Steve DePiero began refereeing in 1986 when the coach of his U16 team in Unionville asked him to help out by refereeing youth games. Steve quickly progressed through the upgrades becoming a C3 by the following year and a C2 in 1990. Steve joined the North York Soccer Association branch in 1988, after meeting some of the members of the NYSRA executive at the C2 clinic.

Steve became a C1 in 1993, a Nominated National in 1997, a National in 1999 and a FIFA in 2002. Steve is one of Canada's top FIFA officials and has refereed at many national and international competitions. Highlights of these assignments include the World University Games (South Korea), the U17 Regional World Championship Qualifications (Costa Rica), refereeing as a C1 in Tanzania, Africa, officiating the 5th vs. 6th place game at the Canada Games in Brandon, Manitoba as a young referee, officiating Celtic vs. Roma at the SkyDome in 2004 as well as Italy vs. Serbia at the Roger's Centre in 2006. With Toronto now set to host a Major League Soccer (MLS) team in 2007 Steve will begin officiating in the MLS commencing with Houston in June 2006.

Steve's advice to new referees is the following: Strive to be your best at what you can control: fitness, mental preparation, personal commitment, professional conduct and match performances (either as the ref, AR or 4th official), and don't worry about what you can't control: match assignments, assessments, promotions etc. Steve works as a physician and lives in Orillia with his wife, Sue, and their three sons: Graeme, Gavin and Ethan