The effort being put into Rankin Inlet's youth soccer program received high recognition at the CG&S Sport and Recreation Division's annual awards ceremony in Iqaluit on Oct. 14.
The Rankin Wolves soccer program won the Community Organization of the Year, while Paul Stroeder and Chad Graham of Rankin were named co-winners of the Official of the Year award.
Stroeder, 53, has been involved with soccer for almost 20 years. He said he and Graham got officially certified as soccer refs two years ago to boost the soccer program a bit more in Rankin.
He said he was very surprised to learn they had been named co-winners of the award.
SA国际影视传媒淐had (Graham) and I do this because we love the game,SA国际影视传媒� said Stroeder.
SA国际影视传媒淎s a ref, you certainly see the game differently than you do as a coach. It has actually helped me to become a better coach, because now I know what the referees are going through and how they see the play.
SA国际影视传媒淚'm not too quick to jump on a ref now, or yell that they missed a call, because I understand officiating so much more and I'm in the same boat as them now.SA国际影视传媒�
Stroeder said he and Graham have already officiated championship tournaments since they started reffing.
He said he simply goes out and does his best as an official and he doesn't worry about making a bad call that may cost someone a match.
SA国际影视传媒淚f I make a mistake, I live up to it because we're only human,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
SA国际影视传媒淭he one thing about officiating that people have to understand is that we're not perfect and we will make mistakes. It's how we handle those mistakes and learn from them, so we can eliminate them during the next game or tournament, that's important.SA国际影视传媒�
Stroeder said people are becoming more interested in the Rankin soccer program these days and some have asked him how they can get more involved.
He said that's a positive step because he can forward their names to the Nunavut Soccer Association and, hopefully, they'll want to become the next group to take the referee certification course in Rankin.
SA国际影视传媒淣unavut Soccer is very pro-active, so we'll see that take place in Rankin sometime in the not-too-distant future I hope,SA国际影视传媒� Stroeder said.
SA国际影视传媒淏ecoming an official is also nice as a coach because you can explain to the players why a certain call was made so they can properly understand it.
SA国际影视传媒淔utsal is going to get bigger and bigger and, by having certified referees in every community, or at least in the regional centres of Rankin Inlet, Iqaluit and Cambridge Bay, it gives us the chance to grow the game and also give something back to the community.SA国际影视传媒�
Co-winner Graham, who has been playing soccer his whole life, said it felt good to be recognized and share the award with Stroeder, since they started reffing at the same time.
SA国际影视传媒淧aul's been involved with soccer for a long time as a coach and I help him with the boys in his program from time to time, so he does mentor me a bit,SA国际影视传媒� said Graham.
SA国际影视传媒淚 also went to SuperSoccer with him and his Under-12 boys two years in a row.SA国际影视传媒�
Graham said he jumped at the chance to become a referee.
SA国际影视传媒淚 find the most-challenging part of reffing is just stressing yourself on always trying to make the right call and not missing anything,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
SA国际影视传媒淵ou're trying to stay invisible while reffing, and you don't want to make a bad call to cost someone the game, so, that's really the only stress I feel while I'm out there.SA国际影视传媒�
Graham said he and Stroeder have applied to referee at the Arctic Winter Games and hope to hear back soon.
