Ref-four-ee!
Image: Former Welsh Homeless World Cup player (Oslo 2017) a referee at the Sacramento 2023 tournament Credit: Anita Milas
Welsh referee Sarah Frohwein understands only too well the emotions involved in representing her country from both sides of the touchline at a Homeless World Cup tournament.
“In 2017 I was playing as goalie with Street Soccer Wales,” she relates. “I’d become involved with them due to having mental health problems and suffering from PTSD after miscarriages. I was in a rough place, taking medication which didn’t sit right with me, when one of the physios suggested I take up an activity.”
When she was younger Sarah had played football for Neath Talbot women’s team – up until the birth of her first child after which it was difficult to commit to weekend games – so was introduced to Street Soccer Wales.
“I’d never played four-a-side games before, always eleven-a-side, but street soccer was fun and a bit more laid back even though the pace was so much faster.
“I had always been goalkeeper, though – goalies are always a bit mad, and that’s me! I always saw the bruises of saving a goal as a sort of medal of honour!
“At Street Soccer Wales it was so nice to be training alongside people who had similar issues, who were also struggling with their mental health, and it stopped me feeling isolated,” she explains. “Not everyone can understand what you're going through but here I was with people saying ‘Don’t worry, we’re all the same, let’s go with it’.”
Four months later, Sarah found herself keeping goal for her country at the Homeless World Cup tournament in Oslo.
“We won the shield, that was crazy,” she laughs. “As we only have once chance to play in a HWC tournament I thought that was my involvement over but, in the build-up to the tournament coming to Cardiff in 2019, the coach asked if I’d like to do a referee course, so I decided to give it a go.
“I’d never thought about officiating – I was always a goalkeeper, they were the ‘meanies’ and I wouldn’t switch sides!”
Leading the course was experienced Welsh referee and role model for Sarah, Natalie Handley which, she says, gave her the confidence to believe she too could officiate. The training turned out to be a positive football experience and Sarah qualified to take charge of games in Cardiff.
“It was quite daunting, but I thought if they had faith in me, I could do it,” she says. “That first game was a bit of a blur but I remember standing on the pitch, saying to myself ‘You can do this’ then it was over. I watched the game back and saw I knew what I was doing! I valued the respect I got from teams and it was the best experience I’d ever had.”
Added to her onfield commitments, Sarah had another starring role in the 2019 event as her face featured on the event posters all over the city!
“Life really changed for me after Cardiff,” she underlines. “It became way better. It was such a confidence boost to officially be a Homeless World Cup referee. I’m now back in full time work – a peer mentor for people coping with mental health challenges, helping them back into work, showing them that if I can do it, they can do it too. It’s nice to have the backstory rather than just being someone in an office trying to help people.
Home life is different these days, too. “I’ve got two girls now – the ten-year old came to watch me in Cardiff and it was great to catch her waving at me from the sideline. She took my medal to show at school, too. Then the baby is only one so she’s in her own little world – she isn’t aware of Homeless World Cup yet!”
Image: Line up of officials at the Sacramento 2023 tournament for the Women’s Homeless World Cup Credit: Anita Milas
“What’s next? I’d love to referee a final – I don’t know when that might be – who knows? But for as long as Homeless World Cup wants me, I’ll be here.”
Making history is no stranger to Homeless World Cup and, over the last 20 years, there have been hundreds of memorable moments on and off pitches across the globe. Having had the honour of taking charge of the opening game of this year’s tournament in Sacramento, however, little did match official Natalie Handley know, when she uttered those words, what the future would hold – not just for her but her three fellow female referees...
‘You can’t really know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been’ goes the adage, and for all four women match officials, their journeys to Homeless World Cup Sacramento 2023 followed different paths, as they shared their stories in the California capital last month.
For Emily Heidemann the road – geographically – was short as she’s very much a local girl.
“I’m a pre-school teacher in Oak Grove school district,” she explains, “and I just graduated from Sacramento State in Child & Adolescent Development so this is my home pitch and I’ve been living on campus.
“I started playing soccer when I was very young – in the Pee Wees – and played all the way up until I was 18, did some high school soccer then took a little break before returning to it at college,” she continues.
Prior to her college comeback, however, match officiating joined her skillset as, due to the knock-on effect of the pandemic, there was a huge shortage of referees in her area.
"I saw an ad for referees so decided to go and get my training. I was doing five to ten games each week,” she continues, “many of them solo as there was such a lack of officials. Now I’m now moving up to be a trainer – about to be certified – and helping my assigner [who assesses referees and assigns them to matches] to, maybe, take over his job one day.”
When Emily’s regular team became involved with Street Soccer USA in Sacramento she found herself not only playing with them at the 8th street field but on the officiating team at July’s tournament.
"I was one of the first referees to volunteer,” she says proudly. “There was a huge buzz in the city about the tournament coming, it’s on all the news stations – and my mum even saw me on TV as the games are being broadcast on a local channel!
“I’m loving the experience and I want to continue, join the next tournament wherever it may be. It’s a fantastic community, everyone is super accepting and I love the concept of the Whistle of Hope [originated by the late Hary Milas and given to a player deserving of sporting behaviour, effort or overcoming the odds]”
In fact, Emily got to give out the second Whistle of Hope in this year’s tournament, as she explains:
“I had a player back off from play to let another player take a goal, as they’d never scored before. They hit the back of the net and were in tears, so we decided to give a Whistle of Hope to that selfless player. I love the concept and love that the tradition is continuing after Hary’s passing – it's such an important memento for a player.”
For fellow American, Tiffany Miras – also a local lass – the road to Hornet Stadium latterly came about through Tiffany Fraser who runs Street Soccer USA in Sacramento.
“She's an ex Sac State footballer, like me, so she reached out and asked me if I wanted to be involved. I’m so glad she did, as this experience has been amazing.
“I played soccer from the age of four until I was 13, around 12 years ago,” she explains. “Then my brother and I took a referee course that my soccer club was holding – ever since then I’ve been reffing and love it.
“I officiate at both men’s and women’s games but I’m probably more comfortable being at the centre of a women’s game because, as an ex player, I can possibly relate more. Being a former player has definitely helped me become a better referee as you know the soccer IQ and understand the players’ emotions.”
Meanwhile, hailing from just a bit further away,
Lack of awareness, meanwhile, is not something that could be levelled at ‘big sister’ of the Sacramento female officials, Natalie Handley, who clocks up a decade of involvement with the tournament this year.
2014 began as a tough year for Nat, drinking and self-harming to block out personal challenges she was facing. Despite being a rugby player in her youth, when someone suggested she go along to Street Football Wales she took up the offer, was captivated by the round ball and never looked back. Training soon began for that year’s Homeless World Cup and, before she knew it, she was Chile-bound.
Taking on the role of Assistant Manager of the Wales Women squad in Amsterdam 2015 and Glasgow 2016, she was subsequently invited to take part in a referee course in Wales run by Homeless World Cup which led to officiating roles in Oslo in 2017, Mexico the following year and a ‘home’ Cup in Cardiff in 2019. Then...
“After Cardiff came Covid which really slowed things down with life and street football,” she says, “though it was good in that it gave us [Street Soccer Wales] time to reflect on the programme we had, rebuild and regrow.
“So now we have more women involved plus more referees. Before Cardiff 2019, as Sarah’s said, I helped run a referee course where I trained her, among others. Next, I did a Level 2 course to get more people involved with Street Football Wales. Then I went on the Level 3 course in Edinburgh, just before coming out to Sacramento, which was a bit of a refresher and good to catch up with everyone after the three-year gap.
“Sarah can now coach referees with me so we can hold referee courses, get more people qualified and have them experience this wonderful tournament as we do.”
For Natalie, the progress from playing to coaching to refereeing then getting to officiate the opening match on the opening day has been phenomenal.
“I was told I was reffing that game the night before and I got two hours’ sleep,” she laughs. “I missed out on the tournament’s opening parade because I wanted to come to the pitch and get my head in the right place, especially as the home side were involved. As soon as I blew the whistle, though, my confidence came rushing back and I came off the pitch absolutely buzzing. It’s a feeling I get every time I referee.”
It’s a feeling she got in spades when – to hark back to the opening quote of this story – she was subsequently told she would be realising her dream of taking charge of a Homeless World Cup final, the women’s fixture between Chile and Mexico.
“I found out the night before,” she says, as we reconvene on the touchline after that historic final, proudly sporting her golden whistle (awarded to the head referees of the main finals).
“It’s the first time a female has refereed a final and the first time there’s been an all-female team of match officials at a final.
“There were nerves, but I knew we were a strong team. It was very hot and incredibly noisy, and I kept reminding Sarah, Emily and Tiffany – over the cheers of the Mexicans and Chileans – that we were making history today.
“The whole match went so fast, but I’ll remember every second – and I also commandeered the match ball as a memento! To be lining up with my fellow referees before the match to witness the presentation of the first Spirit of the Game award – in memory of the late Hary Milas and given to Greece – had me in tears before the match and I cried after the final!”
There was no time for tears for Emily, however, who only heard a couple of hours before the game that she’d been chosen to officiate at the women’s final.
“It was such an honour to be with the two Welsh referees and a fellow American, such a moment and so much fun being part of that team for that match,” she enthuses.
“Refereeing is so much fun – there are challenging instants but once you push past that you meet so many people. You’re teaching people life skills, how to be good people, how to manage their time, how to balance and lead a team and be part of a great community
“This was my first experience of Homeless World Cup and I hope they reach out to me again. I’ve loved it. The passion for the game by the players here has been off the scale and it’s been wonderful to be part of that.”
Tiffany echoes those sentiments. “It was amazing, I’m a little bit speechless really, and what an honour to referee a final alongside these great ladies.”
Nodding enthusiastically in agreement Sarah adds, “It was crazy. When I first started playing there were no female referees until Nat, and to be out there with her and these girls today was incredible.”
Last sentiments must go with she who began this story, however, as Natalie thinks back to the nervous Welsh girl stepping out in the red jersey with her team-mates in Santiago in 2014.
“In the last ten years I’ve changed in mentality,” she says. “I’m a stronger person – especially in decision-making which has helped me with my job where I’m now a team leader – and really helped my confidence, making me the person I am today.
“I thought Chile would be my only tournament, I was so proud to represent Wales and have the badge on my chest. Now I get to have it on my shoulder, represent my country and be a referee. Now I lead the Street Football Wales referee programme and train others.
“And today I got to make history.”
Credit: Anita Milas
Words: Isobel Irvine