Skills Vs Refs

[CoachK]

you hate that answer, because truth hurts!!!! Everyone knocks the officials. Yes there are officials that don't do as well as other officials, however for the most part they try their best. It is easy to officiate from the stands, but come down where all the action is and the situation changes. If every one who complained about the officials would take their test and become one, we wouldn't be in a crisis with the shortage of officials. What will happen one day down the road is there won't be any officials at all or chapters will have to merge to stay alive. Then schools are going to have to pay big bucks to get officials from farther away to come do games if at all. So please.......I encourage you all to take your test. Don't be a "bleacher official", be a real official and join a chapter!!!!!

[Gunner18]

the majority of those that complain about the refs are still in high school...are you suggesting that they drop out of school to become an official? that sounds like a swell of an idear! and im pretty sure that you have to be 21 to be a PIAA ref, so that leaves most kids 2-3 years after high school before they can do anything about it!

[CoachK]

I never suggested that it was solely kids who complain or that high school kids drop out of school to take their PIAA exam. I am saying the PIAA core of officials is growing thinner and thinner. If we had a broader base of officials then maybe you would get better officials. That means when you have more officials to choose from then the quailty will come up some. So every bleacher official who wants to blame the "poor officiating" on the refs who try to do their best, perhaps they should help the cause and take their exam. Especially parents. Many seem to think it is the "officials fault" for everything that goes on, it can't be "little johnny" or the "coaching" it is most always the official. This is the major problem with the shortage of officials, because the officials don't want to put up with the child like behavior and attitudes. I know I coach and officiate, both at the high school level.

[once a runner]

Maybe HS kids can't become PIAA officials, but is there some law they can't officiate AYSO games for younger groups? That alone would teach them that officiating is tougher than it appears.

[CoachK]

I am not sure, but check with township wrestler he is a AYSO official.

[count2infinity]

i've been an AYSO officail for a good many years now...and yes it does make you appreciate the work the officals do, and it helps you realize that sometimes you call what you see and it's all in the opinion of the ref, so yes...AYSO helps (by the way i'm a senior in high schoo)

[CoachK]

Thanks for your input infinity, hopefully you will stick it out and in a few years pick up your PIAA certification, because they are certainly in dire straits.

[Gunner18]

i reffed AYSO for several years and i know that its a tough job, ill never once argue that, but there are refs out there that miss alot more calls than other refs. when i finally settle down in life, i plan on becoming an official in whatever state im in at the time. i love soccer, especially high school soccer and i want to stay involved. so unless i become a coach, then i will most definetly be a zebra. and coachk, i know what kind of people you meant, i was just pointing out that the majority of complainers are not yet eligible to become refs.

[count2infinity]

the only thing i didn't like about reffing was when i was 12, it was my first or second year, i just got done with a game and some huge guy came over and started yelling at me...scared me half to death, now i just laugh about it but still...you'd think people would take it easy on younger people

[CoachK]

Well gunner I hope you stick it out and become an official. Don't let coaching stand in your way of becoming an official, You can do both. Maybe not the same sport, but you can officiate and coach. We need them badly. Good luck.