Age doesn't deter 80-year-old Evansville area soccer referee from running the sidelines
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Not many soccer referees are rewarded with their own bobblehead. Then again, most aren't running up and down the sidelines at age 80.
John Catt, who celebrated his 80th birthday last Friday, was presented with his own bobblehead last Saturday at a dinner at Archie & Clyde’s restaurant in Newburgh. He was also honored before the championship match of the City girls’ junior varsity tournament earlier in the day at North High School.
Catt serves as an inspiration and mentor to prospective young officials. He was also the caretaker for his wife, Dianne, who passed away about a year ago.
When asked why he keeps officiating after all these years, Catt said: “I enjoy it. And frankly, we are lacking referees.”
His own bobblehead
Matt Hirsch, IHSAA licensing soccer referee assigner for United States Soccer Federation (USSF) Indiana District 8, presented Catt with the bobblehead at the dinner.
“John, over the years, has trained hundreds of referees in the Evansville and Newburgh area,” Hirsch said in his speech. “For a number of years, he was our district referee administrator, which helps all of us over the years. Even us old refs.”
Catt is the referee assignor and "referee coach" for Newburgh Youth Soccer at Amax Fields.
“John, you have given so much of your time and talent to our community that it is hard for us to express our full appreciation for you,” Catt said. “We wanted to get you something to commemorate this evening. We all know the superstars with (bobbleheads): Stan Musial, Yadier Molina, Albert Pujols, Tom Brady… and even our own Mike Blake has one.
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“So it is fitting to give to you a limited edition collectable: the John Catt referee bobblehead.”
Mike Williams, a Newburgh youth soccer board member, shared in the celebration.
"He's on the field every day and every night, whether he's refereeing or mentoring young officials," Williams said.
Getting fit
Years ago, Catt did not pass the necessary fitness test to become an official. As a result, he started running six miles a day in the late 1980s and early 1990s, went to the gym and lifted weights: a workout he still sticks with today.
Of course, he runs far less the day of a match, or matches. Catt officiates junior varsity and lower level high school varsity girls matches and younger levels.
In the late 1970s, his officiating career began when he was asked to help by his boss, Les Matier, when they worked at Mead Johnson in Evansville. Catt, a research chemist, gained his USSF referee’s license in 1983.
He graduated from Decker High School near Vincennes, which no longer exists. Catt took enough post-graduate courses at Indiana State University that the American Chemical Society considers him a Doctorate in Chemistry, although he does not have a PhD.
Bristol Myers transferred him to Wallingford, Connecticut. After spending 18 years there, Catt returned to Southern Indiana in 2001, when he retired.
Since then, he's made officiating his passion.
"He's passionate refereeing and he's passionate mentoring young people," said Williams, 62. "I referee high school games as well. We're all getting older. John is certainly an extreme example of that. But he loves sports and he loves helping young people."
With the ongoing referee’s shortage, Hirsch is glad Catt can still run up and down the field. But being physically fit isn’t the only reason Catt still roams area soccer fields.
“He does enjoy the camaraderie before and after the game within the referee community,” Hirsch said. “John enjoys mentoring young kids and seeing them train and first getting their license. Kids do move to a high level.”
Hirsch said Catt has refereed even more after his wife died. And continues to develop a younger class of talented officials.
“I would rather be out with people than sitting at home moping around,” Catt said.
Keeping a thick skin
Catt doesn’t keep track of how many soccer matches he officiates, but it’s still a bunch. Because some young officials allegedly have a thinner skin than their older counterparts, they may quit after one season.
Catt shared his method to cool down an angry parent or coach: he simply stands by them.
"Most of the time it works," Catt said.
Williams said parents and coaches need to learn to tone it down and give young referees a break. Screaming at an official doesn't make anybody better.
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Catt doesn’t have any plans to slow down considerably. He does a great job of mentoring young officials and building their confidence, Williams said.
“You don’t see many 80-year-olds going out there, who are still physically able to (officiate soccer matches),” Hirsch said.
When asked if he was going to continue officiating or hang 'em up, Catt told Williams: "I've already done my 2023 USSF recertification and have my patch."
Contact Gordon Engelhardt at gordon.engelhardt@courierpress.com or on Twitter @EngGordon
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville sports: Local soccer referee has mentored, trained hundreds
