Sports

Coventry Soccer Referee Ranked Best in RI

James Kenney III of Coventry was recognized for his stellar performance as a Coventry Soccer Association referee in 2013.

Coventry Soccer Association's James Kenney III was recently ranked by the Rhode Island State Referee Committee as the #1 referee within the Top 100 Grade 8 referees in the state. 

Grade 8 is the third of 10 referee levels recognized by the U.S. Soccer Federation. Referees at this grade are authorized to oversee all youth games and be utilized as an assistant referee in comparable games. 

New for 2013, in order to develop its next generation of referees, the RISFC has established the Grade 8 Power Rankings, which recognizes Grade 8 referees under the age of 25 in the state who have distinguished themselves by their level of assignment and fitness. The Power Rankings are updated throughout the season to reflect promotions and relegations. 

James' ranking was based on his performance during 69 games between March 2013 and the Summer Cup Finals on Aug. 13 of this year, as well as his overall fitness, for which he earned an 11 percent fitness bonus.

As a referee, RISFC officials consider James' best game to have been the U14 Boys USYSA regional semi-final. His best game as an assistant referee was the U17 Girls USYSA regional preliminary.

"James is an inspiration for many young referees within the Coventry Soccer Association," wrote Steve Marmas, webmaster and tournament director, on the CSA's website on Tuesday. "Focus, take your role as a referee seriously, and you too could be within the Top 100 Referees within Rhode Island."

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Additional Coventry Soccer Association referees ranked within the RISFC's TOP 100:

Justin Fino, #49
Chelsea Fino, #56
Riley McKitchen, #88

Find out what's happening in Coventrywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

RISFC 2013 High Grade Referee List

Coventry resident, Lee Baldwin, was also named to the RISFC's 2013 High Grade Referee List recently in recognition of qualifying for a higher referee grade in 2013 (Grade 7).

Click here to view the complete list of Grade 8 Power Rankings for 2013.


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