youth ball referees...

[bob jenkins]

First, compare the quality of the league's players with the quality of the average NBA player.

Now, compare the quality of the league's refs with the quality of the NBA refs.

(or, pick some other group if you don't like the NBA.)

Generally, the refs are just learning -- as are the players. You have a valid complaint if they aren't hustling, aren't learning -- but the complaint is not with the refs but with the organization that provides them (and that may be the rec league itself).