Punish the player because of the action of the parent is good coaching. Not in my book. I'm with Taxi on this. Most kids thrilled when someone finally shuts mom or dad up.

Referees should be thick skinned and deaf to the sidelines. Period. [/quote]

Why? There's always a certain amount of slack a parent or coach or player should get, but there also has to be a limit. The ref's job is to manage the game fairly and safely with as little involvement as necessary. The players determine the foul calls. The parents determine when / if the ref needs to address them. Refs see things different ways. They are a part of the game.

I had a parent tell me I was the dumbest ref ever for not allowing a goal that hit the crossbar and bounced back out. "The crossbar is part of the goal, so "part" of the ball had to be over the line." Not sure how seriously I should take this evaluation.

On the other hand, it IS nice when parents and coaches offer a nice, "Good job, ref." I've been surprised (pleasantly) by how many parents really do recognize the effort.

The team that wins is the team that deserved to win. I have no complaints about the outcome of my son's game today. However, with the Spring season underway, it might be time for our referees to review the LOTG.
http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/lawsofthegame.html

If their eyes are like mine, then an annual eye exam might be nice.

It's unreasonable for the League to expect a higher standard on the sideline when the officiating on the field is so weak. For the $2000+ that parants spend, we need the best refs in North Texas. If we have to pay a little more to entice them from Plano and the Rec leagues, then that's what we need to do. If what I saw today is what the U16 thru U19 boys are going to have in a few weeks, then the parents might be warned to sit further from the touchline because the bodies will be flying. You have 3 weeks. Good Luck.

clean, dont know what you saw, but if you think that Plano and other Rec leagues have better refs than Classic, you better be ready for a rude awakening. Refs working in those leagues are there because:
1. They dont have the skills to officiate at a higher level
2. They dont have the desire to officiate at a higher level
3. They figure that its not worth the money to deal with the pressure from the parents/coaches to officiate at a higher level.

I'm not sure that's it. Most parents in the Classic League understand that the Board does not tolerate the hostile environment that sometimes happens in the Rec Leagues. Verbalizing disapproval to a referee seems to be considered over the top in the Classic League. A referee should be used to it if they have been a ref for a while. From what I've seen in the Classic League, every parent knows there is a line that can't be crossed, called a "touchline". I have never seen a parent go after a ref or player in a game. I've seen it in rec. In some Rec leagues, there will be an intoxicated parent or just someone with there screws loose that will physically go after a ref. Yet, I know there are good referees in those leagues. Maybe I've missed it, but I never see any marketing towards attracting our athletes or parents for that matter to become referees. As many colleges and junior colleges as we have, surely there are some Grade 8's and 7's that would appreciate the opportunity.

I hate to seem like I am bashing referees because I very much appreciate their contribution. It is not an easy job. If the League can't provide quality officials, then we should not keep scores or standings. Their job is too important to not get it right. The Classic League can not be a training ground for inexperienced referees.

I don't know what rec leagues you have been around but most associations in Mid-Cities do not tolerate any where near what happens on classic side lines. Maybe over in the Dallas area that goes on but not in the northern and western metroplex. That, plus travel trime and overscheduling are reasons I have heard for not reffing classic. I can not believe you even made the comment about scores. Bad refs are usually equally and consistly bad. It is about the safety not the score. Bad officiating results in injuries, Period !!! Your right in that the job is too important to not get right. Losing because of a percieved bad call is part of life. Just as in life you get over it and move on. Life lesson for young players, one of the things they take away from the game. Going to the hospital because of lazy officiating is unacceptable no matter what league or fee.

I happpen to be of the opinion that the sidelines of the Classic league (B & G) are worse than what happens on a regular basis in local Rec assns. also, FWIW. Classic league parents are ridiculously loud & obnoxious, compounded by their ignorance of the rules.

methinks that we'd have at least 70% less complaints from parents about Classic league referees if said parents actually read & understood the LoTG. they wouldnt even need to get certified as a grade 8, just understanding the Handling, Offside, and Dangerous Play (High Kick & Playing on the ground) would significantly reduce all the bitching & moaning on the sidelines. Those are not complicated like the misconduct situations or different restarts, they are straight-forward LoTG in the book that parents are clueless about. just becuase the ball touches an arm does not make it a handling infraction, just because the foot is high doesnt make it dangerous play.

not sure what you mean by "colleges & junior colleges" but i can tell yo uthat many refs that are officiating college soccer also work in the Classic leagues during the season. its not every weekend, but they're out there. College officiating is by invitation only, though, and simply reffing in the Classic league isnt a lure to receive higher level games. the CL isnt a training ground for inexperienced refs, but any ref making the step from Rec to Classic is going to have a learning curve associated. even from U12 to U14 is a learning gap for refs, just like the players and the parents.

Oh yeah, please stop bothering the linesman by continuously asking how much time is left. for as many complainst as parents make about calls or refs not paying attention, asking him to take eyes off the field and look at his watch is YOU serving as a distraction to the ref. buy a watch and start it yourself. heck, you can just guesstimate it by simply knowing the length of the half and approximate start time of the half. pretty simple.

He'll always complain about the refs. I can tell you that the coaches' committee has told the board that the coaches think the refereeing has been just fine. Then again, we all know that parents know more about the LOTG than the coaches.

I agree that refs are people and they make mistakes just like the rest of us (see France vs Ireland). In general, I don't have a problem with the Classic refs. Some games are more difficult than others. I've always been under the belief that is the ref determines the outcome of the game, then the game plan wasn't executed properly.

i think i know what you mean, but i've still never seen a ref determine the outcome of a game. i've never seen a ref trip or kick a player or trap and shoot a ball or save a shot off the goal line. those things determine the outcome of games. the referee enforces the LoTG. if a ref calls a penalty kick in the 89th minute, he's enforcing the the fact that the defender committed an foul inside the penalty area. that doesnt decide the outcome as the defender had his role, the kick-taker has his role, and the GK has his role. Besides, the other 89 minutes in the game are just as important as the last minute. what happens in those minutes decides the winner just the same

FlatBack4 wrote:

"F" Classic League. The league sucks from year 5 up, Richland's fields have turned to dirt, and the Refs are the worst they have ever been. I'm glad it's finally over.

Flat, you'll be dearly missed I'm sure by refs, parents, and opposing coaches.

Fields are fine, refs are refs, and the league is adjusting to Academy. It is what it is. I can say after many years at Richland I'll miss it. I'll always come out for Dallas Cup, and will continue to come out to see friend’s kids play. It is a fun activity for a die hard like me, and something you'd better enjoy while you have it.

Oh and if you're gonna complain so vehemently about a call, do it to all calls you perceive as poor not just those affecting your team. Now that would be a novel concept.

gpoo wrote:

FlatBack4 wrote:

"F" Classic League. The league sucks from year 5 up, Richland's fields have turned to dirt, and the Refs are the worst they have ever been. I'm glad it's finally over.

Flat, you'll be dearly missed I'm sure by refs, parents, and opposing coaches.

Fields are fine, refs are refs, and the league is adjusting to Academy. It is what it is. I can say after many years at Richland I'll miss it. I'll always come out for Dallas Cup, and will continue to come out to see friend’s kids play. It is a fun activity for a die hard like me, and something you'd better enjoy while you have it.

Oh and if you're gonna complain so vehemently about a call, do it to all calls you perceive as poor not just those affecting your team. Now that would be a novel concept.

Poo, we were in that situation last weekend. The ref was not making calls on agressive play on both sides of the ball and he was about to lose control of the game. Once, he made a call, then changed his mind on the direction of the kick. I didn't get mad or yell at him. He just didn't seem confident in his calls and was unsure about when to make them.

Poo, we were in that situation last weekend. The ref was not making
calls on agressive play on both sides of the ball and he was about to
lose control of the game. Once, he made a call, then changed his mind on
the direction of the kick. I didn't get mad or yell at him. He just
didn't seem confident in his calls and was unsure about when to make
them.

And he probably wasn't, good thing he's a ref and not your oral surgeon.

(Oh and wait until HS ball, you think this is something to about. Very aggressive takes on a whole new context.)