The Proud Wef Moment

Never had kids but I think this a proud mom moment, the proud Wef moment. I've been working with this kid for a bit over a year. When this season started I tried to kick him on to bigger better things. He didn't really want to go and blasted 3 other assignors would not pick him up even though I had talked to them face to face. I kept assigning him but it was getting challenging because of his game schedule. This weekend I missed getting him into my rotation, but one of the other assignors was sending out emails that he was in desperate need of refs. I told babyref to contact him and tell him he wanted a u12 center. It is a big step up from the games I assign. BIG.

He landed the gig for this morning. His mom emailed me late last night and asked if I had any advice for him. I wrote an email about the different rules for this age bracket new to him. And I told him to take his yellow card out of the wallet and put it in his pocket so it would be easy to get to. I said he probably wouldn't use it but just in case . . . 

His mom emailed me after the game so excited to report he had indeed given a yellow card, first one ever. I asked why. She told me. It was a perfectly legit call. She said no one said a word (which is how you know everyone knows it is a totally legit call.) I kinda got a little watery eyed and super big happy smile. I felt my heart was full that he had learned and he had courage and he had a moment as an official to hear people recognize that he made the right call by affirming his decision with silence. It is a rare thing at a soccer match.