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I am sure this issue has arised many times before and being an official myself I can certainly see where there is room to grow with regards to continued education of officials, but I can also say that there are and have been many opportunities for officials to improve their game through ODP training camp for officials, Game day developmental assesments and Mentor Programs just to name a few with these options being OPTIONAL It makes it very difficult for the referee pool to achieve their maximum potential.

I have truly enjoyed this discussion and I hope that the powers that be will take a closer look at some of the concerns shared here and hopefully "do something" vs becoming offended.

until next time...

It has been a good discussion...and I'd like to reiterate that all of the responsibility for "controlling the game" shouldn't be placed solely on the officials. There's a fine art to officiating a game so that the players decide the outcome on the field, yet are held to good standards of sportsmanship and safety; of course it takes wisdom and experience to find that balance, and some are always going to be better than others, just like in any other activity. At the same time, coaches can do a lot to set the tone of the game for both their players and their parents, and in doing so can make the game much easier or much more difficult for the officials to manage. Fouls are going to happen in any competition due to the nature of the game, but teaching players the expectation of playing hard yet fairly can greatly reduce problems on the field, while teaching them to see how much they can get away with before getting caught can have the opposite effect.

Our tone on the sidelines also carries over onto the field and even to the parents' sideline...I know sometimes I get agitated and let things show that shouldn't, and I have to remind myself to take a step back to help defuse the problem rather than contribute to escalating it. It's difficult sometimes, especially when you feel like things are happening that shouldn't and you want to go to bat for your team--I got a little wound up this past weekend and wish I'd handled it better--but in trying to deal with problems we as coaches should think about the Hippocratic Oath all doctors take before dealing with physical ailments...

"First, do no harm."

Amen

I would also say we should pay the refs more money period. And really more money as the age of the kids go up. It would only add $1 or $2 per kid per match. Just one guys opinion.


Thanks for the dialog...

My team attended the same tournament, and I would like to add just one more observation to the reasonable remarks made before me.

I talked with several referees, and some officiated up to 6 games a day (often in 95 degrees heat)! Not because they are money hungry, but because there were not more referees available for over 260 games in two days. A few games had only two officials instead of three. Wouldn't it be nice if some "know-it-all"-parents on the sidelines decided to actually attend a referee course or two in order to alleviate the shortage of referees and then PERHAPS help elevating the level of officiating.

I watched eight games this past weekend and have to say "Hats off" to the group of referees I saw! At the same time, I'm all for calling it tight in the interest of the players' health. I always enjoy seeing the better (more skilled) team win, not the more physical.

Wishing Cesa Spartanburg's #9 a speedy recovery.

I like your point on "calling it tight in the interest of the players' health". I too enjoy seeing the better (more skilled) team win, not the more physical.

Hurst, I was thinking, $2 times the roster, so $60 extra, on average.

VERY WELL SAID, everyone should think of the give and take on this game. To me I would much rather have way too much called consistently, than nothing called or too little. I have two daughters who play. Because of soccer injuries we have purchased three MRIs, 4 casts, and several vists to the doctor, ER, or trainer. OMG and they have years to go.

This thread has gone in different directions but hits on alot of good points..I think it is a mindset of how the parents act based on how long their kids have been playing..
I was at league games last Saturday and witnessed parents of U9 or 10 players screaming their heads off with instructions..Not yelling at each other that comes at U11 thru 16..17s and 18s are the more mature groups...Sometimes.
We went to Charlotte and won a tournament there and while the parents did not yell at us..They had plenty to say to the officials and since it was blistering hot there they decided to hold the awards presentation in the shade and the parents acted like they did not want to bother walking over..And we wonder why kids act the way they do..
To me, a soccer parent should grow with the years that their kids play soccer..I was one of those parents years ago.I like to think I matured and grew as my children did..So it does not surprise me when parents of young kids are yelling at the top of their lungs..I figure they to will grow to understand it better..Parents of older kids that act that way..I just shake my head and say they never really enjoyed their kids playing soccer..We were also very fortunate over the last five years to be on the same team with good coaching and with parents that enjoyed watching the game for the most part..We would have a weed or two over the years but they don't last long..