U.S. Youth Soccer Honors EPYSA Ref As Region I Young Male Referee of the Year

National winners to be named at U.S. Youth Soccer Awards Gala

U.S. Youth Soccer announced recently that EPYSA’s Geoff L. Halberstadt of Telford, Pa., has been named Young Male Referee Of the Year for Region I. As a Region winner, Geoff’s name will be placed on the ballot for the National Young Referee of the Year honor, to be announced at the U.S. Youth Soccer Awards Gala on Fri., Feb. 8 in Pittsburgh, part of the U.S. Youth Soccer adidas Workshop.

Geoff has been a referee since 2002, impressing parents, coaches and players alike with his energy on the field, love for officiating and his abilities as a referee. He has worked at the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (U.S. Youth Soccer ODP) tournaments for the past four years, and has attended two regional tournaments.

Geoff has also served as a referee for most of the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association competitive leagues as well as the semifinal and final rounds of the U.S. Youth Soccer Eastern Pennsylvania State Championships. Geoff also plays for the Souderton Area Soccer Association, and for his high school.

The annual Young Referee of the Year award honors those who have a strong work ethic, knowledge of the rules of the game and are positive role models. Through the Young Referee of the Year program, U.S. Youth Soccer helps foster the development of referees for the future of soccer in the United States. Many of the leagues around the country would not be able to cover all of their games but not for the involvement of youth referees.

The Young Referee of the Year recipients are awarded for their dedication to the game, their outstanding personal accomplishments, their service as role models to other youth referees and players, and for their excellence as recognized by their adult referee peers and mentors.

This is a tremendous honor for Geoff and the EPYSA family is proud to call him our own.