Referee of the Month: Duncan Chan
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 May 2026 Referee of the Month is Duncan Chan.
Questions & Answers:
Q: Current Referee Level & Highest level attained:
A: Provincial
Q: When did you begin, and what motivated you to start refereeing?
A: 2014, at age 16 so, this is my 12th full season. I'm from Ottawa and I used to play at the provincial level (APDL equivalent now). I had met a few referees while playing who were really good during our games and I initially really liked the idea of getting paid to referee. There were days in prior summers that I wasn't training, sitting at home, and I just so thought, why not maintain my fitness, stay involved in soccer and get paid doing it. At the same time, the fact that no two games are the same really satisfied my craving for novelty.
Q: What has been your most enjoyable game/memory of your referee career?
A: In June 2024, I was assigned to a USL2 match in Thunder Bay, Ontario. I got flown out for the first time to referee a match which made the experience quite unique for me. The whole pre-game process and match prep was super exciting, working with a local crew, and having the chance to tour a new place. The match itself was intense, the pace of play was much higher than what I was used to, with hundreds of local fans cheering and heckling me every chance they had. I covered 11.2km which is the farthest distance I've ever covered in a match, and I was exhausted. In the end, the fans weren't too happy with me as I gave 2 penalties against the home team in a 2-2 draw.
Duncan officiating in Ontario.
Q: What do you love most about refereeing?
A: The community. A lot of my best memories in sport have come from refereeing and the people involved with it. I've made so many referee friends across Canada! I met a lot of the current Calgary provincial refs at Provincial Upgrade camp, and knowing them made my move to Calgary so much easier. Having a community that supports each other and, works towards the same goals, is a wonderful thing and I'm thrilled to be part of it.
Q: What advice would you give to somebody just starting out refereeing?
A: Learning something new is always difficult, and refereeing is no exception. Stick with it through the early challenges — every game helps you grow not only as an official, but as a person. Refereeing teaches so many things: professionalism, punctuality, communication, integrity, confidence, leadership, decision-making under pressure, conflict resolution, accountability, adaptability, and resilience. Mistakes will happen, especially at the beginning, but the best officials learn from them, stay composed, and keep improving. Be open to feedback, trust your preparation, and remember that experience comes one game at a time.
Q: What do you do outside of refereeing and what are some of your interests?
A: I am currently the Membership & Events Coordinator at Sport Calgary. In my free time, I like to play soccer, watch hockey, cycle, cook & try new food, and listen to music. My favourite hockey team are the Ottawa Senators. My favourite movies are anything directed by Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer, Interstellar, Tenet, Inception, Batman) and I will listen to anything but country music.