Release Day

Today is Tuesday and we started the day with breakfast and training. The scheduled fitness training was a speed work. After some warm-up drills, the group of 32 split in half and lined up at opposite corner flags. There were 5 cones equally spaced along the length of the field along the median line (i.e. 1 at each 18 yard box, 1 in the center circle, and the other 2 equally spaced between the 18 yard box and the center circle). We would sprint to the first cone, jog to the other corner flag and then walk to the starting point. Then we would sprint to the second cone, jog to the other corner flag and walk to the starting point. This continued for each cone. 5 cones constituted a set. We completed 3 sets in total. After the speed workout, we divided into 5 teams and played some relay games. Our team ended up winning all of the preliminary relays so for the final relay, we started last. The final relay was a race around the track with obstacles (hurdles) that we had to go over and under. Each team had 6 people who had to remain together holding hands as we moved around the track. Everyone really enjoyed this last training day together as a whole team.

We headed back to the hotel for lunch and then a group debriefing for the quarterfinal matches. Today we were joined by Angel Maria Villar Llona, the Chairman of the Referee Committee. He greeted us and then we continued with our debriefing. Of course the debriefing sessions always bring a bit of apprehension from the referee teams. Fortunately, the debriefing went well for our team. We were given accolades for a well managed match. Surprisingly, there was only 1 tight offside decision in all of the quarterfinal matches so much of the feedback revolved around the referees and primarily misconduct. There were a few incidents in the Japan vs Korea match that were highlighted for instructional purposes, but overall the feedback was good for most of the referees. After the debriefing, they announced the list of referees who would be staying for the remainder of the tournament. To my delight, my name was announced. I was also very happy for my fellow referees who were asked to stay including: Carol-Anne (Canada), Bibi (Germany), Sasha (England), Sachiko (Japan), Jacqui (Australia) and Carolina (Chile). The assistant referees included: Rita (Mexico), Cindy (Trinidad and Tobago), Nykasie (Guyana), Milena (Costa Rica), Helen and Anna (Sweden), Lada (Croatia), Natalie (England) and Airlie and Allyson (Australia). They also announced the appointments for the semi-finals. Carol-Anne will be refereeing the Korea DPR vs France match along with Rita, Cindy and I. Sachiko will be refereeing the US vs Germany match along with Airlie, Allyson and Jacqui. So we head back to Temuco tomorrow. Carol-Anne had just returned from Temuco earlier today, but of course she is thrilled to be assigned to a semi-final.

Tonight is the final day together as a big group so we had a dinner planned at a restaurant. This is one of the few occasions when we get to wear our own casual clothes which is always a treat for the referees.



We were entertained by some traditional Chilean dancers. After each dance, the dancers grabbed some audience members and brought them to the dance floor to teach them the dance. Of course this always brought cheers from everyone. Lada, my Croatian friend, is always a good sport so when they were looking for a participant, I guided them to Lada. She was quite embarrassed, but as always a good sport. When she returned to the table, she made sure to let me know that I would be next. So everytime they came looking for participants, I made sure to have someone else lined up to volunteer.



It was a late night. We returned to the hotel after midnight.