Kids' sports and officiating

I would not put myself in the position of officiating a game in which my child participated.

In my opinion parents are some of the worst examples of sportsmanship around. It is amazing what you will see and hear at games for children.

I am thankful I had 2 loving parents that always supported me in any sport I participated. But they never once yelled at an offical or a coach. They let me play and have fun. I greatly respect them for that and as my daughters grow and participate in activities I plan on following their example, even in situations where it may be hard to keep my mouth closed.

 

[rant] I'm in my mid-30's. I was the last of the generation that, when we wanted to play baseball, we got a group, went to the lot, and played. Wish that our society was such that we could go back to that.

As a former high school, college, and recreational athlete, I think...

..."organized sports" has turned into a god for thousands of families. "Travel ball" takes several families out of our church--sometimes for weeks at a time. Hard feelings and shouting matches are a normal thing in these parts, over a bunch of six year-old tee-ballers, no less. And parents seem to have NO objectivity...what the heck are you letting a SEVEN year-old practice FIVE DAYS A WEEK, THREE HOURS A DAY for?!? Some parental units are nutsoid.

It makes me sick at how adults can totally screw up childhood.

I will say this, though...leaders in our church have been known to confront church folks who act like jerks and bring reproach to God's name or our church's name.

[/rant]

 

I coach Pop Warner football, and last year my kids lost the championship game on two or three bad calls. (The video showed a TD being called on the 3 yard line, and the other two were also caught on tape.) Mistakes happen. However, a few days later, the opposing coach overheard the referee who made the bad calls telling a parent that "he did everything he could to help them win". He had the honor to refuse to participate in the state championships. It was too late to forfeit the game, but he was not going to let his kids learn the lesson that it's OK to benefit from cheating.

However, most referees and coaches around here are fantastic. The whole community becomes involved. Even those without kids who are playing.

 

Well last saturday my 9 year old grandson played his first basketball game.The skill level on both teams was nowhere near the desire level.The official was a nice young man who coached both teams on the floor and explained the game to the kids as they played it. The ref was also a fan of each of the kids as he cheered them along when they did something well.It was a totally enjoyable experience.Now that's SPORTS!

 

I ref'd soccer for 4 seasons (2 years) and always tried to get the kindergarten games. The parents didn't usually care that much about calls, and they were quick games so I could squeeze more in a day.

The worst coach I ever had to ref was a fellow ref in the league. I hated doing his games. By and large the parents were decent. There were a few bad ones, but it wasn't too bad.

 

I coach Baseball and Basketball. It is always risky to have family members officiate... but here, most people are somehow related to someone on the team.

Some have integrity. Some don't.

I hate seeing kids on either team be on the receiving end of intentionally bad officiating. Like HoG illustrated, it is a terrible lesson to teach a kid.

 

I've coached Little League and Cal Ripkin baseball and was an assistant hockey coach one season.

I love sports and I love to teach kids.

I haven't done it in about two years, but my coaching career lasted about seven or eight years. In all of that time, I guess I was lucky in that I never experienced the horror stories I hear so much about. The biggest problem I had was when the parents of one of my players showed up, each not knowing the other was there. They were going through a nasty divorce and got into a big fight in the stands. It upset the boy so much that he just got up, got on his bike and left.

I was going to step out of the dugout and say something to them, but luckily, one of the other players' dad read him the riot act.

My dad was my coach in baseball and football for many years and he also coached my brother.

He never showed either of us any favoritism and was always fair with all of his players, so I do know that it can be done.

Coaching is one thing, but I wouldn't have a parent officiate. Not because I believe he would cheat or show favoritism, but just because it puts the parent in an awkward spot.

If you want to read a great book on the subject, go check out Cal Ripkin's new book, "Coaching Kids the Ripkin Way".

I just got it and it has chapters for coaches, parents and officials.