Every fall, the trial judges in west New Jersey work around Ken Andres' schedule. Andres, a civil trial attorney, also devotes his fall weekends (and some weeknights) to officiating at NCAA soccer games.

"I've been around long enough that most of the local judges will accommodate me, as long as I don't surprise them," Andres said. "If I give them enough lead time, they'll work around my schedule."

Soccer has meant a lot of things to Andres over the years. As a public school kid growing up in Trenton, New Jersey, he knew a private school education was unlikely, but because of his skills on the soccer field, Andres had the opportunity to attend Swarthmore College and later, law school.

"The game has opened a lot of doors for me, and it continues to provide a wonderful outlet -- it gives me the opportunity to meet and work with a lot of great people in the officiating as well as coaching ranks," he said. "I just have a ball during the fall when I'm refereeing games."

As a self-employed attorney, and with the cooperation of the local courts, Andres manages to referee one or two games a week and then travel to different areas on the weekends. Playing a team sport when he was younger helped him develop the competitiveness and teamwork skills that made him a successful personal injury lawyer, he said.

Now, decades after he first took to the soccer field and 29 years after he blew his first whistle as an official -- after his sideline complaining prompted an official to challenge him to try it out -- Andres said he's "giving back" to the game that gave so much to him.

"It allows me to do two things: Number one, I can pay back the game of soccer for all the wonderful opportunities it has provided me," he said. "Then, selfishly, it allows me to stay involved in intercollegiate sports and the college environment."

In addition to officiating, Andres also serves as the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association liaison to the NCAA Men's and Women's Soccer Rules Committee, helping to shape the game he loves so much.

Andres believes young people who might someday become referees need to hone skills similar to those mastered by the great quarterbacks and point guards, skills that enable a person to see the entire game, notice every player and take into account every movement.

Former players need to stop thinking like a defender, midfielder or forward and start thinking in terms of the whole game instead of the intricacies of its individual positions.

A self-described "type-A personality," Andres said he is proud of the 54 college semifinal or final games he's been asked to referee. Officiating at a championship, he said, is an experience unmatched in the regular season.

"You take pride in receiving postseason assignments, and it is an honor and a thrill to referee an NCAA championship game," he said.

Calling an NCAA championship is, in many ways, easier than other games because of the caliber of the teams and the players' desire to play a good game. Quarterfinal games are Andres' least favorite assignments -- games that often wind up with penalties and bad behavior because the teams just want to reach the finals.

"Quarterfinal games get nuts," he said. "Once you reach the finals, there are a lot more people around, television and things of that nature, so people are on their best behavior."

Andres said he believes he handles the disrespect from coaches and fans "very well, thank you." He calls his approach to criticism "very pragmatic."

"If someone acts in a reasonable and professional manner and gives you legitimate criticism, you listen to them," he said. "If someone is the type of individual who complains simply to complain or attempts to influence you by complaining, you turn them off."

The complaints are something he believes might be discouraging young people from entering the officiating field. He said educating coaches about the vital role of the officials might influence their sideline behavior, and, as a result, encourage more current players to consider officiating in the future. A lot of the more vocal critics likely don't understand most referees' motivation for being on the field, Andres said.

"They're on the field because they love the game. They are completely impartial," he said. "Most people don't get this. They think that you just show up on Saturday, collect your money and go home. They have no conception as to the lifetime dedication that people give to the game and the fact that the top officials work on their game year-round."