SATURDAY MAY 10, 2008, SIDNEY, OHIO
Ryan White and I headed out to Sidney, Ohio for the 12th Annual Mayfest Tournament. We drove to west of Columbus through some heavy rains, finally arriving Marysville at 2:00 a.m. Morning came quick, and we were on the road shortly after 6:00 a.m. As we drove through the country roads, many of the corn fields looked like rice paddies. There was standing water everywhere.
Not sure what we wanted more. To have driven that far to learn the tournament was canceled or to actually ref in those conditions. We refereed.
The complex where we were assigned, Sidney High School, had acres of flat open fields that had been lined for soccer. Although not premier fields, the grass was good on all fields. Where you could see the grass that is. There was standing water on all the fields and areas of mud more than 6" deep on many fields.
But the day was beautiful. The temperature only climbed to 65 but it was sunny, albeit a bit breezy. It was cool in the shade.
It was a beautiful day but it wasn't a day of beautiful soccer. The best passes seemed to find their way to a puddle and die. Many times the kids looked like a bad golfer in a sand trap trying two and three times to knock the ball out of the puddle. Sometimes only a large splash would result.
At the end of the day, I was covered in mud. From the top of my socks to the bottom of my shorts I was caked in dry mud. It was all over the back of my shorts and up my back as well.
It rained Saturday night. A lot. I was sure with the forecast for more rain in Sunday that the tournament would be canceled. It wasn't. At 8:00 a.m. it wasn't raining and the organizers were huddled around their laptops watching radar images. The fields were worse than the day before.
But we played. It rained lightly a little then before the 9:15 a.m. game, the sun came out. For three minutes. Then it disappeared, quickly, and was replaced by heavy rain. We played although I thought about suspending play due to visibility. But that too only lasted about three minutes. Then it was just rain. And lightning.
When I saw the lightning strike, I blew my whistle and suspended my game. The players actually ran to safety. No arguing about lightning here. Within two minutes the horn blew across the complex and everyone went for cover.
We first got word that the Cincinnati team that had been playing decided to go home instead. And after waiting out some of the severe weather, it was still storming after all, we informed the referee director that we would be leaving. We did have an 8 hour drive (turned into 11) ahead of us and he thanked us for coming. While we were eating at the Spot in Sidney, we learned from some other players that the tournament had just been canceled.
The Mayfest Classic is truly an event the community rallies behind. The high school complex consist of many acres of flat land which seems to be used only for the tournament. The fields will recover.
Ryan White and I headed out to Sidney, Ohio for the 12th Annual Mayfest Tournament. We drove to west of Columbus through some heavy rains, finally arriving Marysville at 2:00 a.m. Morning came quick, and we were on the road shortly after 6:00 a.m. As we drove through the country roads, many of the corn fields looked like rice paddies. There was standing water everywhere.
Not sure what we wanted more. To have driven that far to learn the tournament was canceled or to actually ref in those conditions. We refereed.
The complex where we were assigned, Sidney High School, had acres of flat open fields that had been lined for soccer. Although not premier fields, the grass was good on all fields. Where you could see the grass that is. There was standing water on all the fields and areas of mud more than 6" deep on many fields.
But the day was beautiful. The temperature only climbed to 65 but it was sunny, albeit a bit breezy. It was cool in the shade.
It was a beautiful day but it wasn't a day of beautiful soccer. The best passes seemed to find their way to a puddle and die. Many times the kids looked like a bad golfer in a sand trap trying two and three times to knock the ball out of the puddle. Sometimes only a large splash would result.
At the end of the day, I was covered in mud. From the top of my socks to the bottom of my shorts I was caked in dry mud. It was all over the back of my shorts and up my back as well.
It rained Saturday night. A lot. I was sure with the forecast for more rain in Sunday that the tournament would be canceled. It wasn't. At 8:00 a.m. it wasn't raining and the organizers were huddled around their laptops watching radar images. The fields were worse than the day before.
But we played. It rained lightly a little then before the 9:15 a.m. game, the sun came out. For three minutes. Then it disappeared, quickly, and was replaced by heavy rain. We played although I thought about suspending play due to visibility. But that too only lasted about three minutes. Then it was just rain. And lightning.
When I saw the lightning strike, I blew my whistle and suspended my game. The players actually ran to safety. No arguing about lightning here. Within two minutes the horn blew across the complex and everyone went for cover.
We first got word that the Cincinnati team that had been playing decided to go home instead. And after waiting out some of the severe weather, it was still storming after all, we informed the referee director that we would be leaving. We did have an 8 hour drive (turned into 11) ahead of us and he thanked us for coming. While we were eating at the Spot in Sidney, we learned from some other players that the tournament had just been canceled.
The Mayfest Classic is truly an event the community rallies behind. The high school complex consist of many acres of flat land which seems to be used only for the tournament. The fields will recover.
This was my second game on Saturday (9:15 a.m.). The ball by the chair is not the game ball -- just an extra. The ball is still at the player's feet -- although she gave it her best whack and succeeded only in soaking her opponent. Notice the opponent's foot covered in mud. Then notice the player on the right and ask yourself just how far down is her foot sunk?
