Eight experienced flag football officials from eight nations will take charge of games at The World Games alongside a group of Chinese officials.
Hailing from Australia, Brazil, China, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Poland and the United States, the men and women in the zebra stripes will be there in equal number with a clear and deliberate gender balance on the field of play.
IFAF asked three of the female officials - Magdalena Szymko from Poland, Giane Pessoa from Brazil and Mara Steiner from Germany - to talk about their flag football officiating careers and to look ahead to The World Games.
Be sure to watch all the action live from Chengdu from August 14 to 17 at The World Games Live.
Their journey to The World Games:
Giane Pessoa:
“With more than 10 years of officiating experience, I’m proud to be one of the first women to officiate flag football in Brazil. It has been a long journey — breaking barriers and earning space in an environment that has historically been male-dominated. Today, I’m filled with pride seeing more women step into these roles and thrive.
“In 2021, in Israel, I had the honor of leading the first all-female crew to officiate a medal game in IFAF history. And in 2022, during the first edition of The World Games, I was again part of a historic moment — working the gold medal match alongside an all-female crew.
“Beyond the field, I run a referee school that helps spread knowledge of both flag and tackle football, forming new officials every year. I hope to contribute to the success of the competition — and to continue inspiring more women to believe that there is space for them in this game.”
Magdalena Szymko:
“I started officiating American football five years ago, both tackle and flag. In fact, the first time I ever stepped onto the field to officiate was a flag football tournament. I have participated in numerous tournaments, including international ones. I think the moment that led me to The World Games 2025 was my performance at the IFAF World Championships. IFAF selected me as one of eight international referees. So, I guess I did well in Lahti.”
Mara Steiner:
“I began officiating tackle and 9-on-9 flag football in 2014, and in 2022, I expanded into 5-on-5 flag football. Since then, I’ve officiated in national and international competitions, including the IFAF European Championships in Ireland and the IFAF World Championships in Finland. Along the way, I’ve been honored to officiate multiple finals. I’ve also served as an instructor, conducting clinics for new referees. This combination of on-field experience and teaching has helped me continuously grow.”
Looking forward to The World Games
Magdalena Szymko:
“I'm so excited to see the best teams in action. Long passes and spectacular plays are what make this sport special and unique. I am incredibly grateful that I will have the opportunity to once again demonstrate my passion for flag football. I will have another chance to learn from my more experienced colleagues and hopefully I will take my skills to a higher level.”
Giane Pessoa:
“It’s an incredible opportunity to showcase the quality and professionalism of flag football officials on a global stage — and a great preview of what we can expect as the sport prepares for its Olympic debut in Los Angeles 2028.
I’m especially excited to work once again with some of the top officials in the world, who continuously push each other to be better. At the same time, I see tremendous value in collaborating with the Chinese officials who are new to this level. We've never had the chance to work together before, and I believe this cultural and technical exchange will enrich all of us, both in what we teach and in what we learn.”
The officials’ key to success
Mara Steiner:
“Communication, trust, and preparation are the foundation of a successful officiating team. Everyone must be clear about their responsibilities and support each other on and off the field. It’s also important to remain focused and composed in order to make clear and confident decisions as a crew, especially in high-pressure situations.”
Magdalena Szymko:
“Communication, talking to each other, understanding what and when my colleagues need from me. How I can help them because I have a different point of view from a different angle, but also when and how they can help me with my decisions. The game will go well if everyone knows their role, knows what to do and where to be and above all, communicates properly.”
It's all about the preparation
Giane Pessoa:
“As officials, our preparation is both structured and continuous. I’m responsible for training new flag football officials in Brazil, and I’m actively involved in biweekly video analysis initiatives that help elevate the standard of officiating nationally. Beyond that, I participate in daily discussions through forums dedicated to complex rule interpretations and officiating mechanics. “At the international level, I also contribute to discussion groups alongside IFAF flag football supervisors from various competitions, where we analyze plays and rule applications on an almost daily basis. All of this complements more formal preparation like studying rulebooks, reviewing mechanics, attending pre-tournament briefings, and participating in positioning drills. Staying sharp both mentally and physically is essential for high-performance officiating.”
Magdalena Szymko:
“Officiating involves a lot of self-education, watching my own games, and drawing conclusions about what I could have done better. As well before the tournament, we have meetings, we are talking a lot about mechanics, fouls, etc.
“We watch videos, discuss and develop a philosophy of refereeing. The day before first game, we'll also have a series of meetings where we'll be discussing specific teams and what we can expect from them in terms of refereeing.
Integrating the debut Chinese officials
Mara Steiner:
“Sharing experiences, walking through mechanics together, and conducting joint debriefings after games are key to integration. It's also about learning from their perspectives and building a collaborative team that reflects the international spirit of the event.”
Magdalena Szymko:
“I'm a relatively new referee at this level, compared to other selected international officials. But I think I can be an example that if you work hard, anything is possible. I'm convinced that our Chinese colleagues are just as well prepared as any of us. Of course, I'll be there to help and advise them if they need it. What's great about officiating with referees from other countries is that no matter what level you're at, we can learn from each other and push our skills to new heights.”
Giane Pessoa:
“It is well known that China hosts high-level American football competitions, and we can expect that these officials are already very well prepared for the 5x5 flag football game under IFAF rules. I truly believe we will learn a lot from them, just as they may learn from us. Our pre-tournament meetings and alignment sessions will be essential to ensuring we all enter the field with a shared understanding and consistent standards.
“The real key will be maintaining excellent communication, engaging in open pre- and post-game discussions, and fostering a respectful environment where everyone is willing to listen, exchange ideas, and grow together. That’s how we elevate the quality of officiating — by working as one unified team.”
