What's My Why: Official Kari Seitz
August 19, 2026
Kari Seitz, Mill Valley (Calif.)
Kari Seitz – the closing speaker at July’s Officiate Michigan Day in Grand Rapids – was one of the top American professional soccer referees and one of the most experienced female referees in the world. She is currently the vice president of refereeing for US Soccer and formerly served as the FIFA head of refereeing.
She worked four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments (1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011), as well as three Olympic soccer tournaments (2004, 2008, and 2012), and is the only referee – man or woman – to officiate that many of both. Kari was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2026 and is a graduate of Brighton High School and Michigan State University.
So I was a soccer player, played soccer since I was 6. And at some point, I joined an all-girls travel team – that never happened. This was a long time ago.
Our coach required us together, every person on the team, to take the (officiating) course. Now, I believe he didn’t know anything about soccer. He was one of those parents who was reading it from a book and just cared about his kids. So he forced us all to take the referee course, and that altered the path of my life.
“What’s My Why” is a weekly feature telling the stories of MHSAA-registered officials in their own words. If you’re an MHSAA official and would like to share your reason why, please submit a 15 to 45-second video, taken horizontally, to director of officials Sam Davis at [email protected].
What's My Why
Aug. 13: Mike Pereira, Sacramento, Calif. - Watch
Aug. 5: Dino Paganelli, Wyoming - Watch
Aug. 3: Stacy Smith, Caledonia - Watch
July 22: Jason Nickleby, Lake Elmo, Minn. - Watch
July 15: Sam Davis, Lansing - Watch
July 9: Candace Cox, Quincy - Watch
July 1: Robert Williams, Redford - Watch
June 24: Will Godfrey, Jackson - Watch
June 19: Jarrett Skorup, Midland - Watch
June 12: Brady Driver, Sturgis - Watch
June 8: Cindy Tyzo, West Bloomfield - Watch
June 3: Jeff Spedoske, DeWitt - Watch
June 1: Mike Carrier, Commerce Township - Watch
May 27: Stan Wright, Warren - Watch
May 26: Murray Rose, Zeeland - Watch
May 22: Mike VanLaan, Alto - Watch
May 18: Clint Abbott, Newaygo - Watch
Officiate Michigan Day Goes Virtual for 2021
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 3, 2021
The first two Officiate Michigan Day events in 2013 and 2018 gave hundreds of Michigan game officials opportunities to come together for education and camaraderie, something tough to replicate for an Officiate Michigan Day III to be hosted virtually this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But a series of 26 views posted to the MHSAA's YouTube feed this week instead already have been watched nearly 1,400 times, with the ability to reach hundreds more dedicated to honing their craft.
As in years past, these OMD videos offer speakers and panel discussions and address general officiating topics and also sport-specific subjects. Below is the first of those 26 videos, addressing associations and helping officials reach their goals. Or, click for the playlist in its entirety: Officiate Michigan Day.