Forster Davis Social Seminar Series
Engaging, enlisting, and inspiring both young referees and those who are young at heart.
Text FORSTER to 41444
IN HONOR OF FORSTER DAVIS
Forster Davis was a vibrant referee, mentor, and steward of sportsmanship in the soccer community. The social seminar series in his honor will serve as an extension of his legacy by engaging, enlisting, and inspiring both young referees and those who are young at heart.
For more than 48 years officiating, Forster used humor and patience to educate players and fans about the rules of soccer. He was also among the founding group of officials at USA CUP, an international youth tournament that grew from just 300 teams to 1,200. Throughout his tenure, he officiated nearly 800 games for the tournament.
Your contribution will support learning and engagement opportunities for youth soccer officials. NSC Fund for Play is honored to help recognize and support Forster’s lasting impact.
The Soccer Car
If you have had any interaction or involvement with youth and adult league soccer at any level in Minnesota in the last 40+ years, you have probably run into “Mr. Davis”. He was a very popular referee. He was fair, patient, funny, and memorable. You could always spot Forster parked in ‘his’ premier parking spot with his bright yellow Scion. With a nod to his SoCal roots, he placed a surfboard -that he bought on eBay from an actual California surfer- on the roof rack. He had flaming soccer ball decals added to both sides and put rim spinners on the wheels. He was always easy to find because of that car and many people would see him arrive at the store or a local restaurant and comment “you refereed my soccer game last week.”
A Founding Official at USA CUP
In 1985, Forster was among the founding group of officials that signed up to referee a new tournament held at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Schwan’s USA CUP, which would go on to become the largest international youth soccer tournament in the western hemisphere. He refereed between 10 and 25 games at the tournament every year. By his count, he reached his 600th game at the tournament in 2015 and continued to referee the tournament every summer. USA CUP had a special place in his heart. He loved the size, the variety and the atmosphere of the tournament. “Where else could there be linespeople from China and the Yukon and a center from Minnesota? Only at USA CUP.”
Forster was also honored at USA CUP Opening Ceremonies in 2017 for his, then, 30+ years of service to the tournament.
More than 10,000 games and 60,000 miles!
Forster retired from refereeing in 2022 at age 84. He estimated that in his 50+ years of refereeing he worked more than 10,000 games and ran more than 60,000 miles. He refereed year round. Outdoor in the spring, summer and fall and indoor soccer in the winter. Nights and weekends during even the coldest winter days, you could see his yellow car on I-35 headed to the Soccer Blast in Burnsville.
When Blue Cross Blue Shield included him in a “Thrive at 85” ad campaign (see video) following his 80th birthday, he was regularly reffing more than 15 games and logging 30+ miles on his Fitbit each week. He would always joke when someone asked him why he refereed, that it was better than running on a treadmill.