This is the heartwarming footage showing a 7-year-old boy named Lathan refereeing basketball games at a local sports park in Hammond, Louisiana.

Footage from February 4 shows Lathan keeping up with play and making calls just like an adult referee would do.

The kid has been obsessed with officiating since he was 5. According to his parents, he dressed as a referee for Halloween and during Christmas he asked Santa for umpire gear.

The 7-year-old's parents, who run his social media pages, told Newsflare: "Lathan began dressing in his umpire gear and mimicking the umpires' moves. Sometime late that spring he started getting on the field and umpiring at teams' practices and scrimmages.

"The following year he started learning to do basketball and football games. Lathan also plays multiple sports but at weekends when he isn't playing sports he is officiating one.

"In 2023 he spent a few days at the Wendelstedt Umpire School in Daytona Beach Florida where he was awarded a scholarship when he turns 18!"

Lathan is a 7 year old kid referee. He is working a game at a local sports park in Hammond, LA.

Lathan has been interested in officiating since he was 5. He dressed as a referee for Halloween then for Christmas he sat on Santa's lap and asked him for umpire gear.

Then Lathan began dressing in his umpire gear and mimicking the umpires moves. Sometime late that spring he started getting on the field and umpiring at teams practices and scrimmages.

The following year he started learning to do basketball and football games. Lathan also plays multiple sports but weekends when he isn't playing sports he is officiating one.

In 2023 he spent a few days at the Wendelstedt Umpire School in Daytona Beach Florida where he was awarded a scholarship when he turns 18!