"As he sprints up the middle of the field, the striker whizzes by the defenders and settles the perfect pass and fires into the upper corner out of reach of the diving keeper. He celebrates the goal with his teammates as they confidently jog back to midfield. Parents are cheering wildly on the sidelines. Simultaneously, the sideline referee raises the dreaded flag. Offsides. The goal is called back and the defending team heaves a sigh of relief."
"My 13-year-old son didn't score that goal. He was the ref who called it back, but watching that happen was just as exciting to me. He loves all things soccer. He plays for his club team. He follows at least 6 professional leagues throughout Europe and the United States. He has no problem waking up by 6 a.m. to start watching his favorite teams play on the weekends. His whole fashion sense is grounded in soccer jerseys. For him, soccer is a way of life."
"I had a passing idea that teens can work as referees because some of the refs during my son's soccer career have seemed quite young. One day, the mom of one of his teammates mentioned the US Soccer Association First Time Referee course during a sideline chat while watching our kids play. Both of her kids are soccer referees and she highly recommended that my son give it a try."
He is a 13-year-old soccer enthusiast who completed a referee training course and began picking up matches that fit his schedule. He referees youth games, calling plays such as offsides while experiencing the excitement of match moments. He plays for a club, follows multiple professional leagues, and prioritizes soccer in daily life. Refereeing functions as an after-school job that pays and accommodates his age, with a 13-year-old minimum for US Soccer Association certification. Refereeing has developed his leadership, communication, and decision-making skills and provides practical experience beyond playing.
Read at Business Insider
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