Youth referee abuse

[Anonymous]

Really interesting article which I am hopeful will spur better behavior across the country:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/18/sports/referee-parents-abuse-videos.html?emc=edit_nn_20180718&nl=morning-briefing&nlid=8166697920180718&te=1

[Anonymous]

I reffed/played soccer for quite a few years in the Great Falls pyramid as a kid (ODSL, NCSL, and SFL) and went on to play for a D1 college team so I was always amazed to see how badly parents behaved despite the fact that their kids were just not that good at soccer and had zero chance of getting a scholarship (let alone going pro).

I vividly remember one U14 ODSL game (I was 15 at the time) where one of the sideline's parents had become very belligerent about what they thought were bad calls. The final whistle blew and the ARs and I were walking back to our bags by one of the far corner flags. One of the parents positioned himself about 50 feet away in our path. As we walked up to him, I thought he was going to say something like he appreciated us officiating such a tough game and dealing with the parents, but instead the guy says to 15yo me "I want you to go home and write in your diary 'I suck as a referee'. Do that for me".

I'm now a successful adult with a beautiful wife and child, so I probably wouldn't have any emotional reaction other than pity for someone whose emotions are so wrapped up in the outcome of a youth soccer game, but it's important to remember that it's someone else's kid you're yelling taunts or obscenities at.

[Anonymous]

I saw it in my kid's Little League games. Parents were harassing the teen ump, who must've been 16 or so. Finally the ump had to tell at all the parents and tell them he was doing his best and to back off.

[Anonymous]

I remember my older brother umping little league games when he was 14 or so years old. Parents would occasionally stand behind home plate and yell things like "THAT WAS NOT A STRIKE! WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?" I remember my mom chewing some father out once and it being kind of funny. I mean what were they thinking? These are 8 year olds playing rec league baseball with a middle school ump. So embarrassing for those parents

[Anonymous]

Lots of parents seem to think that abusing refs is part of youth basketball. It's ridiculous. I was at a tournament last weekend where many of the refs were auditioning to be approved to ref ncaa games. The parents at our kids' 3rd game were mad because we had regular old high school refs (older guys, not is as good shape and not trying as hard) rather than the guys who were auditioning. The funny thing is that those old guys still got almost every single call right, and sure as hell did a better job than any yelling parent would have done.

If I never hear another parent yell "travel" when a kid does a eurostep layup or "3 seconds" when an offensive player is legally in the paint for longer than 3 seconds it will be too soon.

[Anonymous]

Proving once more that adults are ruining sports for children.

It's really bad, and I wish leagues would provide more tools for refs to penalize bad behavior. For example, warnings to coaches to get their parents in line with forfeits to be called or penalties to be issued by the league for non-compliance.

[Anonymous]

A dad at one of my son's soccer game was yelling nasty things at the ref. The ref was 14 years old and it was rec soccer for 3rd graders. The situation could not have been less competitive. I told that dad to chill out and to take a look around him. He was the only one yelling and being ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

When my son was 12 and reffing a soccer game, a coach yelled at him about a call. My son took his whistle out of his mouth, told the coach quietly but firmly that *he* would be calling this game, and never broke stride. The coach was so stunned he just walked away. I was so proud of my kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my son was 12 and reffing a soccer game, a coach yelled at him about a call. My son took his whistle out of his mouth, told the coach quietly but firmly that *he* would be calling this game, and never broke stride. The coach was so stunned he just walked away. I was so proud of my kid.

Good for him!

[Anonymous]

This dynamic has existed forever. It's up to the other parents and coaches to let the offending parents (and coaches) know their behavior is inappropriate and unacceptable.

It's not up to the kids, but kudos to the kid ref who was able to stand up for himself!

[Anonymous]

In sports, adults give themselves permission to act like assholes. People like that have serious issues and I hope clubs, coaches, leagues, etc will put in a 0 tolerance policy. I saw one ref threaten to throw a woman out of a 3rd grade rec b-ball game once. It was awesome.

[Anonymous]

I've watched many lacrosse and soccer games, and only heard grumbling from the parents ("Come on!") when they think there's a bad call, not yet actual yelling at the ref.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of parents seem to think that abusing refs is part of youth basketball. It's ridiculous. I was at a tournament last weekend where many of the refs were auditioning to be approved to ref ncaa games. The parents at our kids' 3rd game were mad because we had regular old high school refs (older guys, not is as good shape and not trying as hard) rather than the guys who were auditioning. The funny thing is that those old guys still got almost every single call right, and sure as hell did a better job than any yelling parent would have done.

If I never hear another parent yell "travel" when a kid does a eurostep layup or "3 seconds" when an offensive player is legally in the paint for longer than 3 seconds it will be too soon.

You all forget the NYT article mentioned that in fact it can be poor officiating that drives the complaints, a situation exacerbated with churn in game officials.

I coach Fifth Grade travel basketball, and tell my kids to play full-blown pressure defense (usually a 2-2-1). I don't have them worry about fouls, because I know there's no way an official will dare to foul out my team .

My game plan is BASED on the refs being terrible, but in predictable ways. I'm betting that as the refs hesitate to call a foul on every possession, that I can speed the game up and turn it into a layup line.

The WORST thing that can happen is if a ref lets the other team's big kid camp in the lane, or blows out-of-bounds calls, or starts helping the other team when we're blowing them out. If they do that stuff, they're gonna hear about it. And if they can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen. My kids and I lay it on the line each and every game. We're not gonna put up with some nobody ref gettin in our way.

[Anonymous]

My team doesn’t even try to pull offside traps anymore, because the call gets missed a good 50% of the time if not more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of parents seem to think that abusing refs is part of youth basketball. It's ridiculous. I was at a tournament last weekend where many of the refs were auditioning to be approved to ref ncaa games. The parents at our kids' 3rd game were mad because we had regular old high school refs (older guys, not is as good shape and not trying as hard) rather than the guys who were auditioning. The funny thing is that those old guys still got almost every single call right, and sure as hell did a better job than any yelling parent would have done.

If I never hear another parent yell "travel" when a kid does a eurostep layup or "3 seconds" when an offensive player is legally in the paint for longer than 3 seconds it will be too soon.

You all forget the NYT article mentioned that in fact it can be poor officiating that drives the complaints, a situation exacerbated with churn in game officials.

I coach Fifth Grade travel basketball, and tell my kids to play full-blown pressure defense (usually a 2-2-1). I don't have them worry about fouls, because I know there's no way an official will dare to foul out my team .

My game plan is BASED on the refs being terrible, but in predictable ways. I'm betting that as the refs hesitate to call a foul on every possession, that I can speed the game up and turn it into a layup line.

The WORST thing that can happen is if a ref lets the other team's big kid camp in the lane, or blows out-of-bounds calls, or starts helping the other team when we're blowing them out. If they do that stuff, they're gonna hear about it. And if they can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen. My kids and I lay it on the line each and every game. We're not gonna put up with some nobody ref gettin in our way.

You say they’re 5th graders? So 11 year olds?