The Ref Collective

Are youth soccer referees quitting because of abuse? In this episode of The Ref Collective , we sit down with Jim Deck , Vice President of Officials for Williamson County Soccer Association, to discuss the growing referee shortage, referee retention, and the challenges facing young soccer referees today. We dive into why teenage referees leave the game, the impact of parent and coach behavior, ref...

In this episode of The Ref Collective, we sit down with David Gerson, founder of Refs Need Love Too, to discuss his journey from soccer enthusiast to referee advocate and community builder. David shares how he got started in officiating, the challenges that nearly made him walk away, and the experiences that kept him coming back to the game. We dive into the story behind Refs Need Love Too, the mi...

Welcome to Episode 1 of The Ref Collective Podcast. In this inaugural episode, hosts Christian Trujillo and Mike share their personal journeys through the game of soccer—from players and coaches to parents and referees—and the experiences that ultimately led them to create The Ref Collective. We discuss: ⚽ Our backgrounds in soccer ⚽ How we became referees ⚽ The challenges and rewards of offici...

Learn about The Ref Collective and our mission to ADVOCATE for referees, EDUCATE everyone, and UNITE the soccer family. Welcome to the very first episode of The Ref Collective, a podcast dedicated to soccer referees at every level. From amateur to professional, recreational to state leagues, we are here to bridge the gap between certification and real match readiness. In this introduction, we shar...

In the debut episode of The Ref Collective, we introduce the vision behind the podcast and the community we hope to build around the game of soccer and the people behind the whistle. From rec leagues and school matches to state competitions and the professional game, this podcast is focused on sharing the real experiences, challenges, stories, advice, and perspectives of referees from all levels o...