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PRESS RELEASE – Local soccer referee Maria Abbey Iriarte uses every opportunity she is afforded to gain the necessary experience to officiate at higher levels. On Saturdays, Iriarte officiates various matches of the FIFA Festival for Girls at the Guam Football Association National Training Center.
“I started refereeing just last year when my friends asked me to try,” Iriarte said. “I tried it out and also saw it as a way to earn some money for myself.
“Right now, I’m just trying to gain experience to get better. Maybe in a few years I can be a referee for women’s league games,” the 15-year-old added.
Iriarte officiates mostly U8 matches in the FIFA Festival for Girls and is part of the selection pool of developing referees for the upcoming Docomo Pacific Robbie Webber Youth League up to the U14 level. Particularly in the girls’ festival, Iriarte also uses her role as match referee to help teach the young players the Laws of the Game during their matches.
“One goal for the girls currently officiating at the youth level is get them at least at the assistant referee level for the women’s league next year,” said Simie Willter, GFA Referees Administrator. “Overall, though, I’d really like to see many more girls step up and try refereeing.”
In addition to actively promoting the athletic development of female players between the ages of 6 and 12, the FIFA Festival for Girls also is meant to provide a platform for the development of female coaches, referees and officials, as part of FIFA’s mission for women’s football. Each match during the festival features a female referee and only in necessary cases will a male referee be assigned to matches, Willter said.
“I believe Festival for Girls is great for the overall development of women’s football in Guam,” Iriarte said. “I think it encourages more young girls to play the game and it eventually will help develop more players to train at the girls’ national team level. “We didn’t have this type of event, (particularly for the 6 to 12 year old age group) when I was growing up, but I really wish we had,” added Iriarte, who also is training with the Guam U16 women’s national team for the AFC U16 Women’s Championship in Nanjing, China next month.
For more information about the FIFA Festival for Girls or to inquire about upcoming referee courses, call the GFA Main Office at 637-4321.
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GPS Sports Calendar
March 2024
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for February
1st
ISA SOFTBALL
IIAAG MS GIRLS SOCCER FINALS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
HS RUGBY PLAYOFFS
Events for March
2nd
HS RUGBY
ISA GIRLS SOFTBALL
ISA BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for March
2nd
Events for March
4th
ISA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
ISA SOFTBALL ALL-ISLAND COACHES MEETING
Events for March
5th
HS RUGBY PLAYOFFS
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for March
8th
IIAAG BOYS BASKETBALL FINALS
ISA HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS PLAYOFFS
Events for March
9th
ISA SOFTBALL FINALS
HS RUGBY FINALS
Events for March
9th
Events for March
14th
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
Events for March
16th
Events for March
17th
Events for March
18th
Events for March
19th
Events for March
20th
Events for March
22nd
Events for March
24th
Events for March
25th
Events for March
27th
Events for March
28th
Events for March
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for March
30th
Soccer
ISLANDERS OUTSHOOT DOLPHINS
Uncategorized
4TH QUARTER SPORTS SET FOR TAKE OFF
Soccer
ISLANDERS OUTSHOOT DOLPHINS
Uncategorized
4TH QUARTER SPORTS SET FOR TAKE OFF
COMING SOON …
4th Quarter Sports
- Guam Marathon