Kari and her crew were in the lobby ready to catch their ride to the train station headed for Hangzhou when they were notified that due to the Typhoon Wipha, Kari's match has been postponed until Thursday at 8pm.
This is the first time in 10 years that the eye of a typhoon will probably make landfall in Shanghai. Hangzhou is 200km southeast of Shanghai and also along the coast. Undoubtedly, they will also get plenty of rain and strong winds like Shanghai.
They are expecting up to 8 inches of rain over the next 24 hours so Jen's match has also been postponed and moved to Hangzhou on Thursday at 5pm. Unfortunately, Jen and her crew were not able to make the train tonight and most likely transportation will be stopped tomorrow due to the storm so they may very well be traveling the morning of the match by train.
Looking out the window right now, the rain is pelting down. We are not sure what will happen with the match tonight in Shanghai featuring the US and Nigeria, but we will probably find out shortly. For now, FIFA is saying that the match will kick-off as scheduled.
Never a dull moment here in China - as always, we have to be ready for anything. This brings back memories of Russia last year at the U20s final (for those who remember that match).
It is unclear what will happen with the television schedule at this point, so stay tuned.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
3rd Round Assignments
On Saturday, assignments for matches 17-20 were announced and on Sunday, the assignments for matches 21-24 were announced. Good news for the US. Kari will be refereeing Brazil vs Denmark on Wednesday, 19 Sept in Hangzhou at 8pm. Kari will be working with Isabel and Rita (Mex) once again and Adriana (Col). Jen will be refereeing Norway vs Ghana on Wednesday, 19 Sept in Shanghai at 5pm. Jen is teamed up with Corinne and Karine (Fra) and Estela (Arg). We are both eager for our next matches. Kari will be traveling to Hangzhou via train tomorrow afternoon.
Kari received a picture from her first match from the local organizing committee which we wanted to share with you.
Kari received a picture from her first match from the local organizing committee which we wanted to share with you.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
What about the shoe?
First and foremost, thanks for all the questions and words of support. We love it.
FAQ #2. What about the shoe?
I have received a lot of questions from interested referees regarding the correct decision for the player who removed her shoe(s) during the Japan vs England match.
Answer: FIFA encourages referees to allow players to demonstrate their joy when scoring a goal. However it may not be excessive. Of course, making gestures with are provocative, climbing on the perimeter fence, removing the shirt or covering your head or face with a mask is prohibited. FIFA expects referee to act in a preventative manner and exercise common sense. Since this instance was not deemed excessive, and no time was wasted (she got those things on and off quickly), FIFA agreed with my decision to exercise common sense, intervene and get play started quickly and allowing for the expression of joy as it was intended with NO caution. As always as referees, we need to read the game and act within the letter and the spirit of the law.
All the best. Kari
FAQ #2. What about the shoe?
I have received a lot of questions from interested referees regarding the correct decision for the player who removed her shoe(s) during the Japan vs England match.
Answer: FIFA encourages referees to allow players to demonstrate their joy when scoring a goal. However it may not be excessive. Of course, making gestures with are provocative, climbing on the perimeter fence, removing the shirt or covering your head or face with a mask is prohibited. FIFA expects referee to act in a preventative manner and exercise common sense. Since this instance was not deemed excessive, and no time was wasted (she got those things on and off quickly), FIFA agreed with my decision to exercise common sense, intervene and get play started quickly and allowing for the expression of joy as it was intended with NO caution. As always as referees, we need to read the game and act within the letter and the spirit of the law.
All the best. Kari
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Next round of assignments are announced
Wednesday was a relatively quiet day in Shanghai. Many of the referees who had traveled to other venues were either refereeing or traveling back to Shanghai. We had only a few referees for training this morning so we stayed at the hotel and had strength and core stability training in the fitness center. Kari, Isabel and Rita had their own cool-down session consisting of a spin on the stationary bike.
Later in the afternoon, we had a debriefing session for the following matches: Japan vs. England, USA vs. PRK and Sweden vs. Nigeria. We watched selected video clips for instructional purposes. The topics of discussion included foul recognition, advantage, misconduct, wall management, game management and offside.
At the end of the meeting, we received assignments for the next round of matches. Kari will be the 4th official for Japan vs. Argentina in Shanghai on Friday, 14 Sept. She will be working with Dagmar Damkova (Cze), Souad Oulhaj (Mar) and Ndah Tempa (Ben). Jen will be refereeing Brazil vs. China in Wuhan on Saturday, 15 Sept. Jen’s team includes Isabel Tovar (Mex), Rita Munoz (Mex) and Estela Alvarez de Olivera (Arg). The China vs. Denmark match drew a crowd of 50,000 so we anticipate a great atmosphere. The match promises to be exciting. For those interested in watching, please refer to the broadcast schedule link below.
We wrapped up the night watching two live matches in the referee lounge – New Zealand vs. Brazil and China vs. Denmark. At half-time, we played a few quick matches of ping-pong. The atmosphere was light-hearted and the camaraderie was truly enjoyable.
Later in the afternoon, we had a debriefing session for the following matches: Japan vs. England, USA vs. PRK and Sweden vs. Nigeria. We watched selected video clips for instructional purposes. The topics of discussion included foul recognition, advantage, misconduct, wall management, game management and offside.
At the end of the meeting, we received assignments for the next round of matches. Kari will be the 4th official for Japan vs. Argentina in Shanghai on Friday, 14 Sept. She will be working with Dagmar Damkova (Cze), Souad Oulhaj (Mar) and Ndah Tempa (Ben). Jen will be refereeing Brazil vs. China in Wuhan on Saturday, 15 Sept. Jen’s team includes Isabel Tovar (Mex), Rita Munoz (Mex) and Estela Alvarez de Olivera (Arg). The China vs. Denmark match drew a crowd of 50,000 so we anticipate a great atmosphere. The match promises to be exciting. For those interested in watching, please refer to the broadcast schedule link below.
We wrapped up the night watching two live matches in the referee lounge – New Zealand vs. Brazil and China vs. Denmark. At half-time, we played a few quick matches of ping-pong. The atmosphere was light-hearted and the camaraderie was truly enjoyable.
It's Showtime!
Our 1st match is now under our belt and I am just now sitting down to write this report at about 1am. WOW, What an exciting evening!
The evening started off with a police escort to the stadium. Instead of the typical siren to clear cars, bikers and mopeds out of our way, the Police here actually speak over a loud speaker. Our local volunteers translated: "stop", "move", "let me go first". It worked. We arrived at the stadium 20 minutes early!
Upon arrival, Isabel, Rita, Jen and I did the pre-requisite check of the field. A great opportunity to make sure field markings were correct, understand the true field dimensions and get a feel for the atmosphere and the condition of the field. If you watched the match you could probably see for yourself - it was soft. Needless to say I did not even consider wearing the turf shoes I had planned, but decided it would be safer to go with cleats. It was my first good call of the evening.
Japan vs. England was bound to be an exciting match up. Japan is very skillful, tactfully sound and quick. England is also skillful and physically strong. Being in the group with Germany (an incredibly dominate team as seen in game #1) these teams knew that winning would give them an excellent opportunity to go through to the next round.
Tonight everyone was in good spirits. It was nice to say hello and wish good luck to previous stars from the WUSA - Kelly Smith and Homare Sawa, both excellent and key players for their respective teams. It certainly can be helpful in establishing credibility right away if the players respect the referee from past experiences.
The pace of the game was in a word - FAST. End to end, back and forth, any one's match for sure. The players really came out to play and after a few fouls and an early card, the game settled in and they played. As the referee, I had to stay on top of a lot of contact in the box, with players fighting for position on corners and free kicks. We had a very unusual free kick by Japan where two players knelt down in front of their opponents. It resulted in a deflection back to their team for a shot on goal. The referee team looked closely for any misconduct or handballs, but nothing - a strange one for sure. In the end England scored 2 goals in the run of play and Japan had 2 goals, both as a result of free kicks. A tie - one of several on the second day of games at the WWC '07.
This match was a joy to referee. I had a fantastic time and it was such an honor. I was pleased to work with two great assistants and of course a fabulous 4th official.
By the way, when working properly (sometimes it cut in and out), the Electronic Communication Device is an effective tool. Could you see the device around my waist? How many pounds did it add on TV??
Thanks everyone for watching and also the notes of support. We go out there and represent you - the USA - each and every time we take the field.
It is now 1:20; time for bed. Check the blog often for updates on assignments. Best, Kari.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Let the Games Begin...
Monday marked the official start of the Women’s World Cup 2007. We started the day as always with breakfast and training. The atmosphere at breakfast was riddled with excitement. The Australian crew was getting ready for their big day. Our training was light on Monday because we were scheduled to referee the following day. So we had a warm-up followed by sprints and stretching. Whilst the others started their practical training, we walked around the university campus where we have been training. The campus is quite quaint despite being nestled in the middle of a large concrete jungle. There are many trees and a stream that runs through the middle. It is an oasis for the students and visitors alike. We stopped to take a quick photo with the statue of Mao Tse-tung and then proceeded to meander through the campus for about 30 minutes before returning to the hotel.
At 5:45pm, we departed for the opening ceremonies. We had a bus full of eager spectators. When we arrived at the stadium, we were ushered to the VIP area where we were treated to some snacks.
The opening ceremonies began at approximately 6:30pm. There were numerous performers including dancers and singers, but by far our favorites were the girls dressed as soccer balls whom we had met earlier in the week.
The theme of the opening ceremonies was “The Power of Beauty”.
Many of the performers were women or girls, but probably the most moving portion of the opening ceremonies was Sun Wen running to the stage along a long red carpet, being hoisted up to the mock-up of the WWC trophy and placing a silver soccer ball appropriately to complete the trophy. It reminded us of the Olympic torch being lit. Sun Wen was a superstar both in China and in the World. She was awarded the prestigious FIFA player of the century award in 2000 and is now a FIFA ambassador. Shanghai is Sun Wen's home town so it was fitting to have her "light the torch" for the opening ceremonies. It was a great tribute to the past and future of women’s football. Fireworks lit the sky over the stadium and the crowd erupted as the ceremonies concluded marking the start of the WWC 2007.
Let the games begin….
The match started at 8pm – Germany vs. Argentina. The tournament is always kicked off by the team who won the previous WWC which in this case was Germany. Germany was far too strong for Argentina, but I don't think anyone could have predicted the final score – 11-0. Records had fallen: the most decisive WWC victory ever, two players scoring hat tricks which has only happened once before and Birgit Prinz moving to the top of the list of goal scorers at WWC events alongside our own, Michelle Akers. We would have liked to see a more competitive match, but nevertheless, it was a fantastic evening and quite a thrill!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Weekend Update...Food, Shopping and More
This past weekend marked the end of our first full-week here in China. We have now adjusted to the time change and are ready to start the tournament.
Most days here are very similar and sometimes we catch ourselves trying to figure out what day it is. Our daily schedule typically follows the plan below:
Breakfast between 7:30-8:30am
Physical training 9:15-10:15am
Practical field training 10:15-11:30am
Cool-down 11:30am-12pm
Lunch 12:30-2pm
Meeting times vary, but generally 2:30-5:30pm
Dinner 7:30-9pm
The physical portion of the training varies each day. For those referees who have a match that day or who are traveling for a match that day, they typically do not participate in training. For those referees who have a match the following day, the training consists of a warm-up, stretching and several accelerations. The remainder of the referees will spend approximately 1 hour in physical training, 1 hour in technical training and a cool-down.
The practical training changes each day, but over the past week we have worked on off-side decisions, penalty decisions and cooperation between the AR and referee. We have local players helping with our practical sessions. The players try to simulate numerous game situations.
In our afternoon meetings, we have focused on various topics including tournament/match specifics, mental preparation (with relaxation exercises), foul/misconduct and offside video review. Now that matches are starting, the afternoon sessions will be debriefing sessions from the matches the prior day.
As we mentioned in an earlier blog, we have wonderful facilities here at the hotel for additional training including a pool pictured below. After purchasing the required swim cap and goggles, Jen has already had two sessions in the pool. We have been threatened with a possible water aerobics session which Kari is anxiously awaiting.... For those who know Kari, swimming is not one of her favorites!
Many may be wondering what we are eating here in China. For the most part, our meals have been western prepared meals. Every meal is buffet style. At breakfast, we have hot selections including eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles and pancakes. We also have a cereal and bread selection as well as fresh fruit and yogurt. For lunch and dinner, we typically have hot selections including several meat choices including usually beef, chicken, pork and/or lamb and a fish selection. We often have potatoes, rice and/or pasta as well as vegetable dishes. We also have a soup selection, salad and fresh fruit.
We always have numerous dessert selections including ice cream and cakes. Yesterday we had chili ice cream which was quite unusual.
They are starting to introduce some Chinese dishes to our menu. Apparently the Chinese food inspectors have criticized our menu for not offering enough Chinese choices.
So what else have we been up to over the weekend? Shopping! We visited a Chinese market over the weekend where we practiced our bartering skills. Fortunately we were accompanied by local volunteers to help with the translation and bartering.
Most days here are very similar and sometimes we catch ourselves trying to figure out what day it is. Our daily schedule typically follows the plan below:
Breakfast between 7:30-8:30am
Physical training 9:15-10:15am
Practical field training 10:15-11:30am
Cool-down 11:30am-12pm
Lunch 12:30-2pm
Meeting times vary, but generally 2:30-5:30pm
Dinner 7:30-9pm
The physical portion of the training varies each day. For those referees who have a match that day or who are traveling for a match that day, they typically do not participate in training. For those referees who have a match the following day, the training consists of a warm-up, stretching and several accelerations. The remainder of the referees will spend approximately 1 hour in physical training, 1 hour in technical training and a cool-down.
The practical training changes each day, but over the past week we have worked on off-side decisions, penalty decisions and cooperation between the AR and referee. We have local players helping with our practical sessions. The players try to simulate numerous game situations.
In our afternoon meetings, we have focused on various topics including tournament/match specifics, mental preparation (with relaxation exercises), foul/misconduct and offside video review. Now that matches are starting, the afternoon sessions will be debriefing sessions from the matches the prior day.
As we mentioned in an earlier blog, we have wonderful facilities here at the hotel for additional training including a pool pictured below. After purchasing the required swim cap and goggles, Jen has already had two sessions in the pool. We have been threatened with a possible water aerobics session which Kari is anxiously awaiting.... For those who know Kari, swimming is not one of her favorites!
Many may be wondering what we are eating here in China. For the most part, our meals have been western prepared meals. Every meal is buffet style. At breakfast, we have hot selections including eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles and pancakes. We also have a cereal and bread selection as well as fresh fruit and yogurt. For lunch and dinner, we typically have hot selections including several meat choices including usually beef, chicken, pork and/or lamb and a fish selection. We often have potatoes, rice and/or pasta as well as vegetable dishes. We also have a soup selection, salad and fresh fruit.
We always have numerous dessert selections including ice cream and cakes. Yesterday we had chili ice cream which was quite unusual.
They are starting to introduce some Chinese dishes to our menu. Apparently the Chinese food inspectors have criticized our menu for not offering enough Chinese choices.
So what else have we been up to over the weekend? Shopping! We visited a Chinese market over the weekend where we practiced our bartering skills. Fortunately we were accompanied by local volunteers to help with the translation and bartering.
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