Student Referee Scholarship

From the Whistle to Wisdom The energy was electric as the two best U-15 girls’ teams in Virginia battled for the State Cup title. As a linesman, I stood on the sideline, locked into the game, mentored by elite soccer referees who watched my every movement. I knew that every offside call or out-of-bounds decision could impact the outcome. Late in the second half, a long ball split the defense, and a forward sprinted onto it. In a split second, I had to decide—was she offside? I kept my flag lowered and let play go on. Immediately, I felt the weight of the moment. Coaches protested, players groaned, but I stood by my decision. The forward did not score, and the game went into overtime. During the break, I consulted with the mentors who had been observing me, and they confirmed that my call was correct. That game solidified my confidence as an official, proving that composure and decisiveness are just as crucial as knowledge of the rules. I was praised for my outstanding movement during the game and for being the youngest referee on the line at a Virginia State Cup final—just 17 years old. Refereeing has shaped my character in ways I never anticipated. It has taught me leadership by putting me in charge of maintaining fairness on the field. I’ve learned to manage intense situations, communicate effectively, and make quick decisions with confidence. Whether standing alone in the middle of the pitch or on the line, enforcing rules among players, coaches, and even parents has strengthened my ability to stay calm under pressure. More importantly, officiating has reinforced my integrity—every game is an opportunity to be fair, impartial, and uphold the spirit of the sport. Looking ahead, I plan to continue refereeing throughout college and pursue higher-level officiating opportunities. At only 18, I have already achieved so much in refereeing—from working State Cups and lower-level tournaments to officiating U-8 local rec teams. Each experience has helped me grow. I aspire to work in competitive leagues like the Virginia State Cup and even national tournaments. Beyond that, refereeing has given me skills that will translate into my major, social work, particularly in leadership, decision-making, and conflict resolution. It has become more than just a job; it’s a passion that continues to challenge and shape me. From my first nervous whistle to confidently managing high-stakes matches, refereeing has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It has pushed me beyond my comfort zone, tested my integrity, and prepared me for future challenges. No matter where life takes me, I know that the lessons I’ve learned on the field will stay with me forever.

When starting, I was quite anxious but excited at the same time to start a new experience of my life. When starting, it built new perspectives and new characterization traits about me. I learned how to be disciplined, good communication, confident, and most importantly have a good team spirit. My favorite memory as a referee was my first ever game in SBMSA reffing the minor league of football. Got to experience a whole lot of exciting stuff and got to learn more about the mistakes I made with high experience refs teaching me the right way. When dealing with my first game I couldn’t even blow the whistle to call the play because all I felt spitting out were butterflies as my stomach was full of them. I felt the game so fast like a varsity game as plays were going and I wasn’t ready at all. I was so lost and the game was out of control as I couldn’t put it back together. But one of my crew members came to talk to me about what was happening so I told him what was the problem. He gave me some advice and that advice was to trust yourself in everything you do and don’t be scared. For me that meant don't look back and keep going forward. The crew member's name was Sean. He saved my first game and made it the best. I was calling calls, I was running, but most importantly I was having fun and having a smile all day. I love watching any type of sports as it makes me love the action and intensity it has. Sean gave me support at the right time as he made that experience the best and the most important as I got to know how to be a real referee. Being a referee is very complicated and takes a lot of discipline to become one. But when you start you get to learn many things as good traits. Being a ref can help you in life as it teaches you the basics of the real world. Good communication, team work, confidence, quick thinking, and being disciplined. All these skills can be learned as being a referee and can be used in the real world. Even in participating in any sports you can learn any of these skills and even more. Like for me, reffing and playing soccer has made me a true man and a better person in general to the community. Referring can take you to many places. And what I mean by that is it can be a side hustle but it will pay you very well and it’s something that you really love and admire. You can travel the whole world and be doing whatever you love. As I know my teacher taught us the basics of refereeing and made a foundation for us. I admire him as he is an umpire for baseball and travels for games for universities. I feel that this career can be a full time thing as I can watch the sport I love as a job. Now thinking about referring I feel that this could be my full time job as I feel ready and confident to wear the white and black stripes with pride. From viewing experience I really want to be in their shoes as they are living the life I want to live. Reffing is no joke as it’s a serious job to take in hand. From the bottom of my heart I want to continue this beautiful experience that I’ve had so far.

For most of my junior year, my friend kept on bugging me and bugging me to join a class in which he was in. He explained that not only did they go play sports outside during school hours, but they also teached us how to be referees for whatever sport we wanted. The class was called Team Officiating and at that time I didn't realize just how big of an opportunity I had missed by not signing up for the class that year. When it was time to choose our classes for next year, I remembered all the times my friend explained to me just how fun the class was and this led to me choosing Team Officiating as one of my electives. As the year progressed, I kept on learning more and more about being a referee and just how much patience and dedication it took. Randomly one day during class, my teacher explained to us that we had an opportunity to make some money. I was instantly intrigued since at that time I had never had the opportunity to make any kind of money doing something school related. At first, I was hesitant to tell the teacher to sign me up for it since I believed that I would make a error when it was time to referee. However, after being persuaded by my brother who was also in the class, I decided to try it out for one week. Long story short, I refereed every weekend for about 2 months straight after that. I loved refereeing but I have one specific memory which changed my perspective on life. Every year, my school has a friendly competition called the Unified game. It is a way for less fortunate students to be able to do something they have always wanted to do. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for special needs people since I believe they didn't deserve for life to treat them how it has treated them. My teacher asked us who wanted to participate in the Unified Game and be a referee and without hesitation I volunteered. Every year, the stands are packed since many students want to watch the game and hang out with their friends. I was lucky enough to be able to be in the field helping out less fortunate students who had always been treated differently just because of how they were born. It was my duty to coach a special needs student to successfully give the right calls whenever a play was happening. It made me emotional seeing how my partner was having so much fun just by simply raising his hands and making the right call. Since then, I never judged anybody until I met them since what is important is what is in the inside not the outside. Being a referee has taught me to be more patient with people. It has happened many times where players are rude to you while you are refereeing and as time went on, I learned that it is not their character, but simply the fact that they have love for the game. As of now, I am a certified soccer referee and although I don't have much time to referee at this time, I hope I can start refereeing more in the future since I want to do something I love as a job.

From making referee shirts with a black sharpie and randomly practicing my strike three call, I knew from an early age that officiating was a calling for my life. I umpired my first baseball game for Winfield Little League at the age of 13. One of the under-appreciated aspects of officiating is that you are able to watch young athletes develop a passion for their sport and enhance their abilities. Most of the games that I umpired were for the first-year player pitchers, so I helped the kids understand how to play within the rules of the game. Fast-forward six years later and these same kids are now playing their last home game as eighth graders, but the game almost didn't happen. I was traveling in from school when I received a call from the athletic director who informed me that there was a miscommunication that resulted in no umpires showing up! I rushed home, grabbed my gear, and went down to the field as fast as I could. When I walked onto the field, I received a standing ovation from the crowd, on both sides, which is a first-time (and probably only time) experience. It was truly an honor to umpire a game between two talented teams in our area, and while my ultimate goal is always to umpire with wisdom, fairness, and clarity with no interest in the outcome, it was an added benefit that a kid I had umpired since he could barely get the ball across the plate had a fantastic night on the mound. It was an unforgettable evening where many fans offered their gratitude on social media, but, for me, it was a special game where I was able to give back to the sport and community through a craft that I deeply cherish. Officiating has played a key role in my maturity. I have become a better communicator in various leadership positions and have exercised effective methods of acting as a fireman to extinguish the flames of tension during heated conversations. Officiating has allowed me to embrace the tenets of integrity by acting as an impartial enforcer of rules. This profession is also one that mandates humility and accountability where I have to understand that perfection is unattainable and that I must take on the responsibility of growing from mistakes and “failing forward.” Lastly, officiating has enabled me to cultivate a resilient attitude where I am able to thrive during high-pressure situations while also not becoming discouraged after making an unpopular ruling. My self-confidence has grown, and this makes me more willing to step outside of my comfort zone to reach my full potential. Officiating is more than just a part-time job; it is a driving force of my lifestyle! I hope to make officiating a lifelong pursuit. My ultimate goal is to officiate at the college level, which I hope to accomplish by attending numerous camps to learn from valuable constructive feedback. Understanding the dedication required, I am also going to focus on building rapport with fellow officials and pushing myself to the limit so that someday I will have the opportunity to officiate a state championship game. Lastly, I seek to start a nonprofit called “The Third Team” that will oversee weekend camps, offer officials equipment, and will provide officiating classes in high schools and colleges. In my short time as an official, the relationships, memories, and life lessons have already made me a more well-rounded person. I just hope to pay these experiences forward by being an enduring advocate of officiating and hopefully inspiring others to join this extraordinary family!

"Did you used to play basketball at Spring Woods High School?...I've seen you play before!" This was told to me by a younger boy whose game I had just been the referee of. I recognized him because earlier in the game I had called a foul on him and he'd given me push back on the call I made so when he came up to me after the game I thought it was to criticize me on my officiating. Instead he surprised me by asking a simple question on whether or not I had played basketball at my current high school. I told him yes and I was shocked to find out he had once come to watch one of my games when I played on the girls varsity basketball team. He probably found it cool that I played basketball at what seemed like such a high skill level to him but to me it meant more than that. I had started playing basketball competitively in middle school and made the girls varsity basketball team for my school my sophomore and junior year of high school. My senior year however, I made the difficult decision to not tryout for the team. I wanted to spend my senior year making an impact on my community by volunteering, starting an organization, and working to raise money for college. When I was introduced to the opportunity to become a referee I was a bit hesitant since I had once been a player who never really liked referees due to having the perspective that they were against me and I felt unqualified for the job at hand. However, I knew I needed the financial assistance with college just around the corner and as a former player I knew the rules like the back of my hand. As expected when I first started out I wasn't very good due to being afraid to make the wrong call or just being intimidated by what the parents, coaches, and even players might think about me. It wasn't any better that I happened to be the only female from my school to sign up to become a referee. So when I had this encounter with this young boy I was very self conscious in myself and even doubted wanting to continue pursuing refereeing. However, the words this little boy spoke to me changed my perspective on the impact I was making. When I recognized the admiration he felt towards me about being someone he once looked up to from watching me play made me realize that I was making a difference both in these young players minds but also within myself. His words made me feel accomplished and like I was a role model for these players to look up to and it was my responsibility to guide them along the correct path in life through basketball. This encounter with the little boy made me want to continue being a referee and as I move onto college I hope to be able to officiate more youth sports games and help other children recognize the value of being a role model and the full circle moments that come with it.

My name is Deshaun Wilson, an 18-year-old high school senior aspiring to work in cybersecurity, however, working as a youth league umpire in Alpharetta, Georgia. Before umpiring, I worked at a farmers market but quickly realized it wasn’t for me. That changed when I discovered that the Alpharetta Youth Baseball Association (AYBA), where I play baseball, was hiring teenage umpires. As a lifelong baseball fan and player, I decided to step into officiating—a path I never expected. I had always dreamed of working in sports but never imagined the thrill and fulfillment umpiring would bring. My favorite umpiring moment came during the Fall 2024 8U Coach Pitch Championship Game. While I enjoy calling balls and strikes in kid-pitch games, coach-pitch games are my favorite. The constant action keeps the energy high, and this championship game was no exception. It was a back-and-forth contest, with both teams giving everything they had. Entering the final half-inning, the home team was down two runs. After a few hits and one run scored, the game reached a pivotal moment. With runners on first and second, the batter hit a grounder to the second baseman, who flipped it to the shortstop for a force out. I made the call—out! Suddenly, the runner from second turned and sprinted home. I quickly moved to clear a throwing lane as the shortstop fired to the catcher. The throw was on target, the tag was applied, and my fellow umpire at home plate made the game-ending call—out! The away team erupted in celebration, having won on a dramatic final play. As we walked off the field for the last time that season, I thought, “This is why we love baseball.” Umpiring has given me a new appreciation for the game and the officials who make split-second decisions under pressure. The speed of the game is incredible, and while umpires at higher levels face scrutiny, they get most calls right because they are the best in the business. Beyond the excitement, umpiring has shaped my character. It has strengthened my confidence, decision-making, communication skills, and ability to stay composed under pressure. Making close calls in front of passionate coaches, players, and parents has taught me to stand by my decisions and communicate effectively. It has also instilled a sense of responsibility and leadership that will benefit me in both academics and my future career. As I head to college, my umpiring journey isn’t over. I plan to attend one of Major League Baseball’s free Umpire Camps, held at Minor League and MLB stadiums. My goal is to earn a spot in an all-expenses-paid development camp, which could open doors to officiating at a higher level. While my focus will be on cybersecurity studies, I hope to continue umpiring, whether as a side profession or a long-term career. Umpiring has deepened my love for baseball and prepared me for the future in ways I never expected. Whether on the field making tough calls or in life making critical decisions, the skills I’ve gained will always be with me.

I parked my car in the gravel parking lot near the fields, and walked out, setting my soccer bag and water bottle behind the goal, and checking my phone to see the game details while the teams were warming up. To my horror, I realized I was the only referee not only for this game but all of the games on this field for the entire day. These were U14 and U19 games that I would have to do by myself. I had never been the center on a U19 before, not to mention doing it solo. I nervously grabbed my whistle and walked confidently to the field to check-in. It was going to be a hard day, but I was determined to continue my mission to bring quality officiating to as many people as I could. Looking back, that was one of my favorite soccer memories. It built my confidence in officiating higher stakes games in older age divisions that would end up serving me well later and garnering me more respect in the local referee community. I saw and learned a lot in my first year as an Iowa High School Athletic Association referee. I refined my skills and mechanics as an assistant referee, from keeping my flag still as I ran up the lines, to holding it in the proper hand all the time. I saw many intricate plays, traps, and even a game where the center referee gave out four red cards and eight yellow cards. Over the years, soccer officiating has taught me: to always be prepared for anything because you never know what the next minute brings, to always be respectful because you never know what someone is going through, and how much respect you earn when respect is what you give everyone no matter what they say to you in the moment, to stand your ground even if you’re standing alone, and to always be confident. After all, if you’re confident, others will follow you. I also developed a greater respect for officials, due to the level of athleticism and mental stamina required to officiate the game without substitutes or breaks. After my first season, I knew I wanted to continue which brings me to where I am today. I am certified for my second season with the Iowa High School Athletic Association, and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, and my fifth year as a grassroots soccer referee. I hope to continue refereeing far into the future, hopefully officiating at the state tournament, getting certified to do high school matches in Missouri, and becoming an official NCAA referee. Even though I’m planning on majoring in mathematics and oboe performance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, I plan on being a soccer referee at a high level for years to come. Later in college, I aspire to get a regional referee license and work my way up. I dream that someday I will be in the World Cup, not as a player, but as a referee bringing my quality of officiating and love of the game with every whistle of every match along the way.