It was a spring Saturday like any other. The sun was shining and the temps were in the 40s as I drove up to the field where my daughter was about to begin a soccer game. I’ve done this before countless times with both of my girls over the years, whether I was coaching or watching as an interested supporter. But this time was a little different because my youngest was running up and down the field with a whistle.
We’re not entirely new to the world of officiating. My oldest daughter briefly reffed indoor soccer games a few years ago but quit after a coach berated her during a game. My youngest, however, was bound and determined to give it a try. Already an eager player and avid fan of the game, she took an all-day course in March to become certified as a Grade 8 referee. This course meant she could begin working as a ref for travel games, but she wanted to get her feet wet in lower age group town games first.
