Rollins always giving back on the SABR fields

By Gary Curreri

Bob Rollins is a long-time SABR volunteer and was inducted into the Florida Youth Soccer Association Hall of Fame last year.

Not only has he served in various positions on the SABR board, but Rollins has also been a coach for both SABR and Team Boca throughout the years. It also stretched into being a referee and mentor of many young referees, among them his grandson. Hunter McGourty, and his SABR teammate Santiago Cortes.

After their early beginnings, both later went on to play for Team Boca, while McGourty also played for Boca Raton High School and helped the Bobcats win a fifth FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association boys state championship last year after finishing the season 24-0-2.

It has left an indelible impression on Rollins, and the teens who have now moved on to college. The trio would work together as Rollins mentored them early in their officiating careers.

“Santi and Hunter were teammates, similar personalities, smart, learned quickly and I felt confident after they had a few games as ARs (assistant referees),” Rollins recalled. “I then rotated the two as middle officials. They were calm, made firm calls and earned the respect of players and coaches.

“Santiago stayed with officiating – ultimately earning SABR Young Referee of the Year,” Rollins continued. “He was a scholar and excellent piano player. Hunter, meanwhile, returned to the job he loved – Team Boca goalkeeper along with Boca High goalkeeper. I am proud of both young men.

“As a grandparent, you can’t do enough for your grandson,” said Rollins, who currently serves as the treasurer for the SABR. “The coolest thing about this was watching him mature and he very quickly grew into someone who could do the middle on these younger games. It just took him two or three games. He was very confident and knew the rules and wasn’t shy about blowing the whistle.

“He also had to deal with the parents, politely and very respectfully,” Rollins added. “So, watching him grow into that…I was so happy, and his entire soccer career has been like that with tremendous growth… I’ve basically seen him grow from a caterpillar to a butterfly.”

McGourty, 18, who still plays travel soccer on the Team Boca U19 team, appreciated the plaudits from his grandfather.

“It was a lot of fun,” said McGourty, who is now a freshman at Palm Beach State College. “It gave me a better understanding of the game, a deeper understanding of the rules, and gave me a different view obviously since I play in seeing the referee’s perspective.

“I got to referee with a lot of different people,” he added. “There were a lot of great people, and I even got to referee with my grandfather and that was the best part. Getting to referee with him was a blast. He’d come pick me up and then we’d go get something to eat after the games. He tried to teach me, and he was super excited for me to do it, and it was a lot more fun with him.”

Cortes, 18, currently a freshman at Florida State University, plans to continue officiating while at college.

“Mr. Bob was a great mentor who taught me a lot, and was a big reason I got into refereeing in the first place,” Cortes said. “He mentored me in my positioning when I am in the center, where my vision should be focused, and how to handle escalated situations.”

Another perk was remaining friends with Hunter and other players from both SABR and Team Boca throughout the years.

“I am still friends with Hunter,” Cortes said. “Hunter’s a great friend, I’ve known for a long time. We played soccer together for Team Boca since I was 9 years old, and refed together for several years.”

Rollins said the young referees get a lot of benefits from working as an official. In addition to getting paid for their efforts, they learn to make quick decisions and sometimes have to interact with parents or adult coaches.

“I think it is extremely important to be able to deal with people who maybe do not agree with your decision,” Rollins continued. “It is an important part of the maturing process and to do so with the person who is objecting, I think that is terribly important where the young person is in a situation where you may have to explain yourself as to why you came to that decision.”

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New referees need to attend an in-person session, and recertifying referees either attend the in-person session or if the website indicates (depending on specifics of your past coursework), you may have the choice to attend a webinar certification clinic instead.

SABR recently arranged for Florida Soccer Referees to conduct a clinic for new and recertifying referees.

For recreational games, you will list your weekly availability and receive your assignments at Sabr.soccerref.net. If you are a new SABR referee, please register at this site.

For information on the recreational games contact SABR referee assignor Brian Behrman at 561-504-5862 or by email at briansabr@aol.com or SABR Director of referees Bruce Spidell at 561-350-4148 or email nanuce81@aol.com.

For Team Boca games, the assignors are Sheri and Lou Hecht at coach99323@aol.com.