首页NewsUpdatesThe Hot Seat: Leo Arozena on Refereeing, WSO and Personal Development

The Hot Seat: Leo Arozena on Refereeing, WSO and Personal Development

In our first edition of The Hot Seat, we spoke to Leo Arozena, a WSO Level 3 Referee, to discuss his journey within refereeing and the roles he holds within Squash. Based in Sao Paolo, Brazil, Leo has been an active referee on the PSA Squash Tour throughout the 2024/25 season, with his journey starting as a teenager in Argentina.  

“Informally, I’ve been involved in refereeing since I was a teenager. I started playing squash as an adolescent in my hometown in Argentina, where the squash community was quite small. That meant that those of us who loved the sport often had to organise our own tournaments throughout the year. As part of the group running these events, I wasn’t just making the draws and scheduling matches – I was also refereeing.  

Formally, my first official experience as a referee was in February 2018, when I was invited to the South American Junior Championships in Lima as the Team Referee for Brazil. At that time, I didn’t have any formal training. Later that same year, I travelled to Argentina to take my first refereeing and rules course with Roberto Parma – an excellent instructor, now a colleague and friend.” 

Leo then had the opportunity to attend the South American Junior Championships in 2019, which proved to be the start of an important year in his journey as a referee. At this tournament, he met Ramiro, an experienced Argentine referee who was serving as the Tournament Referee and later becoming a close friend and mentor. After taking this opportunity, he was invited to join a small group of international referees.  

“Throughout 2019, I was fortunate to referee at several events, including two PSA tournaments that were particularly meaningful. The first was in Resistencia, Argentina, where I officiated up to the Semi-Finals alongside Roberto Parma. Right after that, I refereed at a PSA in Asuncion, Paraguay, where I was assigned the final between Leonel Cardenas and Robertino Pezzota. That match was streamed online, and fellow referee Tammer AlNaggary happened to watch it live. Afterward, he sent me some private comments and feedback – an unexpected and highly motivating gesture that gave me even more confidence to pursue refereeing seriously.” 

“Then came 2020 and the pandemic, which, despite its challengers, opened a new door for me. I was invited to represent South and Central America and the Caribbean on the WSO Advisory Group, just as the WSO website was being launched. Today, that platform is our main source of training, updates, and essential resources for anyone aiming to build a career in refereeing.” 

The WSO Advisory Group serves as a vital link connecting WSO with refereeing committees and broader squash communities within Continent Federations, while supporting WSO’s work to standardise and professionalise squash officiating globally. Leo’s role involves supporting Federations in Pan-America in their adoption of the WSO platform, while driving refereeing initiatives in the region.  

Since the pandemic, Leo has been present at many WSO-appointed events, including the 2024 WSF World Junior Championships, the US Open Championships, the Silicon Valley Open and the Motor City Open. However, one event in particular stands out as a memorable experience.  

“Since 2019, I’ve been fortunate to take part in many important events, but without a doubt, one of the most memorable moments came recently during the Cotidie Texas Open 2025. I was invited to officiate the entire tournament, which was already a great responsibility and an incredible opportunity. During that event, I refereed several high-level matches, but the real highlight was being assigned to both Women’s Semi-Finals: Nouran Gohar vs Tinne Gilis and Hania El Hammamy vs Nour El Sherbini. Both matches were incredibly intense and technically brilliant – Semi-Finals worthy not only of a PSA Gold event but of any Platinum tournament or even a World Championship. Being in the chair for such elite-level matches was an unforgettable experience and a true milestone in my refereeing journey.” 

It’s taken hard work and dedication for Leo to officiate at events on the PSA Squash Tour. To help him prepare, Leo keeps himself physically fit by playing squash, going to the gym, and doing cardio regularly at home in Brazil. Mentally, he enjoys analysing matches and studying the play styles of professional players. He even rehearses how he’ll explain decisions on court to ensure he’s always ready to take his next position in the chair. The experiences Leo has had have deepened his connection with officiating, while his preparation has unlocked new levels of performance leading to an overall enjoyment when he’s refereeing.

“What I enjoy most about refereeing is that it keeps me active in the sport I love, even though I was never a professional player myself. For me, refereeing plays a fundamental role in raising the standard of the game. There’s also a pedagogical side to it — like when we correct or even penalize poor player behaviour to uphold fairness and respect on court.” 

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