Referees deserve to be treated with respect

Recently I refereed a local junior varsity football game and was disturbed by the attitude of the coach on my sideline. He was angry at some of the calls that were made during the game.

It's not the first time I've felt this way towards someone either as a referee, coach or spectator. And, apparently, I am not the only one feeling this way. There have been a couple of articles in the Post Independent related to both coaches' and parents' attitudes towards referees.

Up until taking my current job I was very critical of referees. I used to get furious and even cost various teams I competed on or coached points. I received my fair share of warnings from referees as well.

But I've changed.

In August 2007 I took on my current job, which includes refereeing youth soccer and basketball and umpiring youth baseball and softball. I also began refereeing high school football.

At some point during all this, I had an epiphany. Bad calls, missed calls, and poor judgment will forever be a part of sports at all levels. It does not matter if it is the Super Bowl, World Series, World Cup or the recreation league championship.

What was talked about more than anything after Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl? Various calls by the referees.

What was discussed more than anything after Matt Holliday's game-winning slide at home plate? Was he safe or not?

These are professional referees and umpires at the highest levels on Planet Earth.

Most of us, whether as parents, coaches or spectators will never deal with referees at that level. Most of us deal with referees who get paid, at best, $55 a game and are sacrificing much more than they are receiving for their efforts. Believe me I know. So once we learn that bad calls are certain to happen, what then?

People need to learn to simply respond to poor calls as though that's how it happened. Coaches need to stay level-headed and their players will, too. I have never witnessed a ranting coach persuade a referee to change a call ... never!

Players need to be taught to not let it bother them, and they will deal with pressure situations better. They also won't point the finger at someone else. They will learn to change their behavior rather than focus on others' behaviors.

Here is a phrase that should never be acceptable by any coach or player at any level, "We would have won if it wasn't for that referee."

And just to address the problem with finding referees and dealing with their shortage: Imagine if our referees were treated with respect and not disdain. Imagine if our referees could know that, after their game, they will not be yelled at, belittled or threatened, but thanked. I'm willing to guess we would have more referees to help with our various sports.

Ultimately, especially at the youth level, sports have a bigger role to play in the lives of the players than just winning and losing. These kids are learning how to deal with adversity in life. How do you want your children to deal with life's challenges and problems? Do you want them to look for someone to blame or stay level-headed and do what they can do to fix the problem?

Parents, spectators and coaches can help our sports programs be a positive force in the lives of our youth. The potential is there. But it takes people changing and gaining the revelation that sports are bigger than a bad call.

Sports are more important than merely winning and losing. Respect for the game demands respect for those officiating it. They cannot exist without one another, which means no game exists without controversy, potential bad calls or missed calls.

So coaches, parents, spectators, and everyone involved with youth sports: Let's all just relax and allow that sports will challenge and teach us - through the good and the bad. And remember, all of it is just part of the game.



On top of his avocation as a local referee, Bryan Vashus is New Castle's Recreation Director.