ALL-FEMALE OFFICIATING CREW MAKES HISTORY AT WECSSAA FINAL
First time exclusively women officials have called Windsor and Essex County title game
There was a little WECSSAA soccer history established at McHugh Park on Tuesday. For the first time, an all-female officiating crew handled the game when the Sandwich Sabres and Vista Vortex met in the WECSSAA girls’ AA final. “This is the first time in the history of WECSSAA soccer that there has been an all-female crew to officiate a final,” said Angelo Gertsakis, who assigns the officials. “All three of these officials have had a great highschool season and this is a great way to award them for an excellent season.”
Teodora Glisic served as head referee while Tina Selwan and Bridgette Gignac handled the lines and served as her assistants. “I was excited,” said the 22-year-old Glisic, who has been officiating for six seasons. “It’s something big to me just because it’s females and there’s not many females around here. I’m usually with men, so it’s nice.”
All three have a background playing in the game, but eventually turned to officiating for different reasons.
“I played Eastside (Kickers), basketball, soccer and a whole bunch of sports,” Glisic said. “I decided to stay in the game, so I tried coaching and it wasn’t so much for me. So, I tried officiating and so far I’ve liked it.” Gignac was only 13 years old when she started calling games. “My dad (Jason) used to play and got into reffing and he fell in love with it,” the 19-year-old Gignac said. “I used to play, but I find reffing more fun. “This is my first year for the high school, but I do it out in Belle River for the house league.” Like any official in any sport, there’s plenty to put up with from players to coaches along with fans and parents. “There are definitely cons about it, especially when the parents are really chirpy,” the 19-year-old Selwan said. “It’s hard and ruins your confidence, but you have to remember you’re in charge and it’s your game.” Glisic says calling a female game is much different than a male game. “Females like to chirp more a bit more, but boys like to be more aggressive, depending on the age group,” Glisic said. “Each game I study to see what I’m about to get into. I’ve been around here, so I know how a lot of the teams go about it.”
And like any official, all three love the game and are drawn to the position as a way to stay part ofit.
“It’s kind of like a job, but it’s more fun,” Selwan said. “I am getting paid for it, but I’m having fun with it and I’m doing my cardio, so it’s like a workout. “The most important part is to enjoy it. If you’re an official, you can’t be doing it for the money or you won’t be a good official. I’m one of the younger ones, but I want to do this for a while.” Working together on Tuesday, the trio also hoped to serve as an example and an inspiration to those playing the game now. “In the future, I want to make sure more girls, once they’re done playing, if they’re not coaching, try officiating,” Glisic said. “It’s fun.”
The most important part is to enjoy it. If you’re an official, you can’t be doing it for the money or you won’t be a good official.