In every sport there is a someone who is looking out for the safety of the players and is looking to uphold the laws of that sport. Most of the time this person is wearing a different color shirt to distinguish themselves from everyone else or many they are wearing black and white vertical stripes. One thing that I know to be true about these people is that they love what they do and they like earning the extra cash on the side. I know this to be true because I referee soccer. Sometimes this love and money might not be enough for someone to continue.

I started refereeing soccer for my local soccer club and then I found out that I could be certified and start refereeing higher level games. I love the game and I wanted to help out other players along the way but refereeing the game that I love. One thing I was not expected for was found out the first time I stepped on the field as a certified referee.

I show up to by first game. I have everything I need and of course I am nervous for the game. I want to make sure I am going to make all of the right calls and make sure that the kids on the field have fun. I blow the whistle to start the game and the kids take off ready to play. The parents are cheering on their respective teams. Things are going well, the ball goes out of bounds and I give direction and we keep playing the game. A couple of minutes later there is a close call to who the ball went out on. I make the call and hear some grief from the parents and coaches on the sidelines. That is fine with me I can understand why they might have some grief but play moves on. Soon enough I have to make another tough decision. This time the grief is a little more. Parents and coaches are both yelling about a foul that was called. Things are becoming less about the game and more about the guy in the center of the field that is wearing a different color shirt.

As the game is going on I am thinking about what the heck I could have done so wrong that everyone was yelling at me for a foul that I called. I mean here is the thing... fouls are part of the game and they happen. Why are they yelling at me about it? It was like it was my fault that a foul happened. All I did was blow my whistle and say that it was a foul. It just did not make sense. Well the game ended I got my game fee and left for the day. The next couple of weekends I refereed without much of a peep from the parents. I would soon be hoping that the parents silence would continue.

I got to a point where I was wondering if refereeing was something that I wanted to continue. I mean it was good money but was it really worth having people yell at me and make it personal. I know that I am not the only referee out there that thinks about these things from time to time. Guess what? The parents got the best of me and I stopped doing what I loved for a couple years. I could not take it anymore. A year or two later I got to thinking about the whole situation and it made me mad.

I was mad because the parents and coaches won. They forced me out of something that I loved to do and it was nice to make some extra cash. I was thinking how could parents and coaches be so mean. They were there to cheer on their team to victory not to yell at the referee for what they thought was a wrong doing. So here is my thoughts on the situation at hand.

Parents, I have one simple question for you. What are you at the game to do? If you are there to cheer on your team then I congratulate you and wish there were more like you. I would love to talk to you after the game if you had any questions. Now if your response is you are there to berate referee then why are you even showing up to the game? You are not doing anyone any good by being there. I am sure your child does not like you yelling constantly at the referee. Now if you show up to support your team but end up berating the referee, stop and think about it. Think about you being out there on the field. That kid on the field is out here to help your child on the field and to have fun. So you are yelling at a kid that may have been driven here by their parents because they can not drive yet. In that case think about if your son or daughter was out there on the field and you heard what you are saying to the referee what would think about it. Now even if that referee out there is old enough to drive why are you yelling at them.

Those referees are doing something that you are not. They are trying to help the next generation of kids enjoy a game that they love. Yes that person out on the field knows the rules of the games. Yes they most likely have played the game and understand how things works. Yes they see that the kid has their arms up. Yes they are watching the hands in the back. Yes they see that kid trying to trip your son or daughter. Let me tell you they see it. Soccer is a contact sport, so there will be some pushing, there will be some hands in the back, and there will be trips. It is something that you will have to learn to deal with. You can also read the rules of the game they are available on line just look up FIFA Laws of the Game. You can also go get your certification to learn more about the game.

So next time when you are at your son or daughters soccer game think about yelling out to the person in the center of the field. Think about what they are doing for the sport. If they were not out on the field the game would not be played. We need more referees because we are slowly losing them due to what you are about to say. So please I am asking you not to yell. Keep it to yourself and think about everyone involved with it. Turn that yell into something positive for your team.