2025 clinic features FIFA world cup referee Matthew conger

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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

MEMORANDUM – 7.11.24

Georgia Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association

With the pre-season clinic less than three weeks away, I’m very excited to share more detail around the training and instruction we will be offering on Saturday, July 27th.

This year, we are honored to host one of NISOA’s Summer Summits in conjunction with our annual Membership Meeting. The Summit will commence at 7:00am at the Agnes Scott College track with fitness testing for GISOA members. However, rather than moving immediately to the classroom, the balance of the morning will be utilized to conduct on-field training sessions led by NISOA Sr. Director of Education (and 12-year GISOA alumnus) Corey Rockwell! Session activity will include three separate modules on Offside, Video Review and Wall Management with Spray. These sessions will provide a unique opportunity to develop your acumen around these three critical topics through direct participation and practical application, versus traditional “lecture-style” instruction.

For any who haven’t met Corey and might wonder whether he is qualified to provide such high-level instruction, here are just a few highlights from his truly amazing career:

• Longest running FIFA AR in the history of US Soccer/MLS AR since 2005
• Copa America 2015/Gold Cup 2017/World Cup 2018 (first US AR to work a WC elimination round)
• 8 NCAA Division I Final Fours (including center referee 2016 & 2017 NCAA Women’s College Cup Final)

Joining Corey will be three other highly accomplished referee instructors:

Carmen Serbio, NISOA’s Director of Financial Management & Director of Assignors, and ACC Coordinator of Officials

Dan Lukash, NISOA’s Sr. Director of Programs

Rich Grady, NCAA Secretary Rules Editor

Shower facility and lunch will be provided after the training sessions, followed by classroom instruction around the rule changes for 2024 and other important topics.

IMPORTANT: NISOA has committed significant resources to this event, so it is critical that we get an accurate headcount of attendance. Therefore, if you have not already registered using the 6/30/24 NISOA email, please do so now using this link: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=mwkKE3t5QEOqhAtovdQNlS-3dW1SKVJLi3Sfg9M2l6JUMFhIOEo2VVZOWDc0NDRENTZYTzdYTDlBOC4u

Hope you are as excited as I am for this unique opportunity. Expect more detail around logistics and schedule in the coming weeks.

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­­Wes Williams

President

GISOA

MEMORANDUM - 5.24.22

I will be stepping down after serving as Chapter President for the past 11 years We will be voting on new leadership and will provide more details in follow-up broadcast.

Many thanks to 2022 GISOA Membership Committee “teammates Brandon Adams, Kevin Biando, Shannon O’Carroll, Larry Pachon, Tarik Veledar, Wes Williams, & Tim Wool for their commitment to identify developing referees to become valued members of our Chapter."

We have issued new member invites and will announce acceptances in follow-up broadcast

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Griff Sims

GISOA President