Respect for Officials

[so cal lurker]

Originally Posted by Refhoop

Its "all about the kids"? This mantra of "all about the kids" is producing a generation of ingrates with an ever decreasing respect for rules, authority and folks in uniform.
Since when is it ever "all about" any of us or any one group?
While I don't agree that kids are meant to be seen and not heard; I am definitely not on board with "all about the kids".
I thought we were in this to help young people learn good citizenship and because we love the game...?
It isn't about me, but it certainly isn't "all about kids"!

I think it depends upon who is saying it and what it means. "All about the kids," to me doesn't mean mean the kids get to be disrespectful about rules, authority, or folks in uniform. I've always thought it meant -- when used properly:
- giving the kids an opportunity to play
- letting the kids learn what it means to work together and be part of a team
- that it's not about the parents who should stay out of it
- teaching the kids the game including how to play properly with respect and sportsmanship
- teaching the kids to be responsible for themselves and their own behavior, to suffer the consequences that come with their failings
- teaching kids to learn how to be gracious in both winning and losing.

"It's all about the kids" is a great mantra -- if used properly and not used by $%@#$ as an excuse to berate officials -- when they do that, they aren't making it about the kids, but about themselves and their own hurt feelings. Parents and coaches who actually believe it all about the kids aren't yelling at the refs, they are teaching their players/kids that refs are people too, that refs are going to make mistakes, and that living with those mistakes and rising beyond them is simply part of the game -- and life.

(Aside: My son is a frosh basketball player, and I was recently at the parent meeting for all winter parents. The AD made a point of talking about appropriate parent behavior, which does not include yelling at refs. He went on to say that part of the problem is that refs leave because they get tired of being yelled at/abused. He also pointed out to the parents that because there aren't enough refs, it's probably true that the lower divisions don't get the best refs -- and then gave the example of what a JV soccer ref gets paid, to do a game on his own (because there aren't enough refs to assign more than one), and what that translated to once you considered the travel time, getting there early, etc. And when we moved to the individual team meeting, my son's coach reiterated that he didn't want to hear parents or players yelling at refs.)