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WITH KRIS BAILEY
 Where do you
currently work or where do you go to school and what class?
Pine Bluff Arsenal, General Physics Corporation
What are your outside interests (hobbies, etc)?
Gardening, reading, running, my children, traveling, etc.
How long have you
been a referee? 20 years
What changes have you seen (good and bad) in Arkansas soccer
(officiating or the game)?
An incredible movement toward higher level referees who are
recognized not only in the state but regionally and now nationally.
How has being a referee (or soccer) helped you in your
outside life?
Soccer refereeing has helped me in learning how to manage
different interpersonal relationships. The interaction with the
refereeing team as well as learning how to deal with players gave me a
lot of skill in my workplace as well.
If you could change anything about soccer in Arkansas, what
would it be?
I would love to see a higher-level game played in the
state. I think the referees are phenomenal in this state and would be
even better if the competition helped them move to higher levels.
When you think of Arkansas
soccer, what is your best memory?
Southern Regionals with Steve Harvey; laughing until my
sides hurt; watching Gabe/Matt receive the Scoffield Award.
What is your most memorable on field experience?
Sorry – this is an experience from Georgia. I was nominated to
the Center of the 5A Girls High School Semi-Final march or when I was the
first Center of an all woman crew on a boy’s game at Southeast Regionals.
Has anyone helped you achieve any goals or given you any
direction in soccer (role model, mentor, etc)?
So many people I cannot name them all – however, in this
state, Steve Harvey, Mark Wagner, Bill Nelson, Vince Henderson, Brett
Henderson, George Anderson, Will Maffitt, and a whole host of Young Gunz
like Matt Foerster, Darren Bauer, Jared Peeler, Kyle Troutman, Gabe
McNatt, Rebecca Maffitt, Delilah Goodwin, etc., etc., etc.
If you walked away from soccer today, what would you miss?
The phone calls from Steve Harvey.
If soccer were taken from you today, how would you want to
be remembered?
As someone who truly cared about the game and put the
overall game first without regard to what I personally wanted. I want the
young people to have every opportunity I was too old to achieve. I would
want people to remember me as someone who encouraged them and helped them
reach their very best.
Sound off. This is your chance to write a short paragraph
about anything soccer related; funny stories, instrumental people, places
you’ve been, things you’d like fixed, etc.
I moved here five years ago figuring I could never have as
good an experience as I had in Georgia by serving as the SYRA and a State
Instructor/Assessor. I was so wrong. The referees in Arkansas warmly and openly received
me. I have enjoyed every day of instruction, assessment, and just plain
relationship-building with so many of the soccer lovers in this state. I
am so blessed to have gotten to know Steve Harvey and cannot thank him
enough for making sure I stayed in the “game” here. I was ready to retire
from soccer when I got here and he has kept me in the mainstream. I am so
honored to have received the Instructor and Assessor of the Year awards.
They mean so very much to me. I thank each and every referee in this
state that I have had the opportunity to meet because I truly believe you
are the best and you are the best because your SRC cares more than any
group of administrators I have ever seen! You are very fortunate and do
not ever take that for granted! Thank you – if I walked away tomorrow,
these would be the best memories of soccer I would carry with me!
(to the top)
WITH JOEL SMITH...
 Where do you
currently work or where do you go to school and what class?
Datamax Micro, VP of Sales
What are your outside interests (hobbies, etc)?
Soccer and traveling are my main outside interests.
Love going to Mexico.
How long have you been a referee?
Fall of 1999 so almost 7 years.
What changes have you seen (good and bad) in Arkansas soccer
(officiating or the game)?
Our teams have continued to improve and play better at a
regional level. Officiating is the best in the region. The
bad, well with the pool of players being so small in AR there are too
many classic clubs fighting over players and not enough being done,
overall, to develop the players at a younger level. The state has
to have a good director of coaching and must have some administrative
staff that understands how to build classic and premier programs.
How has being a referee (or soccer) helped you in your
outside life?
Being a referee has made me thicker skinned, which was
much needed. It has humbled me some extent to know that I am not
now, nor was I when I was coaching, always right.
If you could change anything about soccer in Arkansas, what
would it be?
Get corporate sponsors to help the associations build good
coaching staffs and developmental programs to build the skills of the
younger players.
When you think of Arkansas
soccer, what is your best memory?
I have two that mean just as much to me. Coaching my
daughters’ team to the U10 Girls state title in 2000 and then watching my
son in the 2002 regional tournament score the only goal for his team
during the entire tournament against the #5 nationally ranked Florida
U14’s.
What is your most memorable on field experience?
My very first assessment by a very well known referee and
assessor in AR helped me make a decision to try and take my game to the
next level with a very positive assessment a couple months after becoming
a ref and then probably the game I had at MexArk to go from an 8 to a 7
and being told by the assessor that he didn’t think he could have called
a better game himself.
Has anyone helped you achieve any goals or given you any
direction in soccer (role model, mentor, etc)?
Yes, I have had the good fortune to work with some very
good referees in AR and have learned quite a bit from them however, Steve
Harvey has helped me most with achieving my goals.
If you walked away from soccer today, what would you miss?
Camaraderie with fellow refs, competition to be the best I
can be and the physical workouts.
If soccer were taken from you today, how would you want to
be remembered?
I want to be known as fair to both sides and consistent
with my calls.
Sound off. This is your chance to write a short paragraph
about anything soccer related; funny stories, instrumental people, places
you’ve been, things you’d like fixed, etc.
Being involved with soccer has
made me a better person. It gave me an opportunity to work with
kids for 11 years while coaching which in turn showed me what was really
important in life, being a good role model. Becoming a ref helped
me become thicker skin and take criticism a lot better. It has also
helped mw see what is wrong with this world. The examples being
displayed by parents and coaches towards refs, other players, their own
players and other coaches and parents is reprehensible at all age levels.
It is no wonder that there is so much violence outside of sports since it
seems to be encouraged by the very people that should be setting the
proper example. I am stepping down off my box now. (to the
top)
WITH DON BOSS...
 Where do you
currently work or where do you go to school and what class.
Currently in school at UALR—many
odd jobs-semi-retired
What are your outside interests (hobbies, etc).
Duplicate Bridge—officiating
several sports
How long have you been a referee?
11 years in Arkansas----I was a Youth Referee in
the late 60’s
What changes have you seen (good and bad) in Arkansas soccer
(officiating or the game)?
Best: Soccer introduced into the
AAA (High Schools and Jr Hi’s). Since 1996 Youth Recreational Soccer has gone
backward—Adult Rec has blossomed. Officiating still seems very
parochial—Big City vs Small/ Northwest vs Central
How has being a referee (or soccer) helped you in your
outside life.
Contacts/ Money
If you could change anything about soccer in Arkansas, what
would it be?
Reintroduce Indoor Soccer---(Maybe
Futsal)
When you think of Arkansas
soccer, what is your best memory?
Coaching my Daughter’s U15 Rec
Team/
What is your most memorable on field experience?
Second time I blew the whistle
(First was to start the game) as a Center in a HS Varsity game Pulaski
Academy vs Cabot was for PK for slide tackle from rear, ball cleared
first then trip. No red card because I reasoned that the ball was
gone before he touched player. I then overheard the side lines say
“Who is that Guy???”
Has anyone helped you achieve any goals or given you any
direction in soccer (role model, mentor, etc). Too many to number in St Louis growing up.
Many people here in Arkansas - Armel
Blot/ Michael Gilbert/ Jim Montgomery/ Jerry Corrigan/ Ron Heller/ Vince
Henderson
If you walked away from soccer today, what would you miss?
The Links to my Friends/ Exercise/
The kids/ Money
If soccer were taken from you today, how would you want to
be remembered?
I was willing to do what needed to
be done for the Good of the Game not my personal interests.
Sound off: This is your chance to write a short paragraph
about anything soccer related; funny stories, instrumental people, places
you’ve been, things you’d like fixed, etc.
Best compliment I ever received: I
ran into Dr. Krulin (Father to the Krulin Twins from PA’s state
champions) and some father from Catholic High School at Kroger’s—I was
talking to Krulin when this dad who knew Krulin came up us and wanted to
talk to Krulin about the night before’s PA vs Catholic game. The two of
them, who had both been at the game, then took a half hour to
describe the entire game including the deciding PK to me, in great
detail. They told about many incidents and various calls by
the official –good and bad. It was very interesting to hear them
tell all about it from their differing points of view. We parted
ways and I never to this day told them and I’m sure they never
realized, I had been the Center.
(to the top)
WITH JOHN
SWILLUM...
 Where do you
currently work or where do you go to school and what class.
System and Network Administrator for FTN Associates, a
hydrological engineering firm in Little
Rock Arkansas.
What are your outside interests (hobbies, etc).
Landscaping, home remodeling, musician at St. Theresa’s
church.
How long have you been a referee? Six years
What changes have you seen (good and bad) in Arkansas soccer
(officiating or the game)?
Respect for the officials has progressively gone down over
they years, this has made getting and holding on to new referees a much
more difficult job. On the other hand, we now have the best tools
in the nation to do exactly that: hold on to as many new referees
as possible.
How has being a referee (or soccer) helped you in your
outside life.
I began as a soccer referee 6 years ago weighing in at
well over 300 pounds. I also carry with me the ancillary health
problems (physical and mental) that came with it. Despite the many
turbulent times I’ve had over the years, I have lost many pounds (over
100) and also gained a self-confidence that I never knew existed.
If you could change anything about soccer in Arkansas, what
would it be?
I was frustrated with the inability of the different
administrative groups to communicate with each other, in addition,
information about referees was spread out in such a way so as to make it
very difficult and time-consuming to do something. Rather than
complain, I had the unique talents to do something about it, the Arkansas
State Referee Database is the result of years of effort by many people,
designed to make critical information available to those who need it,
allowing the right referee/group to be instructed/assessed/assigned/tested
in as effective and efficient way possible.
When you think of Arkansas
soccer, what is your best memory?
Two years ago, I went to Fort Smith to work a tournament, I had
just gotten my State Badge. While there, there was a large number
of young referees milling about. On the Saturday afternoon, a
couple of those young people came up to ask me a question about how to
get better and refereeing and what it would take to upgrade, so we moved
up to the hillside near the concession stand, from there, I answered
their questions. Soon more people came, eventually covering the
hillside with almost 30 young referees, listening intently, asking
questions, and learning. That memory of a little bit of magic that
afternoon has never left me and it draws me to return there again.
What is your most memorable on field experience?
Being the referee of the U16 boys Directors Final, it
scared the life out of me, but taught me more about myself than I care to
think.
Has anyone helped you achieve any goals or given you any direction
in soccer (role model, mentor, etc).
Gary Low: My first instructor
and his best student, he always told me to “Run More!!!!”
Kris Bailey: The first
tournament I ever went to, I wasn’t a ref. But, rather, I was a
golf cart driver. Happenstance occurred and I wound up carrying
this lady around and I had no idea what she was going through herself at
the time. As a grade 9, I decided to ask a question. The
consequences to that question have affected both of us and many others to
this day.
Dan McNutt: During the Grade 8
days, an instructor in the hand certainly was worth more than two in the
classroom.
Don Boss: He trusted me enough to
have me work his Men Amateur League, there, I worked for 2 years. I
kept me going when things went bad. He was there when I made my
Grade 7.
Rigo Chavez: He gave me the chance
to work Mexark. Slowly at first, he wisely gave me games that
challenged me but didn’t blow me out of the water.
Steve Harvey: I’ve learned more
about referee administration than I care to think about. In
addition, I learned of the huge amount of time and energy put forth by
the SRC to make the whole thing go.
Everyone else: I was, at one time,
going to write an article about “How many people it takes to make a State
Referee.” After wrestling with it for a while, I determined that it
takes the entire program just to make one. I have met a lot of
people, made friends with most, seen a ton of great officiating, and
gritted my teeth at bonehead maneuvers. It the end, becoming better
at what I do is not necessarily for my own pleasure. More importantly,
being an example of what a good referee should look like. Certainly
I cannot run 3000 meters in 12 minutes and sprinting is not my forte, but
a State Badge isn’t just about being the “fastest or bestest,” it also
entertains the correct attitude toward the program and the willingness to
help it succeed. It has always been by feeling that the greatest
accomplishment a State Referee can perform is to help create another
State Referee.
If you walked away from soccer today, what would you miss?
All of the people I have come to know throughout the
state.
If soccer were taken from you today, how would you want to
be remembered?
In my own way, doing something that I love (computers), I
helped change the way Arkansas Soccer runs and, hopefully, my efforts
have positively helped every referee and administrator in the
state. The database work will certainly last well beyond my ability
to officiate.
Sound off: This is your chance to write a short paragraph
about anything soccer related; funny stories, instrumental people, places
you’ve been, things you’d like fixed, etc.
Socrates, in his second book, was
arguing with Heraclitus (his teacher) about what the highest form of
knowledge was. Essentially, Socrates’ highest form of knowledge was
not knowledge itself, but, rather, the understanding and realization of
what we don’t know. In a nutshell, realizing our limitations is the
highest form of wisdom. When I started refereeing, I was completely
out of shape, health problems were everywhere, and I was completely
ignorant of what I was embarking on. My life as a ref was destined
to be short, in both my opinion and others. But, strange things
happen when you meet the right people, at the right time. Soon, I
discovered that I can do things when I previously thought I
couldn’t. I started running and getting in shape, the effort
was/is horrendous, in many cases I have to work much harder than
most. My limits that I set on myself were unrealistic, there was
far more in me that I had given myself credit for. Four years ago,
if you asked someone if I were to get a State Badge, the “swampland if Florida” story
would have followed immediately. Was my trip to a State Referee
easy? Absolutely not, there were times when dropping the uniform
would have been the common-sense thing to do. Today, I wear a
State Badge, am I the best in Arkansas?
‘No,’ am I getting better? ‘Yes,’ Every day, I fight to improve
whether it be in a Mexark bloodbath or my Jayme’s U7 rec games.
The point is that
even me, who, by most common metrics, should not ever have made the grade
I carry today, did so because I learned that my self-imposed limitations
were a fallacy and that I had abilities I never considered. This is
the same for every referee in the state, there are far more talents and
strengths contained in all of us that we may well have never
considered. Remember Socrates, “knowledge of our limits provides us
the bounds for improvement, as well as the wisdom to know where to place
our efforts of learning.” Will those talents be easy to grow and
make strong, probably not without a very substantial effort as well as a
mountain of willpower. But, given time, a good group of other
referees, instructor, assessors, assignors, and administrators, as well
as the willpower to become better, there is no limit to what you can
accomplish and how high you can fly.
This day, as I have
for the past two years, I wear a $2 piece of cloth on my uniform very
proudly, not so much for the fact that the $2 badge is worth that much or
that only 30 or so wear the same. But, most importantly, because it
represents the beginnings, efforts, mistakes, accomplishments, pains,
gains, friendships, sweat, blood, hospital visits, cheering crowds, angry
mobs, and yes, the upgrades. For, in my humble opinion, it’s not
about the wearing of the state badge that counts, it’s about the journey
getting there. (to the top)
WITH MCNUTT...
 Where do you
currently work or where do you go to school and what class.
Arkansas Manufactured
Home Commission
What are your
outside interests (hobbies, etc).
Music, woodworking, Jewelry. Oh
yeah, my Wife.
How long have you
been a referee? Ten Years
What changes have
you seen (good and bad) in Arkansas
soccer (officiating or the game)?
Good: Fresh Faces, and old
friends. Bad: Grade 8’s and 9’s should get more recognition or
assistance from above and too much referee turnover.
How has being a
referee (or soccer) helped you in your outside life.
Allows me to see things from more
than one perspective better.
If you could change
anything about soccer in Arkansas,
what would it be?
Have actual league play at all
levels. Let the league standings count for advancement rather than
using the State Cups format. Have a league season and then after
that a tournament season. This would allow better utilization of
local referees for local games. Also better attendance at
In-Service. Get this done by Oct. 31 every year.
When you think of Arkansas soccer,
what is your best memory?
Teaching most Beginning Referee
Courses.
What is your most
memorable on field experience?
A 9 year old girl when I asked her
why she stuck her hand out at a ball (she withdrew it before contact)
“Ma’am what are you doing?” She replied “I had an irresistible
urge”. From a nine year old I almost died laughing.
Has anyone helped
you achieve any goals or given you any direction in soccer (role model,
mentor, etc).
Armel Blot, Vince Henderson, Don
Boss,& John Swillum.
If you walked away
from soccer today, what would you miss? The kids.
If soccer were
taken from you today, how would you want to be remembered?
That I treated the youngsters well
and they appreciated how I treated them.
Sound off: This is your
chance to write a short paragraph about anything soccer related; funny
stories, instrumental people, places you’ve been, things you’d like fixed, etc.
Refer to question
6 about league play. I do not do in-season tournaments as they are
fund raisers for one club (I have no problem with that) but they tighten
the referee pool too much for the regularly scheduled games. Also
there is no procedure for dealing with cards. This makes discipline
harder for the referees as there is no real consequence for behavior.
There should be a
better working relationship between the clubs and their parent
organizations, the ASSA, and the referees. Most of all any
information about referee procedures, new ways of approaching game
management, different approaches on calling a match should be
disseminated throughout the referee corps almost as soon as it has been
given to higher level refs, assessors, or instructors. If this were
done it would raise the level of refereeing at all level of games and
make us all look better as a result.
(to the top)
WITH DARREN
BAUER...
 Where do you
currently work or where do you go to school and what class.
I currently work for and go to
school at Manhattanville
College in
Purchase, NY.
What are your
outside interests (hobbies, etc).
Lets see…music, fishing and
sports…any type of sport from the obvious of soccer to the obscure of
Hurling.
How long have you
been a referee?
I believe since I was 12…so that would
be 12 years now…wow! Has it been that long…Matt we are getting old…move
over Steve we are catching up to you!
What changes have
you seen (good and bad) in Arkansas
soccer (officiating or the game)?
The obvious good that has come out
of Arkansas
soccer is the Young Gunz. This program has helped us build a large core
of soccer refs that are very good at what they do. Because we have helped
make them better, they in return have helped us make everyone else in the
state better. I cannot really say anything bad about the officiating in Arkansas…as I
already said, it has improved tremendously from when I was playing (and
let me remind everyone that is when Steve was refing!)
How has being a
referee (or soccer) helped you in your outside life.
Well, since my career is now in
soccer, it has helped me tremendously develop a love for the game and
knowledge of every aspect of the game. There really are three sides of
soccer…playing, refing, and coaching. But more importantly, soccer has
taught me how to be a leader and also how to work in a team relationship
and that relationship is always give and take. You must always work
through your troubles in hopes that one glorious moment will come along,
that is the beautiful game of soccer.
If you could change
anything about soccer in Arkansas,
what would it be?
I think the obvious thing is to
improve the overall level of soccer in Arkansas,
but I am going to go with increase the level of interest of soccer in Arkansas. Don’t
get me wrong, the interest has increased since I played, but we still do
not have those state tournaments with 8 teams in one age groups fighting
for that title.
When you think of Arkansas soccer,
what is your best memory?
I would have to say this past
Disney Soccer Showcase…no not because we partied until wee hours of the
night to wake up at 5 in the morning, but I realized how far we have
brought Arkansas soccer over the past three or four years. When I saw the
level of games we were getting at this tournament and the recognition we
were getting from some big whigs (Alfred Kleinaitis) thanks in large part
to Gabe and Matt doing so well in the past, it dawned on me that we
really have created something special. The fact that these guys know who
we are now made me realize how far we really have come in Arkansas.
What is your most
memorable on field experience?
I would have to say this past
regional tournament in Plano
when I received the honor of centering the finals for the U-15 girls
match. Just to have that honor made it special, but I cannot remember the
last time I was that nervous to do a game. The game went very well…ending
in a battle to the end, but the girls respected me and my crew did a
great job…it was a great achievement for me and I will always remember
it. I owe that experience to some certain people, but I will save that
for the next question.
Has anyone helped
you achieve any goals or given you any direction in soccer (role model,
mentor, etc).
There are two people that have
helped me in so many ways through my young…and now old career…that would
be Steve and Kris. Both of you have helped me tremendously and I cannot
thank either of you enough for what you have helped me to achieve.
If you walked away
from soccer today, what would you miss?
Walk away…I will be crawling
away…the only thing that would take me away was if I could not use my
legs anymore (which might not be that far away)! But to entertain you I
would have to say just the beauty of the game and the camaraderie that is
built through the game.
If soccer were
taken from you today, how would you want to be remembered?
I know how I will be remembered…as
the guy who would draw blood and not expect a foul, but I would like to
be remembered as someone who just loved the game and helped out Arkansas soccer a
little bit along the way.
Sound off: This is
your chance to write a short paragraph about anything soccer related;
funny stories, instrumental people, places you’ve been, things you’d like
fixed, etc.
Steve….my mom is still expecting a
payment for that jersey that was ripped to shreds in that one game you
refed.
Kris…mom…I look forward to
tainting your ears again with some great jokes in the near future. (to
the top)
WITH DELILAH
GOODWIN...
 Where do you
currently work or where do you go to school and what class.
Razorback Feed & Supply in
Searcy. I home school with a tutor
What are your
outside interests (hobbies, etc).
I show market & dairy animals.
I compete nationally in team roping, Shooting Sports and Ball Room
Dancing.
How long have you
been a referee?
I started when I was 12, so 4
years
What changes have
you seen (good and bad) in Arkansas
soccer (officiating or the game)?
As in officiating, First off the
support you receive here is great. Bad nothing really that officials can
change.
As in soccer, if you love it like
I do you; you don't mind the little things.
How has being a
referee (or soccer) helped you in your outside life.
To trust my teammates, myself, and
my ability.
If you could change
anything about soccer in Arkansas,
what would it be?
Referee camps for youth and adult
at different levels.
When you think of Arkansas soccer,
what is your best memory?
My best, that’s tough. I
would have to say being accepted into Young Gunz.
What is your most
memorable on field experience?
Scoring the winning goal in the
finals of the Presidents Cup
Has anyone helped
you achieve any goals or given you any direction in soccer (role model,
mentor, etc).
Ruth Ann and Phil Miller, Kris
Bailey, David Rector, the entire Young Gunz and SRC Group. Thanks, Ladies
and Gentleman for all of your support.
If you walked away
from soccer today, what would you miss?
The experience
and the leadership
If soccer were
taken from you today, how would you want to be remembered?
One of the fairest and hardest
working referees. As a young referee that always tried to learn from the
experience and teach and help the inexperienced.
I would like to say thanks to
everyone for helping and guiding me. It is due to your patience,
guidance, and genuine kindness that I am where I'm at today and doing
what I'm doing. Not many female nor young nor referees in general can say
that. Thanks for helping through my good, bad, and worst times.
(to
the top)
WITH JARED
PEELER...
 Where do you
currently work or where do you go to school and what class?
First Community Bank
What are your
outside interests (hobbies, etc)?
Anything Outside.
How long have you
been a referee?
I got my first badge in 98
What changes have
you seen (good and bad) in Arkansas
soccer (officiating or the game)?
The interaction with the young
referees has been a plus
How has being a
referee (or soccer) helped you in your outside life?
I have traveled with teams and as
a referee and it has been an experience meeting new people and seeing new
places. Through the back woods, hick town of Georgia was an interesting experience.
If you could change
anything about soccer in Arkansas,
what would it be?
Have better teams
When you think of Arkansas soccer,
what is your best memory?
At Regionals in Plano,
having 7 referees work final matches just shows how well refereeing in Arkansas has
improved over the past years.
What is your most
memorable on field experience?
Everyone needs a Mexark game with
Mark Wagner. They don’t last long.
Has anyone helped
you achieve any goals or given you any direction in soccer (role model,
mentor, etc).
I’ve had a lot of help in my
referee career. A few national referees have shared some helpful
advice with me. Then who could leave out Kris and Steve - this is their
plug.
If you walked away
from soccer today, what would you miss?
I love the sport, I have played
since I was 10 through college and I will never forget those
memories. I have refereed since I was 13 and it would be hard for
me to give up the thrill of refereeing a championship match.
If soccer were
taken from you today, how would you want to be remembered?
As someone who made a difference.
I want referees to say that I gave them some advice somewhere along the
way to make them better.
(to
the top)
WITH MATT
FOERSTER...
 Where do you
currently work or where do you go to school and what class?
I graduated from college last May,
and right now I work at the Arkansas Public Defender Commission as a
“legal assistant,” a.k.a. peon. I am enrolled to begin law school
at UALR in the fall of 2005.
What are your
outside interests (hobbies, etc)?
Well, I continue to indulge
obsession with movies and music that I cultivated in college. Other
than that, my passion is for everything soccer, especially watching
European games on TV. I am currently working on putting together a
trip with my brother to the World Cup in Germany 2006.
How long have you
been a referee?
I began I think in the fall of
1994 in Pennsylvania,
at the ripe old age of 12. I really enjoyed it from the start, even
when my friends who registered with me began dropping out. I moved to
Arkansas
in the summer of 1995 and remained a grade 8 for the next seven
years. Eventually, and for a multitude of reasons, I decided that I
needed to begin the upgrade process. For the last three or so
years, I have been steadily moving up, and I hope to be a grade 5 by this
summer.
What changes have
you seen (good and bad) in Arkansas
soccer (officiating or the game)?
Arkansas soccer and
refereeing has been quietly developing over the last few years, closing
the gap with other states in the region. The State Referee
Committee has realized the need to dedicate its efforts to the
recruitment and development of young referees, especially those whose
goal is to work higher level matches.
How has being a
referee (or in soccer) helped you in your outside life?
While that gold referee jersey has
yet to get me a hot date, I believe that the communication and
decision-making skills that refereeing demands and fine-tunes are
invaluable.
Has anyone helped
you achieve any goals or given you any direction in soccer (role model,
mentor, etc)?
I think if I answered this
question fully, I could write a small book about what Steve Harvey has
done for me and for Arkansas Referees. In short, Steve has helped
us open doors to new levels of refereeing in our own state and throughout
the nation. He is always willing to do whatever he can to help you,
and has personally helped me facilitate the fulfillment of my refereeing
goals. Plus, you can always count on his sharp sense of humor to
give your abs a good workout!
Sound off: This is
your chance to write a short paragraph about anything soccer related;
funny stories, instrumental people, places you’ve been, things you’d like
fixed, etc.
I think one common misconception
about referees is that we do not have the same love and passion for the
game that players have. This could not be further from the
truth. Most of the best referees in the world have admitted that
while they found out early that they did not have what it takes to play
professionally, their desire to be a part of the game at higher levels
transformed their efforts from practicing ball control to practicing game
control ( i.e. refereeing). I get just as much of a chill
down my spine as any player does when I watch Zidane curl in a free kick,
Henry turn a defender, or Van der Sar save a penalty. It is this
feeling and appreciation for the game that drives both players and
referees alike to perform at the next level.
(to
the top)
WITH BRIAN
CALDWELL...
 Where do you
currently work or where do you go to school and what class?
I am an accountant with Entergy Services, Inc.
What are your outside interests (hobbies, etc)?
My family pretty much consumes most of my time.
Hobbies include walking, snow skiing, scuba diving, reading, and bike
riding.
How long have you been a referee? Since 1989.
What changes have you seen (good and bad) in Arkansas
soccer (officiating or the game)?
I moved to Arkansas in
1994 from southeast Texas (near Houston) and the skill level of the average soccer player
in Arkansas
was far lower than I was prepared for. There were some very good
players, but there were many more players at the competitive level who
were really just strong recreational players. I remember my first
game in Arkansas
was a real eye opener. I have never called as many fouls or given
as many yellow cards in any game up to that point. At first I
thought it was awful, but then I began to realize that these were players
and coaches who were just struggling to understand a game that was new to
them. Then I got excited, I backed off on my whistle a bit and cut
way down on my cards. I started talking more on the field and
explaining more to players and coaches. Soccer has come a long way
in Arkansas.
All good. It has come a long way because the people who make it
work (players, coaches, administrators, referees, moms and dads) want it
to succeed. When I look back now at the complexes that have sprung
up and how much the general skill level of coaches, referees, and players
has improved, I am very encouraged. Soccer in Arkansas hasn’t just arrived, it is
going places.
How has being a referee (or soccer) helped you in your
outside life?
It centers me, relaxes me, and compels me. I have a
pretty stressful job. But compared to calling a penalty kick in the
final minutes of a soccer game (regardless of age or competitive level),
my job is a piece of cake. When I think about all the great people
who do so much as part of what is essentially a volunteer organization to
improve the life of so many people, I really find almost any problem
surmountable. | 
