He's been behind me every game, every season, and he helped me develop my skills and improve every facet of my game. Asked what makes a good referee, Denoncourt mentioned three key factors-knowledge of the game, fitness, and knowing how to deal with the players. Having played helps me a lot because I know all the tricks. Obviously you can learn all this, but it helps a lot to already know. Having coached and played and been involved in the game at different levels helps me to understand what the players are doing.
Personality is also really important, especially at the international level.
As Denoncourt described it, the regime of the international soccer referee would seem to parallel the gruelling routine of the high performance athlete. FIFA does not want you to smoke, drink, or socialize with players or journalists. No comments on the game, please. A vegetarian who pays careful attention to her diet, she prepares for the grind by training six days a week 12 months of the year, running and cycling in summertime and playing ice hockey, lifting weights, and riding a stationery bike in winter. As the only woman in the world refereeing Division One men's games, Denoncourt believes that she will have a good shot when the time comes for FIFA to award an Olympic or World Cup men's game to a woman referee.