This Ref Crashed Out On Parents At A Soccer Game & We're On His Side

"We've all been at the kids' baseball or soccer game where some parent along the sidelines is way out of line. Maybe they're screaming at the coach to put their child in, or reaming the ref for a "bad call," and none of it actually serves their child (who is usually just humiliated by the whole scene). Don't get me started on the parents "coaching" their kids at a regular freaking practice."

""Do I look like I should be doing seven games in 24 hours? No, I don't," says the unnamed referee. "You know why I'm doing seven games in 24 hours? Because there are fewer and fewer people that are willing to do this." He goes on to say that most often, refs become unwilling to participate in youth leagues "because of you people," he says, gesturing at the parents. "So why don't you just grow up, please!" he shouts, as the wall of grownups begins to applaud."

"One Reddit thread about referee shortages posits some different theories about why a shortage exists, and commenters say out-of-control parents are definitely part of the equation. "My kid is 16. Reffed for two years when he could around his MLS Next schedule so it was hard but he wanted the money and enjoyed doing it. He didn't re-up at the end of 2024 and said 'I don't get paid enough to get yelled at,' one parent commented.""

Parents at youth sports events frequently behave disruptively, yelling at coaches and referees and even coaching during practices, which often humiliates children. A referee at a high-school girls' soccer match walked across the field to address sideline parents on camera and said he was working seven games in 24 hours because fewer people are willing to officiate. The referee blamed parent behavior for driving officials away and urged adults to grow up, drawing applause. Youth leagues increasingly struggle to find enough referees, and some officials quit because pay does not justify being yelled at.

Read at Scary Mommy