Sam Martinez, FIFA Referee

JP Dellacamera is known as a professional play-by-play sportscaster who specializes in soccer and hockey. He can regularly be heard covering MLS games on Fox Soccer. His experiences have taken him around the world, but he loves to stay true to his American roots by relying on the terminology that we use to connect with the game. Although this was a quick episode at the United Soccer Coaches 2023 Convention in Philadelphia (#PHL23) there is a lot of really good information in it. I’m excited to share with you a bit of what I learned, including some of his prep and what got him into broadcasting in the first place.

Sam Martinez is a FIFA Referee who is currently living in Southern California. She joins Keep The Game Beautiful in this episode recorded at the United Soccer Convention in Philadelphia (#PHL23). In addition to talking about her journey we talk about ways to gain confidence, the importance of seeing females in the sport as officials, and in developing and creating opportunities for those around us. After a long break this is a great episode to bring the Podcast back for a special Episode #100!

Kim Crabbe is well known as the first African American player on the US Women's National Team. Before joining the team she played in her youth in Virginia and would attend George Mason University where her team won the NCAA Championship. She is a well respected youth coach who has won numerous honors for her work. She is dedicated to bringing the game to the grassroots level and creates programs that reach youth who may not have had access to soccer otherwise.

Bayonle Arashi immigrated to the United States from Nigeria in 2015. He brought with him a lifetime passion for soccer and quickly connected with the game as a soccer official when he settled in the US. He combined his love of the game and his background in broadcasting to laucnh Midas Football Academy and ScoutBallers, LLC. He strives to help players understand pathways that exist and the hard work that it takes for players to pursue their dreams of living and playing the beautiful game.

Esse Baharmast as a young boy in Iran dreamed of playing soccer in the Olympics. He did make it to the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996, not as a player but as a referee. He would have an extensive career serving in multiple Olympic and FIFA World Cup competitions as a referee, an assessor, mentor, instructor, and more. He has served FIFA, Concacaf, US Soccer, and continues to work today in his home state association of Colorado. Esse Baharmast received the Walt Chyzowych Lifetime Achievement Award from United Soccer Coaches and has been elected to the US Soccer Hall of Fame.

Kick It Forward is an Iowa based non-profit organization that strives to be positive disruptors to the soccer community. In this episode I learn from long time volunteers of the organization Ben Brackett and Blake Siberz exactly what this means. Learn about how Kick It Forward is bringing soccer to more players without consideration of ability to pay, creating safe spaces to play with hard surface mini pitch courts, and raising awareness of high school soccer.

Mandy Green is the founder of Busy Coach. As a collegiate coach she found herself managing multiple things at once, while starting to raise her family. She started to collect these tools and techniques and launched her own business, Busy Coach, to help other coaches. In addition she also helps prospective student athletes and colleges to connect. We talk about purpose, why, and so much more in this episode. Be sure to check Busy Coach out at http://busy.coach and at @MandyGreenCPS on social media.

Amy Griffin is a former US Women’s National Team goalkeeper from the 1991 World Cup Championship team. She played at the University of Central Florida and served in a variety of coaching roles at both the youth and collegiate level. Today she coaches for OL Reign’s Youth Academy, is President of the Girls Academy, and is the Head Coach for the USA Deaf Soccer Women’s National Team.

Coach Ozzie White has been connected to the game his entire life. Growing up as a son of a high level coach he set his aspirations early. Ozzie has coached at many levels of the game yet he remains passionate about grassroots soccer and connecting new players into the sport.

Kevin Sims is the Past President of United Soccer Coaches and first started to volunteer with the association in the 1980's. Kevin has coached for forty five years, with much of that time being at the high school level. He has coached college, club, and ODP earning many recognitions along the way. He grew up as the son of a coach and knew that teaching and coaching would be a big part of his life. He is an alumni of the University of Virginia where he played soccer for four years.