Good lord, the kid is already making an impact!!! Does anyone else on this thread know just how hard it is to be a soccer referee??!
Well, I do know. There is a huge amount of knowledge that must be mastered, and a great deal of split second judgement. Physical fitness as the refs need to be able to run for 90 minutes. And then there’s dealing with difficult parents and coaches screaming at you from the sidelines! It’s a lot for anyone to deal with, let alone a 15 year old. There’s a reason the pay is so good, and yet there’s a referee shortage. It is a tough and skilled job!
I would add that above all, schools want AUTHENTICITY. Trying to make this kid’s involvement with soccer something it is not actually DILUTES its impact.