Inside the Life of a PRO Referee | Guido Gonzales Jr. on Mental Preparation, VAR, and Parenthood⚽️
What does it take to officiate at the highest level of the game? In this episode of The KickBack FC, we continue our series with Pro Referees and sit down with PRO referee Guido Gonzales Jr. to discuss the preparation, mindset, and responsibility that comes with refereeing professional soccer. From being named 2024 Referee of the Year, to being a new parent and using video review, Guido shares a detailed look into the world of professional officiating. We also break down how referees prepare physically and mentally for the season, what recovery looks like during a long campaign, and how officials adapt as the modern game continues to evolve. If you’ve ever wondered what goes on behind the whistle, this episode gives you a closer look at the craft of refereeing at the professional level! Chapters: 0:08 Introductions 1:29 Welcome Guido Gonzalez to The KickBack FC 2:00 Guido talks 2024 “A year of what dreams are made of” 3:15 Guido wins first ever U.S. Male Referee of the Year Award 4:50 What does a typical day as a MLS referee? 9:17 When does a MLS referee get field assignments? 9:45 Guido discusses the tactical aspect of MLS refereeing 10:45 How to prepare for a match tactically 13:15 inside referees mind when making “big calls” 16:25 Does VAR impact referee decision making? 17:50 The referee mindset before VAR 18:45 Does VAR change the flow of a game? 20:12 How Guido prevents escalation from a player 22:20 Guido’s overall referee style 23:23 Guido managing his emotions on the field 25:30 Guido’s background in soccer 27:02 What made Guido Gonzalez want to be a major league referee 30:00 Guido breaks down being a father 32:20 Guido’s defining moment as a referee 35:30 The most memorable stadium Guido has refereed in 36:06 One rule fans misunderstand the most 37:03 The best part of being a referee 40:47 Referee appreciation 42:30 Conclusion
