Stop Dogging The Ref

bygasparchi

236 followers

5 years ago

Written by Angus McLeod

As we approach the Referee Week lets give them a break and start barking up another tree instead. Lets face it, our game, no actually all sports would be up the creek without a paddle if it wasn't for the dedication of some special people who can cop an enormous amount of horse dung and still carry on so there can be a game or sport to watch and a team to chant for.

Most of our Referees start a young age doing it for free or very little return and yet being of a young age they do cop it as well as the adult ones but they are coping it from adults and even from their own club.

I have a very good friend whose child refereed a game on the weekend in u11 and was subjected to being ridiculed by coaching staff of the team who happens to be thier own club.The poor child feels decimated by the comments as he was only abiding by the rules for that age, it turned out that the coach didn't comprehend the rules themselves. This is a reflection of a clubs culture leading into bullying and intimidation at grass roots level. Surely this cannot be acceptable behavior.

Why do the kids and parents or officials have to be criticized for being the adjudicator of a game when they are volunteers or paid officials? I think we all need to be a little bit more wary especially of the kids and volunteers who give up their time so we can play and watch, after all we are all human and we all make mistakes.

Gusy