Personal Essay: A Career As A Soccer Referee

One interest that is highly meaningful to me is working as a soccer referee. My story as a soccer official starts five years ago at the age of twelve years old. I first begin officiating primarily as a means to earn a little money to buy video games. Initially, I start as a Recreational Youth Referee officiating the youngest age group at the local soccer park. As I progress to Competitive Youth Referee, my career begins to take root, and I receive invitations to officiate tournaments throughout Georgia. Fast forward to today and my career is in full bloom. As an Amateur Youth Referee, I regularly travel to high-level tournaments in Alabama, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Moreover, over the next six months, I will complete the certification for State Referee. I know my story is not complete yet and I remain hopeful to one day achieve my goal of FIFA Referee (Federation Internationale de Football Association).
Working as a soccer referee is so

enjoyable because it fits my personality so well. Four key characteristics of a successful referee are integrity, judgment, competence, and communication. From as long as I can remember, my mother always described me as a rule-follower. As a soccer referee, it is my responsibility to ensure fair play and act as an impartial arbiter. Next, sound judgment is paramount. When officiating I am at the center of the action, making split-second decisions when a single incorrect call could affect the match outcome. For a referee, competence requires a mastery of soccer subject matter and the ability to apply it correctly. Expertise requires studying intently to develop an encyclopedic knowledge of the Laws of the Game (e.g. rules and regulations). Lastly, good communication skills are a necessity. Learning how to communicate effectively with angry players and coaches is critical or a match can quickly spiral out of control.
A successful soccer referee possesses many of key traits an engineer requires. As I pursue an engineering degree, I know integrity, sound judgment, competence, and good communication skills are essential elements. Another indispensable component is passion. Irrespective if one is studying the Laws of the Game or the Laws of Thermodynamics, a lack of passion will prevent one from realizing their full potential. Lastly, soccer referees are professionals and take their craft seriously. To ensure readiness, referees complete a class and pass a certification test with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) overseeing professional referee training and development. This training is multifaceted and includes classroom and online education combined with on-field instruction. Annual recertification classes and testing are mandatory and referees must pass physical fitness tests and undergo formal performance assessments. Likewise, as a prospective engineer, I expect to meet an exceedingly rigorous body of work and professional development.
To be a soccer referee means I am a part of something larger.

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world and officiating allows me to share a connection with billions of people that hold this game in such high esteem. Additionally, fans identify soccer as the ‘beautiful game’ for the artistic manner in which it is played. Hopefully, my officiating contributes to this beauty allowing opportunities for the game to flow gracefully. Moreover, my affiliation with soccer allows me to create a lifetime of innumerable friendships and lasting professional relationships. Working with so many different referee crews has taught me the importance of camaraderie and teamwork. Moreover, soccer affords opportunities to connect in ways I could not imagine previously. For example, I utilize my Spanish language skills whenever I officiate Spanish-speaking teams, such as the Costa Rican youth national team. I am glad to be able to share some of the reasons why being a soccer referee is such a rewarding part of my

life.