01
Mentorship
One-on-one and small-group mentorship pairing youth with adults who've been there. Weekly touchpoints, life-skills coaching, and a network that shows up.
Youth mentorship · Ages 16–21
Blow the whistle
on what's
possible.
The Ref Lab equips young people with the confidence, leadership, and real-world skills to navigate life on and off the court — through mentorship, social development, and certified referee training.
- 16–21
- Youth we serve
- 3
- Core programs
- 100%
- Community-rooted
On the whistle
Confidence in every call.
Mentorship•Leadership•Resilience•Employability•Community
Our mission
We train the next generation of leaders — one call at a time.
The Ref Lab is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth ages 16–21 through mentorship and social development. We inspire confidence, leadership, and resilience in the next generation so they're equipped to navigate life's challenges and opportunities.
We're expanding our programs, deepening partnerships with schools, and launching a new referee training program for high school students ages 16–18 — giving them certifications, real-world experience, and pathways to part-time employment.
What we do
Three programs. One goal.
02
Social Development
Workshops and activities that build communication, teamwork, and self-advocacy — the skills young people need to thrive in school and beyond.
03
Referee Training
A certified referee program for high schoolers 16–18. Leadership, decision-making, and a real paycheck through part-time officiating work.
New
The need
Structure changes trajectories.
Many young people — especially in underserved communities — face real barriers to mentorship and life-skill building. A lack of structured opportunities makes it harder to develop the leadership, responsibility, and employability that open doors.
The Ref Lab meets that gap. Through consistent mentorship, hands-on social development, and our new referee training, we give older students a rare chance to gain real-world skills and earn certifications that can lead to paid work.
- Certified skills
- Paid work pathways
- Trusted mentors
- School partnerships
Get involved
Every young leader starts with someone who believed first.
Partner, volunteer, or donate to help us expand mentorship and launch the referee training program in more schools this year.