, a Vicksburg soccer referee, stands on the field at the Bovina soccer complex in preparation for his trip to Lawrence, Ind., for the inaugural U.S. Youth Soccer National League Director’s Cup. Sanchez hopes the visibility of the tournament will allow him to climb the soccer refereeing ladder. (Chad ApplebaumThe Vicksburg Post)

[08/08/03] The pressure on Jose Sanchez this weekend will be intense. One wrong move or one bad call could cost him everything he’s worked for and everything he wants to be.

And it’ll be one of the best weekends of his officiating career.

Sanchez, a 34-year-old Vicksburg resident, will serve as an official at the U.S. Youth Soccer National League Director’s Cup in Lawrence, Ind. The inaugural tournament, which will decide a national champion, began today and is one of the most prestigious events in youth soccer.

Sanchez is the first soccer referee from Mississippi to work such a high-profile event, and one of 24 chosen nationwide for the tournament.

“It’s a great honor. I guess it’s something that if you work hard, it’s one of your goals to be nationally recognized,” said Sanchez, who also spent two years as a Warren Central assistant coach.

The tournament is the biggest Sanchez has worked since he began officiating about seven years ago, but his star has been on the rise recently.

He was one of 16 officials selected to referee an Olympic Development Program tournament in Florida in March, and was picked to work the Mississippi Association of Coaches High School All-Star game in July.

“He ranks high in our ranks. If I ranked our list of officials, he’s certainly in the top five,” said Tim Clements, who oversees Mississippi’s soccer officials as the State Referee Administrator.

With recognition, however, comes intense pressure and scrutiny. One of Sanchez’s goals is to become a national-level referee, and getting the chance to officiate at tournaments like the Director’s Cup is a big step toward that.

There will be dozens of officials from U.S. Soccer at the event, though, and one missed call could put a major mark against him and keep him from ever officiating on the national level.

“Every game, there’s a lot of pressure,” Sanchez said. “The majority of the games you do on the recreational level, it’s fun. But when you’re being evaluated and assessed at every game you do, there’s a lot more pressure.”

While working the Director’s Cup is a big break for Sanchez, it is just one step toward his ultimate goal. Clements said Sanchez’s age might work against him as he strives to climb the refereeing ladder, but Sanchez figures he can reach the national level in about four years.

It’ll take even more hard work and preparation Sanchez already runs three miles a day to stay in shape and spends about 10 hours each week working games and studying rules but he feels it can be done.

In the meantime, he’ll keep working and taking the breaks where they come, and enjoying himself every step of the way.

“It’s like going on a roller coaster ride,” Sanchez said of officiating. “You ask yourself, why do I do this?’ You do it for the thrill, the love of the game, and yourself.”