It’s Official! Tomorrow’s Leaders Learn to Referee
Making the right call looks easy, especially when you’re watching from the stands. Our latest Tomorrow’s Leaders workshop invited student-athletes to see wrestling through an official’s eyes and to explore the decisions that keep every match fair.
On Sunday, November 1, Beat the Streets Los Angeles’ Tomorrow’s Leaders held its fifth and final workshop of the year, with 50 student-athletes in attendance. The workshop focused on the ins and outs of refereeing. This officiating clinic introduced student-athletes to officiating across the three wrestling styles: Folkstyle, Freestyle, and Greco-Roman. Participants learned how scoring, control, and techniques differ across styles.
Wrestlers heard from two referees: Quiche Roura, a folkstyle wrestling referee, and Sergio Camacho, head coach of BTSLA’s Oxnard program and a Freestyle and Greco-Roman referee. While all wrestling styles share similar techniques, the biggest differences lie in mat wrestling and point distribution. Participants also developed knowledge that could prepare them for future opportunities as wrestling officials.
Roura, who officiates folk style wrestling, told student-athletes, “You did a good job as an official if they don’t remember you.” Roura’s message refers to the importance of being fair, consistent, and professional. The focus should always be on the athletes and their performance, not the referee.
The biggest lesson students learned in this workshop was the referee's role: not to become part of the story, but to ensure athletes have the opportunity to write their own.
“Officiating is a great way to get involved with wrestling for our youth. Officials are needed across the board of folk style, freestyle, and greco. In regard to the Tomorrow’s Leaders program, it's great to show leadership. Mechanics. You become a better wrestler; you learn the rules, and [it’s] a great way to give back to the community, especially with the Beat the Streets Fall Youth Championships. It’s a great chance and opportunity for kids to help give back to our youth programs and assisting officiating with that,” said Camacho after the workshop. The workshop prepared student-athletes to put their knowledge into practice through hands-on officiating at the Fall Youth Championships on November 15. By helping officiate matches for young wrestlers, Tomorrow’s Leaders participants will have the opportunity to apply the rules and practice making calls. It is also a chance to strengthen their leadership skills while giving back to the youth programs that support their wrestling community.
The on-the-mat portion of this session featured American freestyle wrestler, Jacarra Winchester. Winchester is a Senior World Champion, a five-time U.S. World Team member, a four-time U.S. Open champion, a Pan American Championships gold medalist, and a fifth-place finisher at the 2020 Olympic Games.
Winchester’s high-energy approach and unique teaching style gave students a memorable experience. She drilled the basics of wrestling through repeated practice, such as positioning, stance, double-leg takedowns, and single-leg takedowns. She focused on the small details that help a wrestler push through and complete each move.
The wrestlers will put these new skills into practice by volunteering to help officiate matches for elementary and middle-school wrestlers at the Fall Youth Championships later this November. This marked the final Tomorrow’s Leaders workshop of 2026; the Tomorrow’s Leaders program will resume in March 2027. Thank you to our guest speakers, clinicians, and student-athletes for making this year memorable.
