Markofsky and Palazzo Named SABR Young Referees of the Year
By Gary Curreri
It All Started Over a Burger
What began as a casual conversation over burgers between Vince Righi and longtime SABR volunteer Bob Rollins has blossomed into one of the club’s most meaningful traditions: honoring standout young referees.
Five years ago, Righi suggested recognizing the Young Male and Young Female Referees of the Year. The idea took hold, and the awards were named in his honor — the Vince Righi Boys and Girls Young Referees of the Year.
“We thought it would be a good idea, and I told them I’d be happy to do it,” said Righi, who recently celebrated his 50th year in soccer. “We decided to focus on young referees — ages 13 to 15 — and selected one boy and one girl each year. They’re evaluated on a scoring form from one to five, with comments aimed at helping them improve.”
This year’s honorees are Chloe Markofsky (Young Female Referee of the Year) and Massimo Palazzo (Young Male Referee of the Year). Both were celebrated during the annual Tom Cherubin Cup championships at the Spanish River Athletic Complex.
Evaluation criteria include appearance, rules knowledge, mechanics, reliability, professionalism, positioning, judgment, courage, and consistency.
“I always tell them to manage the crowd,” Righi said. “Try to do your best and enforce the rules. Don’t engage if a coach or parent starts yelling. Avoid confrontation. Show up prepared — socks up, shirt tucked in, whistle and flags in hand.”
A Promising Start for Chloe Markofsky
At just 15, Chloe Markofsky is already making her mark. A freshman at Spanish River High School and a member of the Team Boca ECNL-RL 2010 girls team, she started refereeing only two months ago. Yet, she was chosen as the center referee for the Girls Under-9 championship game.
“I was really surprised to get the award because I’m so new,” Markofsky said. “I didn’t expect to be assigned to a championship game my first year.”
To become certified, she completed an online course and a three-hour in-person mechanics clinic. Now, she officiates three to five games each weekend.
“I’m proud of myself,” she said with a smile. “I’ve been working hard to understand the rules better. Playing and refereeing offer very different perspectives.”
Palazzo’s Growth in His Second Year
Massimo Palazzo, 15, a student at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, is in his second year as a referee and has gained confidence and experience. While he mostly worked as an assistant referee (AR) last year, this season he’s been trusted with more center referee assignments.
“It’s fun,” said Palazzo, who sometimes referees up to 14 games in a weekend. He officiated the Boys Under-10 championship game in the Tom Cup. “I don’t mind parents or coaches yelling. Sometimes you just have to tune it out — and explaining the rules helps, too.”
Building Skills and Character
Bruce Spidell, in his first year as SABR Director of Referees, knows firsthand the value of the experience. His daughter once refereed in the program.
“She gained poise,” Spidell said. “She’d get yelled at by coaches — adults — but kept her cool. It’s a great way to build character and confidence, doing an important job in front of a crowd.”
“Knowing the rules is just the start. The best refs master the mechanics, manage the players and coaches, and teach the younger ones while officiating. It’s great seeing female referees out there — the younger girls really respond to that.”
A Family Affair
Lisa Markofsky, Chloe’s mother and a former coach and Division Rep with SABR, shared that Chloe first showed interest in officiating when the rec season started in November.
“She’s always been tough and competitive,” Lisa said. “Moving from SABR to Team Boca helped her develop, and playing different positions gave her great field sense.”
“I encouraged her to try refereeing this year because she was always hard on the referees and the calls they made,” she added. “Now she sees how tough the job really is. She’s done it all in soccer — maybe coaching is next!”
The SABR Spirit
Brian Behrmann, SABR’s referee assignor, echoed the importance of youth involvement.
“We’re always working to improve,” he said. “It’s fantastic to see teens like Maximo and Chloe stepping up. That’s what makes it all worthwhile.”
And Righi, with a lifetime of wisdom, offered one final piece of advice:
“Enjoy it. You’re not successful at anything if you don’t enjoy it. You’re always learning — even at nearly 80, I’m still learning. You never fully master this game.”
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