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Teams play in the U8 division of the FIFA Festival for Girls at the Guam Football Association National Training Center during the event’s second week. (courtesy photo)
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.”

Teams play in the U8 division of the FIFA Festival for Girls at the Guam Football Association National Training Center during the event’s second week. (courtesy photo)
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
December 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for November
1st
ISA BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
2nd
IRON LEGENDS THROWDOWN
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
4th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
5th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for December
5th
Events for December
7th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Events for December
9th
40th GRC PLUMERIA ROAD RACE
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for December
10th
TOUR OF GUAM 2023
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
Events for December
11th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for December
12th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
12th
Events for December
14th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER FINALS
Events for December
15th
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for December
16th
3rd GUAM NINJA CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
16th
Events for December
18th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER ALL-ISLAND MEETING
Events for December
19th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
19th
Events for December
23rd
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
ISA HS BASEBALL FINALS
Events for December
23rd
Events for December
24th
Events for December
25th
Events for December
27th
Events for December
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for December
30th

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME

Basketball
3×3 HOOPS REPEAT AS GOLDEN BOYS

Basketball
RAPADAS LEADS WILD COUGAR COMEBACK

Baseball
GUAM HOSTS KIWIS IN U15 BASEBALL

Baseball
ROYALS DOWN FRIARS IN STATEMENT GAME

Basketball
SHARKS FEND OFF DOLPHINS IN GIRLS HOOPS

Basketball
3×3 HOOPS REPEAT AS GOLDEN BOYS
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs