Dear Members,
We have lots of good news to share this fall. Celebrate the Tatas Tournament of Champions raised $55,000 this year! NCASA registrations are hitting record numbers, and our signature annual event, Carolinas Cup 11v11, is coming to Truist Park in Bermuda Run on December 2-3rd.
Thank you for being a part of our adult soccer community, and for making North Carolina a great state for adult soccer!
-NCASA Board of Directors
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Team Registration closes November 19th at midnight. | |
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Accidents Will Happen. USASA Accident Insurance Can Help.
As players and spectators of the beautiful game, we know all too well that participation in a contact sport like soccer, carries the risk of injury. Sports injuries can be physically painful, and are often financially burdensome to treat. Medical bills from doctors’ visits, diagnostic tests and treatments can add up quickly.
That’s why NCASA offers our members supplemental insurance through our USASA Accident Insurance Policy. Secondary insurance helps cover gaps in medical coverage and can help pay for medical costs up to $5,000 that are not covered by your primary policy.
What To Do If You’re Injured.
If you are injured during a sanctioned event, please visit the NCASA website for instructions on how to fill out the claim form. Submit the form as soon as possible to get the process started.
Let’s hope you don’t ever have a need for secondary insurance, but if you do, NCASA is here to help. Stay safe out there!
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USASA National Amateur Cup!
The USASA National Amateur Cup 2023 was held in Bettendorf, Iowa, August 4-6th. The annual tournament is an action-packed event that crowns the best amateur men's and women's teams in the country.
This year, Tobacco Road FC (Durham, North Carolina Region III Champions) played SC MesoAmerica (Los Angeles, CA Region IV Champions) in the semi-final. It was a competitive battle, but SC MesoAmerica prevailed 2-1. Congratulations to Tobacco Road FC on their achievement, and representing our state in the semi-finals!
SC MesoAmerica went on to win the 2023 USASA National Amateur Cup, 2-1, in a final over Newtown Pride FC, the Connecticut squad who won one million dollars in The Soccer Tournament (TST) that was held in Cary, NC this past summer. By virtue of winning the 2023 USASA National Amateur Cup, SC MesoAmerica has punched its ticket to the First Round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt Open Cup!
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USASA National Cup Champions 2023!
Men's Amateur Cup Champions – SC MesoAmerica
Women's Amateur Cup Champions - Image NTX
Over 30 Men's Champions - ASC New Stars
Over 40 Men's Champions - Atletico Torino
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Qualifying for the 2024 USASA National Amateur Cup
Does your men’s or women’s team have what it takes to compete on a national level? If so, consider making a run in 2024!
Carolinas Cup, NCASA’s 11v11 annual tournament held on December 2nd - 3rd, 2023 at Truist Park, Bermuda Run, NC is a state-qualifier for Men’s Open, Over 30, Over 40, and Women’s Open teams. Winners advance to the Region III tournament held in June 2024.
The Men's and Women's Open finalists from each of USASA’s four regions advance to the National Amateur Cup 2024 held the first weekend in August in Chicago, IL. USASA's Men's O30 and O40 Finals date and location will be announced this winter.
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Annual NCASA Award Nominations
It’s the time of year to start making your NCASA award nominations.
The long-standing success of NCASA rests on the good work of incredibly dedicated and talented people. Each year NCASA proudly honors outstanding individuals that make significant contributions to North Carolina Adult Soccer!
Send us your nominations for 2024 and let us know about the good work of your nominee. Awards are presented at our Annual General Meeting held in January 2024.
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Award Categories
Crampton-Harrison Award –
In Recognition of Notably Significant Contributions to the Growth and Development of Adult Soccer in North Carolina
Dave Williams Award –
In Recognition of Contributions to the Well-being of Soccer in North Carolina in Always Going Beyond the Call of Duty
John M Bouda Award – (Referee)
In Recognition of an Outstanding Referee who has contributed significantly to the betterment of adult soccer in North Carolina during the past year
Women’s Coach of the Year –
For Exemplary Leadership, Commitment and Service to the Game on Behalf of Her Team
Men’s Coach of the Year –
For Exemplary Leadership, Commitment and Service to the Game on Behalf of His Team
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Around the State
NCASA is proud to welcome a new league into our association. Wake Women's Soccer League (Apex, NC) launched this fall.
WWSL is the first women's NCASA Affiliated League Member.
It's been an exciting first season for WWSL! Each Sunday women +30 and +40 take to the field, and prove that 11 v 11 soccer is fun and competitive at every age!
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TOURNAMENT SPOTLIGHT
CELEBRATE THE TATAS
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Yellow Cards and Red Cards - An Origin Story
Carding was first introduced in the World Cup in Mexico in 1970. But do you know how the concept of carding players came about?
The story begins following a controversial 1966 quarter-final World Cup Match between England and Argentina. During the match, the Argentinian team captain, Antonio Rattin, was sent off as he was trying to communicate with the German referee, Rudolf Kreitlein, who did not understand Spanish. 1
The captain refused to leave the field, and was eventually escorted off by FIFA officials. The next day more confusion followed when Bobby and Jack Charlton, brothers who both played on England’s team, discovered from a newspaper match report that they had also been booked during the game.2
Sir Ken Aston, who was Head of World Cup Referees at the time, needed a simple solution to overcome language barriers, and to clarify to players and spectators which players had been given warnings and which players had been sent off. 2
Inspiration came to Sir Ken in the form of a traffic light. He said, "As I drove down Kensington High Street, the traffic light turned red. I thought, 'Yellow, take it easy; red, stop, you're off'."1 He reportedly went home and explained the idea to his wife, Hilda who quickly produced two cards made of construction paper cut to fit into Aston’s shirt pocket.2 That is how our carding system was born.
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SIR KEN ASTON (1915-2001)
We have Sir Ken Aston to thank for many significant contributions to the modern game. Aston was the first referee to wear the black uniform with white trim in 1946. He also suggested the use of bright linesmen’s flags in 1947 for visibility in the thick London fog. 3
Sir Ken served on the FIFA Referee’s Committee from 1966 to 1972. He served as Head of World Cup Referees in the 1966, 1970 and 1974 World Cups. He was an authority on the Laws of the Game and also a FIFA Instructor. 3
Sir Ken also famously refereed the notoriously violent "Battle of Santiago" match between Chile and Italy in the 1962 World Cup. He later said, "I wasn't reffing a football match, I was acting as an umpire in military maneuvers.” Watch a video that includes clips of the game and explains how pre-game tensions were fanned by salacious press coverage.
Sir Ken became senior lecturer of the Football Association Referees' Panel and Chief Instructor for the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), a position he held for 21 years. In 1997, he was awarded the MBE Member of the Order of the British Empire for his service to U.S. soccer.5 To this day, the Ken Aston Referee Camp is held annually in Orange, CA.
The next time you are booked with a yellow or red card, think of Sir Ken and the contribution he made to the game, and remember to take it easy on the ref.
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References:
1. Jimmy Stamp, Jimmy (July 8, 2014) Who Invented the Yellow Card? Smithsonian Magazine
2. FIFA.com (January 15, 2002) “Ken Aston – The Inventor Of Yellow And Red Cards”
3. Beth Wyatt (11 October 2014). "Gallery and feature: Local hero Ken Aston a 'giant in the football world'". Ilford Recorder. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
4. Ken Aston the Person (http://www.kenaston.org/the-person.htm)
5. Ray Cormier, “Ken Aston, 86, Soccer Referee Who Originated the Red Card” New York Times (Oct. 26, 2001)
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North Carolina Adult Soccer Association | ncasasoccer.org | |
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