Shortage of refs

[Anonymous]

Let's not forget about EDP. They cancel and reschedule games at the drop of a hat, leaving refs willing to drive for a two game set unwilling to drive for one game.

[Anonymous]

For all of you criticizing the refs: pick up a whistle and try it yourself. It’s not as easy as you think.

Also recognize the best refs out there are not working your DS or DD’s game.

Criticizing those refs is like going all Karen at a McDonald’s employee for getting your order wrong.

Lower your standards and expectations

No. It is fine to get calls about things like handballs wrong, I don't care that much who wins the game. But ensuring safety is a duty of the position, and I will not lower standards on that.

[Anonymous]

Parents shouldn't be allowed on the field. That was the best part of Covid. The disrespect towards the refs has come from parents most of the time. Lately parents are shot out of a cannon and take all their anger and anxiety out at these games. It is insane what took place over Labor Day weekend at tournaments. Parents should just be banned or told to watch from 100 yards away.
The one or two times I have seen coaches yell at the refs should have resulted in cards. That shuts it down immediately.

[Anonymous]

Parents and coaches yelling over throw-ins is so absurd and symbolic of the issue. Statistically the throwing team keeps possession less than 50% of the time in youth soccer, so it is actually more advantageous to not win the throw in because it gives the an extra player on the field to gain possession after the throw. There are cases every game where opposing players are both playing the ball at the same time and it is impossible for the referee to tell who it hit last on the way out and has to make a guess. Most of us keep a log of those in our head and alternate, i.e. I gave it to blue last time so white this time.

I reffed for about 12 years and quit during the pandemic. The factors that led to me deciding not to recertify.

- too many law changes every year -- the last few years IFAB has decided a couple updates a year isn't enough and half the laws should be rewritten every year, every law change is something we have to learn, learn how to interpret, and fight with coaches and parents who don't understand that the laws changed
- negative climate -- it's draining constantly being seen as the enemy by everyone--even if I don't get actual abuse I am constantly the bad guy when I'm just out here to try to give your kid a chance to play
- low pay -- in order to make enough per game to justify the expense in training, uniform, transportation, etc I have to work the type of games with the kind of horrible parents on here and their bratty entitled kids

I felt like I've made my contribution now it's time for someone else to step up. When I look at the referees out on the fields these days I am reminded of the scene before the battle at helm's deep, "These are not soldiers. Most have seen to many winters...or too few."

When I talk to fellow officials over in UK the shortage is even worse there, and the abuse problem is worse too. Stopping the abuse won't solve the problem this year or next. It will take a few years of young referees coming in, having a positive experience, and staying with it long enough to get good at it before the shortage turns around. Almost all referees are not good their first couple years, we have to give them a chance to learn and get good.

[Anonymous]

I felt like I've made my contribution now it's time for someone else to step up. When I look at the referees out on the fields these days I am reminded of the scene before the battle at helm's deep, "These are not soldiers. Most have seen to many winters...or too few."

That's funny. But in my experience, the younger refs have been great, as have the older female ones. It has been the older guys who don't call fouls and let the game get out of hand in terms of fouls etc.

[Anonymous]

When I talk to fellow officials over in UK the shortage is even worse there, and the abuse problem is worse too. Stopping the abuse won't solve the problem this year or next. It will take a few years of young referees coming in, having a positive experience, and staying with it long enough to get good at it before the shortage turns around. Almost all referees are not good their first couple years, we have to give them a chance to learn and get good.

Honestly, in years of two kids playing, I have only seen a parent be abusive to a ref once. It was not someone from our team, thankfully, but the person's behavior was outrageous. I've seen parents indicate disagreement with calls from the sidelines, but as long as they are not rude, that's not what I would consider abuse. It could be that many refs do not like that aspect of the job, the same way that many lawyers hate cranky judges and obnoxious opposing counsel. But, addressing that behavior, within limits, is part of the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

When I talk to fellow officials over in UK the shortage is even worse there, and the abuse problem is worse too. Stopping the abuse won't solve the problem this year or next. It will take a few years of young referees coming in, having a positive experience, and staying with it long enough to get good at it before the shortage turns around. Almost all referees are not good their first couple years, we have to give them a chance to learn and get good.

Honestly, in years of two kids playing, I have only seen a parent be abusive to a ref once. It was not someone from our team, thankfully, but the person's behavior was outrageous. I've seen parents indicate disagreement with calls from the sidelines, but as long as they are not rude, that's not what I would consider abuse. It could be that many refs do not like that aspect of the job, the same way that many lawyers hate cranky judges and obnoxious opposing counsel. But, addressing that behavior, within limits, is part of the job.

I am not a ref, I am a parent, but come on. At the rates they are paid, refs should not have to deal with any words from parents. I haven't been to a game in years where parents have not yelled at the refs. Maybe it doesn't rise to the level of "abuse" in your mind but it's unpleasant for everyone. The fact that parents are completely biased and quite ignorant makes the situation worse but isn't the main issue. The issue is that most parents are like you and feel entitled to complain from the sidelines. WHY??? Why do you want this at your child's game?! Just don't abuse, yell, or talk to refs. You people are driving away the good refs and all the future refs as well. My kids have shown interest in reffing and I have discouraged them because ... I don't want them around you people.

[Anonymous]

When I talk to fellow officials over in UK the shortage is even worse there, and the abuse problem is worse too. Stopping the abuse won't solve the problem this year or next. It will take a few years of young referees coming in, having a positive experience, and staying with it long enough to get good at it before the shortage turns around. Almost all referees are not good their first couple years, we have to give them a chance to learn and get good.


Honestly, in years of two kids playing, I have only seen a parent be abusive to a ref once. It was not someone from our team, thankfully, but the person's behavior was outrageous. I've seen parents indicate disagreement with calls from the sidelines, but as long as they are not rude, that's not what I would consider abuse. It could be that many refs do not like that aspect of the job, the same way that many lawyers hate cranky judges and obnoxious opposing counsel. But, addressing that behavior, within limits, is part of the job.


I am not a ref, I am a parent, but come on. At the rates they are paid, refs should not have to deal with any words from parents. I haven't been to a game in years where parents have not yelled at the refs. Maybe it doesn't rise to the level of "abuse" in your mind but it's unpleasant for everyone. The fact that parents are completely biased and quite ignorant makes the situation worse but isn't the main issue. The issue is that most parents are like you and feel entitled to complain from the sidelines. WHY??? Why do you want this at your child's game?! Just don't abuse, yell, or talk to refs. You people are driving away the good refs and all the future refs as well. My kids have shown interest in reffing and I have discouraged them because ... I don't want them around you people.

Ok, so at the rate I am paid as a middle school teacher, I think that, as a moral matter, I should not have to deal with attitude from many of my students or drama from their parents. But, this is not reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

When I talk to fellow officials over in UK the shortage is even worse there, and the abuse problem is worse too. Stopping the abuse won't solve the problem this year or next. It will take a few years of young referees coming in, having a positive experience, and staying with it long enough to get good at it before the shortage turns around. Almost all referees are not good their first couple years, we have to give them a chance to learn and get good.

Honestly, in years of two kids playing, I have only seen a parent be abusive to a ref once. It was not someone from our team, thankfully, but the person's behavior was outrageous. I've seen parents indicate disagreement with calls from the sidelines, but as long as they are not rude, that's not what I would consider abuse. It could be that many refs do not like that aspect of the job, the same way that many lawyers hate cranky judges and obnoxious opposing counsel. But, addressing that behavior, within limits, is part of the job.

.
See, this is the problem. Sure if there are real issues you report them through the proper channels, but NO you don't get to sit on the sideline and nag at the referee's every move. Here we go, next time you go to work we'll have 100 people follow you all day and complain about everything you do. Right or wrong doesn't matter half are angry. Does that sound like a healthy work environment? Then why is it good for referees? How about the coach that whines at the referee. We'll have a committee of refs stand behind that coach and complain about everything the team does all game. Does that make sense? No, it's not part of the job--it's part of your outrageous sense of entitlement. You should be thanking the referee for doing the best job they can, not whining because you think a throw-in should have gone the other way.

[Anonymous]

I don't remember which it is, but at coach's meeting it was state org wants 10000 refs and they have 4000, or they want 40000 and they have 10000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington soccer just sent out an email to families about the lack of soccer refs. It said “Here at the local level, abuse of referees by parents, coaches, and players is the most commonly cited problem.” I’m a certified ref and I receive the emails from assignors almost begging for refs to cover games. My first thought, “do I want to be yelled at today?” Most days I answer no, and some games I could have covered go without a ref.

I’m on the board of another sport, and my kids are involved in multiple different sports including a travel team. Finding referees and umpires has becoming increasingly difficult in the last few years starting pre-Covid. Ditto volunteers (money cannot always replace having an actual person). Even the programs to get kids started in refereeing is thinning out despite increases in pay. The umpires in our district and state tournaments were old, mostly (60s). There are so few younger refs coming up. One outfit want $120 per ref per game. That’s crazy money for a non-profit league. There seems to be an attitude in younger gen that if you’re not getting paid (enough), it isn’t worth doing.

[Anonymous]

DS previous coach ALWAYS yelled at the ref. Claimed "it makes them think and they'll give you more calls."

Needless to say, another example of how DS previous coach is a social media darling and nothing more.

[Anonymous]

What happens when no refs show up? At younger levels do coaches have to step in? We had that happen in another travel sport for MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

When I talk to fellow officials over in UK the shortage is even worse there, and the abuse problem is worse too. Stopping the abuse won't solve the problem this year or next. It will take a few years of young referees coming in, having a positive experience, and staying with it long enough to get good at it before the shortage turns around. Almost all referees are not good their first couple years, we have to give them a chance to learn and get good.


Honestly, in years of two kids playing, I have only seen a parent be abusive to a ref once. It was not someone from our team, thankfully, but the person's behavior was outrageous. I've seen parents indicate disagreement with calls from the sidelines, but as long as they are not rude, that's not what I would consider abuse. It could be that many refs do not like that aspect of the job, the same way that many lawyers hate cranky judges and obnoxious opposing counsel. But, addressing that behavior, within limits, is part of the job.


I am not a ref, I am a parent, but come on. At the rates they are paid, refs should not have to deal with any words from parents. I haven't been to a game in years where parents have not yelled at the refs. Maybe it doesn't rise to the level of "abuse" in your mind but it's unpleasant for everyone. The fact that parents are completely biased and quite ignorant makes the situation worse but isn't the main issue. The issue is that most parents are like you and feel entitled to complain from the sidelines. WHY??? Why do you want this at your child's game?! Just don't abuse, yell, or talk to refs. You people are driving away the good refs and all the future refs as well. My kids have shown interest in reffing and I have discouraged them because ... I don't want them around you people.

Ok, so at the rate I am paid as a middle school teacher, I think that, as a moral matter, I should not have to deal with attitude from many of my students or drama from their parents. But, this is not reality.

You absolutely should not have to deal with attitude from students and even less should you have to deal with drama from their parents. And if you're my kid's teacher you will never have "drama" from me ever, certainly not over anything so inconsequential as a missed offside call. And I'll be livid if I learn that my kids have been disrespectful toward their teachers.

That said, middle school teachers are under much less scrutiny than refs whose every move is watched and judged. Also, it's youth soccer for goodness sake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

When I talk to fellow officials over in UK the shortage is even worse there, and the abuse problem is worse too. Stopping the abuse won't solve the problem this year or next. It will take a few years of young referees coming in, having a positive experience, and staying with it long enough to get good at it before the shortage turns around. Almost all referees are not good their first couple years, we have to give them a chance to learn and get good.


Honestly, in years of two kids playing, I have only seen a parent be abusive to a ref once. It was not someone from our team, thankfully, but the person's behavior was outrageous. I've seen parents indicate disagreement with calls from the sidelines, but as long as they are not rude, that's not what I would consider abuse. It could be that many refs do not like that aspect of the job, the same way that many lawyers hate cranky judges and obnoxious opposing counsel. But, addressing that behavior, within limits, is part of the job.


I am not a ref, I am a parent, but come on. At the rates they are paid, refs should not have to deal with any words from parents. I haven't been to a game in years where parents have not yelled at the refs. Maybe it doesn't rise to the level of "abuse" in your mind but it's unpleasant for everyone. The fact that parents are completely biased and quite ignorant makes the situation worse but isn't the main issue. The issue is that most parents are like you and feel entitled to complain from the sidelines. WHY??? Why do you want this at your child's game?! Just don't abuse, yell, or talk to refs. You people are driving away the good refs and all the future refs as well. My kids have shown interest in reffing and I have discouraged them because ... I don't want them around you people.

Ok, so at the rate I am paid as a middle school teacher, I think that, as a moral matter, I should not have to deal with attitude from many of my students or drama from their parents. But, this is not reality.

You absolutely should not have to deal with attitude from students and even less should you have to deal with drama from their parents. And if you're my kid's teacher you will never have "drama" from me ever, certainly not over anything so inconsequential as a missed offside call. And I'll be livid if I learn that my kids have been disrespectful toward their teachers.

That said, middle school teachers are under much less scrutiny than refs whose every move is watched and judged. Also, it's youth soccer for goodness sake.

I agree. Parents are not allowed in the schools during class. Hence, they are not yelling at the teachers while the teacher is teaching class unlike referees. Also, a student can be sent straight to the principal’s office if they are out of line. Parents yelling/abusing at a teacher after school will be reported to the police.