About Us
To Serve the Game is a sports management organization operated by Eric Beck, known for providing referee assignment to leagues and tournaments. We can provide services including referee assigning, game scheduling, game reporting, payroll management, team payments, referee training, on-site services, and much more. Not only do we provide your league or tournament with outstanding services, we are often able to save you time, money and headaches.
Eric Beck has been involved with many aspects of soccer for over 40 years. In 2010 he was inducted into the USASA National Soccer Hall-of-Fame, he was previously honored as a member of the USASA Region IV (West) Hall-of-Fame
Eric Beck was born in Long Eaton, England in 1949 the youngest of 14 children. Following High school he joined the English Army. One of his later assignments was as part of the English Army Basketball team which embarked on a tour of North Africa. They won all of their games, most of them handily. Eric and the rest of the team began to think they were pretty good. A U.S. Aircraft carrier was in port at Tobruk Libya and a game was arranged. Eric and his team quickly learned that perhaps they were not the best in the world that they had envisioned themselves to be. After 6 years in the Army and at the age of 25, Eric moved to America and Portland, Oregon. He quickly met his wife Beverly with whom he recently celebrated his 34th wedding anniversary. He has two daughters, Rachel and Alissa, and a son Kyle who at this time is single. Rachel has blessed him with three grandchildren Laura, Hannah, and Jake. Alissa has also blessed him with four grandchildren Olivia, Gavin ,Liam and Amelia. Besides his family and the game of soccer, Eric’s great love is singing. He has played at various local pubs and parties and performed with his daughter Alissa in a children’s Musical Theater Company known as Krayon Kids for several years. Generally he is willing to sing without being asked. Combining his singing and soccer, Eric made a record which was (and is) the theme song of the Portland Timbers professional team. The record “Green is the Color” enjoyed strong regional sales and even some airplay.
Eric started his soccer career at the age of 4 years old and was forced to quit playing due to knee problems at the age of 29. He then took up refereeing. Following his second back surgery he was told “you should never run again. Eric not only continued to referee, he redoubled his efforts and became a national referee. During his time as a National Referee he was able to referee at the highest levels available and has gradually transitioned to more administrative and assigning duties. He performs these tasks for various youth and adult leagues, tournaments and indoor centers.
Some highlights from Eric’s referee career
USSF Referee 1978-present
USSF State Referee 1981-1993
USSF National Referee 1993-1997
USSF National Referee Emeritus 1997-present
Professional Experience:
• Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL): 128 games
• World Indoor Soccer League (WISL): 79 games, including finals
• U.S. Women’s Victory Tour Referee (Indoor)
• United States Interstate Soccer League (USISL): 32 lines
• A-League: 12 centers
• Portland Timbers (A-League) Liaison: 2000-present
• Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA): 2002 All-Star Game Referee Liaison
International Experience:
• USA V Canada (M-U23): Center
• Canada (MNT) V Seattle Sounders (A-League): Line
• Pumas V Cascade Surge (USISL): Center
• China V USA (WNT): Center
• England V USA (WNT): Line
• USA V Canada (M-U21): Center
• Brazil V USA (WNT): Line
• USA (MNT) V Costa Rica: USSF Referee Liaison
• USA (MNT) V Kuwait: USSF Referee Liaison
• USA (MNT) V Canada: USSF Referee Liaison
• Women’s World Cup: 1999 FIFA Referee Liaison
Amateur Experience:
• State of Oregon Referee Administrator: 1979-1983/1992-2003
Built a referee base from 125 registered referees to 1,700. Resigned to accept the position as United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) Region IV Coordinator.
• Registered USSF Referee Instructor, Assessor, Assignor, and Assignor Instructor
• Numerous Region IV Select Team and National Cup Regional game refereed.
• Several State Cup and Intrastate National Cup games refereed.
• Referee Liaison to:
USASA Regional Cup Finals: 1992, 1994
USASA National Cup Finals: 1997
Nike World Masters Games: 1998
USSF Soccer Festival: 1999
Region IV Select Teams Finals: 2001-2002
• USASA Region IV Referee Coordinator: 2003-present
Coordinating and overseeing all referee participation in regional events:
National Cups
State Selects
Veteran’s Cup
National Coed Championship
Mailing address
2169 SE Scott Ave
Gresham Oregon 97080
Phone
503.662-8182 During the day between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM
Fax
503-912-0016