In the essay titled “Dear Mom and Dad: Cool It,” OHSAA, with the support of the National Federation of State High School Associations, explained that parents loudly criticizing game officials or coaches is one of the main reasons high school refs are quitting — at least according to recent National Association of Sports Officials study.
Yes, it seems that plenty of parents are forgetting one key thing while attending their kids’ high school games … these athletes aren’t professionals, they’re not even college age. These are young people going through the most awkward years of their lives. Yes, some will go on to play elsewhere, but most are participating for the fun of it all.
Worst of all, as the letter pointed out, these irate parents, no matter how “correct” they are about a certain “bad” call a ref made, are embarrassing their kids.
“Make no mistake about it. Your passion is admired, and your support of the hometown team is needed. But so is your self-control,” the letter said. “Yelling, screaming and berating the officials humiliates your child, annoys those sitting around you and embarrasses your child’s school.”
As more established refs retire in Ohio and across the country, OHSAA said that there are fewer and fewer younger men and women willing to take their place.
Those sideline commentators who think they see the call the “right way” are more than welcome to get certified as an Ohio high school referee right here.
Bottom line: There are no games without officials (as seen at various games around the state that have had to be canceled for the lack there of). When you attend a high school game remember to act like the adult you are, saving your choicest of insults for the next Browns vs. Steelers game.
This article appears in Jan 16-22, 2019.
The same can also be said about coaching.
I have always been respectful to the referees , however there are two sides to this.
The refs cant just blame the disrespectful Parents when there are referees to blame here as well. I cannot tell how many times I have been to a football game or a wrestling match for my son and I personally have seen a ref Blatantly Blow a call, and the fact that there is little to no oversight for some of these refs so I ask you why do you think some of these parents are a little amped up?
Maybe its because situations where a blown call could be reviewed or reversed end up screwing kids that work their asses off .
Now I work the side lines and I work closely with with refs weekly. a lot of them are great people I have respect for them and they are human and human beings make mistakes, but lets be fair here it does take two sides, you cannot just blame the Parents.
There needs to be a review or oversight system put in place for calls and maybe it might reduce some of this
Thanks
Jeff