Throughout the years, I have witnessed nearly every type of substitution strategy there is in the book of football (aka soccer). One doesn’t have to be a referee to experience these ceremonial, sometimes odd, events. I am sure others, who have been around the game in other capacities (ex. fans, pundits), have observed similar strategic behaviors and perhaps, have normalized them as part of today’s game.
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Unfortunately, these behaviors are here to stay. FIFA, far from discouraging them, does little to properly equip referees with the adequate tools to combat such time-consuming subbing strategies. Some are team and tactical oriented while others are more individual and non-tactical in nature. In the end, they are all time-consuming and serve specific purposes. FIFA has gone as far as mandating additional time be taken to to deal with specific subbing scenarios involving certain player positions (ex. Goalkeepers) or certain injuries (ex. head).
Below, I attempt to explain and classify the possible tactical, psychological, and time-management considerations rather than actual medical reasons used during player substitutions. In some cases, I even provide (and illustrate) some recent examples.
Time Management/Game Management
This strategy normally occurs by the team which is leading late in the game; players oftentimes go down to slow the game tempo and allow their team to reset. It is characterized by a player drop right after the fourth official raises the substitution board (a convenient “pause” before the next phase) and it is intended to have any (or all) the following effects:
Disrupting the opponent’s momentum.
Providing tired teammates a brief breather before a defensive stand.
Allowing the coach to finalize substitution instructions or delaying play strategically.
Psychological or Face-Saving Mechanism
Being subbed off can be a blow to a player’s pride, especially if they have played poorly or disagree with the decision. This strategy is characterized by the player looking disappointed or glancing at the bench, then suddenly sitting down to clutch a leg or calf. It is intended to have the following effects:
Going down “injured” provides a socially acceptable excuse — “I’m coming off because I’m hurt, not because I played badly.”
It helps them preserve face with teammates, fans, and coaches.
Cristiano Ronaldo is known to use this strategy. Moments before the substitution board goes up, he briefly gestures discomfort, touching his leg. Sometimes, there is no real injury, but going down softens the optics of being replaced for tactical reasons. It allows him to preserve ego and control the narrative: “I came off for fitness reasons, not performance.”
This strategy is normally applied when time is not of the essence and the outcome is favorable to the team subbing; however, players like Ronaldo, Vinicius, etc. apply it whenever they deem it necessary.
Masking Fatigue
Fatigue (especially in high-intensity matches) can be extreme, but players often hesitate to admit exhaustion. This strategy is characterized by a late game cramping or calf-grabbing gesture, but the player walks off fine moments later. It is more popular in games played in extreme weather (ex. hot/cold, humid, rainy, etc.), that extend to over regulation or a series of games played over a short duration (ex. tournaments). It is intended to have the following effects:
Falling to the ground signals to the bench: “I’m completely done” without directly saying so.
It gives the physio a reason to check the players (hydrate them) and the coach a window to substitute without appearing to replace a “fit” player (gives an out to the coach).
Players know their bodies best and sometimes they can plow through fatigue albeit risking a more severe injury (ex. overload) that could sideline them for a longer period of time. Therefore, players take the precautionary route, subbing themselves out and hoping to be available for the team soon. Coaches also welcome this honest strategy with open arms as fatigue is not always conspicuous. That said, if the outcome of the game does not go as intended for the team, the coach can always claim that the “unexpected” subs impacted initial technical/tactical game plans.
Tactical Reset Opportunity
A brief pause before a substitution allows a team to regroup. This strategy is characterized by the physio jogging on to the field but no treatment occurs. Since the sport is designed to have very few pauses for coaching, this brief pause provides the coach time to shout instructions from the sideline to specific players. It is intended to have the following effects:
The manager can use the break to relay tactical instructions to several players.
The incoming substitute gets more time to warm up or receive final guidance.
Pep Guardiola is the master of this strategy. In Guardiola Manchester City’s system controlled pauses are gold. Players often blatantly sit down just before a tactical substitution late in matches. It’s rarely coincidental — Guardiola uses these moments to reorganize his press or formation. The physio goes on, but the real value is the 30-second team huddle at the touchline.
If the opponent has momentum (sustained attacks or pressing high) a pause can interrupt their flow. This strategy often occurs after the opposing team has just missed a big chance or started dominating possession. It is intended to have the following effects:
The emotional and physical rhythm of the attacking team is broken.
The defending side can reset shape and composure.
This strategy is very common in competitive matches where one goal is all that is needed to achieve a milestone (ex. win, tie, advancing to next phase) and it’s exacerbated if the team needing to score is continuously applying offensive pressure. The team on the defensive stance often resorts to this strategy to defuse momentum while catching a breather. In the 2023 U20 Men’s World Cup matches, US Coach Mikey Varas instructed Goalkeeper Gaga Slonina to go down late in the second half of most games. This pause would allow Coach Varas and staff to talk to the group. A player substitution was not always conducted.
Cynical / Theatrical Gamesmanship
In some competitions or teams, it’s a deliberate part of “dark arts” (subtle manipulation of the game). This strategy is characterized by a player dramatically sitting or lying down right before their number goes up for a substitution, then sprints off the pitch seconds later. It is intended to have the following effects:
Delays play.
Allows tactical conversations.
Sends a message that the player gave “everything” and is being replaced only because of that “effort.”
An excellent example of this strategy is Atlético de Madrid’s Coach – Diego Simeone. When Atlético are defending a late lead, players often “cramp up” in sync. A player goes down dramatically just before being replaced burning seconds and slowing opponents’ tempo significantly. Pundits call Simenone’s strategy “masterful gamesmanship” acknowledging it as part of a systemic tactical culture which include time-wasting, tactical fouls, simulating injuries, sideline theatrics, and using psychological tactics to frustrate opponents. This approach has earned Atlético the reputation of being masters of “shithousery” and made them one of the most difficult teams to play against in Europe. Diego Simeone transferred his shithousery as a player and perfected the art as a coach.
Preemptive Injury Precaution
Sometimes a player feeling slight tightness or discomfort (ex. hamstring twinge) may go down to prevent worsening it. This scenario is common late in matches or congested fixture schedules. It is intended to have the following effect:
Even if it’s not a true injury, it’s a protective signal — “I felt something; better to come off now.”
It is similar to fatigue but with potential longer lasting effects. Explosive players like Kylian Mbappé who are prone to injuries have used this strategy often. At PSG, Mbappé would gesture discomfort and would sit down before being subbed off. In reality, he was not injured but felt tightness in his hamstring — later confirmed by the manager as precautionary. It’s common for players who partake in multiple matches a week to “go down” preemptively to avoid aggravating micro-injuries. Knowing your body is instrumental for a longer and healthier career in any sport.
In summary, when a player collapses before a substitution without being truly injured, it’s usually about controlling tempo, face-saving, or tactical delay — not deception in the malicious sense, but part of the gamecraft that elite players and managers use to influence moments and margins. In practice, these strategies are used widely not just by elite players but all the way down to the amateur level.
Hope you found this post useful. If you have any suggestions or topics you want discussed, please reach out to info@thegomezway.com. #TGW
It has been a while since I last posted, and I will keep this one brief. After having watched the 2nd group game of Chile’s U20 Men’s World Cup tonight, I was still craving an additional football fix when I suddenly stumbled upon a mid-week USL Championship match between Birmingham Legion vs North Carolina FC.
While I only caught the last 20 or so minutes of it, it was extremely gratifying to see four former FC Dallas academy products going against each other in the same game. I don’t recall ever witnessing such phenomenon after our boys left the FC Dallas organization. On the North Carolina FC side, Thomas Roberts and Jaden Servania (both 2001 born and pictured below) played with Johan in the FC Dallas academy and the US National Team setup for several years. The memories (and the places they visited around the world) are countless.
On the Birmingham Legion side, Ronaldo Damus (2000 born) and Erik Centeno (2002 born) both played with Jonathan during his North Texas SC time and his last FC Dallas academy season respectively. Jonathan also had the brief pleasure of playing with Thomas during the summer of 2019 as they conquered the first USL championship. While Johan also played with Ronaldo that same summer on the North Texas SC team, his time was cut short due to his departure to pursue European opportunities with Porto.
What’s even more unique about these four former FC Dallas academy players is that none of them are either native Texans or lived in Texas prior to joining the FC Dallas system. They all moved to the Dallas Fort Worth area to pursue football, and none reside in the area now. Ronaldo Damus is a native of Haiti, Thomas Roberts is from Little Rock Arkansas, Jaden Servania is from Birmingham, Alabama, and Erik Centeno is from California. Football not only takes you to new and unique places, but always has a way to re-unite people.
Not relevant at all but the game ended in a dramatic 1-1 tie with a last-minute assist by none other than right fullback Erik Centeno who was going against Jaden Servania. Fun fact: North Carolina FC’s roster also includes North Texas SC and FC Dallas alumni: Mikey Maldonado and Jacori Hayes.
Edit: Johan made me aware that a fifth FC Dallas Academy product: Kameron Lacey (2001 born) and Florida native is also part of the Birmingham Legion roster but probably out injured now. Likely the reason why he wasn’t part of tonight’s roster.
Our boys are proud of their former teammates who continue to pursue football professionalism, but most importantly continue enjoying “the beautiful game”. Every player’s path is different, and their ephemeral journey is one to enjoy every day…to more football anecdotes…#theGomezway
2022 left us quickly but not before we added a new member to our family. Now, 2023 is only a couple days away from becoming history; inexorably, we are “silently” leaping (2024 is a leap year) our way to the quarter of a century mark.
As we bid adieu to 2023, let’s recap some personal highlights for the Gómez family, remember some other events of national and global impact. As usual, we try to conclude this post on a positive note with our hopes and expectations for 2024. Enjoy…
January
Personal
USMNT
The year started really well ‘footballwise’ for what would eventually become the best year for the family in terms of national team presence for the boys. Jogo was called to his first US Men’s National Team (USMNT) January camp (and the first one post the Qatar 2022 World Cup). In one of the friendly games played as part of the camp, he managed to play the full 90 minutes against Serbia at ~80% health after having sustained an injury the week prior to camp with his club. We were fortunate that Real Sociedad (RS) released him for camp. This second experience with the USMNT was longer than the first one and we got to see him play once again in beautiful Los Angeles. More on that experience here.
High School “Soccer”/Club Football
Joana made her High School (HS) varsity soccer squad as a freshman and played every single minute of the HS season. That was not a feat in itself but at the end of the season, she received numerous accolades which summarized her successful season.
With club, her team started the year off by traveling to Las Vegas where it captured first place in the top division. The trip, in addition to the football, was very memorable for the family.
National
On January 3rd, then USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter posted the following tweet which quickly snowballed into a series of polarizing events between coach and players. In the months to follow, two interim coaches were utilized as USMNT coaches as Gregg’s future on the field was being evaluated to determine renewal of his contract as USSF coach.
The above tweet would eventually evolve into a series of revelations by Gio Reyna’s parents and Gregg himself. The days following statements by each party were some of the more controversial ones for the USSF which was caught in the middle of it all; however, a few months later, among even more controversy, the USSF reinstated/renewed Gregg as the new (and current) USMNT coach.
Global
On January 2nd, during the traditional Monday Night Football (MNF) game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, safety player Damar Hamlin collapsed from cardiac arrest after immediately tackling an opponent. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) were quickly administered before taking him to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Nine days after the incident, he was discharged to rehabilitate from home and plans to return to football.
February
Personal
In February (late January really), Johan helped Nico Carrera finalize a move to his then Bundesliga.3 club: FSV Zwickau. During pre-season in August of 2022, Nico had been on trial at FSV Zwickau; unfortunately, a much needed loan from Holstein II did not materialize for Nico then. However, in an early January 2023 league game, a sudden and unfortunate season-ending injury to a starter FSV Zwickau Center Back (CB) resurrected the possibility of the loan. With Johan’s great relationship with American Coach Joe Enochs, the loan transaction with Holstein Kiel was finally pushed over the line. At last, “the compadres” were sharing the pitch again just like the FC Dallas days. Unfortunately, Nico’s debut coincided with the sacking of Joe Enochs as the team was in a fierce relegation battle.
On February 7th, Lebron James, at 38, broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA’ long standing scoring record of: 38,387 points. In a night when the Lakers were playing against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Lebron became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with 10.9 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter. The game stopped for over 10 minutes to recognize and celebrate such achievement. Given the popularity of basketball around the world, this event could be classified as global; however, the Super Bowl, normally in that category, and global mother nature events, will always supersede sports.
Global
Earthquake
On February 6th, one of the most devastating earthquakes of a 7.8 magnitude shook up the border between Turkey and Syria. This resulted in more than 35 thousand casualties, leaving millions without a home. Events like these put into perspective the miniscule importance of sports…perspective.
Super Bowl
On February 13th, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the 1.5 point favorites Philadelphia Eagles by a score of 38-35 in Super bowl LVII (57th). Texas native Patrick Mahomes was the MVP of the game. The game was the most-watched program in American history with an average of 115.1 million viewers. The halftime show, featuring Rihanna, reached a high of 118.7 million viewers. As usual, the commercials stole “the show”.
March
Personal
US U20 MNT
Coach Mikey Varas had one last chance to evaluate the available talent pool for the upcoming U20 MNT WC while the team played against the likes of France, England, and Serbia. Selfishly, I not only had a chance to travel to beautiful Marbella, Spain but in the process, I also visited Morocco and France. It was a very fulfilling trip where lots of memories were captured in pictures and videos. Most importantly, I spent some quality time with Jogo and watched some amazing football.
FSV Zwickau
Johan had a productive month of March scoring in consecutive matches. Here is one of the goals he scored in March against Verl.
National
On March 24th, a tornado outbreak broke out south of the Mississippi Valley resulting in widespread heavy rainfall, severe thunderstorms, and significant tornadoes over a four-day period. The total number of tornadoes added up to 33 with 23 fatalities and damages in excess of $1.9 billion. Five states including Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas were impacted by a series of tornadoes. Fortunately, our home did not sustain any damage.
Global
Three small to mid-size US banks suddenly became insolvent negatively impacting global bank stock prices. Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Silvergate, and Signature bank failed for different reasons.
Over a period of just two days, the bank went from solvent to broke as depositors rushed to SVB to withdraw their funds, resulting in federal regulators closing the bank for good on March 10, 2023. SVB’s collapse marked the second largest bank failure in U.S. history after Washington Mutual’s in 2008.
April
Personal
Mom visited Jogo in San Sebastian and Mallorca for the first time this year. Jogo traveled with the first team several times but could not debut in La Liga. As mom returned home to Texas, Jogo made his way out to Argentina with the US team for the U20 WC where he would have a meaningful tournament.
National
March Madness
On April 3rd, the 2023 NCAA March Madness tournament came to an end. UConn defeated San Diego State by a score of 76 to 59 to claim the 2023 NCAA national title. This was the 5th championship for the Huskies men’s basketball program. As a side note, my running horns made it to the Elite Eight before collapsing against the University of Miami Hurricanes.
Global
On April 20, 2023, Elon Musk’s SpaceX performed the first flight of its Starship rocket from Boca Chica Texas (a few miles away from our hometown in Brownsville). The prototype vehicle became the most powerful rocket ever flown. On November 18, 2023, the second test flight was conducted successfully. We were in town for this one. It’s important to keep in mind that these test flights’ goal is to learn as much as possible from each one.
May
This month saw a roller coaster of events for the family. Jogo’s participation in the Argentina U20 WC was a bit offset by FSV Zwickau’s relegation from 3.Bundesliga and the end of Johan’s contract with the club.
Jogo played in every game of the WC given his versatility (and willingness) to play on both sides of the field. Despite the fact that he didn’t start every game, he contributed with a goal and two fouls which directly led to US goals. He scored this beauty of a screamer in Argentina’s U20 WC first game while I was in the stadium. Great feeling.
Johan bid farewell to the wonderful Zwickau fans with this beauty of a goal in his last home game. It was bittersweet and we have nothing but gratitude towards the strong fanbase of the East Germany club. We know we’ll be back in the future. “Einmal ein Schwan, immer ein Schwan“
ECNL
Joana’s team finished the 2022 – 2023 in first place. She grew a lot this past season. Her minutes and contributions were solid. We are very proud of the footballer she’s become.
National
On May 6th, almost a year after the school shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, another mass shooting occurred at the premium outlets in Allen, Texas (a suburb north of Dallas). Nine people, including the perpetrator, were killed during the shooting while seven others were injured. The graphic video below is shared to commend the actions of the officer who not for one second hesitated to go above and beyond his “duties”.
Global
On May 20, Manchester City won their third straight premier league title when Arsenal lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest. They received the trophy the next day and with it, they started a quest for their first treble: Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. As luck would have it, they would win up to five trophies in 2023.
June
The month that marked a jam-packed first half of year and the best was yet to come for the family.
Personal
On June 4th, the U20 WC reached its conclusion for Jogo and the USMNT U20 team. There’s a small chip on Jogo’s shoulder that will be there until the next opportunity with the national team as he didn’t get to play much of the last game against eventual U20 WC Champions: Uruguay. When he finally came into the game, the team had a 2 goal deficit which ended up being the final score (0-2). It was a great experience nonetheless with memories that we will all cherish forever.
National
On June 12th, in the fifth game of the NBA finals, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat. The Western Conference Champions won their first ever NBA championship. As most would expect, Serbian center Nikola Jokic was named MVP of the finals.
Global
Football
On June 10th, Manchester City won its first Champions League final by defeating Inter Milan by a score of 1-0 with a second half goal by Rodri. With this victory in Istanbul, Turkey, the club started a dominant 2023 performance by amassing five trophies in 2023 (Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup). See December section for further details.
Tennis
On June 11th, the Serbian tennis legend, Novak Djokovik, in a closely contested match, won an all-time record 23rd Grand Slam single’s title by defeating Norway’s Casper Ruud in straight sets (7-6, 6-3, 7-5). Casper had reached the French Open final for the second consecutive year unfortunately losing both.
July
Personal
Jogo was invited to take part in the La Liga summer tour in México and the United States with Real Sociedad’s first team to play two friendlies against La Liga clubs. In August 2nd, Real Sociedad faced Atletico de Madrid at BVBA stadium where Jogo got to see his aunt and uncle who relentlessly show him their unwavering support. Three days days later, the second friendly was played against Real Betis in San Francisco.
Fun Fact: A few weeks earlier, Johan had faced Real Betis in Braunschweig, Germany in a friendly and would score against them the goal below. Football has a way to make “things happen”. Johan had a chance to meet Andrés Guardado just like Jogo did a few years earlier.
National
Gold Cup
On July 6th, México and Panama faced off in this year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup final in SoFi stadium in Inglewood, California. In a highly competitive match, México prevailed 1-0 with an 88th minute goal by Santiago Giménez. At last, México retook the throne from the United States who were the winners of the previous Gold Cup in 2021.
Global
Football
After months of speculation about his next career move. On July 16th, Lionel Messi’s announcement to join MLS Inter Miami’s was made official. The hype of this move was of unprecedented proportions globally even before the announcement was made official. I wrote a piece about his effect on MLS two months after his arrival here.
Tennis
On July 16th, 2003 Spanish born Carlitos Alcaraz defeated the four-time defending champion Serbian Novak Djokovic in a closely contested final, 1–6, 7–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–4 to win the gentlemen’s singles tennis title. It was the Spaniard’s first Wimbledon title and second major singles title overall denying the champion from winning a 24th grand slam title for now…
August
Personal
On August 10th, Jogo received the excellent news that his request for a loan had been approved to 2nd division CD Mirandés. Four days later, he made his debut in a victory over Alcorcón 4-0. Just like in the U20 WC, he showed his versatility by playing his first game as a right winger.
National
On August 19th, the newly created Leagues Cup including all MLS and Liga MX clubs reached its championship game between two MLS teams. In a tightly contested game, Messi’s Inter Miami CF would prevail in penalty kicks (PKs) by a score of 10-9 over Nashville SC. The regulation score ended up 1-1 which forced PKs. It became the first trophy for Messi’s Inter Miami CF for what many expect to be many more to come. Lionel Messi was awarded the top scorer and the MVP of the tournament.
Global
On August 21st, the FIFA women’s world reached its climax. In a very competitive match dominated by England in the first half and Spain in the second half, the Spaniards saw their visually appealing footballing be crowned once again. Their tiki-taka, prevailed over a very physical English team by a score of 1-0. With this title, the Spaniards are the current U-17, U20, and Senior WC champions. Quite a feat that will be difficult to emulate.
Unfortunately, most of the attention would be drawn to this Spanish team during their post-match controversial celebration and all the events that gradually led to the resignation of the president of the Spanish Football Federation.
September
Personal
Mom went to visit Jogo to Miranda de Ebro. He needed some assistance moving and was adjusting quite well to the new club but the field opportunities had not been abundant due to his lack of pre-season work. Expert twitter fans back home were writing off his entire career but he soon proved us all wrong. He continues to work hard after an almost perfect month of October.
National
On September 10th, American youngster Coco Gauff was crowned queen of the US Open winning her first single’s major by defeating Aryna Sabalenka after having lost the first set 2-6. In the process, she earned $3 million.
The next day, Novak Djokovic won his record breaking 24th gentleman’s grand slam title in straight sets (6-3, 7-5, and 6-3) over Russian Daniil Medvedev.
Global
On September 24, Tigst Assefa won the 49th edition of the BMW Berlin women’s marathon and in the process, established a new world record at: 2:11:53. She beat the previous world record by over 2 minutes and 14 seconds.
On the male side, Eliud Kipchoge won the male open division for the fifth time. The video below was taken when Eliu won the 2018 marathon for the first time on September 16, 2018.
October
October was an excellent month for the family. Jogo had an almost perfect month playing full 90 minute games with CD Mirandés and contributing with some assists/hockey assists. On Johan’s side, he once again received the honor of representing the United States with the U23 USMNT pre-Olympic team.
Personal
Johan is called up to his first US U23 camp in Phoenix Arizona. He played against México and Japan scoring this goal but more importantly, he was able to see old (Chumchat) co-hosts and guests. It was a very memorable trip. We caught up with him there as well.
National
On October 1st, the Texas Rangers managed to lose to the Seattle Mariners in the last game of the regular season, relinquishing first place in the west division (and a playoff bye) to state archrivals: the Houston Astros. As faith would have it, the Astros had won a battle but not the war.
In what some would consider an anomaly among anomalies, the next four weeks would see the Texas Rangers win every single road game of the playoffs. In the process, they not only eliminated the Houston Astros in the American League (AL) Championship Series but on November 1st, defeated the the Diamond Backs winning their first MLB World Series (4-1). After reaching and losing the World Series in consecutive years ( 2010 and 2011), the Texas Rangers at last, won their first ever World Series in Arizona.
Global
On October 28th, the world received the terrible and unexpected news that Matthew Perry, who was best know for playing Chandler Bing on the smash hit comedy “Friends” had died at the age of 54 years.
November
November was a good football month for Johan…despite the fact that he had a very dangerous head injury during a late November football match that required several stitches…
Personal
On November 11th, Johan scored his first official goal in Bundesliga 2. With it, his team won an important game in their relegation battle. We hope Johan and club keep up the good form in 2024.
National
During the November FIFA window, Johan attended his second U23 camp in Spain in preparation for the Paris Olympics in the summer of 2024. As a family, we had hoped that the boys could play together with the national team but CD Mirandés denied Jogo’s release.
On Sunday, November 19th, Johan and teammates managed to go see Jogo play against CD Eldense in a stadium near where U23 USMNT camp was being held. It was a very dramatic game that ended up in a tie (2-2) but the most important part of that evening was that the boys got to see each other.
We are hoping that Jogo continues in an upward trajectory in La Liga 2. That way, the U23 USMNT invitations will continue to be earned and hopefully extended. We’ll keep our fingers crossed that CD Mirandés release Jogo next time and who knows? Maybe, the boys will play together at some point.
Global
On November 28th, Henry Kissinger a German-born American diplomat who shaped U.S. foreign policy in the second half of the 20th century and won a Nobel Prize for brokering an end to the Vietnam War died at age 100. He served as the US secretary of state and national security advisor in the presidential administrations of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford between 1969 and 1977.
December
Personal
Johan scored his second official goal in Bundesliga 2. With it, his Eintracht Braunschweig club finished the first half of the season with two important consecutive victories and continued in a fierce relegation battle. The break should help them recover some injured/suspended players, regroup, and return to action in January hungrier than before.
In an extra long MLS season that started back in February (due to the month- long Leagues Cup tournament), on December 9th, the Columbus Crew defeated LAFC at home by a score of 2-1.
Global
On Friday, December 22nd, Manchester City, won the 2023 FIFA Club world Cup defeating Marcelo’s Brazilian Fluminese squad by a score of 4-0. In its last version showcasing seven clubs (winner of each confederation plus the winner of the host country local league), a UEFA club was crowned for the 16th time out of 20 editions so far. The remaining 4 wins of this tournament have been earned by Brazilian clubs.
Personally, the most impressive feat of this event was that Argentinean National Team Member, Julián Álvarez, at a tender age of 23 years, has won every possible important trophy there’s to be won. This includes the FIFA Men’s World Cup won in December 2022.
Next year, we will expand our blog coverage to include more content about Joana. She’s beginning to take the sport to a different level. In fact, in a couple of weeks, she will participate in her first showcase tournament of the year. She is coming off a semi-severe injury that sidelined her for two months but is now fully recovered. We have been working diligently in preparation for the continuation of her seasons.
As for the boys, they will continue to learn about European football professionalism. They have a great foundation and continue to earn valuable minutes. However, just like Joana, their preventive care habits should be maintained to help them be more resilient to the demands of their respective leagues. We hope they continue to not only accumulate impactful minutes and perform well in order to partake in the camps leading up to summer Olympics.
Otherwise, they will be welcomed back home where they will inevitably continue to play the beautiful game but in a different capacity. See, this year, they started the “Jogos and friends pickup games” anytime they are in town where they not only get to play the beautiful game with professional/college footballers in a friendly manner but also reminisce about childhood memories or catch up with football friends. They have had three great instances.
On a more personal note, next year I will prioritize family time and own health. Unlike 2023, traveling will take a secondary role. As time allows, officiating football matches at a higher level and participating in longer distance running competitions will also be part of my goals. At this point, our only hope is that 2024 can keep up with our plans…thanks for making it this far and hope you have enjoyed it. Until next time. Happy New Year!!! #theGomezway
BTW, if you wish to keep up with the latest blog posts, be sure to subscribe for notifications on the left hand pane of the main blog page. You’ll probably get a couple of email notifications per month about new posts. You won’t regret it.
I still remember that Saturday morning, August 31st, 2019 when Johan as a recently-turned 18 year old, was announced by FC Porto as their new youth international signing. Our family was at the nationally acclaimed youth tournament Plano Labor Day (north of Dallas) with Joana and the phone wouldn’t stop ringing. We received congratulatory messages from folks whom we hadn’t talked to in years. Some, casually texted to congratulate me personally (as if it were my achievement), while others casually requested an FC Porto jersey. Eventually, I think we fulfilled every single one of those jersey requests but I digressed…it was at that moment that it truly hit me, Johan (and eventually Jogo) was becoming a public’ish figure.
Johan signs with FC Porto 08.31.19
Just like any other occupation, the career of any professional footballer has its ups and downs; however, being a public figure is a tad different. As an example, it never ceases to amaze us how during difficult times (ex. injuries, lack of playing time, relegation, COVID, coaching changes, etc.), the same “friends/fans” who were extremely supportive in great times, go completely missing during tough times.
Among Johan’s long list of footballing achievements is to have played the Portuguese derby Porto B (1) vs Benfica B (1)
We understand that the popularity roller-coaster comes with the life of a footballer which, these days, is magnified by social media. But, from our family’s perspective, it’s probably prudent to share that any type of positive support is (always) more appreciated and welcomed especially during challenging times. I often tell the kids that rough times build character and it is also a time when true friendships are built and strengthened.
Recently, Jogo wasn’t playing much in the first few games of the 2023-2024 La Liga 2 season with his new club. It was understandable, at least for his family, as his loan was finalized late in the transfer window and he wasn’t present for pre-season with his new club. In any case, we hadn’t heard from many fans in a while. But in the last five games, he created an own goal, had two assists (see one below), and then two hockey assists and suddenly, he’s “popular” again.
In conjunction with Jogo’s recent contributions in La Liga 2, US Soccer announced that Johan was called for the US U23 MNT camp in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Suddenly, the calls pertaining to Johan once again, resumed to our family.
23 players are headed to Phoenix for the first U.S. Olympic Men's Soccer Team training camp as prep kicks off for next summer! The U.S. will face Mexico on Oct. 11 and Japan on Oct. 17.
This time, it wasn’t only the calls that resumed; our boys youth club Solar, for the first time ever, had an Instagram post dedicated to Johan (and our good childhood friend JT). Honestly, we had never seen his former club recognize either of our boys but hey, kudos of any form are always welcome, especially if it’s convenient for the club as well.
The Olympic camp went well (writing a post on it) and Johan even scored the first goal (below) against a superior Japanese team. Once again, the calls, messages, and tweets were abundant; even the convenient #DTID patreon tweets returned. Please don’t exhaust them all guys, we will need some of those in upcoming tough times.
As a favor to me, direct future congratulatory calls/texts to the boys. In Johan’s case, he’s the one who has fought for these opportunities the most, who went to Europe 4.5 years ago, who likely would have played in the Indonesia 2021 U20 WC until COVID chose to be a life protagonist and has opened doors for his brother and sister. Reach out to him, congratulate him; I am sure he would love to hear from you. Either way, please know that our family TRULY appreciates your support at ALL times but it’s inevitably most needed when footballing life gets tough 6000 miles away from home.
Johan Gomez: U16 BNT: U16s (3) vs Sacramento Republic (1) 09.08.16 (Sacramento, CA)
Yesterday, the celebrity world reminded us that public figures are humans and that they sometimes need help too. Mental health is important, don’t wait to reach out to other footballers (American or not) who may be going through difficult times (ex. Tyler Adams, Daryl Dyke, Josh Sargent, etc.). Be present, it can be a difference maker. Until next time #theGomezway #mentalhealth
There’s no denying that Messi’s arrival to MLS in August has had an impact of unprecedented proportions. It not unusual for some current (early 2000s: ‘David Beckham effect’ on MLS) or retired athletes (Now: ‘Deion Sanders effect’ on NCAA football) to have an effect in their sports; however, in Messi’s case, multiple aspects of MLS have been deeply and permanently impacted by the now well-known “Messi effect”. Below is a brief summary of its impact so far:
Joana outside “La Bombonera” stadium in Buenos Aires
Increased global attention: Lionel Messi is one of the greatest footballers of all time and already had a massive global following. His arrival in MLS attracted substantial attention from not only American fans, media, and sponsors but worldwide too. MLS is benefitting from increased exposure, TV ratings, merchandise sales, and more international viewership. Since his arrival, Messi helped Inter Miami win its first trophy just a few weeks after joining the team. In his first 11 games with Inter Miami, the team won 10 and tied 1. In those games, Messi scored 11 goals and recorded 8 assists. With those numbers, it’s inevitable to not garner global attention.
Boost in attendance: Messi’s presence in MLS stadiums has increased attendance numbers. Every stadium where Messi has played has sold out. Fans (casual and hard-core) are eager to see one of the world’s best players in action. His participation in games has resulted in increased ticket sales (527% increase in prices) and higher game-day revenues.
Television (Apple tv) ratings and subscriptions: Inter Miami matches have experienced an exponential boost in television ratings. MLS Season Pass, which is Apple’s streaming package that broadcasts soccer matches, experienced a 1690% increase in sign-ups the day Messi first played for his new club. Broadcasters are excited to showcase Messi’s skills (in multiple languages) and MLS’ TV deals are becoming more lucrative abroad. Higher ratings have inevitably attracted more advertisers and sponsors.
Enhanced brand value: Messi’s arrival to the league has elevated its brand value and prestige. It’s now very common to see celebrities in attendance whenever Messi plays. He has not done it alone though, former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba joined Inter Miami which only continued to elevate the club’s AND the league’s value. Inter Miami’s worth prior to Messi’s arrival was $575 million. As of September 15th, that value is now near $1 billion and estimated to be in the range of $1.3 to $1.5 billion in 2024.
Financial impact: While the signing of Messi required a significant financial investment -he earns an estimated $50 – $60 million annually-, his signing has led to an exponential overall revenue for the league. ESPN reported that in the first 24 hours of Messi jersey sales, it was the best 24 hours of any player’s changing teams across all sports. Messi’s Inter Miami jerseys were conveniently out of stock until a couple of days ago, they are currently priced at $180 each. Sponsorship deals, merchandise sales, and international interest have generated additional income enabling MLS to potentially reinvest in infrastructure, youth development, and player salaries making the league even more attractive and financially competitive with top continental leagues such as Liga MX and Campeonato Brasileiro.
Player development and competition: Messi’s presence serves as a tremendous opportunity for young MLS players. Training and competing alongside one of the best players in the world has elevated the level of play of those around him (ex. Campana, Cremaschi, Allen, etc.). Elevating the competitive level of his teammates and opponents can gradually contribute to the overall development of domestic talent; thus improving the leagues’ competitiveness and who knows, maybe the US national team pool. Prior to Messi’s arrival, Inter Miami had only won 10/28 games, drawn 3 and lost 15. They were in last place and now, they are fighting for a playoff spot with a few games remaining in the season.
Unfortunately, not all the Messi effect’s and influence has had a positive effect on fans. See, I was refereeing this past weekend when out of the corner of my eye, I spot a soccer parent walking down the experts’ sideline trying to get his son’s attention while the match is going on. Once, he succeeded, he instructs his son, who at the time was playing as a forward, to forget about playing defense and play like Messi. We, other parents and myself, were all puzzled when the following emanated from his mouth: “Don’t defend anymore, just stay up and wait for the ball to come to you; only run when the ball is 5 feet away from you; that’s how Messi plays and he is successful at it”. The kid incredulous heeded his father’s instructions the remaining of the match.
Needless to say, his son’s team ended up losing the game badly as they practically played down a player and the son never touched the ball again in the match. Moral of the story, be careful instructing your children with stuff you see on TV without the proper knowledge, context and background. Sometimes, in an effort to help our kids, we prevent them from progressing. This supportive father, imparted some useful wisdom onto his son that ended up serving a completely unintended effect on his son (and his team) in part thanks to the “Messi effect”.
Texas soccer fans wearing Messi jerseys
Keep in mind that there’s only one Messi, and as simple as the game is, his greatness stems from making the simple game look even simpler. The “Messi effect” will gradually fade and we will be left with his legacy. For now, enjoy him while you can and if you are planning to watch him live, remember to not pay the exuberant ticket prices unless you are certain he will be playing. See below what some fans played for the Orlando vs Miami game last Sunday and Messi, Jordi, and Busquets did not play.
Part of the reason the ex-Barcelona trio did not play against Orlando was strategic. They need to rest for their Lamar Hunt US Open Cup championship match tomorrow night. That game, prior to Messi’s MLS arrival, would have taken place with little fanfare. Tomorrow, all the spotlights will be on Inter Miami, especially if Messi plays.
The opponent for that game will be Houston Dynamo and if Inter Miami is victorious, it could be Messi’s second trophy in the last 8 weeks. Stay tuned as he, and teammates, continue to shape up the “Messi effect” on MLS. Until next time, #theGomezway
2023 marks my 19th consecutive year as a certified US Soccer Federation (USSF) referee. It has been a progressive journey; I have had the pleasure of officiating anywhere from outdoor U4-U19 recreational games, competitive 3 vs 3’s, competitive club leagues/tournaments, public high school, Development Academy, to men’s college matches and indoor competitive. Disclaimer: I have never officiated a futsal match.
As I wind down on my involvement on what appears to be my last year, I can say that most of my officiating years have served the following purposes: 1. Develop a greater respect, appreciation and empathy for the refereeing profession 2. Understand yet another facet of the beautiful game. 3. Share acquired knowledge (through organic playing, refereeing, coaching and parenting education) via mentorship of young referees (ages 13-17), players (fans and coaches included) and last but not least 4. Fitness/exercising.
I officially started refereeing during my college years; I only refereed one indoor season as it was very seasonal and realistically, engineering consumed most of my college time. After graduation, I took a 6 year break before I rejoined the ranks and became one of the 100K+ registered soccer referees. However, I quickly understood that moving up the referee pathway (below) was going to take time which I didn’t have much of due to my other academic and corporate endeavors. Unfortunately for the sport in this country, soccer officiating is a profession that very few pursue as a career for many reasons; some of which we will try to root-cause below.
Income
It is important to understand that the best part of officiating is flexibility. Soccer referees are independent contractors; as such, the duration of their work is short, and they normally have the freedom to officiate at times, places and fees of their own choosing. That said, most young referees pursue soccer officiating to generate a stream of income with flexible hours starting as early as 13 years of age. Another advantage is that referees can earn up to $600 (tax-free) in a calendar year without having to report it to the IRS. The below recreational (rec.) referee pay scale (albeit from 2020) can be very attractive to a young referee.
Thomas Moran: Update the referee pay scale in the KSA website
Let’s be honest, pay scales like the one above won’t be sending any adult referees into immediate retirement either. Caveat: Recreational refereeing pay scale is at the bottom of any pay scale. As such, adult soccer referees normally do not enter the profession hoping it become the single source of income. Even for college level soccer referees, the hourly wage (once travel is factored in) is nothing to write home about. In the majority of the cases, adult referees enter the profession by being forced to be around the sport in some capacity: coaching youth, volunteering, having a child playing in the local rec. soccer association or just wanting the best seat in the house while earning some (albeit little) cash. Some use it as a hobby and in some rare cases like mine, we end up pursuing it as a permanent way to give back to the beautiful game. There is however, an in-between temporary category of soccer officials where “hobby meets income source” and that normally belongs to referees whose English is a second language. They tend to pursue the profession wholeheartedly at the beginning of their arrival to the United States but that dedication only lasts until some higher income source comes along.
A few years back, there was a small perk for referees; at the conclusion of the assigned games, a cash payment was rendered at the fields. There’s just something satisfactory about being paid immediately after a service is rendered. However, times have changed with technology. Most soccer associations have now adopted an automated payment system where referees no longer get paid cash at the fields. Instead, they have to wait up to three days to be electronically compensated for their services. Unfortunately, there are adult referees whose personal finances depend heavily on the revenue they generate refereeing over the weekend and having to wait to be paid is just another entry barrier to the profession or its progression. One time, at my local association, it took about 6 weeks for three games refereed to be deposited into my bank account due to a “glitch” in the system.
Those situations described above lead us to conclude that the best hope to have future competent referees resides in the youngsters (ages 22 – 30) whose college soccer playing days are over, still have a desire to be involved in the game, progress through the referee ranks, are financially stable and despite the constant criticism, choose to pursue the career.
Criticism
Mid adult Hispanic soccer coach yells at mid adult Caucasian referee and points at him over a bad call. The players in green jerseys and blue jerseys are watching and listening in the background.
Unfortunately, the brave and ambitious young referees who consider advancing in the profession face the constant criticism from the experts (ex. coaches and fans) which ultimately proves too much to endure at such low wages. The below statement comes from the yearly Grassroots training that all referees must undergo during recertification.
Officiating public high school soccer is more attractive financially due higher wages and a travel per diem. In theory, fans are more knowledgeable about the game since they have been around it longer but the sad reality is that high school soccer is the twitter of soccer; anonymous spectators hiding behind crowds (screen) easily become coaches and experts of the game. The constant disrespect towards the refereeing crew is even normalized by other adults at the stadiums as “teenage behavior”. Spectators from all walks of life become loud critics of the officiating crew showing constant dissent. It’s common to listen to criticism from students, family members, etc. whose background may not even include ever setting foot on a soccer field (other than to kick a field goal). Statistically, constant criticism is the main contributor for younger (more experienced) referees to trump their progression in their careers.
To play devil’s advocate, not all the blame can be placed on “know-it-all” spectators though. Many soccer referees may not possess the adequate soccer background/instinct to maintain the flow of the game or even establish credibility in a game. When it comes down to it, it’s a chicken and egg dilemma. How can more potential referees be recruited if the few brave ones face the constant criticism of the experts? Therefore, anybody (and I mean anybody) willing to undergo a few hours of training is often recruited (family members/friends) by assignors (ex. KSA) and thrown to the fire without the proper preparation. Unfortunately, the lack of playing/watching experience for a referee is immediately evident and the fans pick up on it and magnify its impact on the game. This aspect is exacerbated at the professional level as ex-professional referees are normally hired by tv networks to critique their former colleagues’ performances.
Referee retaliating to player in LigaMX game
Playing/watching experience
The low retention rate of referees unfortunately leads to the desperate recruiting of unqualified individuals. Most referees I officiate with did not grow up playing, coaching or even watching the beautiful game. In fact, here in Texas where American football “is life”, on a typical Saturday fall morning at the referee tent, most referees often converse about American college football games in between soccer games while simultaneous football derbies (ex. Real Madrid vs Barcelona, Inter vs AC Milan, Man City vs ManU) are being played. Soccer has a long way to go to be mainstream in the American culture to reach the popularity levels of other American sports. As a result, most soccer referees are more knowledgeable about other sports, but become soccer referees for a spectrum of reasons, but none really for career advancement or even the love for the game.
The flip side sometimes is that not having played or watched the game growing up, could be an advantage as these inexperienced referees only view the game in a binary way. They then become more purists applying the laws of the game per the textbook. In my opinion, referees who played the game have a more intuitive feeling and appreciation for the game and as a result, allow a greater fluidity of the game. Unfortunately, most referees who did not grow up playing or watching the game do not pursue the profession at a higher level as they do not feel properly equipped (protected) with the tools to succeed.
Another reason that deters individuals from pursuing officiating as a career is the growing recertification requirements. Associations do not make it simpler to desire any serious involvement in it. Furthermore, it’s a profession pretty much monopolized by the referee assignors. In my local soccer associations, if you are good friends with the assignor, he/she will assign you competitive (or your desired) games; otherwise, referees may be doomed. I get it, assignors need reliable referees and in some cases need to prioritize repaying favors to referees who were promised games during recruitment.
Annual certification
US Soccer requires each referee to undergo an annual recertification process. The online education consists of seven modules with an approximate total duration of about 5 hours if taken back to back. However, realistically speaking, nobody takes all this training in one sit-down, therefore, for a working adult, the training could easily take 3-4 days.
Welcome
Intro to Safety
Safesport
Laws of the Game Changes Review
Reference Cards
Grassroots Referee Refresher Assignment
Online Test
Appropriate training needs to be taken (and test passed) corresponding to the current referee level desired at the end of the calendar year. The most basic recertification level is called the “Grassroots Referee License Fee”.
Cost
There is an initial equipment cost to become a referee. Between uniforms, a reliable watch, whistle, flags, etc. a beginner young referee could easily spend $200 to get started. This startup cost is very steep for a young teenager who is trying to make some quick cash. If in addition to that, the youngster has to put up with constant criticism from the experts, it can easily be justified why so many quit within the first two years.
Registration:
There’s a cost associated with the recertification of each officiating grade in the previous section (and a late fee if registered after mid December). The lowest recertification cost is for the Grassroots Level. That annual cost is about $60
Equipment:
Official Sports International (OSI) has a USSF approved monopoly on referee gear. US Soccer has allowed this throughout several decades. As a result, OSI has a huge market share of the referee equipment market domestically. Their merchandise is constantly being pushed/advertised by USSF. The gear is not inexpensive. For example, a short sleeve yellow pro referee shirt is about $50 (the economy version is about $30). You then add socks, shorts, tennis shoes, whistle, flags, cards, etc. and the startup costs for a young referee can easily add up to $200 – $300 in between different color referee shirts (short sleeve vs long sleeve). All that is “conveniently” provided by OSI.
Background Check
In the North Texas Association, anybody 18 years of age or older is subjected to a mandatory annual background check. Successfully completion is a requirement for eligibility to either recertify or become a referee for the first time.
The background check does not take any training time; instead, it requires the submission of some personal information so that the State Soccer Association uses that information to process the background check. If the background check is passed; the training required for recertification can begin.
Safety Certification Courses
Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments
US Soccer requires a yearly certification of the “Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments” online module with an approximate duration of 45 minutes. The training is available for coaches, referees, and staff over the age of 18 to ensure adults give some consideration to having an Emergency Action Plan (EAP). The EAP would be triggered in the unfortunate event of a medical emergency. Specific scenarios like concussions, cardiac arrests, heat strokes, and more are covered. Similarly, action items such as CPR, AED, calling 911 are described in detail.
Although the training is a great tool to have (not only for football related emergencies), it does place a good deal of responsibility on adults who may be in an emergency situation. That said, the yearly requirement, which doesn’t change from year to year, is a deterrent for some referees (especially the young ones) to recertify.
Safesport Training
In addition to the “Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments” training above, US Soccer also requires individuals 18 years of age and older to be “Safesport Trained”. The course contains information about fostering a safe and positive environment for athletes while preventing the different types of abuses/misconducts.
Fitness test
For the very few interested in advancing their officiating careers through the different refereeing grades, annual fitness tests must be paid for and passed in order to prove physical fitness proficiency. There’s an additional cost to undergo that physical assessment during the annual certification periods. Aspiring referees must undergo the fitness assessment on a Saturday morning and preparation is key. Otherwise, it could turn out to be a harsh reality check for those older/heavier set referees. Let’s be honest, it’s no ninja warrior type of course but it’s no cake walk either. Fitness proficiency helps referees’ credibility as they are trying to keep up with 18/19 year old players. Few individuals want to stay fit to advance their officiating careers though.
Assessments
For those interested in advancing in their careers, there are annual referee assessments (at a cost of course) to make it to the next level. These are yearly assessments that referees must undergo in order to re-certify at their current (or higher) level. Honestly, it really helps to “know” the assessor as some referees, given their mobility on the field, knowledge of the game, etc. have no business passing their corresponding assessments.
Different laws of the game
One of the main complains that you will hear from soccer referees is that IFAB annually approves revisions to the laws of the game (ex. definition of a handball). FIFA then, in an effort to make the game more attractive and easier to understand, approve those changes. As the revisions are cascaded down to each countries’ football associations, they complicate the learning of the laws of the game which few referees care to keep up with. As a result, constant education is key to the success of the soccer referee but many fail due to the inconsistent application of the law changes from their peers. To exacerbate the inconsistent application of the laws of the game, the laws of the game also change based on age group, and competition type. Law changes are the only constant in refereeing.
Recreational
The entry level for young soccer referees is recreational youth soccer. Starting with the little ones (U4, U5), it’s by far the easiest level to officiate where innocent referee mistakes can be made and they won’t impact the outcome of a match. Unfortunately, more often than not, you find the parent (not coach) who wants fouls be called because their son was tripped “on purpose” by a 4-year old when their team was already winning by 10 goals.
As older age group games are officiated, the main challenges in recreational soccer become learning the different rules (ex. no heading of the ball, build-out line) AND trying to position yourself correctly on the field. A wide spectrum of playing experience often cause random and unexpected ball touches/bounces which are just unpredictable for the unprepared referee when seeking best positioning. It takes a lot of experience and focus to position (not so much to officiate) these types of games as the player and ball movement is not very predictive. I have always found that more competitive games are easier and more fun to referee; however, with greater fun comes more responsibility and required knowledge and certifications.
High School
High school certification has its own annual costs, assessments, and of course rules (outside of USSF) which in Texas are dictated by the University Interscholastic League (UIL). The rules are very similar to college level NCAA rules. Everything that you can imagine that shouldn’t be changed with regular FIFA football laws of the game is changed in high school soccer. For example, officiating with one, two or the regular three referees is allowed, stopping the clock is permitted and frequently used by the referees, different card colors are allowed, in case of a tie at the end of regulation, overtime is an option, etc. Those are only a small sample of rules that are different that most referees must stay current on to establish credibility.
The annual revisions in high school soccer rules (and FIFA too) justify the recertification process but it’s a deterrent. Simultaneously refereeing club soccer and high school soccer can be confusing for referees as their seasons overlap. This potential confusion could make a referee look like a novice if rules switching is not applied properly. The annual revision of rules (the system itself) makes it very challenging for referees to learn all the different sets of rules of each competition level.
College
Similar to high school, college NCAA soccer rules are very different than regular FIFA soccer’s. At least the referee remuneration for officiating any level of college soccer is generous but nothing to write home about. However, that doesn’t justify the different rules. I wrote the above post about that topic a few months ago so I will not rehash that discussion.
Club
Officiating club is a level above recreational. The laws of the game are similar; however, the environment is more competitive and the fans are more involved. The american “pay to play” model puts additional pressure on parents and players to win at all costs so typically, club players, even at young ages, push the envelope on the application on the laws of the game. Despite that challenge, competitive club is my favorite level to officiate.
Reputation/Prestige
Let’s be honest, soccer is not the most prestigious sport in the United States; that, combined with being a profession that is frequently scrutinized by the “experts” due to the constant (no time outs) decision making need, do not make it very appealing for pursuit. As a result, the United States has very few competent referees that represent the country at the highest level. Hats off to the trailblazers who paved the way for others to follow despite the many challenges cited above.
The future
As somber as the preceding paragraphs may have sounded, the future of US soccer is bright. As the women’s game becomes more popular in the United States and the world, the need for women referees will organically grow in parallel. Qatar marked the first time a men’s finals world cup game was refereed by 38-year old, French native, Stephanie Frappart. The December 1st, 2022 Costa Rica vs Germany match also marked the first time an all-women crew refereed a men’s world cup game. Stephanie, had already engraved her name in the soccer history books by being the first female to have refereed a male’s UEFA Champions League and Ligue 1 games respectively.
US Soccer is gradually growing and has established a well-structured referee program with mentorship programs, quarterly newsletters, continuous education, and other tools to better equip aspiring referees. I am confident that with the right support, the US will see a greater amount and more competent referees not only at the MLS level but also at the world stage level. Will this effort keep up with the rest of the world? We shall see…
My future
The sport has given our family so much that it would be unfair to not give back in some capacity. In full disclosure, I have selfishly used refereeing as a tool to grow my leadership skills in my other life endeavors. It does require a lot of patience, and more importantly thick skin thereby building strong character. Unfortunately, the perks are quickly offset by its challenges making it a tough profession to progress in for a great majority.
Personally, I have found these 19 years so fulfilling as they have provided me a different understanding of the game. As a result, both Johan and Jogo pursued refereeing for many years which proved to be not only a great way to make decent money but doing so in a field they were passionate about. Unfortunately, at some point it became difficult to referee along with their academic and dynamic soccer schedules.
In my current home association, we have an excellent core of experienced referees who have established a young referee mentorship program. Maybe my next phase is to become a full-time mentor. Unfortunately, the current shortage of referees, encourages recently-recruited referees to behave and officiate like experienced professionals soon after recruitment by assuming assignments that are above their experience level . The higher expectations placed on young referees is yet another reason, that soccer associations have such high referee turnover. Just like the sport itself, refereeing requires muscle memory to become competent. High expectations from the fans linked to high expectations from the Assignor/Director of Referees forced upon newly recruited referees/assignors are common deterrents. As a result, most teenage referees normally find alternative sources of income through high school and young adults are very unlikely to start their refereeing careers especially after they have finished a college degree and are entering the more rewarding “corporate world”.
As I wrap up this post, our high school aged daughter is expressing a strong interest in becoming a recreational soccer referee. Who knows? I may stick around for at least one more year (20?) to help her decide whether refereeing is for her or not. BTW, if you know anybody interested in refereeing, visit this page. Until next time…#theGomezway
By definition, a passport is a document purchased from the government primarily to allow its holder to travel internationally. In our case, MLS football and futsal provided our boys opportunities to travel abroad several times but none of those trips could have ever been possible without first acquiring an American passport.
As an American citizen and prior to joining a competitive football setup, it is of utmost importance to obtain an American passport especially if your child is under 18 years of age. So parents, do your footballers a favor and start the process for them ASAP.
In reality, access to just one passport could have additional benefits that transcend football. Furthermore, if your player has mixed ancestry and you can process multiple passports, having access to them can magnify those benefits. With the global characteristic of football, the parents of the player, should try to expedite getting a passport from each of the eligible ancestral countries. Before you know it, football or not, opportunities will necessitate access to one, or more, passports. Below are some advantages:
Advantages:
Multiple Nationalities:
If the country of ancestry recognizes multiple nationalities, the player could potentially be a dual (or multiple) nationality citizen. Also, the player could gain access to additional non-football benefits such as voting, free medical care, social-security-like retirement, etc. as a minor or as a potential adult living in that country in the future.
Furthermore, having access to multiple passports offers an opportunity to: enrich one’s cultural IQ, learn and empathize (with) new (different) customs/habits, master a second/third language, support another country in important world events (ex. the Olympics/World Cup) or simply put, visit that country with fewer restrictions.
Mom and Johan at AT&T stadium (Arlington, TX)
Learn new customs:
Locating the player’s ancestral country in a world globe, naming its capital, or even identifying the respective flag are great geography skills to posses but having a secondary passport goes beyond that bragging benefit. The player could learn a thing or two about their ancestors’ customs and traditions by visiting the country. The passport is not, by itself, going to force a behavioral change on the player (or family) but organically grow the player’s cultural IQ, perhaps remove some American biases, and who knows? maybe incentivize the player to start learning another language.
Master/learn another language:
Having access to multiple passports isn’t necessarily the main reason to learn a second (third or fourth) language but it helps. In fact, some multi-cultural families already speak a second language at home; however, the youngest generation may not know how to read or write the second language and thus passing on that skill onto the next generation could be very valuable to parents/grandparents.
The passport could be the vehicle to incentivize the player to polish reading/writing skills of the spoken language at home -especially if that country is one geographically close to the US (ex. México). Ownership of that legal document may also spark interest in learning a new national anthem, watching movies or listen to music in another language, etc. There’s some pride that goes along with being fluent in another language which is definitely magnified by ancestry (ex. pleasing the elders). As an additional benefit of learning a different language, the player/person is better prepared for an ever-increasing need of a global workforce.
Will borders close again with the delta variant or in the future? We don’t know, but as we attempt to reach normalcy, having a passport can even be of greater value just for visiting a country for vacation.
Traveling/tourism:
Upon arrival to some countries (ex. US, México, European Union countries), entry to those countries is expedited to citizens (or passport holders) of those countries right at the airport. That in itself is a benefit, albeit an ephemeral one. In some cases, ownership of a single passport can facilitate entry to many other colony-related countries (ex. a passport from Ivory Coast can allow entry into France). Thus, another great benefit of having multiple passports is the ability to visit (and stay) countries at will without a visa or without being questioned as to the duration or the frequency. This can be extended beyond leisure and for professional (football) reasons.
Professional reasons:
If an individual has access to multiple passports, professional possibilities grow naturally. Similarly, if a young player (prospect) has a EU passport, the parents could leverage that nugget of information to diversify opportunities and then negotiate a better professional domestic football contract. See Twitter thread below.
Not directly related to USYNTs, but Bournemouth academy GK Josh Clarke seems to have set a record for nationalities represented at YNT level.
Has suited up for youth teams of England, Sweden, Republic of Ireland, and now Northern Ireland. Still just 17.https://t.co/W2JT5btJj6
It’s a good card to have and one that cannot be taken lightly. For example, there are MLS clubs which require disclosure of this information on the player profile upon joining their academy ranks. Future professional path projection within a club could be influenced accordingly.
That card can be leveraged by football agents even at more senior levels. As an example, Tecatito Corona recently acquired his Portuguese passport which will facilitate him the opportunity to play in a top 5 European league without having to take up an international spot (now or in January). As a result, his player market value is more elevated than a player without such document.
Cost:
The cost associated to reap any (or all) of the benefits named above is relatively low if you do it yourself. As an example, if one has the appropriate heritage and corresponding documentation, for $165, one can process a Mexican passport in a matter of hours at the Mexican Consulate in Texas. A Spanish passport can cost a little more if you hire an attorney and a is a bit more complicated to process but it can be done easily as well.
Disadvantages:
There aren’t really any disadvantages other than the time consumed gathering the proper documentation, hiring an attorney (if you have to for guidance) and following through with the necessary appointments at consulates, etc. to monitor the progress from inception through conclusion (especially during COVID times). The process is very simple. We have now done it multiple times.
Multiple Nationalities:
Domestically, some people may perceive the pursuit of multiple nationalities as opportunistic. In Mexico, naturalized citizens who happen to be football players are questioned tremendously when pursuing the multi-passport route. In the US, accepting a second citizenship can be perceived as anti-patriotic, or even as a dent to their true American identity. For a young football prospect, access to multiple passport could sometimes attract an undesired type of attention.
Attention:
As a dual (or multi) national player, the attention drawn to your player is immediately magnified by different people from the corresponding ancestral countries. In some cases, people (fans maybe) will feel more identified with your player (not a bad thing); yet in others, player agents or coaches will be more direct in the recruitment or communication with your player to grow his spectrum of options.
Jogo posing with some fans. Credit: LouCity
In extreme cases, national team coaches may suddenly reach out to the parents. It’s situational. We are not advocating a higher attention towards the player being the reason for obtaining a passport. Quite the opposite. Be aware that the battle for dual-national players (in any discipline) has recently intensified and perhaps, to a non so-cool degree and cannot be ignored. The added attention/pressure could be viewed as a disadvantage or unnecessary distraction which ultimately could force a young player to have to justify their final country selection for representation. Something to think about as a parent. It’s not easy.
We hope you have found this information useful; minus the personal experiences, it’s information that is all online. As with other posts, we just centralize it, and tailor it to our own experiences. Recently, we have been approached frequently by different families about this same topic. Hope you enjoyed it. If there’s anything you want us to talk about, please reach out at: info@thegomezway.com.
PS. As always, thanks for the support for the children. We continue growing the sport in this country together. #theGomezway
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