• May 5 Mexico v Venezuela, Rose Bowl (Pasedena, Calif.).
• May 13 Chicago Fire @ New York Red Bulls, Giants Stadium (New Jersey)
• May 19 U20 Canada v U20 Brazil (Edmonton, Canada)
• May 24 Colombia v Ecuador, Giants Stadium (New Jersey)
• May 27 D.C. United @ Kansas City Wizards, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)

Terry Vaughn, FIFA Referee

• Terry has lived and played soccer his whole life in Iowa and currently resides in the Mt. Vernon area. He has been a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) Referee for 18 years. He is currently working games at the professional and international levels.
• He has refereed in the following leagues; PDL, A-League, Open Cup, WUSA, and MLS. In 2005 he was honored to work two quarterfinal matches, a semifinal for the MLS playoffs, and a quarterfinal final for the Open Cup.
• Terry has had many international assignments including three World Cup Qualifiers. He was also a referee at the U-20 CONCACAF World Cup Qualifier Tour.
• He also works games at the high school and college levels and has been to the Men's NCAA Division I Finals the last four years, centering the 2004 College Cup Final.
• In 2004 and 2005 he was appointed to the FIFA Referee Panel, one of only six Americans appointed to center international matches.

Iowa Referee Among the Elite Worldwide

Iowan Terry Vaughn has been involved in soccer his whole life. Who knew that soccer would be the vehicle that now takes him all over the world?! Who knew that he would become one of the elite referees in the United States, making him among the top internationally?

Vaughn is as accessible as he is talented and has not forgotten his Iowa roots. He still resides in the Mt. Vernon area with his wife and daughter, even though on a given day he and his whistle might be at a match in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Guatemala or even Des Moines!

The 32-year old Vaughn has been a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) Referee for 18 years, beginning his playing and officiating career in Iowa City. He balanced playing for the Kickers (on Saturdays) with officiating (on Sundays) so he could earn money as well as benefit from the extra workouts. “Learning the Laws also helped me as a player,” noted Vaughn. Once he enrolled at Coe College, he retired from playing and began refereeing college matches.

Fast-forward nearly a decade. Vaughn was among only seven American referees to receive a FIFA badge in 2004. This credential is a requirement in order for referees to officiate international matches and must be earned on a yearly basis. “There are no guarantees,” stated Vaughn. Just recently, the USSF Board of Directors informed him that he has been nominated again for this status.

As he has worked his way up the ranks, he has done matches at the NCAA Division I college level, in the A-League, at the Open Cup, in the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) and in Major League Soccer (MLS), as well as international assignments that have included World Cup Qualifiers. In the last year, a sampling of his schedule included stops in Blaine, Minn. (US Under-20 National Team), New York ( Colombia v England), Carson, Calif. (Men’s NCAA Division I Finals), Guatemala (Women’s World Cup Qualifier), Chicago (MLS’s Rapids v Fire) and Des Moines (Creighton v Drake men).

In 2003, he was named Referee of the Year in the WUSA, which is “judged by WUSA coaches, general managers, players, US Soccer and members of the media…This individual consistently displays an understanding of the rules of the game and a consistent application of the rules.”

So how did Vaughn go from “earning Sunday money” to doing international matches? When asked he recalled that he was identified as having potential and once he found out how far he could go, “I wanted it.” He has had many mentors along the way and advises, “…having many allows you to find things they’ve done that you can use to become better…be yourself, but incorporate what works!”

Vaughn also shared an interesting idea for a rule change. ”I would make the Goal Area the only place the keeper could use his hands, for two reasons. First, it would increase scoring. Second, keepers’ punts would not penetrate as far down the field, so there would be more of an emphasis on skillful build-up than on tracking down a long punt.”

When congratulated about his achievements, Vaughn stated, “Thanks for the kind words. I am honored to represent Iowa on the journeys that come with being a FIFA Referee. It takes many people to reach and maintain this level and I know that every time I go on the field I am never alone. Thanks again to everyone for their help.”

##IOWA SOCCER##