Ugly scene on Sunday courtesy of some ugly parents

[Unregistered]

I was going to write the second part of my “changing clubs” post. Then I was going to write a recap on my team’s game on Sunday. Those are the things I planned to write today. But then before my boys’ game, I witnessed something so ugly that I decided everything else could wait a day.

http://acoachinglife.wordpress.com/2...-ugly-parents/

[Unregistered]

Well, this is definitely not a regional thing-out of control parents happens here in Oregon, too. At one of the President's Cup finals this year, two of the players started getting a little heated. One of the parents called out "Hit him, punch him!" just as the refs and AR were running in to put some space between the players. The head ref turned to the group of parents and said, "I don't know who said that, but we don't condone fighting during our games. That was irresponsible. Whoever said it, please leave the field." The ref stood there for a minute, no one said anything, then a parent got up and did leave the field. Yeah for the Ref!
I was obviously not at the game in Atlanta, and it sounds like the AR did a great job, but I do think the head ref should have supported her and talked with the parents. Maybe ask a few of them to leave. They would certainly think twice the next time before berating a 16 year old!! Shame on those parents!

[Unregistered]

Good for that ref. It's rare that referees here in Georgia really address spectators. But your story shows just how effective public shaming can be. I mean really, who yells for a kid to hit another kid? That's nuts.

[Unregistered]

Almost as disturbing as the article are some of the team parent's comments that "It wasn't really that bad" and "We are really nice folks." Yes, you might be, but at that time, you were not. If you really think you have a better grasp of the game and can call it better than the refs you berate, please become a ref so you can indeed call the games yourselves.

[Unregistered]

My daughter has played soccer all her life. She took all the ref classes and ref'd one season. Although she is still eligilble to ref she doesn't want to. She says "The money isn't enough to put up with the parents".

I was picking her up from a game she ref'd (she was 14) when a coach of a U8 rec team was giving her a hard time about a call. I walked up and stood by them until he noticed me. At that point he realized this is someones daughter. His face turned red, he apologized very sincerely, said it was a good call and walked away. However, the damage was already done. I doubt she will ever ref again. This is only one incident of many she put up with at the U8/9 rec level!

Every parent that shows up at a game and complains about no sideline ref's or a late center ref etc... need only look in a mirror to find the reason why.