On a turf field in the middle of the Arizona desert, a group of athletes are running back and forth.
They’re here for a fitness test.
It’s simple, yet grueling. They run 75 meters under a time limit. They get a short recovery walk. Then they run again. They repeat this process 40 times.
On the other side of this run is the prize that they came to the desert for. A chance to earn a National Referee badge. Get that, and they can officiate some of the biggest games in U.S Soccer.
But before they get their badge, they have to pass this fitness test. Pound the turf, make peace with the pain, and run the long yards.
And I should know, because, at least for today, I was one of them.
That wasn’t always the case.
My name is Meghan Klingenberg. I was a professional soccer player for over 10 years. Over the course of my career, I played in hundreds of games. And like most players, I gotta be honest, I have some baggage when it comes to referees.
So I came here with questions.
I wanted to know: Who are these referees? What kind of person gives up their weekend to call fouls and hand out cards? Why do they do it? What does it take to get really good at it? And what do they sacrifice to be here … running their guts out on a turf field in the middle of the desert?
This time on The U.S. Soccer Podcast … I’m going to referee camp.
0:00 – Cold open
3:36 – Kling goes to referee camp
7:47 – Kling meets the referees
17:50 – Kling runs the fitness test
24:55 – Kling refs small-sided games
27:34 – Camp closing ceremony
30:40 – Kling’s closing thoughts
36:33 – Ask the Pros presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts
The U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel is a production from U.S. Soccer hosted by David Gass, former USWNT star Meghan Klingenberg and USMNT great Alejandro Bedoya. The podcast brings you in-depth interviews with U.S. Soccer stars of the past, present and future. Episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays.
Hosts: Meghan Klingenberg, David Gass
Written by Meghan Klingenberg and Matthew Nelson
Produced by Matthew Nelson
Edited by Matthew Nelson and Patrick Nichols
Videography by Edwin Hernandez and Graham Rowlands
Still images by Kelly Gavin
Special thanks to Kari Seitz, Matt Cheeseman and Jared Mundie
To learn more, visit http://www.ussoccer.com/podcast