Stop the HS Referee Bashing

[Unregistered]

Stop the Referee Bashing.

I am not a Referee and wouldn’t want to be one. The last two High School games that I attended were also attended by the typical Referee bashing crowd. These people tend to be loud and uneducated fools. They prove in front of everyone that they are clueless about the rules of the game. They show through their comments that they do not watch any soccer other than the few games their kid plays.

I am not a big fan of the two Ref system in place for the High School games. The Referee’s definitely miss some calls. They definitely get some of the “Point of View” calls wrong, but one thing you can be sure of. They do not care who wins and they are trying to do a good job.

A couple of the rules that are hotly contested by our loud brothers and sisters are the "Handball" ( actually Handling the ball) and offsides. Please read the rules so you don't look so foolish and for Pete's sake - Leave the Referees alone!

[Unregistered]

Can't argue with you on that. A valid point.

[Unregistered]

Can't argue with you on that. A valid point.

Amen to this one. Can't tell you how many times I've argued with parents (on my own team) about a call. Amazing how many people think that if a ball touches a hand or arm it has to be called a handball or that the player who was onside before the ball was played, but because they were running and the defender was standing still it looks like they are way offside. Get a clue people. Of course there are some bad calls, but they usually even themselves out during the course of a game. Even the missed handball on Thierry Henry was offset by the non-calls earlier in the game on the other team.

[Unregistered]

Amen to this one. Can't tell you how many times I've argued with parents (on my own team) about a call. Amazing how many people think that if a ball touches a hand or arm it has to be called a handball or that the player who was onside before the ball was played, but because they were running and the defender was standing still it looks like they are way offside. Get a clue people. Of course there are some bad calls, but they usually even themselves out during the course of a game. Even the missed handball on Thierry Henry was offset by the non-calls earlier in the game on the other team.

Handling the ball is miscalled by our Referee's more often than not. Everyone just seems to accept that if the ball touches a players arms or hands that it is an automatic foul. The reality is, is that if the ball hits your had, it is not a foul. If your hand hits the ball then it is a foul. I saw this miscalled twice at my daughters last game. The ball took a strange bounce and it hit a players hand and a foul was called. And another was a close shot that hit a players arm. During this same game the same Ref had a discussion with a fan about the rule and he seemed to get it "sort of".

[Unregistered]

I'm not a referee either. My job doesn't allow me to be one. That said, a majority of the 'bashing' may be eliminated if our referee's were in better shape and could run with the flow of play. The games with ref's that are in shape, can run with the flow are not subject to the in game bashing. For example, in a recent game, the ref's were arguing on 50% of the calls, because niether could follow the play. One ref stood, repeat stood, at the defending 18 yd and was suppose to call the line. Not going to happen.

I know this does not apply to all ref's. There are some very good ones, especially in a 2 man system. But, we all know that a 2 ref systems means that the 2 ref's need to run, or at least jog to try follow the play.

I know someone will post a reply, "that's all we have" . Well then reduce the games (which should happen anyway, and schedule games with the ref's that are physically fit.

The worst sceanrio would be for a ref, who is not in shape trying to follow the play and has a medical emergency. This is something I and most of the parents would hope we never see.

[Unregistered]

I haven't seen any stationary Refs this year but I know what you're talking about. But what this thread is about is not whether the Referee is doing a great job or not. The spectators just need stop attacking the Ref's. I have personally commented to my spectator neighbor many times about a call. It's part of the game. But trying to "Spec-Ref" the game is obnoxious and embarrassing.

So many of the rules in soccer are subjective that agreeing with the Referee just isn't going to happen. Many of the loudest parents have developed their own list of rules too.

Also, pay attention to which parents are the loudest. Typically they will be from the team that is loosing the game. So there is an emotional component at play too.