GISOA

MEMORANDUM – 7.21.25

Georgia Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association

The 2025 General Membership meeting is just under two weeks away, and we have another great session planned, with top notch training and education. I’ve packed a lot of detail into this memo; please take a moment to read thoroughly and respond accordingly.

I’m excited to announce that our sessions this year will be led by FIFA World Cup Referee Matthew Conger!

Matthew is a two-time, FIFA World Cup football referee, Director & Lead Facilitator of Holistic Leadership and Development Consultancy and co-founder of Total Referee Ltd. He refereed extensively across various professional leagues including the A-League (Australia), Chinese Super League, Saudi Pro League, USL & MLS, NZ National League, and OFC and FIFA competitions. He is passionate about developing the holistic capability of referees from grassroots to the elite level, making him an ideal presenter for our meeting.

I’m particularly proud to share that Matthew joins Corey Rockwell and Guido Gonzales as GISOA alumni who have worked on the world stage and return to Atlanta to give back to our chapter!

Our schedule this year will return to the traditional format of morning fitness testing followed by classroom sessions (lunch included). For those not familiar with Agnes Soctt College, the track is Gellerstedt Track and Field on the below-linked map. Classroom sessions will be held at The Frances Bailey Graves Auditorium, located in Campbell Hall (pin #7 on the map):

https://www.agnesscott.edu/assets/documents/general/campusmap.pdf

IMPORTANT:

Fitness testing will commence promptly at 7:00 AM. Could we start at 7:30 and still make our 9:00 classroom sessions on time? Maybe. Will we wrap up the day sooner and get more of your Saturday back to you if we start at 7:00 AM? Definitely. If you like that plan, please do these two simple things:

1. Advise Larry Pachon (copied above) if you will NOT attend the fitness session AND the reason (illness/exemption/took early test) NO LATER THAN Friday, 7/25/25.
2. Show up on time for your group (well in advance of the start time).

Larry will provide groupings detail once the final attendee list is determined. Locker rooms will be available as in the past. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided near the classroom.

DUES:

I’m pleased to announce that we were able to maintain the dues structure for 2025-2026 at $175 despite growing expenses, due in no small part to Kevin Biando’s diligent financial management. As in the past, please remit payment to Kevin using Venmo: @kevin-biando (last four: 3033) or Zelle: 678-469-3033. I respectfully ask each of you to make payment by our clinic date of 8/2, if possible, but I also recognize that this notice comes later than previous years. If more time is needed, please let me know.

I look forward to seeing you on Saturday, 8/2/25. 

­­Wes Williams

President

GISOA

August 5, 2023

Current MLS Referee, Guido Gonzales, Jr., was the featured clinician for the 2023 GISOA Clinic.  As many GISOA members know, Guido was a former member of our organization and received our "Referee of the Year" award in 2013. Guido was the USL Referee of the Year in 2019 and made his MLS debut in 2018. He has over 57 MLS games under his belt as a center referee and far more as 4th and VAR. Last week he was the center for a Leagues Cup (MLS vs. Liga MX) match.

Guido's presentation was extremely interactive and focused on continually improving and evaluating every performance.  He shared video clips of the positive and negative aspects of his positioning, decision making, and communication.  Guido asked the attendees for their personal perspectives and candidly answered all questions. He stressed the importance of putting in your time refereeing as many games as possible, at all levels (youth, HS, college, adult, professional), and maintaining your focus on performing at your best.  Self-evaluation and learning from assessors and colleagues are a vital component in advancing to the next level. 

Guido expressed the value in completing the small work/grinding that is necessary throughout the contest. Working on positioning, movement, sprinting, anticipation, AR interaction, and reading the game. He emphasized that good referees are close to play, help the AR's in challenging situations, are good communicators and take responsibility. 

Guido's message of learning from experiences, improving each game, being receptive to criticism, be willing to change and remaining cool, calm and collective in emotional situations, was a great lesson to the attendees. 

The GISOA chapter and attendees were extremely blessed to have an MLS Referee return to his GISOA home to share his experiences and expertise. Thanks Guido, you are a great friend and resource to multiple GISOA members! 

FORMER GISOA MEMBER

https://proreferees.com/roster/referees/guido-gonzales-jr/

August 5, 2023 

Former GISOA President, Griff Sims, recognized Brent Heidorn as the recipient of the 2022 Ernest Johnson Memorial GISOA "Referee of the Year." Griff highlighted Brent's dedication, professionalism, work ethic, Christian values and exceptional fitness to the membership. Brent, a former member of the South Carolina Chapter, he has been a GISOA member for the past 15 years. Dr. Brent Heidorn is currently serving as the Interim Department Chair of Sport Management, Wellness, and Physical Education at the University of West Georgia. He is a tenured Professor and the Associate Dean for Research and Assessment in the College of Education (COE). In addition to his role in the department, he leads the COE through the assessment and approval process for all academic programs, in addition to other administrative responsibilities.  His educational degrees include a B.S. in Health and Physical Education from Bob Jones University, M.A. in Health and Exercise Science from Furman University, and a Ph.D. in Physical Education Pedagogy from the University of South Carolina. 

 Brent Heidorn | UWG (westga.edu) 

August 5, 2023 

Thanks to Assignor Stuart Dunn, the GISOA Chapter has found a way to re-purpose their old referee uniforms.  Stuart informed President Wes Williams about a foundation named The Dantes House Project located in Conyers, GA.  Prior to the 2023 GISOA Clinic, members were asked to bring referee uniforms and other items to the Clinic to donate to the foundation.  A total of 78 referee uniforms were collected, along with 31 pairs of socks, 23 miscellaneous shirts, 9 pairs of shorts, 6 sweat bands and 2 pairs of sweatpants.  GISOA encourages other NISOA chapters to find similar avenues to donate their old referee uniforms and ref gear.

The Dantes House Project

The charity driven program that collects used uniforms (mainly soccer) and distributes them to children in Gambia who are less fortunate. The Dantes House Project is designed to give children a sense of inclusion and team, which is otherwise met by "shirts vs topless" or "white shirts vs-colored shirts".  The Dantes House Project's goal is to create an inspiring environment for the youth of Gambia through their love of soccer.  Sharing makes the world go around. 

The Dantes House Project originated from Telmo Dantes; a child born in Banjul, a Gambian who experienced the transformative power of soccer. His love for soccer took him to Greenville, Tennessee where he earned a soccer scholarship to Tusculum University and helped his team advance to NCAA Division II Elite 8. Since then, he spends his time dedicated to coaching soccer to youth as the boys Director of Coaching East Atlanta Dutch Lions FC in Conyers, GA. His desire to give back to his home community has led Telmo to collect donations of used soccer gear and to hold days of soccer camps for youth in Gambia.