TERRY VAUGHN
FIFA Referee

Where can you find Terry?...

Jan 3, Cruz Azul vs Necaxa @ Houston , TX
Jan 4, Club America vs UAG @ Houston , TX
Jan 18-21 National Camp @ LA
Feb 2-12 World Military Qual Tour Rio, Brazil
Feb 15 Became a full time referee with USSF
Feb 19-25 CONCACAF U-20 Qual Tour Culiacan, Mexico
Mar 10 Iowa Referee Academy Cedar Rapids, IA
Mar 12-16 Spring Training Bradenton, Fl
Mar 25 Switzerland vs Colombia @ Orange Bowl , Miami , FL
Mar 30-Apr 5 Dallas Cup Academy Dallas, TX
Apr 7 Toronto FC @ Chivas USA Home Depot Center; Carson, CA
Apr 12 FC Dallas @ Los Angeles Galaxy Home Depot Center; Carson, CA
Apr 21-29 Seminar for emerging FIFA Referees Zurich, Switzerland
May 3 New England Revolution @ D.C. United RFK Stadium; Washington, DC
May 13 Colorado Rapids @ New York Red Bulls Giants Stadium; East Rutherford, NJ
May 16 Houston Dynamo @ Toronto FC BMO Field; Toronto, Canada
May 26 Ireland @ Bolivia National Teams Gillette Stadium , Foxboro , MA
June 2-21 CONCACAF Gold Cup 2007, USA
June 22-July 22 FIFA U20 World Cup 2007, Canada
Aug 4 Columbus @ Chicago Toyota Park
Aug 11 Houston @ Colorado Dick's Park
Aug 23 Chivas USA @ Los Angeles Galaxy
Sep 1 Chicago @ New York
Sep 9 Costa Rica @ Honduras Rentschler Field, Hartford, CT
Sep 13 Guatemala @ Trinidad & Tobago Lockhart Stadium , Ft. Lauderdale , FL
Sep 18 Los Angeles @ Salt Lake Rice Eccles Stadium
Sept 23 Atlanta@ Portland USL Semi
Oct 3 New England @ Dallas Open Cup Final
Oct 5-7 LA US Soccer Academy
Oct 11 Chivas USA @ Dallas
Oct 13 Toronto @ Los Angeles
Oct 20 Columbus @ DC
Jan 3 Toluca @ Atlas Robertson, Houston
Jan 6 America @ Toluca Pizza Hut Dallas
Jan 12 Tigres @ Santos Donna, Texas
Jan 24-27 National camp 1 LA
Feb 7-10 National camp 2 LA
Feb 16-18 Developmental Winter Show Case Dallas
Feb 5 Chiv @ DC San Antonio
Feb 7 Inducted into IHSAA Hall of fame, Des Moine
Feb 15-16 IA Ref Acd

Background Information

Iowan Terry Vaughn has been involved in soccer his whole life. Who knew that soccer would be the vehicle that now takes him all over the world?! Who knew that he would become one of the elite referees in the United States, making him among the top internationally?

Vaughn is as accessible as he is talented and has not forgotten his Iowa roots. He still resides in the Mt. Vernon area with his wife and daughter, even though on a given day he and his whistle might be at a match in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Guatemala or even Des Moines!

The 34-year old Vaughn has been a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) Referee for 20 years, beginning his playing and officiating career in Iowa City. He balanced playing for the Kickers (on Saturdays) with officiating (on Sundays) so he could earn money as well as benefit from the extra workouts. ?Learning the Laws also helped me as a player,? noted Vaughn. Once he enrolled at Coe College, he retired from playing and began refereeing college matches.

Fast-forward nearly a decade. Vaughn was among only six American referees to receive a FIFA badge in 2007. This credential is a requirement in order for referees to officiate international matches and must be earned on a yearly basis. ?There are no guarantees,? stated Vaughn. Just recently, the USSF Board of Directors informed him that he has been nominated again for this status.

Now the Sunday money refereing has turned into a full time job read the news release. CHICAGO (February 21, 2007) ? In a move designed to continue the growth and progress of soccer officiating in the United States, U.S. Soccer has established a program to employ full-time referees for the first time in the organization's 95-year history. Jair Marrufo, Ricardo Salazar, Baldomero Toledo and Terry Vaughn will become full-time referees, enabling them to focus all of their professional abilities on practical on-field applications, as well as on off-the-field training.


As he has worked his way up the ranks, he has done matches at the NCAA Division I college level, in the A-League, at the Open Cup, in the Women?s United Soccer Association (WUSA) and in Major League Soccer (MLS), as well as international assignments that have included World Cup Qualifiers. In one year, a sampling of his schedule included stops in Blaine, Minn. (US Under-20 National Team), New York ( Colombia v England), Carson, Calif. (Men?s NCAA Division I Finals), Guatemala (World Cup Qualifier), Chicago (MLS?s Rapids v Fire) and Des Moines (Creighton v Drake men).

In 2003, he was named Referee of the Year in the WUSA, which is ?judged by WUSA coaches, general managers, players, US Soccer and members of the media?This individual consistently displays an understanding of the rules of the game and a consistent application of the rules.?

So how did Vaughn go from ?earning Sunday money? to doing international matches, and now full time? When asked he recalled that he was identified as having potential and once he found out how far he could go, ?I wanted it.? He has had many mentors along the way and advises, ??having many allows you to find things they?ve done that you can use to become better?be yourself, but incorporate what works!?

Vaughn also shared an interesting idea for a rule change. ?I would make the Goal Area the only place the keeper could use his hands, for two reasons. First, it would increase scoring. Second, keepers? punts would not penetrate as far down the field, so there would be more of an emphasis on skillful build-up than on tracking down a long punt.?

When congratulated about his achievements, Vaughn stated, ?Thanks for the kind words. I am honored to represent Iowa on the journeys that come with being a FIFA Referee. It takes many people to reach and maintain this level and I know that every time I go on the field I am never alone. Thanks again to everyone for their help.?