FRISCO, Texas (Feb. 13, 2024) – For the first time, US Youth Soccer (USYS) will bring a select group of referees on an international trip to England.
Sixteen officials, selected across all four regions of the country, will head overseas from March 1-9 alongside the Olympic Development Program’s Regional Select Teams for a one-of-a-kind opportunity in London. The following referees were chosen based on long-term officiating service and dedication provided to US Youth Soccer.
- Lauren Aldrich (Louisiana)
- Evan BarneR (Michigan)
- Sean Conlee (Virginia)
- Jordan Downs (Utah)
- Marie Durr (Maryland)
- Donovan Eubank (Tennessee)
- Miklos Hendricks (Ohio)
- Jake Joyce (Florida)
- Albert Kyei-Mensah (Arkansas)
- Patricia McCracken (Colorado)
- Erin Paterson (Indiana)
- Shevah Rezaee (Georgia)
- Emily Rosenkranz (Arizona)
- Laszlo Sandler (Eastern New York)
- Anthony Sobolevsky (Kansas)
- Bowen Taylor (Colorado)
WorldStrides, the nation’s largest educational travel company, curated the referee-laden group’s itinerary to amplify the experience for those traveling abroad. Throughout the trip, the officials will explore the historic city of London, observe professional training sessions, attend professional soccer matches, and have a guided visit to Stamford Bridge, home of the storied Chelsea Football Club.
“I could not be more excited to help facilitate this upcoming trip for these 16 aspiring officials,” said Daniel Radford, USYS Senior Manager of Referees. “When I was in their shoes, I was one of the lucky ones who was able to go abroad with a youth national team for this kind of experience. Two decades later — on behalf of US Youth Soccer — I’m honored to be able to bring this back full circle.”
In addition to Radford, USYS’ National Referee Administrator, Ryan Cigich and Director of Competition & Event Operations Chris Webb are largely responsible for the trip’s programming.
“It is really exciting to see the work being done at US Youth Soccer,” said Dan Meeson, the English Football Association’s Head of Refereeing. “The English FA is delighted to welcome the group here. We are hopeful that the games, development opportunities, and experiences planned will serve the officials well in the future as they continue to progress.”
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About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer)
US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organization in the country, is on a mission to provide world-class support, resources, and leadership, helping every member fulfill their goals on and off the field of play. US Youth Soccer registers nearly 2.5 million players annually. Through its programming, resources and leadership, US Youth Soccer is advancing the game for its 54 Member State Associations, 10,000 clubs and leagues and nearly 1 million administrators, coaches, and volunteers. US Youth Soccer connects families and communities to the power of sports and its shared love of soccer. US Youth Soccer provides a path for every player, offering programs that provide a fun, safe and healthy environment for players at every level of the game.