Regina man officiates flag football showcase game featuring NFL stars

A Regina-trained referee served as head official at a major flag football event in Los Angeles, featuring Team USA and NFL stars. Jacob Carr has the story.

The Fanatics Flag Football Classic was a first of its kind event pitting Team USA versus two other teams made up of former and current NFL players, mixed in with some celebrities.

So, when former NFL quarterback Tom Brady lightly threw the ball at WWE wrestler and influencer Logan Paul after a play, it instantly became a viral moment shared online.

The official that stepped in between the two to sort out the situation just happened to be Scott Woloshin, formerly of Regina.

Woloshin, who currently resides in Edmonton with his wife Jordyn and daughter Isla, said despite the celebrity status of the athletes he was officiating, he still had a job to do.

“In the moment, I wasn’t between two mega celebrities, mega stars of the football or entertainment world. I was just between two people who were upset with each other,” Woloshin said.

“And it wasn’t until I think afterwards, like after the whole tournament was done and my phone is blowing up, and I saw these clips that I thought, ”Oh, yeah, like these were two mega entertainers in the sport and entertainment industry.”

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Woloshin was chosen to be the head official for the flag football tournament in Los Angeles, which featured the defending world champion Team USA, along with many NFL players and celebrities, like Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow and IShowSpeed.

“The level of the broadcast was massive. The amount of people setting up, everything was decked out, from top to bottom. And as officials, we felt very well taken care of. It was cool to step out on the field, see the people coming in, see the fireworks. It was all very surreal.”

Woloshin has 17 years of referee experience under his belt and got his start playing and coaching in the Regina Youth Flag Football League as a teenager.

Those like Mike Thomas, who oversees the RYFFL, and helped Woloshin get his start in officiating, were looking on this weekend beaming with pride.

“I feel like a proud dad or a proud family member or just a proud supporter of seeing Scott out there because we know what he’s given back to us,” said Thomas.

“And the thing that we recognize is that while the start happened here, he’s never been shy of recognizing where he started and not just with our league, but then within our province and that is something that he holds dearly.”

Next on Woloshin’s checklist of accomplishments is to be named an official for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Olympic debut.

“I know a lot of other very talented officials across the world and in Canada want it as well. So, it’ll be a tough choice of who gets chosen to participate. But if I’m even considered for selection, I think that’d be quite the honor. And yeah, my goal is definitely to be there at the Olympics wearing those stripes.”