For a great number of years, I have participated in the wonderful game of soccer, whether it be as a student athlete, coach, parent, or spectator watching the professionals. In high school my coach, Zack Osborne, made sure to always talk about the "class" we showed as individuals and as a collective team representing our 4A school, the Page Pirates. We went four years of being an undefeated team, so we were fortunate to have many skilled players on our team; but more importantly to our coach (and eventually to us) was the "class" we showed when playing this game we all loved so much. That included how we regarded and worked with the hard-working human referee.
These days, it seems there are two games on the pitch: the one we all recognize with the ball; while the other more subtle game seems to be heckling the referee. Whether it comes from the coach, the parents, or the actual player, it seems referees have a target on their back and it’s open season. It is embarrassing as a parent to witness the hypocrisy emanating especially from the sidelines. As parents, and hopefully as coaches, we endeavor to teach not only the essence of the game of soccer but we also hope to impart actual life skills. One of those skills should be to show respect to one another in the heat of battle. To me, that begins with understanding that the referee is human, who can and does make mistakes. Further, to see that the referee is on the pitch for his/her love of the game, not for the money received.
Focusing attention on the referee’s bad calls sets a disturbing tone: to blame one’s poor performance on others (my child typically qualifies his losses by blaming the referee), that screaming and yelling insults is acceptable (and even expected!).
Instead, one could seize the "bad call" as an opportunity for the kids to bear down and refocus under difficult circumstances beyond their control; to make the parallel to life that even under difficult circumstances, you don’t give up, but play harder and not let others defeat you by giving it your all.
I say it’s time to turn the tide against railing against these hard-working, sometimes-mistake-making referees and instead show our appreciation by shaking their hand and saying thank you at the close of each game! Let’s add some "class" back to Park City soccer.
Park City resident Anne Smith describes herself as a "mad soccer mom."