Youth Football Referees – Overcoming Challenges and Fighting for Respect
For both male and female teenagers, becoming a youth football referee can be a challenging and turbulent experience. Let’s look at two teenagers who have begun on this path, each with challenges and triumphs.
Emma
First, there’s Emma, a 16-year-old student who began refereeing football games at the age of 14. Emma enjoyed the sport and wanted to give back to her community. As a result, she chose to become a referee. Emma found the experience exhilarating at first. She enjoyed being in control of the game and felt a sense of empowerment and responsibility for the players and the game. Emma fondly remembers a game where the coaches and parents were kind and complimented her on her performance. She felt a feeling of pleasure and success knowing that she did a good job and that it was noticed by others.
Emma soon realised, however, that not all players and coaches were respectful of her as a referee. Coaches, parents, and players all verbally abused and criticised her. She would sometimes cry after a game because of the hurtful insults and taunts directed at her. Her ambition to continue working as a referee was shaken by her unfavourable experiences. Emma, on the other hand, was persistent, and she persevered with the support of her parents and mentor referees. She learned to be assertive and respectful in conflicts on the field while remaining cool and confident.
John
On the other hand, there’s John, a 15-year-old teenager who began refereeing football as a way to make some extra pocket money. John had grown up playing football and believed that being a referee would be a natural next step for him. However, John learned that the experience was more challenging than he had imagined. He struggled to make consistent split-second decisions, especially when players, coaches, and frequently parents disagreed and fiercely contested his decisions. John can recall a game in which he made a difficult decision that the players accepted without question. He felt validated and confident knowing that he could make a difficult decision and that the players trusted his judgement.
John often felt out of place since he was often alone among what felt to be a sea of adults. Some coaches and parents would make fun of him, and some players would question his credibility as he continued to learn and develop as a referee. John began to doubt his role in the game, but he knew he had to keep going for the sake of the players who relied on him.
Both Emma and John had several positive experiences while connecting with players and coaches. They were able to offer guidance and encouragement, and make confident decisions in split seconds, which served as powerful motivators for them. However, the positive experiences are overshadowed by the magnitude of negative experiences, which far too often occur for all young referees, including Emma and John. The negative experiences need to be addressed to ensure that young referees have an enjoyable and fulfilling experience.
The experiences of Emma and John shed light on the difficulties and challenges that young referees encounter in youth football. Negative experiences, including verbal abuse, physical aggression, and feelings of isolation, can cause young referees to question their desire to continue in the role. Aside from the fact that such behaviour should not be tolerated in youth football. Players, coaches, and parents must respect officials and recognise their importance in the game. Negative experiences may cause referees to quit, but positive ones can boost their confidence and excitement for the role while building transferrable skills and preparing them for the future of refereeing.
Possible Changes:
Several outcomes must improve to offer a positive experience for young referees:
Players, coaches, and parents must be taught the value of respecting referees.
Education should begin at an early age and continue throughout the lives of both players and coaches.
Focus should be placed on training referees and equipping them with the tools they need to succeed
Procedures should be put in place to safeguard referees from verbal and physical abuse.
Players, coaches, and parents who engage in such behaviour and conduct must face consequences.
Conclusion
Being a youth football referee can be a difficult and stormy path for young people. The stories of Emma and John demonstrate the challenges and successes that young referees encounter. To guarantee that young referees have a positive experience, greater focus should be placed on training, education, and protective measures to assist them in succeeding in their roles. By providing a helpful and respectful atmosphere for young referees, we can assist in cultivating their enthusiasm for the game and ensure that they remain an important part of it. Unprofessionalism, such as yelling at or criticising referees, is unacceptable and jeopardises the game’s integrity. We must do more as a community to promote and accept youth football referees, recognising their important role in ensuring that the game is played fairly and safely.
Imagine a professional workplace where employees were constantly berated and insulted for doing their jobs. It would be unacceptable and not long before the best employees left and the quality of work suffered. The same is true for youth football. If we want the best referees to continue officiating and if we want to ensure that the game is played fairly and safely, we must create an environment where referees are respected and valued.
Let’s work together to make youth football a positive and fulfilling experience for everyone involved.
