Game against Russia

I didnt want to post this on the results of Russia vs USA. We didnt play well and simply beat ourselves by losing to Russia 5-0. It was an awful game with horrible officiating. I was this close to get into argument with the referee but I didn't, since I had one player down with a back injury, so I had to rule out spinal injury. I took my time and asking question to the player, but the referee got in the way and waved me and him to get out of the field immediately, so I told him to wait over and over (Someone took pictures of me, the player and the referee). I did mention to the referee that he injured his back and I had to be sure before I do anything. I dont know if he would understand me since he is from Russia. He was just annoying and pushing me to get him off the field right away. So, I quickly asked questions and checking his legs and toes, so it wasnt a spinal injury, and got him off the field and took him back to the bench.

Its one thing that got me livid that most of Russian players faked their injuries (so that the referee would give yellow or red card to USA players) so many times throughout the game, and the referee told Russian players to take their time whenever they are ready to get up. Why cant that referee do that to us?????? It was a very poor sportsmanship by Russian players, and after the game, we walked off the field without shaking their hands. We suspected that the referee from Russia had been helping out the Russian team so we are appealing and filing a complaint against him to the board but there's nothing we can do but move on.

We have two more games to go no matter what win or lose, our next goal is to take fifth place game. We will play Argentina tomorrow (Saturday at 9:30 am). We are taking this by pride for USA.

Also, USA women's soccer team beat Great Britain to advance to the Gold medal match on Monday night. Hats off to the women's team!


Yesterday, I finally took my own time to go on look around Taipei. I went to the National Concert Hall, National Theatre Hall, and The First President of Taiwan memorial. It was a beautiful place. Also, last night, I went to Taipei 101, the world tallest building and rode in the world's fastest elevator. (from first floor to 89 floor- it only took 30 seconds to get there). Of course, I took some pictures and will post online soon. I am hoping to find time to go to National Palace museum and other places this weekend.

Communicating with deaf and hard of hearing athletes

Just a thought that I would share this with you on how deaf and hard of hearing athletes perform in competition, and communicating with me.

In my 7 years of athletic training, I have been working with all hearing athletes and coaches. When I am with the deaf athletes, and I have to remind myself to use sign language or talk slowly, I just keep forgetting that they are deaf. Like an example, when I evaluate an athlete's knee, I would talk normal and they didnt understand me so I went like oops I put down the knee and sign it to them so they would understand me.

During a soccer match, there are 8 staff with red flag, 2 on each side (I took a picture of one of them standing up waving the red flag, it is when a referee blows the whistle and everyone stand up and wave the red flag. Also, the referee himself/herself also have bright yellow/orange flag so that would get everyone's attention.

I went to the track meet last night and watched men and women's 100 m sprint, I learned that each lane/block has three lights in front of the block (Red-get in the block, Yellow-get set, Green-GO), I also took a picture of it on the flicker.

Also, I was watching Tae Kwon Do, there are red flashing lights on each corner, and it will flash whenever a judge blows the whistle.

I hope to watch other sports and see how athletes reacts to timer, and referee making calls. In general, most of the referees and staff make universal sign language which we would understand in some way.


Also, I forgot to add on the opening ceremony notes, Jet Li the actor was there to read the prayer on "Power in me" and the President of Republic China was there as well, but he got up to the podium and signed "Let the games begin!" so he declared the Deaflympics games to beging, it was such a honor to be there and watch President of China there.


Tomorrow, we are playing against Russa in the quarterfinal, Russia is a very good, physical team.

OPENING CEREMONY and soccer updates

I apologized for the delayed post. I have had three hectic emotional days with the men's soccer team and they do wear me out! I really needed a break and not sure when I will ever get one but am enjoying it so far. Here is the new post as I promised on Opening ceremony and soccer team updates.

Opening ceremony was a BLAST!! It was unbelievable. When we (USA) walked together to the arena, there were bunch of taiwanese fans cheering us on, they get excited to take pictures with us, or give them high five, or thumbs up, it is like we were celebrities. We walked into the arena right next to Track and field stadium to stay with ALL athletes, coaches, support staff from all over the world in one plnace while we wait for the parade. We watched the huge screen on whats going on with the opening ceremony at the track stadium. I learned that the city of Taipei spent 20 million american dollars putting up this awesome opening ceremony festivities. Also, the director of choreography was also the director for Beijing Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremony. Finally, we walked into the Track and field stadium and everyone was cheering, and we were very inspired. We also get to see the torch relay and how they start the fire. (it's really hard to explain), when they torched the fire to the wire and it goes directly to the fireworks on the top of the roof from that side to the other side to light up the fire pit. It was stunning! This is truly a special memory for me, and the rest of everyone that were there. I took lots of pictures so you can look at them. I am curious to see what the closing ceremony will be like.


As for the men's soccer team, it has been an overwhelming the past 3 days, this past sunday, we played a hard fought game with Japan and unfortunately, we couldnt score so it ended up tie 0-0 so each team gets one point (2 points for win, 1 point for tie, 0 points for loss), really we didnt play very well. So, we knew that we would have a long shot to make the playoffs (The top two teams in each pool advance to the playoffs, (16 teams, 8 pools overall, 4 teams in each pool) We lost to Ireland, and tied Japan. The next game would be brutal since we will play against Great Britain, the defending world championship team and number one in the world. The soccer team had little faith in themselves, and thinking that they are done for the Deaflympics. Today, we played against them (they were tall, fast and physical and one thing to add.. they love to trash talk), it is like David vs Goliath, and somehow suddenly out of the blue, the soccer team showed their TRUE HEART of this game and stunned the British team 3 to 1. In order to advance the playoffs, we have to win by two goals and WE DID IT! It was unforgettable experience and we cheered wildy and could not believe that we beat the number 1 in the world. Also, we made the top two teams in the pool and advance to the playoffs for the first time ever in the Deaflympics history for USA men's soccer team. We are fired up and looking forward to play either Russia or France on Thursday.

We are starting to believe that we can beat anybody in the world no matter what and just aim for the GOLD! The soccer guys are barely hanging in there with all the bumps, bruises, sprains, strains, and fatigue but they truly showed their heart. One of the soccer guys told me that he cannot believe with all the ups and downs til now, so I responded back to him 'thats what the olympics are all about!'

More blogs coming soon

Pictures are posted after the awesome opening ceremony last night. It was unbelievable. You can watch on www.deaflympics.tv I will write more later on.


I will work on the blog soon but I am heading out to tape the soccer guys getting ready for the soccer game against Japan. This is a MUST-WIN for USA team.

Pictures!

I just updated the most recent pictures online. I will work on the title of each picture sometime soon.


Also, for those of you commented on bringing the rain, I'll see what I can do to to bring the rain back to Texas and South Carolina!

The day before the opening ceremony

It's been a hectic time the last two days since we arrived in Taipei. I finally got the chance to sit down and relax.

When we arrived to the hotel on wednesday, other athletic trainer, Robyn and I went out to lunch but we got lost walking around two blocks over and over trying to find a 'good' place to eat. Most of the restaurants look disgusting and unhealthy food. (remember, we cannot drink tap water outside of the hotel, or else it will cause diarrhea). So, we ended up being hungry and had to go with the soccer teams to City Hall to register and collect the badge and passes for the games. It took us 2 hours waiting to get ours. Anyway, while we were at the building, I went to the bathroom and I was about to wash my hands, and saw two guys from another country (I think Turkey, but I didnt recognize the flag). They were washing their hands for a long time, finally they washed their face and hair, and THEN, they took off their shoes and put their foot in the sink to wash their feet. I felt disgusted and ran away from the bathroom. I guess it is part of their culture or something that they do from their country.

Today was the big game day for men's soccer team. They played Ireland..... well we lost to them 0 to 2. We didnt play very well, and the soccer field was WET and puddles everywhere. Yeah, of course it was raining hard and typhoon is expected to come this weekend. When players try to pass the ball in the midfield, it suddenly stops due to the puddle in that area. Hopefully, we will bounce back and beat Japan on Sunday.

I want to share this experience with you working with an injured player that has go to the emergency room. A player got hit in the ribs and had trouble breathing and felt very dizzy so he passed out on the soccer field. When I got to him, he was conscious and saying that he felt like he was hit by a truck. We put him on a stretcher so the game can go on. When I was working with him, bunch of taiwanese medical staff came over here, and will probably have to go to the hospital for precautions, I TRIED to communicate with the taiwanese staff, and thankfully the international sign language interpreter came over, so she could communicate with me in sign language and lip reading, then she interprets to the Taiwanese interpreter, then translate to the medical staff. It was like a 4-way. It was just overwhelming working with the Taiwanese medical staff. In general, I had a tough time understanding them with their accent and speaking soft, and I guess they dont understand me as well.

That player just got out of the hospital, and got to the hotel room resting so he is okay but sore.


Later on, I will have to tell you more on communicating with fellow athletic trainers, team doctors, coaches and athletes later on. But I gotta go and check on that player, and head to the training room.

Tis the rainy season.....Rain, Rain... go away!

We learned that its the rainy season at this time of the year. It has been raining every day in the afternoon to early evening. It was odd that this particular time in the afternoon and not any other times (morning and night) that storm comes. Also, there were lightning and thunder which we had to call off afternoon practices. Everyone were frustrated and need to get things rolling, but we managed to get through.

Yesterday, we had a scrimmage against local Taiwanese soccer club. We didnt play very well but it was a big bonus so that will help them prepare for a huge game against Ireland this friday.

Today, we are heading back to Taipei to get settled. I didnt get the chance to look around Chiayi City due to busy soccer schedule so hopefully, I will have time to look around Taipei.

There wasnt much to say and I am sure that a lot of exciting things when the Deaflympics begins (First soccer game on Friday and Opening ceremony on saturday). I believe that the country of Taiwan had done a great job advertising the Deaflympics. I was watching ESPN sportscenter, and they were talking about Deaflympics for 5 minutes and it will be on TV for 4 hours (I couldnt understand the rest since it was in taiwanese language). It will probably be on TV in Taiwan not USA. I thought it was so cool!