Anonymous wrote:As a former ref, parent and coach, I'd say:
1. just do your job as a ref - (a) walk the field looking for dangers (metal broken glass etc.) this is YOUR job (not the coaches')
(b) call the game consistently - 2nd graders are cute yes, but a handball is a handball and they are here to learn and will recover
(there are no adults permanently scarred from having handball called on them in the box as a 2nd grader)
(c) ignore the parents - many of them for 2nd grade have no clue about the rules and are overprotective and excited for their kids - just deal with it
don't confront the first sign of behavior - just have a thick skin and move on , fill out your game report with any poor behavior
2. realize that your primary job is player safety, make the call and explain it
3. be cheerful and friendly - the ref is not the bad guy, but if you act like it you can become it
4. have fun its part of the job
Anonymous wrote:Our 4 x 4 U8 rec games don't have referees, they start at U9 when they move up the "big" field. (Don't all the rec leagues do 4 vs 4 for U8?)
Anonymous wrote:From a former coach:
Introduce yourself to both sets of coaches before the game. Shake hands, make I contact, and call everybody by first name. If something comes up during the game, use their first names when talking to them rather than "coach". Ex: "Hey Bob, is there anything we can do about that parent going crazy over there?" Or, if it's the coach going crazy, look him in the eye and say "Sorry Dan, that's just not the way I saw it."
Amazing how far that goes.
Anonymous wrote:Our 4 x 4 U8 rec games don't have referees, they start at U9 when they move up the "big" field. (Don't all the rec leagues do 4 vs 4 for U8?)
Anonymous wrote:Spin off of https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/801226.page#14948806
So, coaches, parents, how can a new ref do better in second grade rec games?