***Think your umpire or referee is awesome? Email us with a nomination!***

July 2015 - Pete Gadberry (basketball, softball, kickball, football)

Congratulations to Pete Gadberry, the Players Sport & Social Group Ump of the Month for July! Pete has worked for Players as a referee and umpire for over 10 years. Depending on the season, you'll find Pete calling the show on the softball diamonds at Hamlin Park, reffing hoops at FFC or manning the football sidelines at North Avenue. Pete's calm temperament makes him an ideal official, as he handles controversial situations with ease, always being able to point players towards the next play, inning or game in an effort to move forward. When he's not working games, you'll find Pete playing in the weeknight men's 16" leagues at Hamlin, where he has been a regular for years. Keep up the great work, Pete!

June 2015 - Adriane Walther (volleyball)

Congratulations to Adriane Walther, the Players Sport & Social Group Ref of the Month for June! Adriane has been working beach volleyball leagues & tournaments for 2 years. She has also been known to make an occasional appearance at indoor volleyball, basketball & bubble soccer leagues. Adriane is outgoing by nature and always has a welcoming smile on her face to greet players. When faced with tough challenges on the beach, she handles each situation with grace and a sense of calm, which is easier said than done! Adriane was nominated for "Ref of the Month" by a player who she went above & beyond to help. He had left his ID at the beach & she drove it to him at home after her shift ended. A stand-out athlete in her own right, Adriane is currently a senior captain on the Illinois Tech Volleyball team & will graduate in the spring. Keep up the great work, Adriane!

May 2015 - Olu Afuwape (soccer)

Congratulations to Olu Afuwape, the Players Sport & Social Group Ref of the Month for May! Olu has been patrolling the pitch at Players' soccer leagues since 2013. His knowledge of and passion for the game of soccer is evident in his accurate calls, crisp signals & superior control of the game. Olu takes his job seriously and does a phenomenal job diffusing tense situations before they escalate. Olu serves as a great example for other soccer refs and is always willing to discuss rules and situations to help educate others and himself. Keep up the great work, Olu!

April 2015 - Josh Gill (softball, kickball, basketball)

Congratulations to Josh Gill, the Players Sport & Social Group Ump of the Month for April! Known as "Shoes" by many players for his bright colored kicks, Josh has been umping at Players for 8 years. You'll regularly find him umpiring Thursday kickball at Brands or Sunday softball at Hamlin! Josh has a great ability to communicate with players while fairly and consistently enforcing the rules of the game. Josh's cool demeanor goes a long way towards him earning the players' respect on the field. Josh is both reliable and loyal & has consistently proven that he is one of the very best umpires we have at PSSG! Keep up the great work, Josh!

March 2015 - Masayo Yamakawa (volleyball)

Congratulations to Masayo Yamakawa, the Players Sport & Social Group Ref of the Month for March! Masayo has been reffing and helping to run Players volleyball leagues since the beginning! She is a staple on Wednesday nights at Windy City & Thursday nights at St. Andrew and serves as a model of consistency to which all refs should aspire. Masayo relates to all kinds of players with ease - from the former college players down to the bar league Rec players - and ensures that everyone has a good time playing on her court. Don't let her stature fool you! On the court playing, Masayo is a tremendous player that you don't want to mess with! Above all else, Masayo loves her cute dogs & will gladly show you a picture or 3 anytime you ask! Keep up the great work, Masayo!

February 2015 - Bob Kolada (volleyball, basketball, bubble soccer, bowling, cornhole, events)

Congratulations to Bob Kolada, the Players Sport & Social Group Supervisor of the Month for February! Bob has been a vital cog in the operational success at Players over the past 6 years. Whether filling a role as a basketball scorekeeper or beach volleyball league supervisor or helping to coordinate set up & tear down at some of our large events, Bob has the type of work ethic you’d want to clone and give to the rest of your staff members! It doesn’t matter if it means getting up at 4 AM, working in 100 degree temperatures or trekking to the suburbs, we can always count on Bob to get the job done! It is also important to point out that Bob isn’t just a workhorse; he genuinely cares about the players in his leagues and wants them to enjoy themselves on site. Keep up the great work!

January 2015 - Tom Madiar (football, softball, kickball)

Congratulations to Tom Madiar, the Players Sport & Social Group Ref of the Month for January! Tom has officiated softball, football and kickball games over the past 6 years, including some our most competitive men’s leagues. The epitome of consistency and reliability, Tom presides over games with a tremendous understanding of the rules and a knack for fairness regardless of the situation. Tom couples his experience as a player with his hundreds of games worked as an ump/ref to provide a great on-field experience for the players in his games. Keep up the great work!