Sometimes you wonder why we do this job.
 

Fight breaks out at youth football game after player tackles referee | HeraldTribune.com



I didn't see this posted yet. I apologize if it is already here somewhere, but it makes you wonder what is wrong with people today.

You beat me too it. I was just about to post this.

This why I tell people to stop doing many of these youth or non-sanctioned leagues. But when you say that the reaction is, "You are trying to be bigger than the game."

Peace

I hope no referees stayed and finished that game. They should all get together and just quit the league. Let the parents referee if they want to keep playing. I know I would have walked to my car and drove away.

This is certainly a good reason why I don't work at this level. Coaches and players all out of control. Why? Over some perceived bad calls.

I think everyone forgets why the games are played. And the young man who tackled the official, his year needs to be over with.

The article says that the team has been suspended, four individuals have been expelled, and they may expel the entire Gators group.

<p style="width:450px"><a href="http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/sun_coast/fighting-erupts-at-youth-football-game-08312011">Video: Referee attacked at youth football game: MyFoxTAMPABAY.com</a></p>

Looks like video wont embed - just follow the link below it, its shown there.

I hope that the authorities prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. :mad: Unfreaking belivable!

The ones that will plead out to avoid felony assault charges are probably good candidates for expulsion. :eek:

I will work some youth football, but I'm very picky. It's only at smaller, rural towns where the teams/parents/coaches are thrilled to have you. I've gone to some other places once only to think to myself "never again."

But in the end, I do these games for one reason only -- the paycheck. I'd be lying if I said otherwise. And, truth be told, I haven't done one of these in 2 years now.

I do not realistically think that everyone is going to not work these games. That is silly to even expect that. But I hate it when you tell someone you do not want to work those games is for the money, then you get the self-righteous rants about we have a bigger responsibility to the game.....blah....blah.....blah!!!

Peace

Each individual has his own motive for officiating, whether it's youth ball or the NFL.

I've worked games for a very organized youth league for the past 7 or 8 years. We use only HS certified officials, the games are played at HS stadiums with limited field access, and the team officers know that they are subject to severe fines and/or suspensions for any trouble caused by their program during a game.

Fortunately, we've had only one or two incidents during my tenure, and certainly nothing of the scale shown here.

The official has been doing games for 14 years. The school dept in Sarasota County banned the league from using ANY of its schools' fields. There is a felony assault on officials law here in FL. I hope that any officials in that league refuse to work unless there is law enforcement present. If that video had not surfaced, it would have been almost a "he said, she said" situation. The coaches should get lifetime bans and the kid should not play for a good long while. He may not get charged as an adult, but hopefully, this will stick with him through HS. It is not in FHSAA jurisdiction, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them discuss it.

Just another in the myriad of reasons not to call youth football.

I coach my son's Featherweight team (11U and below 100#) here in a suburb of Chicago. The crews we see working our league are really good. The guys hustle, make the calls (though we may not agree) and act professionally. I respect the heck out of those guys because they help the next generation of football players and coaches develop.

The video was sent out to all of our coaches yesterday. Every forward included quips like, "I hope the kid gets banned from FHSAA ball when he is ready for it." or "Did you see the guy join the fight while holding an infant in his arms? Disgusting!". Most youth coaches and players get it.

:mad::mad::mad:

The referee who was assaulted by youth football coaches and players at a Saturday game told detectives he did not want to press charges.

Referee [redacted], 41, signed a waiver of prosecution as the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office began to investigate the attack that occurred at an afternoon game between the Sarasota Gators and the North Port Huskies at Riverview High School.

Shouldn't matter. Assaulting an official is a felony in Florida, and the prosecutor/DA should be able to prosecute without needing a complaint filed by the victim.

I never understand why officials decide not to prosecute...you're not only doing yourself a disservice but a disservice to all other officials. I know when I had two players assault me after a rec game, you better believe I went through will filing a police report and everything.

For certif'n as a coach or admin., the Nat'l ***'n for Youth Sports shows a video that opens with footage & accounts of stuff like this occurring at children's sporting events. It's like they were trying to scare us off first.

Four Charged in brawl

This is for a special person and he knows who he is. This just goes to show that there is always more to the story or there are claims that are going to be made on both sides. The plot thickens and no matter what this official wants this is out of his hands. But as to be expected there is a claim the official started it. Not sure how, but that is the claim. Now what does this imply now?

Peace

The Gators team personnel were making claims that "there's another side to the story" since the first reports were released but I've yet to read what the other side is. The link posted as well as others on the tv news website that I followed still don't articulate any "other side".

The only new piece of info is they claim something happened to their cheerleaders but a) doesn't go into detail, and b) sure wouldn't be the officials area of responsibility.

The simplest answer is usually the first one. Like a lot of youth coaches, they are ill trained and too emotionally wrapped up in the game to do their job. A flag was thrown and before they took the time to realize it was against their opponent, they flew off the handle and made @$$3$ out of themselves.

How many of us have even had to tell a HS coach to simmer down until we actually know what foul was called after a flag is thrown across the way?

I don't know if its racial in nature and as far as this incident I don't really care. Youth coaches, no matter their race, have got to set a better example. From the look of the officiating crew, they appeared to be fairly diverse. The first time I glanced at the clip, I thought the attacked official was non-Caucasian too.

As far as the kids go, I'm tired of hearing about how the kids have been hurt. No more hurt has been inflicted than that watching adults who are supposed to set the example act like a group of bullies. Valuable life lessons will be learned. Don't be a jerk and respect authority come to mind.

As far the official goes, who know why he didn't press the charges himself. Maybe his lawyer advised him not to? Personally, I would. I don't foresee him getting a big payday out of the team considering they were borrowing money to pay expenses. I guess he'll go after the league and maybe the school system that hosted the games.

That is a true statement. ^^^

I doubt the official would have looked for monetary gain or compensation in filing charges.

If there was such a law in my state, I would have filed for sure.

My first year of doing FB was a youth football league. I am amazed that I didn't quit officiating. I am glad that I did not. But I DID quit doing youth football. Youth football is a parent-run organization and that says it all. There are 2 models of youth sports: Instructional and PRO. One teaches kids the fundamentals of the sport as well as character. The other does not.

My advice: Never do youth sports if you observe anything other than the instructional version.