Rain Ruins Playoff Run for Red Stars

The Chicago Red Stars fell to the Washington Spirit 1-0 in a rain soaked and rain shortened game. NWSL league rules have a game curfew for midnight local time. Because of this lame policy, the Red Stars and Spirit were shorted 10 minutes of their 90 minute match after a 104 minute rain delay. Chicago, the masters of the last minute comeback, was defeated by the Spirit, the rain, and the radar. As the rain storms subsided, the Red Stars playoff berth was washed away. 

Being a referee, I understand the need to suspend play for the safety of the players, coaches, staff, and officials. Whether or not to suspend a match is always one of the toughest things to decide. Just look back to the USMNT "Snow Bowl" earlier this year. That game was a broken leg waiting to happen, but it never came. Yet, what if it did? The referee would have the blood of the player on his hands. Imagine if it was a career ending injury! 

Recently, I was discussing with my dad, a ref of over 20 years, about a decision to postpone a game. There was lightning and thunder in the distance; he decided to suspend operations. Neither team was happy; especially the visiting team who had traveled over an hour to the pitch. Some parents were rude. Some were down right nasty. That's when things got interesting. You see when nothing happens after making that decision people say you're lazy, you favor the home team, you've got to get home to watch Dr. Who; the possibilities of insult are endless. But when you get it right, like my dad did, no one mentions the right call. No one says, "thanks for keeping my kids safe." They just take cover as the thunderstorm unleashes its fury on them. When quarter-size hail is landing on the metal roof of a structure everyone is huddled under, the parents don't second guess the referee's decision. When the tornado warning sirens go off, the parents wish they had just stayed home. 

Now of course there's a difference between kid's ball and professional ball. While safety of everyone involved is paramount, the integrity of the game, league, and playoff system has to be kept in mind. Tonight's game between Washington and Chicago was cut short and the Spirit took the three points. These were points that the Red Stars desperately needed to keep their playoff hopes afloat. Washington, who had zero chance of earning a playoff bid, was issued the "W" because it was too late, even though it was safe to return to play. Yet, the NWSL seems to forget that players, coaches, and staff are all grownups and can stay up after the streetlights come on, and Chicago was robbed of ten minutes of game time to try to eek out a victory. 

I'm not sure why the NWSL has a curfew. Most of the players can buy their own beer. So what gives? I don't think they can say it's for the fans. Let's examine soccer fans for a second. We're all crazy. We wear scarves in the summer for crying out loud! We're staying until the final whistle blows to end the game. The fans at the Maryland SoccerPlex was a testimate to that. Yes there are young kids in the crowd. Yes most of us have to work the next day. Yes most of us will be finding a 7-11 for coffee on the way home from a soccer match that ends past midnight. But let the fans decide to stay or go. The WOMEN of the NWSL don't need a curfew. Simply put, this short-sighted rule shorted the Red Stars of a playoff berth. The ten minutes may or may not have changed the outcome, but Chicago should've had the chance to try. 

The last time I checked, the women of the NWSL are not Disney princesses. They don't wear ball gowns on the pitch; they wear jerseys. They don't wear glass slippers; they wear cleats. They didn't get to the big show by way of fairy godmother; they got there on skill and determination. When the clock strikes midnight, they should still be playing because they are athletes, not Cinderellas.