IRC History
1969 / 1970
Iowa State Amateur Soccer Association (ISASA) and Iowa State Youth Soccer Association (ISYSA) are formed and recognized by the USSF in New York. Referees were governed by a State Referee Administrator (SRA). SRAs included:
- John Reiffler (1970 to 1978)
- Jim Taylor (1978 to 1985)
- Chuck Nelson (1985 to 1993)
- Greg Annexstad (1993 to 1995)
- John Dodge (1995 to 1997)
- Jim Albertson (1998 to 2008)
- Phil Sinnwell (2008 to 2014)
- Dan Cataldi (2014 to 2019)
- Royce Van Roekel (2019 to present)
1984
Des Moines area soccer clubs were invited to discuss referee development in central Iowa that led to the formation of the Mid-Iowa Soccer Officials Association (MISOA).
1985
Iowa State Youth Soccer Association (ISYSA) working independently of Iowa State Adult Soccer Association (ISASA) brought in Region 2 personnel to help organize a referee development program. They recommended a "committee" approach rather than having a SRA czar.
1986
MISOA was incorporated to develop central Iowa referees.
1988
The IRC develops its first set of values & goals and adopts the motto: “One game... . One referee.”
ISYSA and ISASA agree to manage the Iowa referee development program by Committee. The Iowa State Soccer Referee Association, eventually known as the Iowa Referee Committee (IRC), was incorporated to operate independently from both. The problems to be addressed at the time were:
- Fractured: Youth, Adult, High School, and College
- Development had no geographical reach
- Only 4 trained Referee Instructors and a handful of Assessors
- Very little outside mentoring was available
1992
IRC adopts the following Purpose: "Specifically, the Corporation is organized:
- To improve and promote the proficiency of soccer officials.
- To promote and maintain the highest degree of soccer officiating by following a standard set of mechanics, consistent interpretations and administration of the rules of soccer as defined by United State Soccer Federation and Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
- To make available trained, certified and capable soccer officials.
- To cooperate with organizations and institutions related to the game of soccer and furthering its interests."
1994
U.S. Soccer mandates that the referee development program in each state must be guided by committee.
1995
Committee agrees to seat representatives of organized local official associations for training local officials and encouraging their development as well as adding more voices to the decision-making processes. Requirements:
- Bylaws
- Regularly elected officials
- Train and send representatives to the committee meetings
Committee agrees to form an executive committee to meet the ongoing needs of U.S. Soccer and deal with the day-to-day operations of the development program while retaining policy and direction oversight.
2000
IRC sets up 3-year strategic planning meetings to re-focus on where the programs strengths and weaknesses were.
2004
Terry Vaughn is named to the FIFA Panel from the United States.
2005
ISYSA and ISASA are combined into one state organization, the Iowa Soccer Association (ISA).