My first job as youth soccer referee began with extensive training before I received my certification. For six years, I was a member of two outdoor recreational soccer teams. I enjoyed the rigor and team spirit on the field. Soccer was almost second nature; and the opportunity to referee provided me with a new perspective on the sport, as well as new responsibilities. I stepped into my new role, equipped with an official badge and uniform. My focus on the field had changed. No longer was the ‘goal’ a metal cage guarded by a goalie–it was to mediate the entire field. Rather than competitively playing to win, my job entailed supporting the young players. I became scorekeeper, arbiter, coach, and intermittently, shoe-tier. The younger the player,