Our recent Regional Recertification Clinic focused on elevating match management through football understanding, teamwork, and referee presence.

We were honored to have Esse Baharmast as a presenter. Esse is a former FIFA World Cup referee (1998), longtime MLS official, and respected FIFA/USSF referee instructor and assessor, with decades of experience teaching referees at the highest levels of the game.

Key themes from the clinic included:

• Handling decisions: natural vs. unnatural arm positions, making the body unnaturally bigger, and attacker handball standards.
• Game management: reading the temperature of the match and adjusting to maintain structure and flow.
• Teamwork: empowering assistant referees to step in on critical match-changing decisions.
• Confidence & presence: setting the tone early through calm, professional leadership.
• Personality & communication: effective referees are human, not robotic — respect and clarity matter.
• Integrity & reputation: consistency and professionalism remain the foundation of elite officiating.

These concepts help raise the standard of refereeing across Maryland and reinforce the value of continued education through our clinics.