Steve Olson Receives Eddie Pearson Award and 2026 Hall of Fame Induction

The Minnesota State Referee Committee is proud to recognize Steve Olson for two extraordinary honors celebrating his lifelong dedication to soccer officiating.

In 2025, Steve received the US Soccer National Referee Program's Eddie Pearson Award, one of the program's highest honors recognizing outstanding service and commitment to referee development.

This year, Steve was also inducted into the 2026 Minnesota State Referee Committee Hall of Fame, recognizing more than five decades of contributions to officiating at the local, national, and international levels.

Throughout his distinguished career, Steve has achieved numerous milestones, including:

• Registered as a US Soccer official in 1974

• Advanced to National Referee in 1983

• Selected to the FIFA Panel of International Assistant Referees in 1992

• Retired from active officiating in 1997

• Officiated professional indoor soccer in the NASL Off Floor, AISA, and NPS

• Served as Director of Instruction in Michigan from 1984–1988, followed by Director of Assessment

• Became a Lifetime Member of the US Soccer Referee Program and a US Soccer National Assessor in 2000

• Named a US Soccer National Instructor in 2002

• Became a FIFA Futuro Instructor in 2009

• Received the US Soccer National Referee Program Eddie Pearson Award in 2025

Steve's passion for mentoring referees and advancing officiating has left a lasting impact on the referee community throughout Minnesota and across the country.

Congratulations, Steve, on these well-deserved honors, and thank you for your incredible service to the game.