March 21, 2010
UNPLAYABLE FIELDS
NYC H.S. officials won't ref games at 4 pitches at Flushing Meadows
The New York City Soccer Officials Association have identified four fields at Flushing Meadow-Corona Park in Queens as unsafe and has refused to officiate matches on the field.
Fields 1 and 5, artificial turf fields, are in poor condition, the association reported, with several tears and dangerous holes. Fields 4 and 6 are grass fields with rocks garbage, holes and steel drain pipes on the playing area.
Four fields are considered playable -- Fields 2, 3, 7 and 8.
"We as referees, have . . . refused to allow the games to be played on these fields as the safety of the players would be compromised, NYCSOA president Jim Memos said in an e-mail to the organization's membership. "We have moved games if and when at all possible, depending on open field availability, or just flat out postponed them."
Memo said other city fields are unplayable, but did not list the others.
Memos added that he didn't think game officials should be subject to lawsuits because of the condition of the fields.
"This is a lawsuit happy country and to take a chance of us, the referees, and allow the games to be played on these fields, would be ludicrous.
"I for one, am not about to place my personal property, well being and finances at stake for some attorney to take advantage of a loop-hole and take away all I have worked for all these years.
"All it takes is one serious injury sustained under these playing conditions for the aforementioned to become a reality.
Sorry, not worth it!!"
Memos also said that the decision to move the city girls soccer season from the spring to the fall is bad for the game. Boys soccer also is held in the autumn.
"There needs to be some sort of compromise to accommodate both soccer programs," he said. "There was nothing to fix, if it wasn't broken!!
"For over 30 years, soccer was played as boys in the fall, girls in the spring. What was wrong with that? There was never a problem prior to this past season. Now there are many problems, what does that tell you??
"It doesn't take a genius to figure that one out!!!"
