Interview with football referee Dwight Dyce from the USA

From grassroots football in Jamaica to officiating in the United States, Dwight Dyce has built an impressive refereeing journey driven by passion, discipline, and a love for the game. In this interview, he shares how he got started, what keeps him motivated every season, and why reliable referee equipment has become an important part of his matchday routine.

– Hi Dwight! What made you decide to become a referee in the first place?

– Growing up in Jamaica, which is a football nation, we were always playing the game for fun and also going to the local stadium to watch competitive matches at both the school and professional levels. Over the years, I grew to love the game even more than I did as a child. I played at both the high school and college levels. Over time, I realized that I was never going to make it to the professional level, but I really wanted to stay connected to the game. After graduating from college, I started working at a high school as a school counselor and was helping manage the football team, where I met the physical education teacher, who was also a football referee. He apparently saw that I was very interested in contributing more to the game and asked if I would be interested in becoming a football referee. I was very excited. I immediately started the process and, in a short time, was able to join the Jamaica Football Association as a grassroots referee.

– That lasted for a little over a year. Soon after, I immigrated to the United States. I lost touch with refereeing for a short time because I wasn't aware of how to transition from the Jamaica Football Federation to the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). During that period, I coached high school football, where I met a few referees who officiated my team's matches. I spent a great deal of time talking with them about getting back into refereeing. From there, I was able to find my way back to my passion – being a football referee.

– I am proud to say that after joining the United States Soccer Federation, I became a Regional Referee within five years. I have now held that status for almost three years and am currently in the process of applying to become a National Referee.

– What do you enjoy most about being a referee? Is there something about the role that keeps you coming back every season?

– It’s hard to think of just one or two things that I love most about being a referee. I enjoy all aspects of refereeing; I truly love the sport in general. If I had to pick one thing, however, it would be the self-control and discipline that refereeing has taught me, which are also very important in my personal life. Before, during, and after a match, there are different levels of preparation required of a referee in order to be ready to officiate, whether at the youth or adult level. One of the most important aspects of preparation is emotional and psychological readiness – being able to manage the personalities of players and coaches throughout the match in order to ensure a fair and safe game. In this regard, referees need to practice self-discipline to apply the Laws of the Game with fairness and professionalism.

– You’ve been using Spintso watches for several years now — what made you choose them originally?

– Spintso has a great reputation in the refereeing community here. When I first started as a grassroots referee and began attending tournaments, many referees would discuss the types of watches that worked best for the game – not only for youth matches but also for adult competitions. What I was looking for in a referee watch was something that would keep me informed of the exact match time without having to do the calculations mentally every time. This would allow me to focus on other aspects of the game that required my immediate attention. And, of course, time management during a match is extremely important, especially in more competitive leagues.

– During a match, what features in a referee watch are most important to you?

– I was looking for a watch with excellent timekeeping features, good font visibility, vibration alerts, an always-on screen, and, most importantly, durability. With Spintso, I am able to accomplish two main goals: effective time management throughout the match and durability in all weather conditions – all in one device. I have found that I can complete my matches with greater confidence using my Spintso watch. I never feel distracted by having to keep track of match time or worry about whether the weather conditions are suitable for my watch. Whatever the circumstances, my Spintso is ready and reliable.

– Can you share a match moment where having reliable referee equipment really helped you manage the game? Or perhaps a memorable moment from your refereeing career?

– There are several moments I could share where having reliable referee equipment was very helpful in successfully completing a match. However, one that stands out was during a rainy match where having a reliable watch saved me big time. I was officiating at an elite youth club event, and it rained throughout the entire morning. We were unable to make notes using pen and paper because of the heavy rain. Fortunately, I had my Spintso watch, which allowed me to record the score and cautions throughout the match with very few issues. After the game, I was able to transfer the information once we returned to the referee area.

– If you could design the perfect referee watch for the future, what would it include?

– It’s hard to improve much beyond the features already included in the new Spintso watch. One area where I wanted to see improvement was battery life, and that has already been improved in the new S2 Pro. Other enhancements in the S2 Pro include the ability to end a match before the timer expires, as well as improved brightness settings.

– One feature that is important to me is the overall aesthetics of the watch. I really like the physical appearance of the S1 Pro, particularly its size and font design. The one thing I would change is the side button, which I think could protrude a little less. This is also something that has been improved in the S2 Pro.

– That said, none of the points I have mentioned take away from the effectiveness and enjoyment I get from using my Spintso watches.


– Thanks for this Dwight and good luck!