Letter to youth sports officials

[coach41]

As a ref who originally started working youth/CYO ball in my area, I appreciate the time the coaches/parents/administrators/officials put into the league.

However, after working high school ball for the past 4 years and continuing to work the youth leagues, I have realized what a difficult environment youth leagues are to work in.

The kids are 99% of the time not the problem. The majority of the time it's either over zealous parents or inexperienced/uninformed coaches. The article is good but our league here in the Bay Area has code of conduct rules for players/coaches/spectators. The league also has the Positive Coaching Alliance come in for talks with all coaches.

Has it helped? The talks have only gone on for 2 years so it's debatable if there's been any effect yet. Hopefully, eventually coaches and parents will realize that sports are for kids and let them enjoy the experience.

I will continue to ref the league (at least for a while longer) because it's additional work for me. I started a new job 4 months ago and my high school schedule will likely be....VERY LIGHT this coming season.

[dave30]

I work two or three different youth leagues both during the season and the off-season. I think for the most part, referees do have a positive effect on the kids. Most of these kids remember us when they get to school ball. Many of them see me around town, the mall, whatever, and they always come by and just say hi. If you care about kids and enjoy kids, then you should work youth leagues. If not, you shouldn't. It's all about the kids and that outweighs the idiot parents for me. We are there as much to teach and coach as we are to referee. When you see a kid who couldn't dribble the ball the first time you met him or her and by the end of the year, the kid is playing fairly well and having fun...then it's worth it to me.

[euby]

Originally Posted by dave30

I work two or three different youth leagues both during the season and the off-season. I think for the most part, referees do have a positive effect on the kids. Most of these kids remember us when they get to school ball. Many of them see me around town, the mall, whatever, and they always come by and just say hi. If you care about kids and enjoy kids, then you should work youth leagues. If not, you shouldn't. It's all about the kids and that outweighs the idiot parents for me. We are there as much to teach and coach as we are to referee. When you see a kid who couldn't dribble the ball the first time you met him or her and by the end of the year, the kid is playing fairly well and having fun...then it's worth it to me.

Dave...you need a job?

[coach41]

Dave30,

Yeah, I like the kids too. I played in the CYO youth league and started my reffing career with them. So the league has been very good to me and that's why I still do it.

I'm not sure where you're located, but at least in San Francisco, the schools in the CYO league have some dinky old gyms that are really "close quarters". Specator seating is literally on top of the players and refs.

It's almost impossible to avoid contact with fans/parents/etc and sometimes hard to tune out since they're right on top of you. I'm usually pretty relaxed person, but when I ref, I just put a scowl on my "face". I hope that scares the parents away.

[ChuckElias]

Originally Posted by coach41

Specator seating is literally on top of the players and refs.

How do you run the court with a spectator literally sitting on you?

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by ChuckElias

How do you run the court with a spectator literally sitting on you?

Have you seen the size of this guy's thighs? He could easily carry two spectators!

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by ChuckElias

How do you run the court with a spectator literally sitting on you?

He didn't say spectators, he said specators.

btw...you're pretty quick with that edit button, aintchya?