I agree that, we as parents, need to keep our mouths shut. But, all I ask is that the referees, especially at high school matches, do their best to maintain control. I am sure most refs do, but others don't at all, and their inability or unwillingness to make the calls increase the possibility of injury to these players.
Mr. Shealy, I appreciate all that you do. I understand that you've worked hard and are now doing your best to ref a high school game. You are, no doubt, giving your best and probably still have to take abuse from players and parents. On the flip side, the players have been in school all day. They may have played two or three matches in that week and then have tests to study for once they get home. They too are tired, and all they ask for is some control on the field. The problem is two sided. Parents and players do way too much yelling at the ref, but refs fail to control the match or fail to call it equally. Once they do this it becomes more dangerous for the player, and there is no excuse for a player getting hurt in a game that the ref has allowed to get out of control.
It's a two sided problem and typically it's the parents not the players who are doing most of the yelling. I would ask that the refs never take out their frustration with the parents on the players. Parents need to recognize when they are the problem, but refs need to do the same.
With that said, I will not be attending any certification clinics. I have no desire to be a ref. What I will do is control my mouth.
