refereeing, NISOA Executive Board Member
Matthew Buckman
California North Referee Administration Director of Referee Development, U.S. Soccer National Referee Coach, Professional Referee Organization Assessor
Gary Huber
NISOA Past President & Hall of Fame, NISOA Foundation Fund Committee Chariman
Alex Diaz
AYSO Assistant Regional Manager
Manuel Ortiz Jr.
ECSR Co-Founder, Coordinator of Officials for 4 Div. I Conferences
Richard Grady
Former FIFA and MLS Referee, NCAA Soccer Rules Editor
Ralph Polson
United Soccer Coaches Past President, Former Wofford College Head Coach, NISOA Referee
Doug Wood
National Executive Director, Say Soccer
Abbey Okulaja
10-year MLS Referee, Former MLS Referee of the Year, Illinois State Director of Referee Development, U.S. Soccer National Referee Coach
Shane Butler
Sandy Hatfield Clubb
The PICTOR Group President, Former Director of Athletics at Drake University
Cory Richardson
PRO Assistant Referee, 2021 MLS Assistant Referee of the Year, USA FIFA Panel of International Assistant Referees
HOUSING INFORMATION
United Soccer Coaches has secured the best rates within the closest proximity to the Kansas City Convention Center. You will need to be a registered workshop attendee to receive access to the United Soccer Coaches housing block. You will receive a link and specific access code for the housing block in your confirmation email.
If you have any questions regarding housing availability or need assistance please email unitedsoccercoaches@conferencedirect.com or call 855-623-2117 between the hours of 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM EST Monday-Friday.
Please be aware that ConferenceDirect is the ONLY housing provider associated with the 2022 United Soccer Coaches Convention or US Youth Soccer Workshop. While other resellers may contact you offering housing for your trip, they are not endorsed or affiliated with this Convention. You will not be contacted by ConferenceDirect unless there is a question about your existing reservation or in a response to an inquiry made by you. Beware that entering into financial agreements with non-endorsed companies can have costly consequences. In addition, we are not responsible for any hotel reservation that is booked through an outside source. If you choose to book your hotel through an outside source this is completely at your own risk.
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