Referee Ross Edwards Featured in Prescott Valley Tribune

BRIDGEPORT, Pa. -- Collegiate Water Polo Association referee Ross Edwards has been recognized for his experience as he was featured in the August 14 edition of the Prescott Valley Tribune.

The Prescott Valley Tribune is the information source for Prescott Valley area communities in Northern Arizona.

The complete article by reporter Cheryl Hartz follows and is available at http://www.pvtrib.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=48103.

PV pool manager officiated for Olympic polo players

By Cheryl Hartz, Reporter

Olympic water sports are in the public eye, but one Prescott Valley resident is following the U.S. women's water polo team more closely than the rest of the population.

Ross Edwards, pool manager for the Town of Prescott Valley, and a water polo referee for 15 years, has officiated games in which team members Brenda Villa and Betsey Armstrong played.

"I ref'ed Brenda in California and Betsey in Michigan," Edwards said. "It's neat to see people that you know. The best conditioned athletes in the Olympic games are (water) polo players."

The women's team, with 10 first-time Olympians, beat China 12-11 in a preliminary game. Wednesday, they tied 9-9 with Italy.

His friends watching Olympic water polo call him up to ask, "What's going on? What's that mean?" of the many whistles and stops in play. He's happy to explain. It the ref blows a whistle once, it's usually for a regular or minor foul; twice means "look at me" and players should move the ball to a different spot, or because of an offensive foul; three tweets means someone's going to the penalty box for 20 seconds.

A Southern California boy, Edwards started his aquatics career by working in the back room of a public pool. He became a lifeguard and taught swim lessons.

He earned a degree in Recreation Administration from Cal Poly Pomona. After graduation, he played water polo at the club level, before switching to coaching.

"I was a better swim coach than polo player," he said.

He studied the rules and became a referee when, "I realized I didn't know enough to coach," he said.

Edwards spent three years as a cruise ship youth coordinator, a job he called "crazy." He worked as a substitute teacher, before taking a job working for Washington State Parks, out of Seattle. During his weekends, he crisscrossed America as a ref certified by the College Water Polo Association. He's officiated in Nebraska, Iowa, Georgia, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Washington, Oregon, California - even British Columbia. He called gigs in Hawaii and Maui "a big honor" and "paid vacations."

"They flew me over, rented a car and I did something I love to do," he said.

What he loves most about being a water polo referee is the challenge of timing.

"It's a 'gray' sport. You have to anticipate and watch the play develop. Then you have a split second to make a call. If your timing is off, they all know it and might voice some 'constructive criticism,'" Edwards said, grinning.

Before moving to Prescott Valley, Edwards worked in Port Angeles. After seven years in Washington, he was ready for a change. The ad for the Prescott Valley position beckoned, and he doesn't regret the move.

"The sun is out and people are nice," he said.

Besides, Washington's indoor pools took their toll.

"The humidity would drain you, and there were always the whistles echoing off the walls."

Saturday marks one full year in Prescott Valley for Edwards. In addition to running the pool, he oversees the public ice skating program at Tim's Toyota Center during hockey season. But now that Edwards has adjusted to the town and job, he's ready to return to officiating.

"I miss it," he said.

He just needs to call some of his contacts. His first jobs likely will be in Flagstaff and Phoenix. But Edwards, who is single, is willing to pack his weekend travel bag again.