NEFC u11 coach classless

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They are not "in training". They are licensed officials, which means that they have already had training, and need to be recertified each year. Like with any job, they will improve with experience. Simply put, they more about the game than the majority of the buffoon parents on the sideline (and many of the so called "prof. coaches").

Yes, they are "in training". Taking a course and getting certified doesn't mean you know how to referee a game. Where we agree is that they will improve with experience, but let me also add time and patience, the last of which is in short supply on the sidelines. The reason it is, is because we've created an environment where the adults think U11 soccer is professional league.

[Unregistered]

Guys - don't feed the trolls!! It is now Wednesday and we're still talking about it. Let's move on and let them argue with themselves. People like this are always going to be bitter and angry at the world.

[Unregistered]

Yes, they are "in training". Taking a course and getting certified doesn't mean you know how to referee a game. Where we agree is that they will improve with experience, but let me also add time and patience, the last of which is in short supply on the sidelines. The reason it is, is because we've created an environment where the adults think U11 soccer is professional league.

Parents and coaches should be forced to take the course in order to be present at games. The ignorant and uninformed are the biggest problem with youth sports.

[Unregistered]

Parents and coaches should be forced to take the course in order to be present at games. The ignorant and uninformed are the biggest problem with youth sports.

I am not sure if that is the answer. Many of the decisons a REferee makes during a match are based on common sense, judgement, and of course knowledge of the LOTG.

Just going through the course, without being actively involved in real game situations only presents one part of the total package needed to be a good Referee.

As a matter of fact, I have had parents come up to me after a game and say," I'm a referee......." They may indeed be a Grade 8 that does REc or lowolevel travel, and they are questioning my decsions on a U 18 boys game.

A little knowledge can be dangerous. The best solution is for coaches to manage their players, not try and manage the Referee, and for parents to just cheer their children on in a positive supporting manner.

[Unregistered]

Parents and coaches should be forced to take the course in order to be present at games. The ignorant and uninformed are the biggest problem with youth sports.

Clubs have to demand better from everyone. The problem is, if you've ever been to a club meeting, most of the participants sit around discussing how great they are and how bad parents are instead of how to improve the environment that has been created to make the soccer experience a much better experience for all including the sport itself.

[Unregistered]

I am not sure if that is the answer. Many of the decisons a REferee makes during a match are based on common sense, judgement, and of course knowledge of the LOTG.

Just going through the course, without being actively involved in real game situations only presents one part of the total package needed to be a good Referee.

As a matter of fact, I have had parents come up to me after a game and say," I'm a referee......." They may indeed be a Grade 8 that does REc or lowolevel travel, and they are questioning my decsions on a U 18 boys game.

A little knowledge can be dangerous. The best solution is for coaches to manage their players, not try and manage the Referee, and for parents to just cheer their children on in a positive supporting manner.

while I do agree that is how it should work in the perfect world...but then in a perfect world we wouldn't have referees either.

[Unregistered]

while I do agree that is how it should work in the perfect world...but then in a perfect world we wouldn't have referees either.

I'm not asking for a perfect world, because in the past when children played without adult meddling , many times an injured or older child would act as an umpire or REferee. It wasn't perfect then either.

All I am saying is that coaches and parents need to be properly educated regarding their role. Less emphasis on a trophy and status, and more concentration on what is truly needed to be achieved. As long as parents are driving the bus, this will be a very difficult past. Parents need to be up on a hill, 50 yards away from the game. Have them sit in chairs and give them binoculars, if they don't understand their role. The problem is that Organizations are afraid to challenge the cash cow, and are gutless.

[Unregistered]

Silly comment. Do you have to coach a top team to be a good coach? Oh and that team got promoted the last 2 seasons. From MASC to D2. Hmmm...

He wasn't touted as being a "good" coach, but rather one of "the best youth coaches in MA".

IF that were true, no way would NEFC give him a #3 team.

[Unregistered]

I am not sure if that is the answer. Many of the decisons a REferee makes during a match are based on common sense, judgement, and of course knowledge of the LOTG.

Just going through the course, without being actively involved in real game situations only presents one part of the total package needed to be a good Referee.

As a matter of fact, I have had parents come up to me after a game and say," I'm a referee......." They may indeed be a Grade 8 that does REc or lowolevel travel, and they are questioning my decsions on a U 18 boys game.

A little knowledge can be dangerous. The best solution is for coaches to manage their players, not try and manage the Referee, and for parents to just cheer their children on in a positive supporting manner.

Agreed, but my comment was more sarcastic in nature and more to prove the point that many coaches, and most parents have no clue as to the rules and laws of the game. Typically, these uniformed dolts are usually barking the loudest.

[Unregistered]

I am not sure if that is the answer. Many of the decisons a REferee makes during a match are based on common sense, judgement, and of course knowledge of the LOTG.

Just going through the course, without being actively involved in real game situations only presents one part of the total package needed to be a good Referee.

As a matter of fact, I have had parents come up to me after a game and say," I'm a referee......." They may indeed be a Grade 8 that does REc or lowolevel travel, and they are questioning my decsions on a U 18 boys game.

A little knowledge can be dangerous. The best solution is for coaches to manage their players, not try and manage the Referee, and for parents to just cheer their children on in a positive supporting manner.

"they are questioning my decsions on a U 18 boys game"
Uh, ya think???
Come on. That's what partisans do. All partisans. Educated and ignorant. Experienced and rookie. Any discussion of referees that stipulates that their decisions can't be questioned is either hopelessly naive or just dishonest.

Every ref quickly learns the difference between disagreement and dissent. The former is natural, honest and to be expected. The latter must be dealt with and can't be allowed to harm the game.

Same with the sidelines. The goal should not be to turn them into church pews. The goal should be to have a enjoyable environment where people know their limits and live within them.

[Unregistered]

"they are questioning my decsions on a U 18 boys game"
Uh, ya think???
Come on. That's what partisans do. All partisans. Educated and ignorant. Experienced and rookie. Any discussion of referees that stipulates that their decisions can't be questioned is either hopelessly naive or just dishonest.

Every ref quickly learns the difference between disagreement and dissent. The former is natural, honest and to be expected. The latter must be dealt with and can't be allowed to harm the game.

Same with the sidelines. The goal should not be to turn them into church pews. The goal should be to have a enjoyable environment where people know their limits and live within them.

As a judge once said about "adult literature" - I can't really define it, but I know it when I see it. One thing that does drive me nuts is..... "C'mon - call it both ways!!!!!!" To me that implies that we are favoring one team over the other. In my book that is dissent. But others may feel differently. Some teams are really good at playing right up to the edge of the LOTG. Others not so much. This can create an unbalanced number of calls. Sometimes it is a number of players getting nabbed for P.I....... These nuances are not always obvious to fans but should be to coaches.

- Cujo

[Unregistered]

"they are questioning my decsions on a U 18 boys game"
Uh, ya think???
Come on. That's what partisans do. All partisans. Educated and ignorant. Experienced and rookie. Any discussion of referees that stipulates that their decisions can't be questioned is either hopelessly naive or just dishonest.

Every ref quickly learns the difference between disagreement and dissent. The former is natural, honest and to be expected. The latter must be dealt with and can't be allowed to harm the game.

Same with the sidelines. The goal should not be to turn them into church pews. The goal should be to have a enjoyable environment where people know their limits and live within them.

Okay , let's be clear in this matter. I am not speaking about the players. As a matter of fact, I take pride in the fact that I actually find the need to caution very, very few players, and specifically, I can't remember when I had to caution a player for dissent. I think it has been at least a few years since I had any kind of send off.

There isn't anything naive or dishonest in having a record of accomplishments that display an ability to perform a task well. The few parents that confront me, and in this particiular case " the Referee parent" , are not in my league regarding expereince or accomplishments.

I am not saying that there should be absolute quiet from the spectators, but confronting a fellow Referee after the match to question his decisions is unprofessional , and uncalled for. Fellow REferees have officiated my own children's matches, and I would never approach them, if I know them or not, to discuss their decisions. Parents who are REferees who confront a Referee after a match are not within their limits

[Unregistered]

As a judge once said about "adult literature" - I can't really define it, but I know it when I see it. One thing that does drive me nuts is..... "C'mon - call it both ways!!!!!!" To me that implies that we are favoring one team over the other. In my book that is dissent. But others may feel differently. Some teams are really good at playing right up to the edge of the LOTG. Others not so much. This can create an unbalanced number of calls. Sometimes it is a number of players getting nabbed for P.I....... These nuances are not always obvious to fans but should be to coaches.

- Cujo

Last year I was assigned to do a center on a U17B tournament final.
When I showed up, I noticed that one of the coaches was a guy that had played on a pro team locally. Everyone knew him. As we were checking the teams in, I made no secret about the fact that I was honored to meet the guy, having seen him play so many times.

First half went on with no incident. 0-0. Then his team goes down a goal, and things start to get a little testy. He starts to get on my case that one of his players is getting fouled a lot. I didn't see it that way. I thought the other team was just being physical. At one point, he really started yelling incessantly from the sidelines. I yelled back that I had had enough. He just stood there. Sure enough, 1 min later, one of his players mouths off, and I gave the kid a yellow for dissent.

At that point, the coach really surprised me. He yelled at his team to play with their feet and not their mouths. Then he sat down and didn't say a word for the remainder of the game. They lost 1-0.

After the game, he thanked me for a good game. He did think I let too much go, but understood what I was trying to do. The part that amazed me was when he said he knew he had to cool it when the kids started to react negatively.

I've reffed a couple of his games since then. The guy is a class act. I wish all coaches were this circumspect about their roles.

[Unregistered]

Okay , let's be clear in this matter. I am not speaking about the players. As a matter of fact, I take pride in the fact that I actually find the need to caution very, very few players, and specifically, I can't remember when I had to caution a player for dissent. I think it has been at least a few years since I had any kind of send off.

There isn't anything naive or dishonest in having a record of accomplishments that display an ability to perform a task well. The few parents that confront me, and in this particiular case " the Referee parent" , are not in my league regarding expereince or accomplishments.

I am not saying that there should be absolute quiet from the spectators, but confronting a fellow Referee after the match to question his decisions is unprofessional , and uncalled for. Fellow REferees have officiated my own children's matches, and I would never approach them, if I know them or not, to discuss their decisions. Parents who are REferees who confront a Referee after a match are not within their limits

It was my post you were responding to...

I agree 100% with
"Parents who are REferees who confront a Referee after a match are not within their limits "

I will make it simpler:
"Parents who confront a Referee after a match are not within their limits "

Any hint that I thought "confronting a referee" is ok is just a reflection of my poor writing skills. I'm ok with people having a hoot on the sideline. Even yelling disagreement with adult referees is ok with me. Even when I'm reffing, LOL!

We aren't all seeing wizards with unquestionable knowledge of some mysterious truth.

As long as it stays within limits.
One of those limits would certainly be interacting with a ref after a game. That is not something any fan has a place doing.
From another post, another limit would also be questioning someone's integrity. "No way!" is one thing. "No way, you cheater" is quite another.

[Unregistered]

I take pride in the fact that I actually find the need to caution very, very few players, and specifically, I can't remember when I had to caution a player for dissent. I think it has been at least a few years since I had any kind of send off.

OMG!

No dissent? Do you ever referee competitive HS age (or older) boys/men?

No reds for a few years?
No second yellows? No violent tackles? No Foul and Abusive Language? No DOGSO?
Really?

What level do you referee?