Without referees, there is no game.

Stephen Gray of Humboldt has been officiating football around Saskatchewan for 15 years. Now he will be traveling to Kamloops, BC for the U16 Western Challenge Cup from July 15 -17.

Gray started his football officiating in Humboldt in 2004 for both 9 and 6 man high school football games. Then in 2014, Gray was invited to officiate the Senior Bowl, which is an all-star game between graduated players from southern and northern Saskatchewan, and he has done it every year since. He also refereed Can-Am Bowl XXIII in Wakaw last weekend where Canada beat Team USA by a score of 40-28.

"As an official, it's always your goal to get to as high a level of officiating as you can, and what I want to do is just take it as far as I can go," Stephen Gray said.

Being a referee in any sport is not an easy job though. Officials from Humboldt and all over the world receive a lot of criticism on missed or bad calls. Gray has learned how to keep a clear mind and not allow the outside voices to affect his officiating

"I think you just have to basically let it go and realize sometimes it is emotion, and you are going make mistakes," stated Gray.

A lot of work goes into being an official as well. One must be mentally and physically prepared before every football game or jamboree. Gray has been preparing for the Western Challenge Cup for some time.

"I've been in the gym quite a bit to make sure I'm ready, been studying with pop quizzes on rules to make sure I make the proper calls for next week."

Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, and BC will all be sending their U16 teams to Kamloops for the Western Challenge Cup.