REFS NEED LOVE TOO

David Gerson
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An honest perspective from the 3rd team on the pitch... the referees. Through humor, analysis and education, we are slowly changing how people view referees and officials in all sports. We care and have a love for the game as much as any player or coach. Sometimes even more. Youth soccer (proper football) is a multi-billion $ industry in the US. Tremendous money is spent on players, competitions, travel etc., but almost nothing spent on developing the next generation of referees. I hope that this Podcast inspires, educates and humanizes the next generation of referees for their own development and appreciation from the players, coaches and spectators they need to work alongside. 

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    World Cup Concerns on the "For Ref's Sake!" Podcast

    Send us Fan Mail The strangest part about refereeing is that everyone sees you, but almost nobody knows you. This week David was a guest on the "For Ref's Sake" podcast.  We talk about how I went from a grassroots soccer referee turned global creator during the COVID era, which sparked a community where referees, coaches, players, and parents can finally talk about the game like humans. What happens when officials stop being faceless and start being approachable, educational, and honest about how decisions get made? We get into the real craft of officiating: why the Laws of the Game are subjective, how positioning and angle change everything, and how to discuss big moments like DOGSO, SPA, serious foul play, reckless challenges, and offensive or insulting language without turning it into clickbait. David shares why he tries to lead with a teacher’s heart, how he keeps up with the flood of clips and questions, and what it takes to build a sustainable refereeing platform that includes short-form content, long-form podcasting, and referee gear that funds the work. Then we zoom out to World Cup 2026 in the United States. David lays out concerns many fans are not hearing loudly enough: visa barriers, high costs, heat and humidity, political headwinds, and the possibility of empty seats early on. But there is optimism too, including why ticket and housing prices may drop and why visitors can still expect warmth from everyday Americans. We close with a simple standard for any official who wants to level up: integrity, courage, a willingness to learn, and a deep love for the game. Subscribe for more conversations that make you better on the pitch, share this with a ref who needs encouragement, and leave a review with your biggest referee lesson or sideline story. Support the show

    55 min

  2. 14 MAY

    You Can Build A Referee Program That Kids Want To Join with Carlos Ledesma

    Send us Fan Mail The fastest way to lose a new referee is to certify them online and then throw them into the deep end on a busy weekend. We start with a few big updates from my world, including our first Dr. Tom Gerson Pops Memorial Scholarships for referees and why telling those stories every year matters to me and my family. Then I’m joined by Carlos Ledesma, a Northern California assigner, director of referees, and certified mentor who has quietly built what a lot of leagues are missing: a repeatable system to recruit, train, develop, and retain soccer referees. Carlos breaks down how he sells refereeing to 13 and 14-year-olds, why shadowing works in real games, and how club scrimmages can become a low-pressure training ground where new officials learn mechanics, positioning, pregame routines, and confidence before the first “real” assignment. We also get practical about referee safety and retention: sideline seating policies that keep spectators off the assistant referee’s back, strict zero tolerance expectations, and the underrated step of communicating with referees after a referee abuse report so they know action was taken. If you’re an assigner, club leader, coach, or referee mentor trying to solve the referee shortage with better training instead of wishful thinking, you’ll leave with a model you can copy. Subscribe for more behind-the-scenes referee conversations, share this with your local club, and leave a review so more officials and assigners can find the show. Support the show

    42 min

  3. 25 APR

    Update! Bouncing Back After A Mistake

    Send us Fan Mail A single referee mistake can hijack your confidence for days, especially when it happens in a high school playoff match with a crowd watching. I share a raw update on a procedural error I had to admit publicly, including the moment I took a go-ahead goal off the board and how heavy that felt after the final whistle. If you’ve ever walked to your car replaying one decision on repeat, you’ll recognize the mix of pride, guilt, and the need to keep showing up anyway.  From there, we pivot to the quick reset that every soccer referee needs: an easy assistant referee night that still had its own challenge (yes, you can get cooked by the sun even at a “night” game). Then we get into a competitive Georgia high school soccer matchup between 6A teams where game management matters on every touch. We talk injuries, five yellow cards, delays of restart, reckless challenges, and how using comms with a strong crew helps us spot flashpoints and keep players from boiling over.  We close with the small details that make officials better: smarter positioning on goal kicks, opening your body to read the long ball, and why over-apologizing (“I’m sorry”) can actually make dissent worse. There’s also a quick referee gear update with new referee socks and the latest on grip socks restocking and why they sell out so fast. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a ref friend, and leave a review so more officials can find it. Support the show

    6 min

  4. 23 APR

    Integrity Over Ego: Why I Took a Goal Off the Board

    Send us Fan Mail A playoff match can feel perfect for 50 minutes and then unravel in 10 seconds. That’s what happened to me in Georgia, and I’m not proud of it. I’m sharing the full, raw story of a high school postseason game where I made a procedural mistake on a restart, saw the consequences hit the scoreboard, and then had to make the hardest choice a referee can make in public: admit it and fix it. We talk through the whole arc, from pregame prep and crew dynamics to why comms can help when things get fast. I break down a clear DOGSO handball moment on a corner kick that leads to a penalty and a red card, then the decision that changed everything: allowing a quick free kick when the ball was still moving. When that restart turns into a goal, the match explodes. I consult the crew, swallow my ego, disallow the goal, and deal with the reality that doing the “right” procedural thing can still look terrible to players, coaches, and fans. If you care about soccer officiating, NFHS rules, playoff game management, referee mindset, and getting back up after a rough night, this one is for you. Subscribe, share it with a referee friend, and leave a review with the toughest lesson you’ve learned on the field. Support the show

    29 min

  5. 16 APR

    Brand New at 42 with Holly Jimenez - It's Never Too Late To Be Great!

    Send us Fan Mail The hardest part of picking up a whistle as an adult isn’t learning the signals, it’s walking onto the field while everyone assumes you’ve done this forever. Holly Jimenez knows that feeling firsthand. She starts refereeing at 42, feels the nerves at U9 games, makes the kind of mistakes that haunt you on the drive home, and still keeps showing up until her experience builds and the confidence grows. We get into how she goes from local youth soccer to top level assignments like MLS NEXT environments and semi-pro matches in the WPSL and UPSL, including what changes when you’re in a stadium with real crowds and veteran officials. Holly breaks down the pieces that accelerate referee development: mentors who give honest feedback, assigners who challenge you at the right pace, and the mindset shift of treating mistakes as part of referee training rather than proof you don’t belong. Holly also brings a unique edge to soccer officiating: she’s a longtime Spanish teacher, and her ability to speak Spanish can instantly cool down dissent, build rapport, and even catch the sideline when people assume the referee won’t understand. We also talk directly about the reality of being a female referee, the sexism that still shows up on touchlines, and why communities like the Female Referee Organization of Georgia matter for retention, safety, and growth. If you care about better game management, stronger support for referees, and getting more women into officiating, you’ll take something practical from this conversation. Subscribe, share this with a referee friend, and leave a review so more officials can find the show. Support the show

    45 min

  6. 5 APR

    What Elite FIFA Officials Can Teach Grassroots Referees with Jan Aravirtra, Referee Academy

    Send us Fan Mail The fastest way to level up as a soccer referee is not learning one more obscure law, it is learning how to handle people when the match te. I’m joined by Jan Aravitra, a former FIFA international referee from Finland with nearly two decades at the top level, including UEFA competitions and World Cup qualifiers. We get into the behind-the-scenes reality of working with different crews, different cultures, and different communication styles, especially from the perspective of an elite assistant referee. We talk about focus in hostile environments, and how you can “block out the noise” without ignoring the emotional temperature of the benches and spectators. Jan explains why players care so much about being treated fairly, how repeated moments can snowball into dissent, and what experienced officials do to keep the game balanced and under control. We also dig into practical man management: when to build rapport, when to stay composed, why yelling back never works, and how the best referees set clear borders without turning the match into a debate. Then we shift into referee education and development. Jan shares why he built the Referee Academy, how video feedback and live clip discussions accelerate learning for grassroots referees, and why community is a key factor in referee retention and mental health. If you’re a new ref trying to survive your first seasons or a veteran trying to mentor others, you’ll take away specific habits you can use on your very next match. If this helps you, subscribe for more conversations like this, share it with a referee who needs support, and leave a review so more officials can find the show. Support the show

    48 min

  7. 13 MAR

    Premier League Referee Scott Ledger on Longevity, Learning and Love of the Game

    Send us Fan Mail A soldier-turned-official sets a six-year goal to reach the Premier League—and makes it! Then he does an even rarer thing: he stays for over 15 years! We sit down with Scott Ledger, a 500+ appearance Premier League Assistant Referee and FA Cup Final appointee, to unpack the craft behind elite officiating—how preparation, humility, and sharp eyes under pressure create credibility when tens of thousands are judging every move. Scott takes us inside the modern toolkit: pre-match data packs that map set-piece patterns and passing lanes, film study to anticipate offside traps and screens, and the small human edge of knowing players’ first names to defuse tension. He breaks down why “looking switched on” matters as much as getting the call right, especially for assistant referees who spend long stretches semi-active but must sell a complex decision in a heartbeat. We also explore the mental game of VAR: delayed flags, instant feedback, and the rubber-band reset that helps him let go of the last check and lock in for the next one. From fitness to field craft, Scott explains the lateral speed work, GPS targets, and position resets that keep him aligned with lightning-fast wingers. He shares the culture shock of moving from Sunday League to the Premier League’s event-level logistics, plus a fan encounter that turned into a mini laws seminar. And he pitches a smart IFAB tweak to curb time-wasting on goalkeeper “injuries” by forcing a teammate to leave—small changes that could protect game flow without gimmicks from goalkeepers. It’s a candid, practical masterclass for referees, coaches, and football obsessives who want to see the game with clearer eyes. If you value preparation, composure, and the pursuit of marginal gains, this conversation will sharpen how you watch—and how you work. If you've enjoyed it, please follow the show, share with a ref friend, and leave a quick review to help more people find us. Support the show

    49 min

  8. 25 FEB

    Respect The Call, Change The Game with Kari Seitz, VP of Referees for US Soccer

    Send us Fan Mail Abusive sidelines don’t fix bad calls—and they’re driving referees out of the game. We sat down with U.S. Soccer’s Vice President of Referees, Kari Seitz, to break down how “Respect the Call” and Policy 531-9 are changing that story with clear standards, real accountability, and education designed for today’s crews. We start with the foundation: knowing the difference between a raw emotional reaction and dissent. That clarity matters because early, consistent action keeps matches from spiraling. Kari explains the new video series that teaches practical skills most officials never learn in class—how to read tone and proximity, how to set boundaries, and even how to show a card with presence so your message lands the first time. You’ll hear why empowering young and new referees to act decisively is the single best way to prevent escalation and protect the flow of the game. From there, we zoom out to the system. Kari walks us through centralized reporting for abuse, fair and age-appropriate sanctions, and league adoption that extends to parents on the touchline. We also explore the U.S. Refereeing Way, a national push to unify instruction and mechanics so referees in California and Georgia get the same guidance on AR positioning, dissent management, and match control. Think modern training modules, shareable vertical videos, and a future “referee passport” to track experience, education, and progression—less guesswork, more support. If you’ve ever wondered how to stop the churn of officials, this conversation shows the roadmap: consistent definitions, confident enforcement, and a culture that treats referees as essential to soccer. Watch the new Respect the Call videos, share them with your club, and put the standards into practice. We need your help! Support the show

    44 min
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Ratings & Reviews

About

An honest perspective from the 3rd team on the pitch... the referees. Through humor, analysis and education, we are slowly changing how people view referees and officials in all sports. We care and have a love for the game as much as any player or coach. Sometimes even more. Youth soccer (proper football) is a multi-billion $ industry in the US. Tremendous money is spent on players, competitions, travel etc., but almost nothing spent on developing the next generation of referees. I hope that this Podcast inspires, educates and humanizes the next generation of referees for their own development and appreciation from the players, coaches and spectators they need to work alongside. 

Information

  • Creator
    David Gerson
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    107
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 REFS NEED LOVE TOO
  • Show Website
    REFS NEED LOVE TOO

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