Just the Ref

Nine children run out onto the playground at recess.

They grab a soccer ball and break into two teams of four.

One little boy stands in the middle, unsure which team will pick him.

It’s recess, which means it’s time to play some soccer! But when nine kids show up to play, one little boy feels left out when he’s asked to be ＂just the ref.＂ What starts as a one-time gig quickly becomes a full-time job as the boy finds himself playing ref every day. But when the ref is absent from school for a few days and the soccer game falls apart, his classmates-and the ref-soon gain a new perspective on all it takes to keep the game going.

Just the Ref offers a powerful reminder that everyone has something valuable to contribute and no role is too small.