01/12/2025
Most problems with referees in youth sport come from adults, not children.
One referee told us he spent 20 seasons in the professional game and was treated with respect by every elite player he met.
But the worst abuse of his entire career came on junior pitches, from parents who thought they knew more than he did.
Another reminded that referees make hundreds of decisions every game, with people complaining about a handful. If players made the same number of mistakes, most would be benched, yet we accept player errors and attack referee errors.
➟ Effort matters.
➟ Consistency matters.
➟ Player safety matters.
➟ Referees should communicate and keep learning.
➟ Standards do matter but standards aren’t built through abuse.
And that’s the line we keep crossing.
🔍 Asking for effort isn’t abuse.
❌ Screaming at a young referee is.
When adults lose control, children copy them.
When adults protect referees, children do the same.
That’s why we created the poster "6 Ways to Support Referees"
because the game only works if the people protecting it feel safe enough to stay.
