Referee of the Month: Ilya Ovechkin
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 April 2026 Referee of the Month is Ilya Ovechkin.
Questions & Answers:
Q: Current Referee Level & Highest level attained:
A: District
Q: When did you begin, and what motivated you to start refereeing?
A: Previous to being a soccer referee I had umpired baseball and was familiar with the “signature experience” of being a game official. My dad, a soccer referee of 15 years, said it was a more active alternative and thus I made the switch to soccer in the 2023 outdoor season. I had also found myself bored with baseball due to this, making the switch an easy choice. Additionally, I was motivated to get to my dad’s level, telling myself “If he can do it why can’t I?”.
Q: What has been your most enjoyable game/memory of your referee career?
A: Definitely my first opportunity to officiate USports in August of last year, a match between the MRU and UofA men’s teams. I served as an Assistant Referee in what was a competitive and fast-paced match that tested me from whistle to whistle. It opened my eyes into what sort of fitness is required to keep up with that caliber of soccer while making sure to make the correct call.
Ilya officiating a USports Match
Q: What do you love most about refereeing?
A: The variety of referees I meet over the season. Everyone has a unique style/approach to the game which gives me something to think about for days to come. I also find that every game gives me something new to work on and carry forward to the next game, making for an excellent learning experience day-in and day-out.
Q: What advice would you give to somebody just starting out refereeing?
A: As much as stepping into your first match is overwhelming, remember that everyone has been in your shoes. Nobody is perfect right off of the bat. With that in mind, you can certainly strive to be closer to perfect by taking full advantage of education sessions, mentoring, and other resources. Refereeing is about learning and adapting, which is easier than ever with the resources available. Don’t be scared to ask for help and support as the referee community is built on personal growth.
Q: What do you do outside of refereeing and what are some of your interests?
A: I am a full-time student at the University of Calgary, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences. My hobbies include hiking, playing chess, rock climbing, listening to music, and watching movies. My personal favourite music genres are grunge and house, with my favourite movie as of current being Ocean’s 11.