16 Year-Old Student Athlete – Vanessa Dee
It’s not very common to meet a 16-year old teenager that motivates not only other teenagers but adults alike. Vanessa Dee may only be a teenager, but her accomplishments and dedication are truly inspiring.
Many soccer fans remember that impressionable moment when they fell in love with the beautiful game. Vanessa Dee’s first soccer moment was like many others, but it defines so much of who she is today. Vanessa is someone who runs after the challenges and opportunities that life brings her way.
At six years old she watched her older brother playing soccer, “and I fell in love with the game. All I wanted to do was run on the field and play along with him,” said Vanessa, a 16 year-old student/athlete at Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego and a Cal South Referee.
Vanessa excels at her pursuits; As a student, a competitive athlete, and a referee. She has recently been selected as the US Youth Soccer Region IV Youth Female Referee of the Year for 2014-15.
According to George Noujaim, Cal South’s State Referee Administrator, “Vanessa is one-of-a-kind, she was over and above, so we selected her to qualify for the Region IV recognition.” Cal South also recognized Vanessa’s talent and awarded her to be its Youth Female Referee of the Year in March of this year.
Vanessa’s parents, Christine and Richard Dee, said that winning these awards “shows that all her hard work and dedication paid off. Vanessa did not slow down or relax because of her first award, she kept striving and improving her skills and knowledge.”
“I am always up for a challenge, whether it is for school or sports. Thinking about my future motivates me to strive to do well,” says Vanessa.
Running is a large part of Vanessa’s life. She does a lot of it, running on the soccer pitch as a referee and running for her very successful Rancho Bernardo High School track team. Competing in the 100-meter race is her favorite event and being on the track team is just one of the many extra-curricular activities in which Vanessa participates.
“Running track helps with being a referee and is fun to do. It helps me to be able to run quickly to the ball or player without lagging behind. In general, track is a fun sport because you meet such amazing people and it’s a great way to stay in shape,” according to Vanessa.
Noujaim confirms the track exercise is beneficial to Vanessa on the pitch. “She can perform her duties well by running and being where she needs to actually be on the field when refereeing a match,” he states.
Vanessa’s parents describe their daughter as a caring, full of life individual, who is enthusiastic about school.
“My favorite accomplishment in academics would be receiving an A on my AP biology exam,” shares Vanessa. “It was after many peers of mine had told me to drop the class because it would be too hard for me but that just encouraged me to do even better. I find learning about different aspects of life very fascinating.”
She also likes Speech and Debate. “I enjoy the subject because you are able to perceive someone else’s speech from your own perspective and perform it to the best of your ability. It’s also a fun activity to memorize speeches and perform them which stretches you a little farther out of your comfort zone.”
Vanessa’s drive to learn and challenge herself is evident. These traits help her to be an effective referee now and will be handy as she moves up in her referee career. It’s no secret that referees are always challenged to get it right on the field and a referee may occasionally be pushed outside of their comfort zone.
Believe it or not Vanessa has time to do volunteer work, too. She spends time with Special Education students in the “Best Buddies” program. “My buddy’s name is Jordan and he never fails to put a smile on my face. It’s a great program and it helps me appreciate the little things in life,” declared Vanessa.
According to her parents, “She is very determined in all that she does. She is very focused on the tasks that she needs to complete and is very driven to do a good job.”
Vanessa keeps up with all the work by utilizing effective time-management skills. She is quite practical. “I use a day planner in order to keep track of all my activities. I also prioritize each activity in order of importance to make sure I have time to study and for my school,” says Vanessa.
After about a year of both playing soccer and refereeing at the same time Vanessa made a decision to stop playing and focus solely on refereeing and her academics.
“Since I love soccer so much I thought that becoming a referee would only enhance my knowledge of the game. And as it turns out I didn’t know what the true definition of offside was until I took the course” Vanessa admitted.
In her parents’ opinion: “Being a referee has really grown Vanessa. She is more confident and is able to deal successfully with people of all ages without feeling intimidated. It has strengthened her ability to think independently, as well as to be responsible. For example, she has to be at the field on time, have her equipment and gear and be responsible for what happens on and off the field.”
Vanessa’s personality, drive and affinity for personal growth are traits she’s nurtured. Although, she’s quick to mention that her on-field success is a direct result of the training she has received at Cal South and being a part of the larger referee community, a group which demands excellence.
“What made her stand out is she performs her duties according to what we teach. She is on the field every weekend. It does reinforce that we have a good referee program,” said Noujaim.
Incidentally, that superb training and support helped Vanessa deal with a very difficult experience at the conclusion of a match.
“My most challenging moment as a referee was during a boys 12 game,” said Vanessa. “In the last seconds of the game the losing team scored to tie the game. As soon as the ball was kicked off, I blew my whistle to end the game. As I was walking towards my AR 1 I was struck by a water bottle by one of the parents on the sideline.”
She credits the Cal South Referee community with helping her to safety and assisting her through that unfortunate experience.
Since Vanessa has won the Cal South and the US Youth Soccer Region IV Youth Female Referee of the Year awards, she is eligible to be part of the national US Youth Soccer Young Referee of the Year for 2015.
“Winning both of these awards has me speechless. It proves to me that hard work will pay off. These awards have inspired me to become even better and that anything is possible if you put your mind to it,” said Vanessa.
Her parents agree, “Our favorite moment of Vanessa being a referee was when she was awarded the Youth Female Referee of the Year for Cal South. This was very unexpected but shows that she is growing into a responsible adult.”
Of course Vanessa is not shy about how she would feel if she won the national Young Referee of the Year award: “I would be beyond stoked and extremely grateful for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me.”
Noujaim added, “I think she is good enough to win the National Award.”
It is clear that Vanessa is a talented and inspiring young woman. Her soccer referee career is already in overdrive but she is not resting on her laurels given her recent achievements.
Vanessa admitted that during the Women’s World Cup this year, which the United States Women’s National Team won, she found herself watching the referees more than the actual game. Vanessa also revealed that after all that has happened, i.e., awards and recognitions she has received, she aspires to become a FIFA referee.
“Vanessa is an up and coming referee. If she follows the directions that we teach at Cal South she could upgrade to State. Then after State the assignments could get her up to National, then, maybe on the FIFA list one of these days,” said Noujaim.
Vanessa’s parents know their daughter can become a FIFA Referee if she works hard enough. “Vanessa excels in all the activities that she’s involved in because she truly cares about her performance. She is very driven and focused. She always strives to do her best.”
“I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to grow with Cal South and have their assistance every step of the way to ensure that I could be the best referee I could be,” said Vanessa. “Without the help of Cal South and all of the amazing referees I have worked with, I would be nowhere. Special thanks go to George Noujaim for all his encouragement when watching me in the middle.”
“After my last game in Washington at the Presidents Cup all the Cal South referees escorted me back to the referee tent. It was at that moment that I understood how lucky I was to have a family like Cal South,” said Vanessa. “I look forward to all that is going to come in the future and can’t wait to spend the rest of my referee career with Cal South.”
Vanessa isn’t all business, all the time. She likes to have fun and enjoy down time when she gets the chance. Don’t worry, it isn’t running. “I enjoy hanging out with my friends whenever I have time. We typically like going to the beach or on long hikes near lakes,” said Vanessa.
With her priorities set, the future looks bright for Vanessa Dee, Cal South and Region IV Youth Female Referee of the Year.
Article Source & Photo Credit: Cal South
