Young referee Lachlan Wise admits that maybe his football pathway might have been different if he hadn’t rectified a mistake he made while refereeing a Belwest match last year.
Little did he know that the simple gesture of admitting his mistake was noticed.
Taryn Powick, who was on the sideline watching her son play, saw how Lachlan maturely handled the situation.
“Lachlan pulled up the goalkeeper for stepping out of the goal box with the ball in his hands, only he then realised the lines were just bad and the goalkeeper was actually still in the box,” Taryn recalled.
“Lachlan apologised to the goalkeeper and the other players, accepted he’d made a mistake and handed the ball back to the goalkeeper to continue play.
“It was refreshing to see a young referee accept responsibility for his mistake and handle it with such professionalism.”
Moments after the final whistle blew on the game, Taryn suggested to her husband Lee, who runs Grasshopper Soccer Canberra, that Lachlan would make a great coach.
“Lee offered Lachlan a trial and he has proven to be a reliable and knowledgeable coach and is fantastic with the young players,” Taryn said.
Looking back, Lachlan is thankful that he changed his decision that day.
“I obviously don’t know the mindset of Taryn and Lee at the time, maybe I still would have got the job offer regardless,” Lachlan said. “But maybe it was that one moment that inspired them to offer me the opportunity.
“It wasn’t a game-changing mistake but it was important to correct myself. As a player myself, I know that if a referee admitted he made a mistake, I would totally understand.
“Everyone makes mistakes.”
Lachlan credits Belwest’s refereeing program for helping him become the player, coach and referee he is today, having now completed his C Licence.
“Belwest gave me the pathway to start off at a lower level, back when I was 12 or 13 years old, reffing the U7s games at the club,” he said. “I said yes to Belwest’s offer because I was interested in getting experience and help me develop my leadership.
“It was a great referee program.”
Now one of his biggest fans, Taryn believes Lachlan is a leader and role model to all young referees in the ACT.
“Lachlan is an inspirational young man who I’m sure will do wonderful things in football and within the community,” Taryn said.
“I think it is so important for young referees and coaches like Lachlan to be supported and praised in the football community to ensure they keep returning, to share their knowledge and so they can be role models to other young up and coming referees and coaches.”
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