One off-season, I was working a summer basketball camp for younger kids. We had a 3 on 3 tournament during the camp and I was assigned to ref some of the tournament. It was amazing to hear parents griping at me from the stands and upset over the way I was officiating 4th graders in a meaningless competition. At that point, I gained a lot of respect for sports refs and some of the abuse they take from coaches and fans. It leads me to think more about what sports officials would want parents to know. Here are 10 things that every official would want parents to know:
It’s Just a Game
The main goal for sports is supposed to provide an enjoyable experience while allowing the development of physical fitness abilities. Sports are not war, nor are they life and death. It can be easy to get overly caught up in the competitive aspect of sports, but it’s just a game. You may enjoy my related post: Are Youth Sports too Competitive?
Let’s move past the mentality that sports are my meal ticket for fame and fortune. Yes, sports can be an avenue for earning scholarships or a living, but these options are more the exception than the norm. It’s not going to be the officials that hurt your child’s chances of being a pro athlete.
They Make Mistakes
Officials are never going to call a perfect game. They’re human like everyone else and make mistakes. We all make mistakes at our job, but we usually are fortunate enough to not have someone screaming at us every step of the way. Let’s allow them to do their job, mistakes and all. Even with instant reply, where we’ve been able to freeze, rewind, and slow down, calls still aren’t 100% accurate.
I’m Managing a Lot
Officials have a lot of things to observe and monitor throughout the course of the game. We as fans see the immediate play, but they’re also monitoring things like the clock, players funneling in/out of the game, behavior away from the play, coaches on the sideline, field safety, are just a few of the things going on throughout the course of the game. With all the different things going on its understandable how a mistake can be made.
I’m doing my best
Referees aren’t going into games with the mindset of making parents or fans lives miserable. We make think when a few calls go against our child or team that they have something against us, but that is just not the case. Things are happening at a rapid pace where judgments have to be made in an instance. Refs are making their best judgment with what they see in a split second.
Cheer respectfully
News articles or social media shares are increasingly prevalent containing parents behaving badly at a youth sporting event. You’re not the only one at the game. Be mindful of others around you that are there to have an enjoyable time. Don’t be another crazed parent on the sideline. My post Be a CHEERLEADER provides a simple acronym for providing parents insight on how to model positive sideline demeanor. Your fee for admission doesn’t come with a right to rip the officials.
We Love the Game
Many referees are former players that love the game. Most want to see the game played at its purest form. They officiate to stay connected to the sport that they’ve been passionate about. I’ve seen many officials that take a minute to explain the rules to kids when they’re violated or help kids learn from mistakes.
Safety Matters
Officials are working to maintain safety within the game. It may seem unfair when a penalty gets called or refs have a quick whistle, but it’s better that a whistle’s blown early, then allowing reckless behavior. Fights and outbreaks can happen quickly if not kept in check. Referees are also trained in concussion protocols and first aid, so they know when to intervene or stop play as needed.
I know the Rules
Officials probably know a whole heck of a lot more about the sport then most parents do. They have gone through extensive training in order to gain a thorough understanding of the rules of the sport. Various states and federal interscholastic governing bodies have guidelines for required certifications before becoming an official. Officials are annually staying current with the latest rule changes.
Your Kids are Watching
What do you have to gain by belittling the refs on every missed call? Keep in mind that everyone around you is watching, including your own kids. Some of the parents may band together or agree with your sideline tyrants, but think about the example you’re setting for your children. Do you really want to teach them to yell obscenities at someone when something doesn’t go their way?
It’s Not about the Money
Often times, officials are paid on a per game basis. It’s not uncommon for officials to receive a $50 check for officiating a high school game and less than that for lower levels. Youth sports officials are typically independent contractors and required to pay their own taxes, which eats up another percentage of their earnings. This is hardly an amount to brag about or make a living off. Most of the officials are doing it because they can give back to the sport and community. Making a small stipend is a nice side benefit, but not the driving force behind officiating youth sports.
Final Thoughts
There is a shortage of qualified and willing referees for youth sports. National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) reported more than 75 percent of all high school officials quit due to adult behavior and, furthermore, 80 percent of new officials step away after only two years of officiating. As much as we can get frustrated by the occasional obviously missed call, we need quality officials to maintain the integrity of the game while keeping our children safe.
What parents can do?
- Channel frustrations of a missed call into cheering more enthusiastically for your team
- Be a role model for your kids or other parents
- Remember it’s a game and should be fun for everyone
If parents continue to lash out on officials any chance they can get, it will continue to drive away potential officials needed to keep youth sports going. Let’s be parents that rise above the nonsense and be there for our kids. If nothing else, put yourself in their shoes, it may cause you to thank them after the game.
Please comment below on anything that you’ve enjoyed from this post or youth sports officiating.