Last night, I attended a party for Dallas Cup referees at Pizza Hut Park’s Verizon Club, and I had a chance to meet soccer officials from all over the world. Most are referees-in-training, with years of experience but on a quest to make it up the referee chain. Dallas Cup gives them a chance to be assessed by top-notch instructors on a world-wide stage, and good marks here will enable them to add additional accreditations and experience. The party brought together refs from Japan, Canada, and The Netherlands, along with Americans and the British referees staying here in Lake Highlands.

I especially enjoyed meeting Sarah Hollins, 25, from Knutsford near Cheshire, England. She’s the only female in the British group – the first female ref most of us can remember at Dallas Cup – but don’t let her 5-2 stature fool you.

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She is large-and-in-charge on the pitch (what true futbol fans call the soccer field), with a commanding presence and knowledge of the game. In fact, she told us of the time when an obnoxious English mom kept questioning her calls so she blew the whistle, handed her the flag and asked if she’d “like to give it a go?” When the embarrassed loudmouth declined, Sarah indicated that she might be “all mouth and no trousers.”

 

Sarah has been in America previously only on a school trip to New York to study theater. When not refereeing, Sarah is an aspiring actress (see her acting credits here), who says her on-stage experience has helped her have the poise and confidence to take command of a game. She says she could move here just for the steaks, and she can’t believe Lake Highlands High School has such nice facilities. The Boneyard is nicer than most of their college stadiums, she told me.

Above all, she is impressed that everyone has been so friendly and welcoming. Even the soccer parents here have been polite and well-behaved. If you come out to watch games at Richland College or Pizza Hut Park this week (schedule here), be sure to say hello to the tiny blonde wearing stripes in the center of the field.

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  • Carol Toler

    Blogger CAROL TOLER and her husband, Toby, are the parents of four LHHS graduates. She has an MBA from SMU and is the proud recipient of the Exchange Club of LH's Unsung Hero Award and Councilman McGough's Blake Anderson Public Service Award. She received LHHS PTA's Extended Service Award, FMJH PTA's Charger Award and a Life Membership from the LHFC PTA. She has moderated candidate debates for Dallas Mayor, Dallas City Council and RISD Trustee races and taught seminars on garnering publicity for nonprofits. She completed training with Dallas Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation and Inside RISD, and she's a sustaining member of LH Women's League. She has served on the boards of After8 to Educate, Dallas Free Press, Healing Hands Ministries and Camp Sweeney and chaired fundraisers for multiple Dallas nonprofits. Email ctoler@advocatemag.com.