ORLANDO, FL. – Nearly 100 new and returning National Referee Coaches were in attendance at National Referee Coach (NRC) Camp in Orlando, FL from November 13-16, 2025. Top referee coaching talent gathered to continue their certification and further the U.S. Refereeing Way through a weekend of instruction and community focused on the “Power of Coaching.”
Of the attendees, over 90 were returners who brought a collective 1,600 years of coaching experience. Contributing to that number were the New and Provisional NRCs as well. The two New NRCs have exceptional careers of coaching already and bring on-field experience that will provide applicable instruction to the referees they coach. Also in attendance were four Provisional NRCs, a new group of candidates with exemplary experience that are ready to transition from their role on the field into the role of a coach. These individuals will bring a fresh perspective and a new level of coaching to an already robust program.
At camp, participants had the opportunity to learn from instructors whose experience spans every level of the game. Instructors included Mark Geiger and Melissa Borjas of PRO, Jeffrey Solis Calderon of CONCACAF, and several who wear their NRC hat when they are not presenting, such as Frank Anderson, Esse Baharmast, Yuya Kiuchi, Abbey Okulaja, Amanda Ross, and Sandra Serafini. Anchored in the theme “The Power of Coaching,” the camp reminded our coaches of the influence they have—how their words, feedback, and evaluations can shape the trajectory of a referee’s future. The goals of the camp were to further strengthen the collective football understanding of our National Referee Coaches, continue refining their skills in providing effective and impactful evaluations for referee development, and introduce the new U.S. Refereeing Way materials that will be taught across the country. This consistent, nationwide approach to referee education will accelerate the growth and quality of match officials in the United States. These goals were supported through classroom presentations, collaborative group work, and a practical training session made possible with help from the Florida State Referee Committee.
From our VP, Refereeing Kari Seitz, “I am deeply grateful to all of our National Referee Coaches who devote themselves to developing our match officials. You are the backbone of the program. Your insight, your guidance, and the care you put into each evaluation truly shape the trajectory of referees across the country. Coaching holds real power—the power to lift referees, to open doors, and to strengthen the game we all serve. When we build better coaches, we build better referees, and ultimately, a better game.”
An updated list of all National Referee Coaches will be available on the website shortly.
