Referee

Volunteer Referees

Volunteer referees play an important role in helping make the West Forest Sports League a fun, fair, and safe experience for all players. Referees help manage the flow of the game, enforce basic rules, and support a positive environment for young athletes.

No previous refereeing experience is required. A short overview of the rules and expectations will be provided before the season begins.

Volunteer referees will be generously compensated through community service hours as well as $30 per game.

What the Role Looks Like

Volunteer referees help supervise games and ensure that play runs smoothly. Responsibilities include:

• Enforcing the basic rules of the game

• Starting and stopping plays

• Watching for penalties or unsafe play

• Keeping the game moving at a steady pace

• Encouraging respectful and sportsmanlike behaviour

• Communicating with players and coaches when needed

Referees are not expected to be perfect. The goal is simply to help guide the game so that players have a fair and enjoyable experience.

Game Schedule

Games will take place one evening per week for eight weeks during the months of May and June.

Games are expected to take place on either Wednesday or Thursday evenings, with the final day being confirmed in the coming weeks as registration numbers and field availability are finalized.

Typical evening schedule:

Arrival Time: 6:00 PM

Game Start Time: 6:30 PM

End Time: Approximately 7:30–7:45 PM

There may be multiple games taking place during the evening.

Location

Games will take place at:

Westmount Elementary School Soccer Field (back up St. Rose of Lima CES)

West London, Ontario

Volunteers will receive a reminder with full location details before the season begins.

Time Commitment

Referees are asked to arrive by 6:00 PM to allow time for:

• Quick setup if needed

• Brief rule reminders

• Preparing the field and teams for the first game

Typical weekly commitment is about 1.5 hours on either Wednesday or Thursday evenings.

Who Can Volunteer

We welcome referees who are:

• High school students

• University students

• Community members

• Anyone interested in supporting youth sports

High school students may be eligible to receive community service hours for their involvement.

Important Note

The operation of the inaugural season will depend on registration numbers, referee availability, and volunteer coaches. While we are excited to launch, there is a possibility that the league may not operate if minimum requirements are not met.

All volunteers will be kept informed as the season approaches.