On the recreational side of our club, the highest level is our U7/U8 Lower Division. This is where soccer drills and touches turn into the first official games. The uniforms are real, the cleats are tied, and the shin guards are in place. Game faces go on — and the fun begins.
To help teach and enforce the rules of the game, these matches are officially reffed. But here’s the best part: our referees are not far removed from this program themselves. Nearly every one of them once played right here in our recreational program. It is a true full circle experience — players who once learned the game on these fields are now guiding the next generation.
And let’s talk about that! These are 13-, 14-, and 15-year-old “kids” stepping up as leaders for our club. They are gaining real-life experience managing games, teaching rules, and doing it all in front of a crowd of adults — some of whom may not even know the rules of the game themselves! All eyes are on these refs as they take on this role of leadership. They are the grand marshals on the field, and they do it all with grace and a smile, while helping to keep soccer safe and fun for our youngest emerging stars.
And talk about full circle within the community — recently, one of our referees from the travel U16 Wolves team officiated a Lower Division game that featured her own cousin! Moments like that remind us just how strong our community connections are, and how every player, coach, and referee contributes to the growth of our club and builds a stronger community for us all.
