Referee of the Month: Yuzhou Lin
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 January 2026 Referee of the Month is Yuzhou Lin.
Questions & Answers:
Q: Current Referee Level & Highest level attained:
A: I am currently a youth referee, and I will be upgraded to district during this season.
Q: When did you begin, and what motivated you to start refereeing?
A: I began refereeing at the end of August 2024, almost a year and a half ago. I was looking for a job related to sports, as sports have always been an important part of my life. I was also motivated by my dad, who really enjoys soccer but sometimes doesn’t fully understand the calls. I decided to become a referee so I could better understand the game and explain the rules to him, making the game even more fun.
Q: What has been your most enjoyable game/memory of your referee career?
A: My most enjoyable memory was my first APDL game in September. It was a BU17 game between MUSC and Blizzards, and I was AR1. I was nervous at the start, but my teammates were amazing and arriving early always helps me a lot. The game was one of the fastest and most intense games I’ve refereed. It was definitely a great experience that motivated me even more.
Q: What do you love most about refereeing?
A: I enjoy meeting new people and being part of such a supportive community. Everyone is always willing to share feedback and help each other improve. The positive environment makes refereeing enjoyable because people care about one another.
Yuzhou officiating an APDL match
Q: What advice would you give to somebody just starting out refereeing?
A: Always ask for feedback, and be open to advice. Everyone will make mistakes, and that is totally okay, because we learn from them. Don’t be afraid to reach out for support, especially if you have questions. There are so many amazing people who are willing to help you and want to see you succeed.
Q: What do you do outside of refereeing and what are some of your interests?
A: Outside of refereeing, I’m currently in high school, and I play football for my school. I really enjoy sports, going to the gym, fishing, and cooking. I also like music, road trips, and being away from the city. When I grow up, I want to travel the world.