COLUMBUS, Ohio — As the high school football season gets set to kick off this week, it’s not just the players, coaches and cheerleaders who are feeling an uptick in adrenaline.

What You Need To Know

  • It's week one for OHSAA football 

  • Christine Cordi is a white-hat referee 

  • Cordi's father encouraged her to become a football official at a young age

So are the officials, many of whom train all year round to help put themselves in the best position to make the right calls game-in and game-out.

Christine Cordi is in her 10th year as a football official.

“The first time I stepped out on the field, I loved every minute of it,” Cordi said.

Cordi has always been passionate about sports, but her father encouraged her to become an official at a young age. 

“My dad was like, hey, you should be a football official. So I was like, ‘Really dad? I don’t know about that. I’m small. I’m only like 5’2, 5’3’,” Cordi said.

But while Cordi is small in stature, her dedication to being a good official is enormous.

And she’s proud to be one of only a handful of female varsity football officials in the state.

“So, to be a female on the field with a bunch of guys, really is very interesting,” Cordi said.

Cordi said she has faced obstacles being an official in a male-dominated sport. 

“One thing I have gotten is respect. It took me 10 years to get respect,” Cordi said.

And to earn that respect, Cordi said she has to study. 

“We study game film. I study game film all the time. We get our game film Friday night, on Sunday I’m watching game film, breaking down what I could do better, what our crew could do better,” Cordi said.

And all that studying is paying off.

When she takes the field Friday night at Grove City Christian, she’ll be the one leading her crew, wearing a white hat to signify that she’s the head referee.

“I had some people from Ohio high school come up to me and say, Chris, you’re going to be a white hat one day, just because of the control,” Cordi said.

Cordi said one thing about her is she has a “type A” personality.  

“So, I can control everything that’s just the way I am,” Cordi said.

But to her, her new role goes beyond a personal accomplishment.

It’s also a chance to inspire young girls to achieve their dreams.

“That’s what we’re here for, being a role model for those young kids and young girls,” Cordi said.

Jeff Gregory is a line judge on Cordi’s crew and said he’s worked countless games with Cordi over the past nine years, and had a say in making the decision to elevate her to her new role.

“You have to be confident in yourself. And Christine is very confident,” Gregory said.

And Cordi believes that confidence combined with her knowledge will help lead her to a successful season.

“Everything is on you. You better know the rules. If you don’t know the rules, you shouldn’t be out there,” Cordi said.