TERRE HAUTE — Young players in the Vigo County Youth Soccer Association love to play the game. But how do many of these players spend their free time when not competing in the sport they love?
The answer to that question for nearly 50 youngsters under 18 (the youngest being 11)? They become referees.
No, they are not simply issued a yellow shirt and a whistle.
According to VCYSA Travel League Referee Assignor Dave Abrams, beginning referees must earn, at the minimum, a Level 9 license. Abrams assigns referees in Terre Haute, West Terre Haute, Sullivan and Brazil.
“[Level 9] is entry-level, but since they can only work rec-league games, we don’t encourage that,” Abrams said. “Our biggest problem is a lack of referees to work travel-league games. So we encourage them to get the Level 8 license.”
The Level 8 referee course is a three-day affair, usually three hours on a Friday, eight hours on a Saturday and four to five hours on a Sunday.
“It’s a real good class, but people really need to be interested. At the end of the course, they take a test. Then they have to take a test each year to be re-licensed.”
Abrams feels that kids who play and officiate is a win-win situation for the VCYSA program. He says a mentorship program is in place for the beginning referees, where a more seasoned official is on the sideline during games, to assist and help keep “exuberant” spectators and coaches at bay.
If possible, the youngsters working the U9, 10, 11 and 12 games will have an adult referee working alongside them. At the rec level, the program has field marshals or board members available to “keep an eye out.”
The head of a three-man referee crew on a recent Sunday is a five-year veteran official, Devin Bull. At the ripe old age of 15.
“One reason why I probably did it is you get paid pretty good money,” Bull stated. “You get to understand the game a lot better. Because I’ve played soccer, I’m in the high school league right now. Now I can understand what [the referees] are calling.”
Bull added, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, “Also, I did it so if the refs call a bad call, I can argue it. I can argue it because I know what I’m talking about and know what I’m doing.”
Becoming serious again, he added, “It’s hard to do … it’s not as easy as it looks like. We have to go through a lot of training. Actually, every year we have to take a new class to get recertified.”
Speaking of referee pay, according to Abrams, the lowest rate for a travel center referee is $25, while the assistants (linesmen) earn $15. The rates go up incrementally to $40 and $35, respectively, for U15-19-level games.
Rory Sommerville, 12, a referee for two years, also plays U14 soccer.
“When you first become [a referee], it’s kind of hard because you’re not sure about your calls,” Sommerville said. “But when you get into it, you get better and don’t get so nervous.
“We have to go through a three-day training. Long periods of time to become one. Then you take a test to see what you’ve learned. It’s a long time to become [a referee] but it’s worth it.”
Also, one doesn’t have to be a player to be a referee. Isaac Wonderlin, 13, has been a referee for three years.
“You get to watch soccer, which I’ve always liked,” Wonderlin said. “Especially since I can’t play it myself after I broke my leg [last year].”
Amy Frederick is presently the registrar for the VCYSA, directing the recreation league referees (U4 to middle school). She works with the youngest of the referees.
“Typically, we try to start the kids off after they get licensed on some of the younger games to become more comfortable, more confident,” she said. “It makes them better players, too, because they have a better understanding of the rules, whereas kids that don’t referee don’t have that same understanding.”
But while this is 99 percent a happy story, the aforementioned “exuberant” parents and coaches occasionally make it difficult for the young referees.
“Unfortunately, the intensity of the parents drives some of our referees away,” Frederick admitted. “Our retaining of young referees is about one out of every three. Some of the kids become disheartened when parents and coaches are harping at them.
“That’s one of the things we try to make sure that the kids aren’t having to go through. They’re out there trying their best and have learned the rules and are trying to apply those rules the best they can.”
However, some of the young referees face up to their older detractors.
“Had a 12-year-old young man — currently a senior in high school,” Frederick said of a time five years ago when she was referee assignor.
“I heard him stop the game, like 12 years old, and talked to a parent and said, ‘If you think you can do a better job, I suggest you take a referee’s course,’” Frederick laughed.
“I try to tell the kids, you may have adults that are out there, but YOU are in command of that game at that field. Everyone is supposed to listen to you. For the most part, the kids love it.”
Abrams and Frederick continually encourage more youngsters to become referees, especially girls. Only eight or nine girls are referees at present.
“It’s still slanted more on the boys’ and the men’s side,” Frederick said. “Sometimes the girls become a little more intimidated being out on the field.”
Abrams added that the referee “levels” advance all the way to Level 1, which would be able to work at the World Cup. “We don’t have one of those yet,” he laughed.
• The Vigo County Youth Soccer Association is online at www.vcysa.org.
• For more information on the Association, call (812) 466-0900.
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