Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: PP (assignor) here. I do this job because I love soccer, and I want to give back to my community. And all my kids played soccer for years and I had the same issues with referees you all have mentioned. This is my effort to help in a small way, as my time allows.

What resources are out there for "continuing education" for refs throughout the year? Are there forums like this where referees can discuss their craft with other referees on how they handle certain situations, certain calls, etc.?

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forums/referee.44/

RantingSoccerDad wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: PP (assignor) here. I do this job because I love soccer, and I want to give back to my community. And all my kids played soccer for years and I had the same issues with referees you all have mentioned. This is my effort to help in a small way, as my time allows.

What resources are out there for "continuing education" for refs throughout the year? Are there forums like this where referees can discuss their craft with other referees on how they handle certain situations, certain calls, etc.?

I go to BigSoccer.

I'm not aware of any others, but I hope there are.

We also talk among ourselves before and after games.

Start one on DCUM.

Anonymous wrote: PP (assignor) here. I do this job because I love soccer, and I want to give back to my community. And all my kids played soccer for years and I had the same issues with referees you all have mentioned. This is my effort to help in a small way, as my time allows.

What resources are out there for "continuing education" for refs throughout the year? Are there forums like this where referees can discuss their craft with other referees on how they handle certain situations, certain calls, etc.?

FWIW, the quality of the refereeing over the past few years in my son’s games has been first rate. He is a u12 now and plays with a very good team, so naturally, parents are beginning to take the games more seriously. The refs I have seen are more than equal to the task of meeting copter parent expectations . We see some of the same refs through the course of the year, and the memorable ones always have nice, constructive things to say to younger kids on the field and occasionally even remember names. Obviously way beyond the call of duty and not expected, but very much appreciated. I have also liked the teen refs. Much better than expected and they have to take too much crap from parents. But a really good experience for them.

PP (assignor) here. I do this job because I love soccer, and I want to give back to my community. And all my kids played soccer for years and I had the same issues with referees you all have mentioned. This is my effort to help in a small way, as my time allows.