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Sonia Denoncourt... she was 13 years old when she started refereeing in 1978... earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Sport at Université Sherbrooke... earned Masters degree in Sport Administration at the University of Ottawa... in 1994, became one of the first three Canadian women on the FIFA List of Referees...
honoured as a Canada Soccer Life Member, in fact of one of the first two women honoured as Canada Soccer Life Members (Sonia Denoncourt and Janine Helland)... honoured by the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame as a referee, in fact the first female referee honoured by The Soccer Hall of Fame (she was also the first non-player honoured)... honoured by the Québec Sports Hall of Fame, the Québec Soccer Hall of Fame, and the Sherbrooke Sports Hall of Fame... recipient of the Ray Morgan Memorial Award in 1995...
said Denoncourt in 1995, “as a referee, one must have a knowledge of the laws of the game, be physically and mentally prepared, and have the talent necessary to apply those laws. The secret is the ability to focus and the decisions one makes on the field”... said Denoncourt in 2004, “FIFA has given me the chance again to give back to the game and help referees reach their potential. it is quite an honour as this is the first time FIFA has appointed women instructors”... wrote Kevan Pipe in 2004, “her dedication and passion for the game is remarkable. The soccer world will certainly miss her on the field, but she will continue to have a great impact on the game with her professional work off the field and behind the scenes”...
served on the FIFA List of Referees and Assistant Referees for 11 years (1994-2004), including three FIFA World Cups (1995, 1999, 2003) and two Olympic Games (1996 and 2000)... set the record for most matches refereed in the FIFA Women’s World Cup (nine matches from 1995 to 2003)... was appointed as a Referee and Assistant Referee at Canada Soccer’s National Championships (men’s Challenge Trophy and women’s Jubilee Trophy finals)...
appointed as a referee to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Sweden 1995 (including the opening match and the match for third place)... appointed as a referee at the Atlanta 1996 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament (she served as the fourth official in the gold-medal game)... appointed as a referee to the FIFA Women’s World Cup USA 1999... appointed as a referee at the Australia 2000 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament (she was the referee in the gold-medal match between USA and Norway)... appointed as a referee to the FIFA Women’s World Cup USA 2003...
was appointed as Referee to Canada Soccer’s 1984 National Championships Jubilee Trophy Final in Ste-Thérèse on 8 October 1984 (Edmonton Angels SC won 1:0 over James Bay Athletics)... was appointed as Referee to Canada Soccer’s 1985 National Championships Jubilee Trophy Final in Edmonton on 14 October 1985 (Edmonton Angels SC won 1:0 over Richmond Kornerkicks)... was appointed as Referee to Canada Soccer’s 2001 National Championships Jubilee Trophy Final in Vaughan on 8 October 2001 (Burnaby Canadians won 6-5 on kicks from the penalty mark after a 0:0 draw with Scotia Olympics)...
holds the distinction of the first female referee to officiate a men’s professional soccer game in Brazil (opening match of the Sao Paulo Soccer Championship on 8 February 1997, Palmeiras v Sao Jose)...
served as a Referees Administrator at the FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005 (FIFA U-20 World Cup)... served as FIFA’s Head of Women’s Referees (2005 to 2014)... served as CONCACAF Director of Referees (2015..)...
