New Jersey native Danielle Cornetta decided to become a referee in 2018 as a high school junior to stay in touch with the game of soccer while simultaneously pursuing her aspirations to play college basketball. Four years later, she could not have imagined officiating on the grandest stage of youth soccer. After back-to-back invitations to the US Youth Soccer National Championships, Cornetta was appointed as the center referee for the prestigious US Youth Soccer 19UG National Championship this past July.
Completing the requirements to become a referee in 2018, Cornetta immediately fell in love with her newfound craft. The accolades started coming to her shortly thereafter, as she was named NJYS Female Youth Referee of the Year at the 2019 NJYS Awards Dinner Presented by RWJBarnabas Health.
“Being a part of the New Jersey delegation allowed me to grow as a referee through mentorship from the NJ State Referee Committee,” said Cornetta. “I climbed the ladder the typical way. I was first invited to New Jersey State Cup, then invited to regional events as part of the New Jersey delegation, and then invited to Youth National events in the summer of 2021 and as a returner in 2022.”
In her second year as a referee at the US Youth Soccer National Championships, Cornetta exceled to the top of the referee pool. In front of a packed stadium and a national audience watching on ESPN+, she and her referee crew made a critical call on a late game-winner in the 87th minute. In the scoreless championship match with less than three minutes to play, the ball was tapped just inches over the goal line following a corner kick before quickly being cleared. The referee crew called for a goal.
In real time, players and coaches were adamant that the ball had not crossed the line, even approaching the referee crew about the decision. The ESPN+ audience, however, had a rare goal line camera angle for youth sports that ultimately confirmed the referee crew’s decision, an incredible call considering the frenetic atmosphere when the play occurred.
Photo courtesy of ESPN+
“It was an honor to be chosen as the referee for the final,” Cornetta reflected. “I was also pleased to have a reliable crew that I could count on. This showed in the dying minutes of the match, when my assistant referee was faced with a critical goalline decision in which the AR signaled that the ball had fully crossed the line, which made the score 1-0 with minutes to go.”
Shortly after the match concluded, Cornetta and her team received text messages from colleagues with a screenshot of the ESPN+ camera angle. The crew’s most critical decision of their careers thus far was reaffirmed by a camera angle rarely seen in youth sports.
In speaking to her success at the event, Cornetta said she “had a positive experience through my continued education and lifelong relationships. Despite long days and harsh weather conditions, I made the most out of this opportunity both on and off the field, developing relationships with other referees from other states that I keep in touch with to this day.”
As someone who has quickly, and deservedly, climbed the ranks as a youth soccer referee, Cornetta offered some advice to individuals who may be interested in following in her footsteps.
“For other referees looking to develop in their career, I advise taking advantage of the resources available to you here in New Jersey,” she said. “The NJ State Referee Committee provides mentorship to referees at events such as the New Jersey Youth Soccer State Cups. I also recommend reaching out to the members of the NJ State Referee Committee for other learning and coaching opportunities.”
To learn more about becoming a state referee, check out the New Jersey State Referee Committee website. To find out more about New Jersey Youth Soccer or to contact us directly, please email [email protected]. Also make sure to follow us on social media: @NJYouthSoccer