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Mike Good’s soccer playing career ended after junior high. Not exactly the credentials you would expect the Greater Akron Soccer Officials Association (GASOA) match assigner to possess.
But like everything he has achieved in life, Good has done it the old-fashioned way – through hard work and plenty of it.
One of the area’s best high school soccer officials, he assumed responsibility for scheduling referees five years ago when his organization needed him the most. It’s a task you might not wish on your worst enemy, but somebody has to do it. It’s a thankless job and that’s why I am writing this column – to say thanks for all he does.
Good assigns 1,700 matches and approximately 3,400 positions for a chapter with about 125 soccer officials. The job requires him to plead, enforce, cajole and flatter some 125 egos and personalities, including me.
I’ve known Mike Good, a Green resident, for about 10 years and he’s more than a good guy (pardon the pun Mike), he’s a great guy!
Having retired after 32 years with two different trucking companies, he recently started driving a school bus for Green Local Schools.
Between pick up and drop off times, Good is sorting out a myriad of soccer officiating issues covering four counties. From Aug. 1 through the middle of October, he toils to provide officials for junior high, ninth grade, junior varsity, and varsity soccer matches for boys and girls.
A native of Firestone Park and a Garfield High graduate, Good’s interest in soccer took off in 1983 when his sons first started kicking a ball. Later, they needed a youth coach, and guess who volunteered?
In 1991, he started officiating and then became a licensed amateur official a year later. He joined the OHSAA ranks in 1995, but accept fewer assignments because his sons were excelling on the pitch for Green High.
Ryan, his oldest boy, graduated from GHS in 1998 and played college soccer at Walsh in North Canton. Brandon graduated from GHS in 99 and played for Ohio Dominican College.
Once the boys were in college, Good ramped up his officiating schedule. His reputation as a firm-but-fair official grew and in little time he was the center official on sectional, district, and regional matches throughout Northeast Ohio.
His peers also respected the way he worked with his assistant referees. No official in all of sports can be rendered impotent faster than a flag-carrying AR. Suffice to say, “centers” run the show in high school soccer.
Mike Good’s soccer playing career ended after junior high. Not exactly the credentials you would expect the Greater Akron Soccer Officials Association (GASOA) match assigner to possess.
But like everything he has achieved in life, Good has done it the old-fashioned way – through hard work and plenty of it.
One of the area’s best high school soccer officials, he assumed responsibility for scheduling referees five years ago when his organization needed him the most. It’s a task you might not wish on your worst enemy, but somebody has to do it. It’s a thankless job and that’s why I am writing this column – to say thanks for all he does.
Good assigns 1,700 matches and approximately 3,400 positions for a chapter with about 125 soccer officials. The job requires him to plead, enforce, cajole and flatter some 125 egos and personalities, including me.
I’ve known Mike Good, a Green resident, for about 10 years and he’s more than a good guy (pardon the pun Mike), he’s a great guy!
Having retired after 32 years with two different trucking companies, he recently started driving a school bus for Green Local Schools.
Between pick up and drop off times, Good is sorting out a myriad of soccer officiating issues covering four counties. From Aug. 1 through the middle of October, he toils to provide officials for junior high, ninth grade, junior varsity, and varsity soccer matches for boys and girls.
A native of Firestone Park and a Garfield High graduate, Good’s interest in soccer took off in 1983 when his sons first started kicking a ball. Later, they needed a youth coach, and guess who volunteered?
In 1991, he started officiating and then became a licensed amateur official a year later. He joined the OHSAA ranks in 1995, but accept fewer assignments because his sons were excelling on the pitch for Green High.
Ryan, his oldest boy, graduated from GHS in 1998 and played college soccer at Walsh in North Canton. Brandon graduated from GHS in 99 and played for Ohio Dominican College.
Once the boys were in college, Good ramped up his officiating schedule. His reputation as a firm-but-fair official grew and in little time he was the center official on sectional, district, and regional matches throughout Northeast Ohio.
His peers also respected the way he worked with his assistant referees. No official in all of sports can be rendered impotent faster than a flag-carrying AR. Suffice to say, “centers” run the show in high school soccer.
When the longtime assigner for GASOA passed away several years ago, the organization was devastated on two fronts: emotionally by his death and by the assigning void. Others tried to step up and cover and the job is too much for most. Good finally took it and I’ve not heard a criticism since.
The process begins in March when high schools begin to publish their fall schedules. The assigner will identify traditional rivalries, anticipated key matches and high-profile contests and begin to nail down the centers on those matches.
Four years ago or so, computerized scheduling came to the rescue. The Arbiter, says Good, is a “huge help.” It has a created an online method for assigners, officials, and athletic directors to track the entire process.
Still, each day in the fall, Good has two or three matches tossed back into his lap for any number of reasons. Officials become injured or get transferred for work and the rest of their schedule must be covered. Weather also can play havoc with the schedule. Good has a cell phone glued to his ear this time of year.
GASOA is a graying organization. Physical ailments and health issues have limited Good’s on-the-field work in recent years and that is an all-too-common scenario with several of the body’s veteran officials. Rick Hanna, a 30-year official himself, is the humble president of GASOA, which constantly is recruiting young officials.
But whether it’s burn out, verbal abuse, or increased family and job responsibilities, Good says keeping young officials on the active roster is difficult.
Last year, one official worked 92 matches in a three-month period. Seventy to 80 assignments are not uncommon by the time some matches are rescheduled. Fortunately, a dozen new officials came into the fold this year and for the time being Good has enough bodies to cover the long list of games.
GASOA has had more than its fair share of officials work state tournament matches. When you review the names of state championship officials over the years, time and again GASOA members dot the list.
So, the next time you attend a soccer match and are tempted to bark at the officials, consider the hard work behind the scenes of people like Mike Good and the GASOA membership striving to do a professional job. And, if you’d like to get in shape and get certified, they’d love to have you on the team.
Lake boys’ golf excels
The Blue Streaks boys’ golf team is having a terrific season. I recently caught coach Thom Grubb by phone and my timing was fortunate.
Currently undefeated in Federal League dual meets, Lake has its final FL dual on Tuesday (Sept. 29) against GlenOak at Seven Hills. On Friday, the Blue Streaks compete in the FL Tournament at Tannenhauf in Alliance.
Grubb said three teams, Jackson, GlenOak, and Lake, are positioned with a chance to win the overall title.
Blue Streak freshman Jake McBride carries a 36.9 average over nine holes and 75.7 for 18 holes.
Junior Tyler Maranville also has been strong this season, with stroke averages of 37.1 and 77.0.
Senior Adam Wickham, junior Nathan Miller, and junior Billy Sheak have contributed to the team’s success as well.
