Referee of the Month: Derek Atabayev
The CDSRA Referee of the Month features referees of different ages, levels, and backgrounds to reflect the diversity in our referee community and our association. Our October 2025 Referee of the Month is Derek Atabayev.
Questions & Answers:
Q: Current Referee Level & Highest level attained:
A: District (Regional upgrade)
Q: When did you begin, and what motivated you to start refereeing?
A: I started in 2018 as a mini referee. I was looking for a flexible job to earn some cash. A new friend I made at school decided to take the course with me, which made the whole thing a lot more fun.
Growing up as a huge soccer fan, I figured I already had a decent grasp of the Laws of the Game .... I was very wrong about that! However, the challenge of learning, plus the outdoors aspect, really got me hooked.
Derek officiating an ACAC match.
Q: What has been your most enjoyable game/memory of your referee career?
A: My most memorable game is one that completely changed my perspective on refereeing. It was my very first CUSA Div 2 Indoor 7v7 match in January 2024, right after my rating had been increased. That game had everything: high intensity, a close score, and even a red card. Looking back, I didn't do the greatest job managing all the emotions on the pitch. It was the first time I experienced that just knowing the laws of the game wasn't nearly enough - my game management skills were really put to the test.
What I discovered during that chaotic game was that I absolutely loved the challenge of refereeing. I point to that one game as the moment that motivated me to step out of my comfort zone and truly push to advance as a referee, rather than just coasting at a level I knew I could already handle. The following outdoor season, I took on as many APDL games as I could and attended numerous education sessions, like the IRTs. Learning from the top referees in the city has been incredible, and it's helped me find even more enjoyment in those high-pressure games because I now feel far more equipped to handle them well.
Derek officiating at Tier 1 Provincials this year.
Q: What do you love most about refereeing?
A: What I love most is the fact that you can never "know it all." Every single game is a new puzzle with different (usually new) players, unique situations, and its own flow.
This is what makes refereeing so interpretive - knowing how to apply the laws to the context of the match, which is something I really enjoy. After a match, I'll often think a little bit and consider whether my interpretation was the best one for that game. This constant cycle of learning and self-improvement keeps the role so engaging and rewarding for me.
Q: What advice would you give to somebody just starting out refereeing?
A: My biggest piece of advice is to watch as much soccer as possible, whether on TV or in person. Watch it from the new angle of the referee and see how the best referees in the world move around the field and position themselves on free kicks, corners, etc. During VAR reviews, try and come up with your own decision and justify it to yourself.
When you start doing this, you will quickly realize how nuanced the laws of the game are. From the sidelines, things can often look black and white, but you have a much deeper perspective. Putting in this effort builds knowledge that is unique to your role on the field. Trust that knowledge, and don't let the sideline chirping distract you.
Q: What do you do outside of refereeing and what are some of your interests?
A: I'm a Computer Science student at the University of Calgary. I work as a software developer, focusing on backend development and machine learning, right now in the financial space and with startups.
Something really exciting is that I'm currently working with the CTO and the team at Elements Athletics on Mic'd Up. We're using AI to record and analyze conversations between referees and players to automatically detect and flag offensive, insulting, and abusive language. The wearable mics were piloted at a few League 1 and APDL games last summer, and I'm really hopeful they will be rolled out more widely soon!