For as far back as I can remember soccer has been a part of my life. It's a sport that has been with me throughout the many obstacles I have had to face, and one that I have grown to cherish, love and appreciate on many levels - especially as a referee.
Officiating wasn't my idea initially. In 1993, my mother enrolled me in a referee course because she hoped it would help improve my sportsmanship on the field. By placing me in that course, she inadvertently sent me off on a journey towards a wonderful career. I was only 14 at the time and the only girl in the class, but my instructor instilled the confidence in me that would eventually translate to the soccer field - not only as a player, but also as a referee. His tutelage paid off, as I was honored with the Youth Female Referee of the Year Award from the Western New York State Association in 1997.
Meanwhile, my soccer skills blossomed throughout high school and I was recruited to play for the University of Hartford at the Division 1 level. Unfortunately, after my freshman year, I was severely injured in a car accident resulting in the passing of my mother and several injuries that prohibited me from competing on the soccer field at such a high level. It was then that I decided to focus on my officiating career.
While working my way up the officiating ranks throughout the following years I have had the fortunate to learn from numerous mentors from across the United States of America. I have officiated for several ODP tournaments, New York State Cup tournaments and Region One Youth tournaments. My hard work and perseverance paid off and I became a professional referee in 2002.
Since then I've had to work hard on and off the field in order to maintain certification and add to my knowledge of the game. I've also had the privilege of officiating games for the Veteran's Cup tournament, the women's professional soccer league, and the U.S. women's national team.
This year, I was not only asked to participate as a referee for the 2007 National Soccer Hall of Fame Game between the USL's Washington Freedom and the WPSL Connecticut Reds in which Julie Foudy and Mia Hamm were inducted, I was also given the distinguished award of Referee of the Year for the New York West Rochester Chapter.
It was more than honor for me to be selected as one of the assistant referees on an all-female crew for the first-ever all-female induction class in the Hall of Fame's 57-year history. It is wonderful to see that countless women are making strides, not only as soccer players but also as referees.
Recently, I was one of 10 female referees to attend a soccer academy in Bellingham, Washington in conjunction with the Veteran's Cup tournament. At the academy we attended classroom lectures, problem solving workshops, field workshops and man-management workshops. The academy itself was organized to establish and recognize females as an integral part of the referee development program. The cadets who attended the academy are all active across the country in officiating women's soccer competitions throughout the U.S. Soccer Federation.
While I believe that New York West and the USSF have done an admirable job in advancing female referee membership over the past 10 years, I also believe there is still more to be done. I have learned so many things on the field that I could never have learned in the classroom. It is my desire to pass on these lessons, both in life and in sport, to the many generations of female athletes and referees to come.
What I have learned most throughout my life and officiating career is that education and the guidance of a mentor is crucial to every aspect of life. Both of my parents and my brother have served as mentors to me and were influential throughout my career. They continue to inspire me in their own individual, powerful and silent ways.
My personal goals in life are rather simple. On the field, my dream is to run the line at the Olympic games before my tenure expires at age 45. Off the field, I strive to find the balance of leading a happy and healthy life while maintaining a successful career.
I believe that I am where I am today because of my persistence, love of the game and desire to succeed in my profession. Playing soccer on all-boys teams in my youth, being a Division 1 athlete throughout my collegiate career despite a debilitating car accident, and striving to achieve the level of Olympic and World Cup officiating have all given me the confidence I need to get out on the field and get the job done.
The greatest aspiration for a referee is to officiate a game that is considered safe, exciting (good football) and fair. At the end of a match, when an athlete who played their heart out comes over to my crew and me and says, "It is a pleasure to work with good referees". What a wonderful complement to receive, especially when the athlete who says it is from the losing team and feels they got a "fair shake". That's when I know we as a referee crew we have done our job.
Ray Tam is 19 years old, and has refereed about 300 games during his five year career. Ray had an exemplary season in 2006. After an exceptionally strong performance at the State Cup tournament, Ray was selected to attend the ODP tournament in Lawrenceville, NJ. His strong performance there led to his selection to officiate at the ODP finals in Kirkwood, DE. Locally, he was honored by being selected as an Assistant Referee on the Amateur League Men's Cup Finals.
Kimmie has officiated about 320 games. She says her goal in refereeing is to advance, but maintain control, confidence and fairness in each game. She hopes to end every game with the feeling that it was well officiated for both teams.