Club Referees
The majority of our Club Referees are former or current players with North Toronto Soccer, and refereeing is something they choose to do out of love for the game, or as a summer job. Some have a wealth of experience, others are newer to the world of officiating. Whatever your experience or reason for officiating might be, we would be more than happy to discuss the opportunity to officiate at North Toronto Soccer with you.
Ben Rayner, Head Referee
Contact – referees@northtorontosoccer.com
Education:
Bachelors of Arts Honours with High Distinction, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Concentration in Psychology, Minor in History (Carleton University, 2017-2021)
Qualifications:
District Referee – 2019 to present
C-License (Trained) – 2023
Club Background:
I joined the club in spring 2005 as a recreation player at the age of 5. Playing recreationally with the Club each spring until aging out of the program in 2017, I’ve developed a lifelong passion for the game.
Returning to the Club in 2019 as a certified District Referee, I began as a Game Leader coaching U4 to U12 aged players. Although I wasn’t refereeing, I gained valuable experience using my voice to enforce the Laws of the Game, as well as practicing my signaling skills. In September 2021, I finally stepped onto the field as a referee.
With the immense mentorship of Nic Hurtado, whose management style and coaching skills go unrivaled, and Adrian Tanjala’s refereeing ability and experience being a class above, I’m now North Toronto Soccer’s Head Referee.
Notable Matches:
- April 2023 League 1 Reserves Exhibition Match, Centre Referee – NT Nitros vs Alliance FC
- July 2023 Talented Pathway/High Performance Exhibition Match, Centre Referee – NT Nitros U17 Girls OPDL vs Soccer Nova Scotia U17 Provincial Team
- July 2023 Talented Pathway/High Performance Exhibition Match, Assistant Referee – NT Nitros U15 Girls OPDL vs Soccer Nova Scotia U15 Provincial Team
- August 2023 Boys U13 Ontario Cup, Assistant Referee – East York vs Brampton Elite
Adrian Tanjala, Club Referee Consultant
Education:
Doctor of Medicine (MD), Queen’s University, 2023-present
Honours Bachelor of Science, Physiology, University of Toronto, 2019-2023
Qualifications:
District referee: 2017-present
Ontario Soccer Instructor: 2022-present
Ontario Soccer SCORE Mentor: 2023-present
Club Background:
I joined the club as an ‘outsider’ in early 2022 (having not spent my whole life at the club like some others), joining as their first head referee since 2019 and the COVID pandemic.
I stepped into the role to establish a refreshed referee program centred around radical respectfulness, safe sport, and sustainability. I developed much of the current referee framework in collaboration with Nic Hurtado, Taylor Fleming, and of course our current Head Referee, Ben. Additionally, I acted as a representative for NT, the TSA, and Ontario Soccer as an instructor at countless referee education sessions.
I left my previous role as Head Referee to pursue medicine in Kingston, but continue to act as a consultant on refereeing-related matters every now and again when my input is requested. When back in the city I do my best to help NT out, whether that means being back on the fields at Eglinton Park on weekday evenings to assist with recreation supervision, or up at Downsview to officiate exhibition games.
Notable Matches:
- 2023 OUA Quarterfinal – Queen’s vs Trent
- 2023 Winter University of Toronto Tri-Campus Men’s Final
- 2022 Fall University of Toronto Tri-Campus Men’s Semifinal
- 2022 TSA Soccer in the City U18 Boys Final
- 2019 YRSA McGarrigle Cup U13 Boys Final