The North Haven Soccer Club held a celebration of its local youth and adult referees at JRoos restaurant on Thursday, October 26. Over 50 referees and family members were in attendance, as well as CJSA Executive Director Joshua Krusewski, Connecticut Youth Referee Administrator Ron Packard, and North Haven Referee Assignor Mark McGeehan.
The event included supportive and motivational speeches for referees, information about the opportunities that becoming a certified referee can offer, and a raffle for all of the local referees.
“Referees are an integral part of the beautiful game, and it’s about time that we, as a community, show our referees how much they are appreciated,” said Chris Gaetano, NHSC President. “For far too long, referee abuse has not only been accepted, but it’s been embarrassingly encouraged by otherwise rational adults on sidelines across the country. As a result, most referees end up quitting and not continuing after just one or two seasons. This is unacceptable, and here in North Haven, we are not only going to fully support our referees, but we’re going to celebrate them!”
NHSC is committed to changing the culture around refereeing. The club believes that referees should be respected and appreciated for their contributions to the game. NHSC is committed to providing referees with the support they need to succeed, and to creating a positive environment for referees to work in.
For more information about the North Haven Soccer Club, please visit northhavensoccerclub.org.