Jenna Prevet | Nesconset. N.Y. | Field Hockey
The theme for International Women's Day 2024 is 'Invest in women: Accelerate progress' with the goal of closing the gender equality gap. In this Q&A, Jenna Prevet, a pre-law student-athlete on the field hockey team from Nesconset. N.Y. explores her journey as a soccer referee with the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) and the growth of female referees in the game.
On Jan. 27th at the ENYYSA's Hall of Fame Banquet, Jenna was named the 2023 Young Female Referee of the Year.
What made you decide to get into refereeing soccer?
I decided to begin refereeing soccer because I wanted to try to be a part of the game in a different way. Most games have four different roles that someone can be a part of the sport, player coach, spectator and referee. I have played soccer for most of my life, I have watched many soccer games and I have tried teaching soccer to some children (mainly in my family); however, I had not been on the officiating side of the game.
How do you feel that being a referee has helped you in life outside of sports?
Being a referee has helped me with my confidence. It has also helped me develop my time management skills, my sense of responsibility, my communications kills and my people management skills. Refereeing has forced me to break out of my shell and talk to new people and do things I have never tried before. This is especially true since I started the earliest I could, at the age of 14. This required me to learn how to format emails to send to other referees and coaches. It required me to take responsibility for the field I will be officiating on before, during and after the game. That could mean I am making sure that the teams are there, the field is up to playing standards, officiating the game or filling out paperwork after the game.
You've referees in a lot of big games (State Cup, Regionals, Nationals), what has been your favorite game to be a part of?
Rather than a specific game, I was honored to be invited to take part in this year's United States Youth Soccer (USYS) President's Cup Nationals. I had attended my first regional tournament over the summer and was one of the few referees selected to attend the larger tournament in Kansas.
How does it feel to be named the ENYYSA 2023 Young Female Referee of the Year?
It was not something I was expecting, however I feel honored.
What's your favorite part about refereeing?
My favorite thing about being a referee is the referee community. The community is vast and friendly. We try to help each other as much as we can. It is always fun to be able to hear and learn from other referee's game stories, whether their stories were about something good or bad.
There was a female referee at least year's men's soccer World Cup. What did that mean to you to see that happen and how do you think it helps influence the younger generations just getting into refereeing?
To see a female referee at least year's men's soccer World Cup just proves to me that women are continually gaining respect on the field. It is a great influence on younger generations to respect female referees and to encourage many more young females to start officiating and feel confident and secure in the community.
What is your advice for other young women who want to become referees?
My advice to other young women is to not be intimidated by players, coaches or other referees. When you step on the field, it becomes yours to officiate.
And lastly, is there anything you'd like to add?
I think it is important to note that within a referee community there are programs that are meant to bring further initiative and education towards female referees. One of the newest programs is U.S. Soccer's Women's Initiative led by Ricky Eddy, the Director of Referee Development at the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), and Nami Imaizumi, a National Referee Coach and retired FIFA Referee
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