EVERY GAME CAN BE YOUR BEST GAME
A young, motivated and talented official was assigned as the referee in a college D‑I highly contested conference game. The two assistant referees were seasoned veterans who have officiated high‑level soccer for several years. It was a night game and there were more than 500 fans attending. The young referee was extremely excited for the opportunity determined to officiate their best game. The assistant referees were looking forward to doing whatever they could to help the referee be very successful. The pregame was very complete and it was a good dialogue between the entire crew. The assistant referees asked questions to ensure the referee covered every situation — all were ready to go out on the field.
During the national anthem, the referee investigated the stands and observed the crowd. The referee’s adrenalin began to flow, and she knew she was ready to officiate the game. It was a hard‑fought contest and the referee worked very diligently to maintain control. The cautions that were administered were timely and assisted with game management. The referee ran well throughout the game and, almost without exception, was in the proper position. Both assistants were always in position and made several critical offside decisions as well as assisting with fouls they observed.
After the game, the referee was exuberant in the locker room. She thanked the assistants for their hard work. The referee team did a postgame review and unanimously determined that it was officiated almost flawlessly. The referee went home and stayed awake for several hours replaying the game and excitement that had just occurred.
