Water polo referee Jenn McCall whistling her way toward Olympic history

LONG BEACH — Jenn McCall remembers the feeling of being doubted as an up-and-coming water polo referee. It tugged at her like a riptide.

“You walk on the deck and it’s like, ‘Oh (she’s) young, blonde, female. She doesn’t know anything,’” she recalled.

But McCall knew plenty about the sport from her playing days in high school and college. And just as important, she knew not to listen to the skeptics.

McCall honed her craft for 15 years, and recently earned the most prestigious assignment in the sport. This summer at the Paris Olympics, the Huntington Beach resident will become the first female official from the United States to work at the Olympics.

The achievement has been lauded by USA Water Polo, including U.S. women’s Olympic coach Adam Krikorian.

“We are all happy for Jenn,” he said. “Her humility and professionalism have helped open the door for growth and she’s worked hard.”

McCall, 39, calls her Olympic assignment a “dream come true.”

She grew up in a large, aquatics-loving family. The oldest of six siblings, she played high school water polo at Rosary and collegiately at Pacific and USC.

Officiating the game, despite its challenges, remains her “happy place.”

“It’s what I love to do,” said McCall, who also works full-time as a paralegal at a law firm.

She credits her rise as a referee to being a “student of the game”, challenging herself with different types of assignments and a willingness to be critiqued. Much of the action in water polo occurs below the surface and can be difficult for officials and fans to spot.

McCall developed her love of water polo and thick skin under late Hall of Fame coach Jim Sprague. She played for Sprague at Rosary but also worked the desk at his tournaments.

Those desk shifts eventually turned into officiating assignments. Her first referee partner was Hall of Fame official Gary Robinett, one of Sprague’s close friends.

“I didn’t have a lot of room for error with those two critiquing me, which I didn’t mind,” McCall said. “It’s the hardest game in the world to officiate so of course we’re going to make mistakes.”

McCall was selected for the Paris Games based on her performance at tournaments such as the World Championships in Doha in February and in Japan last summer. She also works high-level college and high school matches.

As far as the doubters, McCall said she still encounters some in a male-dominated profession. But she has learned how to handle critiques while also advocating for others to join the officiating ranks, which are in decline.

“At the end of the day when you walk off (the pool deck), you have to decide to come back tomorrow,” McCall said. “Sometimes it’s phoning a friend (for support). Sometimes it’s laughing it off. Sometimes it’s re-watching your game and being critical of yourself so you don’t let the other guy be the critic of you. Or it’s asking someone that you respect in the game, ‘Hey what do think of this call?’ “

“And also know that you’re there for a reason,” she added. “You’re there because you care. You’re doing your best.”