Growing up with two parents who were FIFA referees gives you a very different perspective on the job than most players have.
My mum, Jill, was the first woman to referee a professional match in B.C. and the first female FIFA credentialed referee in B.C.
She officiated games at the U19 Women’s World Cup and the Women’s Olympic qualifiers, as well as Whitecaps matches in the 1990s and 2000s.
My dad, Gerry, he’s worked all over the world too, and refereed in front of more than 80,000 people in China, and at the Rose Bowl.
Back then, you had to be in the top one per cent, because there were not many opportunities or pathways around for referees.
So, I think my parents had a tough time pursuing their goals. Obviously, it worked out well for them, but nowadays the pathway for referees is very similar to players because of the Canadian Premier Leagues and clubs like Vancouver FC connecting the dots.
There’s a stepping stone all the way to the top.
I had referees when I was playing in League1 BC, who went to the CPL and then they went to the MLS, and now they are refereeing national team games. Which reflects a pathway from local leagues right through to the World Cup, shared by players, coaches, staff, and also referees.
With the World Cup coming to Vancouver this summer, the highest level of soccer there is and the biggest competition in the world in any sport will be on our doorstep. Which means huge pressure – including on the referees.
My dad has told me stories of people after the game smashing his car windows because they weren’t happy with his performance.
There’s a lot of pressure on referees, and with this tournament coming very soon, it’s important as fans of the game that we respect them.
Referees are expected to make every player on the field and every coach happy with their calls. And that’s just not how it’s going to go.
They will make mistakes, just like players do. I can’t even count how many times we give a ball away in a game, so they’re not going to be perfect either.
They love the game and they found a way to be involved in it and work hard to do that. They are assessed a lot. So there’s tons of pressure, especially in the World Cup.
Since I was a kid, there have been moments when a lot of my teammates are saying “that should have been a penalty” or a red card. But I have a better understanding of what is a red card or what’s not, and just the rules in general.
The biggest piece of advice my parents have given me on dealing with referees, is just to be human and to talk to them respectfully and put your hands up and apologize at times – as soon as you make a bad tackle and you know it was bad – that way you’re more likely to get a little more grace with them and maybe even a little bit of leeway. It’s better than if you just shout at them.
I definitely wouldn’t be where I am without my mom and dad.
They were involved with my teams or coaching them from around six to 16, and even now they are at every game. And pretty much after every game, me and my dad talk about it at length. We talk about different players, how the match went, and then we talk about my individual performance.
They put a turf soccer field in our backyard when I was around 11, so I could practise more, with a net. I was always out there with them kicking around. And even nowadays, whenever I’m out there, my dad will come out and we’ll kick it around for a bit. We still connect that way.
Last weekend, we had an important win in the Canadian Championship against Langley United.
It was a really special occasion playing an all-Langley derby, and I was delighted to assist in the second goal. I saw the space open up in front of me down the wing and just went for it and then had to stay calm to pick out Nicolas Mezquida at the back post.
Hopefully it’s the first assist of many.
This Sunday we go again in the CPL against Cavalry, hoping to make it four games unbeaten. To you, our fans, your support is always so appreciated by the whole team here at Vancouver FC.
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– Kian Proctor is a 20-year-old Vancouver FC defender from Delta, who signed his first professional contract for the 2026 season after a standout year at SFU. He will be writing a weekly column this season, offering insight into himself and his new team.
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