To have rules about officials not being able to talk to players, coaches and parents is ridiculous. Believe me, most refs I know would love to go through a game without having to speak to any of them. Unfortunately, because a lot of them don't know how to behave in public it becomes a necessity. Officials only react to things that are done or said to them where coaches and parents are concerned. If they would keep their mouths shut it wouldn't be an issue.
But the title of this thread says it all. We are losing officials because of obnoxious behavior from parents, coaches and players. Deal with that appropriately and it will improve. But to suggest that they just take it without responding if it is out of hand is stupid, in view of the fact that one of the reasons for the shortage is that very thing.
