FRISCO, Texas (Jan. 9, 2023) – US Youth Soccer announced today that it has hired Daniel Radford to be its first-ever Senior Manager of Referees.
In this new role, Radford will develop recruitment and retention strategies to increase the supply of referees, in addition to developing anti-abuse and sportsmanship campaigns, grassroots small-sided resources and curriculums, and career pathways starting at the local grassroots level.
“Recruitment and retention are key priorities within the referee community,” said US Youth Soccer CEO Skip Gilbert. “USYS is thrilled to have someone like Daniel Radford join our team and step into this new position. His skills on and off the field will help US Youth Soccer take a leadership position to not just strengthen our referee numbers but lead programming to impact behavioral change on the sidelines.”
Radford’s experience as an official will allow him to succeed and keep referees at all levels involved with the sport. Radford spent his teenage years with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) as a member of the Cal South Youth Referee Program and the Advanced Referee Development Program, during which he was selected to multiple US Youth Soccer events, including the National Championship Series. With Radford’s experience well beyond his years, he was selected to the inaugural US Soccer Development Academy Finals and became one of the youngest Grade 3 USSF National/Professional Officials at 23.
Radford had been assigned to numerous professional leagues, including the United Soccer League (USL), North American Soccer League (NASL), and Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), before transitioning to roles in Major League Soccer (MLS), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Radford’s time with MLS now spans more than a decade while he continues on as a Video Match Official. He also spent nearly 20 years in collegiate sports, where he refereed three NAIA National Championships and seven NCAA Final Fours. Radford holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Long Beach.
For more information on US Youth Soccer, click here.
About the United States Youth Soccer Association (US Youth Soccer)
US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organization in the country, is on a mission to provide world-class support, resources, and leadership, helping every member fulfill their goals on and off the field of play. US Youth Soccer registers nearly 2.5 million players annually. Through its programming, resources and leadership, US Youth Soccer is advancing the game for its 54 Member State Associations, 10,000 clubs and leagues and one million administrators, coaches, and volunteers. US Youth Soccer connects families and communities to the power of sports and its shared love of soccer. US Youth Soccer provides a path for every player, coach and referee offering programs that provide a fun, safe and healthy environment at every level of the game.
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