I coached club soccer for several years. I always thought that the referees set the tone for the game. The "let them play" officials were the most problem (in my opinion) but those that that see fouls on every challenge disrupt the games nearly as badly. There are many excellent referees in SC and we should make it a point to thank them after every game.
Some of the best officiated games that I have seen have involved my team getting its head kicked in by a superior team. Referees seldom cause the outcome of a game to change. Missed shots frequently change the outcome.
In club soccer referees frequently know the home players by name and know their playing styles from having called many of their games over the season. I believe that this can give the home players an unintentional advantage. Do any others have thoughts about this?
