March 2025: Top Ranked MLS NEXT Pro Match Officials

MLS NEXT Pro Club coaching staffs evaluate the performances of the referee, assistant referees, and fourth officials after every game. MLS NEXT Pro will highlight each month's top-performing match officials around the League. Watch the video explainer below, which dives into evaluating the officials. You can find the evaluation details for the referees and officials at the bottom of this article.

Elton Garcia was named the Top Referee for March. Watch highlights of one of the recent matches the referee from Texas officiated. The top-ranked referees in March 2025 are listed below.

Top Ranked Referees in March

Elton Garcia
Jeremy Scheer
Atahan Yaya
Elvis Osmanovic
Joshua Encarnacion

Christian Little Eric del Rosario top assistants

Christian Little and Eric del Rosario were named the Top Assistant Referees for March. Check out the highlights of one of the recent matches that Little, the assistant referee from Michigan, officiated. Here, you can catch one of the matches in which del Rosario, the assistant referee from Illinois, participated. The Top-Ranked Assistant Referees for March are listed below.

Top Ranked Assistant Referees in March

Christian Little
Eric del Rosario
Sarah Gaddes
Sharon Gingrich
Jonathan Smith

John Rush was ranked the Top Fourth Official for March. Check out the highlights of the match in which the North Carolina official participated. Below is the list of the top-ranked Fourth Officials.

Top-Ranked Fourth Officials in March

John Rush
Igor Bych
Stearne Briem
(T) Carlos Rodriguez
(T) Joshua Encarnacion
(T) Adam Brzozowiec
(T) Braeden Frey
(T) Cyle Cividanes
(T) Michael O'Reilly

Referees

Match Control

Consistent and accurate recognition of foul play and cautionable offenses of both players and staff
Recognizes and communicates expectations of persistent offenses, mass confrontation, and use of advantage

Interaction with all Participants (player and technical area personnel management)

Uses appropriate verbal communication, body language, and mannerisms and remains open to appropriate communication from participants
Shows composure and appropriate range of responses to match nature of incident and dissent managed appropriately
Appropriately manages technical area personnel

Game Management

Efficient management and communication of Injury, Time, and Restarts.
Proactively manages players pushing/pulling prior to the ball put into play

Teamwork

Utilizes the Assistant Referees for key calls such as offsides and fouls/misconduct near the sidelines
Appropriately delegates responsibilities to other crew members and effectively communicates and cooperates with other crew members

Positioning and Movement

Takes positions to see between players during challenges and effective proximity to attacking play and/or challenges
Recognizes the breakdown of play and adjusts position accordingly
Takes positions in and around the penalty area to achieve good viewing angles

Assistant Referees

Offsides

Correct identification of offside offenses (i.e., interfering with play, interfering with an opponent, and gaining an advantage)

Involvement and Assistance (in accordance with the referee)

Appropriate communication with players and/or technical area personnel to assist with sideline management
Correct identification of fouls and cautionable offenses within area of responsibility (players and staff)
Correct assistance with boundary line decisions
Appropriate assistance and ability to switch focus between offside, boundary line, foul/misconduct priorities
Participates appropriately during mass confrontations
Effective use of communication (eye contact/discreet signals/electronic systems)

Positioning and Movement

Correct alignment with second-to-last-opponent or the ball throughout the match (including ball to goalkeeper and goal line)
Appropriate positioning at goal line to make boundary line or goal/no-goal decisions
Reading/Anticipating play and effective use of transitions between lateral movement and sprinting