Climbing the ranks of international officialdom can be a bit like snakes and ladders at times, but so far for Burnaby's Megan Robertson it's been a steady climb.
The 31-year-old umpire earned the International Field Hockey badge - the first stage of a five-step ladder to world panel status - last year at the Pan American junior championships in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Since then, Robertson earned a hockey federation appointment as a women's umpire at the South American championships in Santiago, Chile in January.
In September, the Simon Fraser University grad student will be off to Argentina for her biggest assignment yet - the Pan Am Cup - a qualifying tournament for the upcoming World Cup.
Although Robertson umpired her first international six years earlier, it's all about being at the right venue at the right time in order to receive the official scrutiny, she said.
Getting the plum appointments is one thing, but because of a lack of funding and the relatively low profile of field hockey in Canada, getting to the venues is on the official's own dime.
"It's the experience of it - of being on the field, of having that experience," said Robertson, who only began officiating at a national level a decade ago. "I imagine it's what an athlete feels - you're in a zone, things are going well, you're working with a colleague. There's nothing like it."
Robertson graduated from Burnaby South Secondary School in 2000 and then went to the University of British Columbia, where the perennial collegiate national champion women's field hockey reigned.
Although Robertson never played for the 13-time champions, she has been a faithful supporter and player with the Burnaby Lake club for the past 15 seasons.
Robertson also mentors young umpires, enjoying the thrill of seeing the emotion they gain from the experience.
She took up umpiring on the encouragement of her mother, Sue Robertson, a recent winner of a President's service award for field hockey from Sports B.C.
"It felt like a lot of little steps, working my way to that level" Robertson said of her rise up the ranks.
She remembers her first international assignment well. It was at UBC during an international friendly between Canada and Chile.
One of her best friends and the most capped player in Canadian history, Stephanie Jamieson, was playing for the women's national team.
"I had to give her a yellow card. It was the flow of the game, I just knew it was going to result in a yellow card. It was my first time carding," said Robertson. "She was nice enough to sign that yellow card. It was one of my favourite moments in international hockey."
In her desire to achieve a higher status, Robertson makes a study of how other officials are managing their assignments.
She looks for those sublteties in the care and concern about what they are trying to do.
At present, the World League Round 3 in Rotterdam, Netherlands is occupying her interest.
"The two onfield umpires are a team out there. What I really love about umpiring is that team experience," Robertson said. "When it's going well, that trust you have, you can feel it. It doesn't matter whether you make a mistake, you know you will get the decision right."
With the official's emphasis on safety and showcasing the players' skills, umpires always have a game plan as to how best to manage things on the field.
It is that communication and understanding between officials that has, as much as anything, brought Robertson to her present world standing.
A fond memory is working with a peer colleague Gillian Horgan from Vancouver Island, another federation badge recipient who has officiated at the Commonwealth Games.
Another highlight was the semifinal game in Mexico between Argentiina and the United States she umpired with New Zealand's
Amber Church, a promising official who is on the watchlist for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
"Learning from her, and just the feeling of being on the field and everything just fell into place that night. It was a good night," Robertson said.
"Watching Argentina you're in awe. These young women are so talented. But to think, 'I can do this. I belong here and I can be a part of this game,' is what makes that moment magical for an umpire."
The upcoming World Cup qualifier is Robertson's next big test.
To take that step, she must once again make that, at times difficult, choice between school and work that has allowed her to pursue her passion.
But it is not a choice she makes alone.
"It is my family that has really helped me make those choices and supported me," she said somewhat emotionally.
"For me - my family - they see me and support me, and it doesn't matter if I have a bad game or I don't get that appointment. Whatever happens I still have this amazing family and friends who have allowed me to have these amazing opportunities. It makes me happy to be able to share that. It's really cool."
She believes the best way to keep her star ascendant is to show her personality and be herself on the field.
It was a moment she could hardly wait for when she was forced to sit out her first assignment in Mexico as a reserve.
"I wanted to get out there and show what I can do and get started," she remembered. "When I got my chance, and walked out on that field, that's the feeling I wanted - to be prepared, ready for anything that can happen. Part of why I keep doing this is it's chasing that feeling, being in that moment and ready to go."
