Silent Sunday Soccer Game

In scanning my emails from The National Alliance for Youth Sports I came across the following article “Kentucky kids soccer league hosts silent game day after “inappropriate behavior” towards referees.”  When I saw the headline, my thoughts went to “yet again….,”  how many times do leagues have to do these types of things in order to protect the game officials who are important to keep youth recreation leagues running.  The article, written by Liz DeSantis and published September 29, 2024, on the 14 News website, states that “A youth soccer league in western Kentucky is trying out some new game rules after a number of incidents where parents inappropriately confronted referees this season. Every year, the league loses referees because of inappropriate incidents, so organizers are looking to make changes to make sure everyone has a good time. The Daviess County Youth Soccer Association are asking parents to reign it all in for Silent Sunday after a number of incidents of inappropriate behavior towards their referees.”

In 2021 I wrote a blog about how the loss of game officials is starting to affect youth sports leagues around the country in the article I stated that According to a September 20, 2018 FOX News story, 80% of High School and youth sports officials quit before their 3rd year on the job and the reason for this trend is the abusive behavior by parents and coaches.  Barry Mano, the President of the National Association of Sports Officials, stated that his office receives calls weekly from youth sports and non-youth sports officials alike, that have to do with assaultive behavior.  He stated that in a survey of youth sports officials the following was revealed:

·      13% have been assaulted,

·      47% have feared for their safety,

·      51% have had to break up a fight between players; and

·      64% have ejected a spectator over unruly behavior.

Amazingly over five years later the same things are happening at youth sports games causing youth sports officials to abandon game officiating at an alarming rate.  The Kentucky article further states that Levi Cecil, a 13-year-old referee in the league, said that “The people who were training told me that most refs quit because of the parents getting mad or the teachers getting mad.”  Levi further stated that he’s already gotten some pushback from parents “Who’ve told me that I’ve done something wrong and a couple parents who told me, they argued with my calls.”

So again, I have to ask what the solution to this alarming problem is.  Well, doing some further research I found an article from Refr Sports, published October 21, 2024, giving some solutions to this growing problem and I for one would love to youth sports leagues throughout the country implement at least some of these ideas.  The article discusses the causes of the referee shortage (which I have discussed ad nauseum) and the impact of the shortage on youth sports which are delayed, rescheduled, or outright canceled games and the disruptions impact young athletes and competition is essential for children’s development, both in terms of skill and personal growth.  The most important part of the article: however, discusses how to fix the referee shortage and they are as follows:

·      A concerted effort needs to be made to reduce abuse and harassment.  Toward that end organizations are starting to implement zero-tolerance policies toward abusive behavior from parents and coaches. Educating all parties involved—players, parents, and coaches—about the importance of respecting officials is crucial. If referees feel supported and safe, they are more likely to stay in the profession.

·      Mentorship and training programs for new referees could help ease the learning curve and make the job more appealing. Referees who feel more confident in their abilities are better equipped to handle difficult situations and are less likely to leave due to inexperience or insecurity.

·      Improving pay and working conditions is another key solution. Offering more competitive wages or bonuses for referees who commit to multiple seasons could make the job more attractive. Moreover, simplifying scheduling and ensuring that referees aren’t overworked by spreading games more evenly across available officials would help reduce burnout.

·      Finally, recruiting efforts need to be expanded. Sports organizations should actively encourage younger individuals, former players, and sports enthusiasts to take up officiating by promoting the benefits of the job - such as staying connected to the sport, leadership opportunities, and flexible work hours. Initiatives that highlight the positive aspects of refereeing could attract a new generation of officials.

The conclusion of the article states the shortage of referees in youth sports is a growing concern that threatens the quality and availability of games for young athletes. The primary drivers of this shortage—verbal abuse, low pay, and difficult working conditions—can be addressed through better policies, increased support, and efforts to make refereeing more rewarding. By taking action to recruit, train, and retain more referees, youth sports organizations can ensure a positive, well-officiated experience for all involved, helping young athletes thrive in a healthy, supportive environment.

            I agree with the above conclusion.  I have always felt that it is the leagues responsibility to ensure that everyone participating in said league is protected and considering the fact that most children participate in youth sports on the recreation level it is very important to protect the game officials, especially the youngsters who are starting out, from unruly coaches and parents because while you can argue that without coaches and players you may not have a league, without game officials youth sports will most likely cease to exist.