Guinness World Records™ adjudicator, Sarah Casson, was the official adjudicator for PNC Bank’s and Angel City FC’s attempt to create the largest soccer ball sentence. In this Q+A, Sarah discusses how she became an adjudicator, reveals some of the most interesting world records she’s witnessed, and breaks down what PNC Bank and Angel City FC must achieve to set their world record.
How did you become a Guinness World Records™ adjudicator?
I started about 10 years ago as a full-time staff member in records management. My role was behind the scenes, logging submitted record applicants, helping determine what could become a record, and writing the official guidelines for how a record would need to be accomplished. After that, I transitioned onto the adjudication team, and I’ve spent the last 7 years as a freelance adjudicator which allows me to keep a day job but still remain involved overseeing world record attempts.
What’s interesting is that there isn’t just one path to this role. Some adjudicators come from legal backgrounds, others from TV, since being in front of the camera is such a big part of the job. Today, there are 81 adjudicators based across 16 countries, and each of us bring something different to the role.
I never expected to work for Guinness World Records™, but what’s kept me here is the variety. I get to travel to different parts of the country, meet incredible organizations, and witness such unique achievements. There are so many amazing stories that come out of these record attempts and it’s what makes the job so rewarding.
How do you prepare for a world record attempt?
Since the start of the Guinness World Records™, there have been nearly 70 thousand active record titles, and each has had guidelines written by our record management team. The guidelines must follow a few basic requirements; the attempt must be measurable, quantifiable, or breakable and be accompanied by one superlative, like tallest man, fastest man, etc. Following these guidelines are just as important as beating the actual record.
Every record is a little bit different for how an adjudicator prepares, which keeps the job interesting and exciting. Some records require in depth research about a topic some require pulling in an expert in a particular field. For instance, if there were an attempt to set a record for riding the biggest wave, we’d bring in a surfing expert to verify that the surfer met all the fundamental requirements of a legitimate ride.
On the day of the world-record attempt, what are your duties? What steps do you take to verify that a record attempt meets Guinness World Records™ standards?
Before any Guinness World Records™ attempt, we work closely with the individual or organization to make sure they fully understand the guidelines that must be followed. On the day of the attempt, the process can vary depending on the type of record. Sometimes our adjudicators will brief official witnesses, while in other cases, we’ll rely on those witnesses to actively assist in verifying the attempt.
Records that involve accounting processes sometimes take the most effort, like counting the most stickers on a box (10 thousand) or counting largest domino line made of cereal boxes (12 thousand).
Other records, like those based on weight or dimensions, take a shorter amount of time, like the largest grilled cheese sandwich, which was over 6 feet wide, over 10 feet long, and over 2 inches thick, weighing in at over 418 pounds.
What is the most unique record you’ve ever adjudicated?
I’ve been lucky enough to witness a variety of unique records, like a skateboarding dog in Peru that skated under the longest human tunnel (30 people’s legs). I’ve even met a few celebrities, like when New Kids on the Block singer Donnie Wahlberg took the most selfies in 3 minutes with fans (122) and when Dolly Parton broke the record for most hits on the country charts by a female musician.
There are other fun records that I was not a part of, but was excited to learn about, like the largest display of piñatas (1,184) and the most dogs to attend a film screening (219 for the premiere of the Paw Patrol movie).
PNC Bank and Angel City FC are attempting to set the Guinness World Records™ title for “largest soccer ball sentence.” Can you tell us what this title means and how it will be measured?
There are several Guinness World Records™ titles involving words and sentences created from different items – like the longest sentence made from erasers or the largest sentence made from cakes. In this case, PNC Bank and Angel City FC will be attempting to form a complete sentence entirely out of soccer balls.
The sentence will read “Rise Up L.A.”, a rallying cry in support of those impacted by the January 2025 wildfires. The rules are specific: every soccer ball must be standard issued, they must be placed tightly together with no gaps, and any chalk on the ground can only be used to outline the letters. To qualify, the attempt requires at least 1,000 soccer balls. For this event, PNC Bank and Angel City FC are going even bigger, using 1,500 soccer balls, so we’re confident we’ll see a new world record set on September 6.
Guinness World Records™ is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. What can you tell us about the company that we may not know?
Guinness World Records™ started as part of Guinness breweries, much like the Michelin Stars originated from Michelin tires. During the early 50s, the Managing Director of the Guinness Brewery, Sir Hugh Beaver, attended a shooting party in County Wexford. There, he and his hosts argued about the fastest game bird in Europe and failed to find an answer in any reference book.
Later, Sir Hugh had the idea for a Guinness promotion based on the idea of settling pub arguments. A book of early superlatives was created and given to bars who would regularly by kegs of Guinness.
Today, we operate entirely separate from the Guinness Beer Company. Guinness World Records™ may be a relatively small company with around 300 employees, but it holds one of the most recognizable brands in the world. Our focus is on maintaining the integrity of every record, ensuring they are measured with accuracy, kept up to date, and recognized globally as the definitive source for record-breaking achievements.
