2007-09  NASOA  OFFICERS President:Pat Miller Vice President: Michael Messervy Secretary: Darrell Schmidt Treasurer: Kim Hensley USSF Officer: Gil Ferguson AHSAA Officer: Ken Brown Board Members at Large: Michael Stewart, Patrick Streeter Past President (2004): Mike Costello   NASOA HS Assignor's On-Line Calendar

     "I believe in the traditional role of accepting decisions as part of discipline of sportsmanship and fair play."  Pierluigi Collina, FIFA Ref

     "The problem with referees is that they just don't care which side wins." Tom Canterbury

Use these links to get to more of our Referee Information:

• Referee Forms, Documents and Articles (High School and USSF)
• Referee Links
• Referee Articles
• Referee Documents
• Links to Referee Websites
• NASOA Referee Pay Rates - Updated Rates June 2004
• Referee Uniform & Equipment Suppliers
• Directions to High School and Middle School Fields

North Alabama Soccer Official Association (NASOA)

    The North Alabama Soccer Official Association meets weekly on Monday Nights at 6:30 pm in the 8th Grade Classroom at Whitesburg Middle School.  For further information contact Tommy Hunt, 882-2992 or TJHBAMA@comcast.net  The NASOA soccer hotline is 864-0300.

The first NASOA meeting of the Fall season is this Monday, August 2nd, 2004 at 6:30pm at First Christian Church on Whitesburg Drive in Huntsville.


 

• 
  AHSAA Contacts:
  For more information on AHSAA Referees contact:
   
  • Tom Coatoam, AHSAA Officer
    W: 552-5236 tom.coatoam@delphi.com
    H: legnofdoom@aol.com
     
  • Tommy Hunt, AHSAA Northern District Director for Soccer
    H: TJHBAMA@comcast.net - (256) 882-2992
    W: Tommy.J.Hunt@HND01.hnd.usace.army.mil - (256) 895-1612
     
  • NASOA HS Assignor's On-Line Calendar

Certification

Training: 

• USSF Entry Level Course
         The North Alabama Soccer Official's Association (NASOA) will sponsor a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) introductory level referee course in Huntsville on August 13-15, 2004. Location will be First Christian Church, 3209 Whitesburg Dr.
  Friday - 6:00pm - 10:00pm
  Saturday - 9:00am - 5:00pm
  Sunday - 1:00pm - 5:00pm
        Cost of the course is $70.00 per person for the course and an additional $30.00 for those 18 years and older who wish to receive assignments through NASOA. NASOA waives the $30 fee for those referees under 18 years of age.
        With the change to smaller sided matches, especially in the U9s where 6v6 is to be played and only one referee is to be supplied, an increased burden is being placed on NASOA to cover all requested matches. Since higher age groups have the highest priority in referee assigning, it is extremely important that more referees be added to NASOA so we can cover the lower age groups. Please tell your teams, coaches and managers that more referees are needed.
         If you have any questions contact patdagmar@knology.net  or contact the NASOA Lead Instructor, Daphne Brown at daphne@hiwaay.net.
  
   
• Entry Level Referee Class - Birmingham at UAB Humanities Building Room 105 - August 20-22nd, 2004
  Friday, August 20, 2004 from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.
  Saturday, August 21, 2004 from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
  Sunday, August 22, 2004 from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
   
• NASOA Weekly Referee Meetings
        NASOA weekly referee meetings are Monday nights at 6:30 at Drake Technical College.
   
• Instructor News
  Daphne Brown has been designated at the Lead Instructor for NASOA, and Barry Pharris has been designated at the Lead Assessor for NASOA.

• AHSAA NF High School Referee Pay Rates:
  
        It is recommended that schools use three AHSAA-registered officials (a referee and two assistant referees) for each game. If necessary, two officials may be used for a game. The schedule of maximum officials' fees for regular season games (includes section games) and mileage is as follows:
   
  1. High School Varsity - $40 per referee per game
     $30 per assistant referee per game
  2. Junior Varsity - $35 per referee per game
     $25 per assistant referee per game
  3. Grades 7-9 - $30 per head referee per game
     $20 per assistant referee per game
  4. Mileage - 32 cents per mile both ways (all levels).
     Mileage of 10 or less miles does not apply.
  5. The schedule of maximum officials' fees for sub-state and state tournament games is as follows:
     High School Varsity - $45 per referee per game
     $35 per assistant referee per game
      

REFEREE NEWS:

• Important Notes for the Fall Season:

  • No corner flags, no play.
    Fields MUST have corner flags. It is the responsibility of the home team to provide corner flags. If the home team can not provide them within 15 minutes of the start time of the match, then it is listed as a “no show” match. If flags are secured within the 15 minutes grace time, then the match is played with out a deduction in time.
     
  • No passes, No Play.
    NASL matches - If a team shows up without coach or player passes, the offending team (the one without the passes) will pay the entire match's referee fees on the field at that time. If they refuse to pay, then the referees will contact Pat Miller and Mike Costello at NASOA and submit a report. It is the home team’s responsibility to inform the out of town teams of this issue. This is for NASL matches only. State matches require passes also but referee fees are not paid on the field.
     
  • Rule Change - Mandatory Caution for removing shirt
    Law change for 2004, it is a mandatory caution if a player raises his/her shirt above the head or takes off the shirt in a celebratory/derogatory manner.
  
   
• NASOA Web-site
  The board is in the process of setting up a web-site http://www.NASOA.org We need volunteers to help get it up and running. If interested in helping talk to Nisheeth.
   
• High School Publications
  AHSAA Officials Guidebook 2003
  AHSAA Spring Sports 2004 - Soccer Section Only
  NFHS Spring Sports
   
• Officials' Code of Ethics
       Please re-affirm with each of your respective association members, the Officials Code of Ethics. You shall never berate, admonish, or degrade another official in a public forum, whether that be personally in public, or through an electronic chat room or forum. You may exchange your Name, AHSAA Officials Number, email  address, etc. with another official... If you feel that you need to discuss a particular situation or event on a one-to-one basis, or at your next respective officials association meeting. But, never do this discussion in a public place, where other may overhear, and mis-understand what is being said and responded.
        I don't care how wrong you may feel another officials is, or how unjust you feel personally, because your son or daughter was on the other team. You will never, never berate, admonish, or degrade another official in a public.
        YOU ARE ALWAYS AN OFFICIAL FIRST. Even though it is very tough not to be a parent first. If you have some major concerns during a game, then submit an observers game report, and have it brought up for discussion during your respective officials association meeting. Or, forwarded to the respective Association President, for the association that the official is a member. Ensure that I get a CC of the same email or report.
       I have attached the following website for the AHSAA Mission Statement and Code of Ethics:
  http://www.ahsaa.com/officials/missionstatement.asp
       A single incident could get you suspended from all AHSAA activities for a period of two years, and that could involve your restriction from all sports, not just soccer. I know a few of you work more than one sport, and Code of Ethics applies to all officials, in all sports.
       Tommy Hunt, AHSAA Northern District Director for Soccer
  (h) 256-882-2992, tjhbama@comcast.net  (w) 256-895-1612, tommy.j.hunt@hnd01.usace.army.mil
  
   
• Head Gear Approved for USYSA and AYSA Play
       The Alabama Youth Soccer Association has recognized and endorsed the new protective headgears available for soccer. Please note that this is club ball not high school. 
        According to Tommy Hunt:
  "NFHS and AHSAA currently state that if a player needs headgear to eligible to play, for health reasons, then they probably shouldn't be playing at all. The allow the face guards in basketball for things like broken noses, but the head is not a part of the game (usually) in basketball.   It is an active part of the game in soccer."
   
• Noisemakers - Legal or Not?
       From Greg Brewer - "It has come to our attention that some (high school) game officials are instructing spectators in the Birmingham area to refrain from using cow bells at their soccer game.  Artificial Noisemakers (Cow Bells) are legal for spectators at outdoor sporting events.  Please forward this information on to your local associations so these type of actions by officials will stop."  
        Clarification from Tommy, Air powered noise makers such as Air Horns are not permissible.  Drums fall in the same category as cow bells, in that they are man-powered and therefore allowed. Generally, we do not see these in this area, but may be exposed to them during Sub-State games, when attendance and spectators participation grows.
   
• Calendar of Referee related events
  July 20-25th, 2004 – Region III ODP (girls U15), Montevallo
  July 24-25th, 2004 – National NISOA Camp – University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
  August 1st, 2004 – HASL Tournament
  August 14th, 2004 – State Fall League Begins
  August 20-22nd, 2004 – Huntsville Summer Classic
   
• NASOA Flipping Coins
  NASOA board approved and ordered the purchase of a NASOA flipping coin. All members of NASOA will receive one coin at no charge to the member. If you wish to purchase coins, the cost is $3.00 apiece, limit is five coins per referee. Daphne Brown will have the coins with me for the next several meetings.
   
• FOSNA
  The city of Huntsville has approved $2.5 million for improvements for the Merrimack Soccer Complex. The improvements include 5 additional fields, lights, and a large building. Plans for design should be finalized in the next few weeks. A membership drive is ongoing, $20 of single, $50 for family membership. Membership forms can be found on FOSNA Link at NASL.com.
   
• New NASL Referee Pay Rates for 2004
  
      The NASOA Board voted to increase the NASL referee rates to reflect the same rates as ASA Division II. There are two files linked below. The first is the current rates as of the Fall 2003. The second is the new rates for NASL that reflect the exact amounts as ASA Division II. These changes do not represent a significant increase in the fees paid to referees. Secondly, since there is no DII for U9 - U10 we decided not to increase the rate for that age group. If in the coming season ASA increases their DII rates the NASL rates will reflect that increase.
  • NASL-NASOA New Referee Pay Rates For Fall 2004 - Excel Spreadsheet
  • NASOA-NASL Contract for Fall 2004

 

• 2004 “7 + 7 Cautionable and Sending-Off Offenses”
  From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center - March 18, 2004
  The 2004 version of the “7 + 7 Cautionable and Sending-Off Offenses” position paper covering professional competitions is available here for download.
  
  The following changes were made from last year:
   
  • The example of unsporting behavior associated with “bringing the game into disrepute” has been rewritten in  language which is easier to understand
  • An additional example of unsporting behavior has been added to section 1 based on an instruction from FIFA regarding the removal of a player’s jersey after scoring a goal
  • At the request of and in consultation with the professional leagues, point values for certain cautions have been adjusted

  These changes do not involve any modifications of the Law.  They are clarifications of existing misconduct and are intended only to guide referees in identifying correctly the reasons for taking action against misconduct.
   

• State League Guidelines
  Game Day
      The first team on the schedule is the home team. The home team must change jerseys if there is a conflict as determined by the head
  official. Both teams should provide a game ball to the Head Official
  prior to the start of the match.
      No player, coach or team will be permitted to play without current
  2003-2004 laminated player pass containing a recent photo and proper signature. Player passes for each team member along with a photocopy of the team's approved roster will be required at each game.

Upgrades:

      Some information on upgrading that should be know by all:

      The Referee Administrative Handbook lists the criteria for certifying and upgrading referees. Part of the clinic will be devoted to re-certifying all State Referees, Grades 5 and 6. With regard to upgrading, the Handbook states the minimum age, game level to be considered, time in present grade, training course requirements, written examination, field evaluations and physical fitness test. In the past, most of the field evaluations have been conducted first. Effective immediately, the procedure for upgrading will be the certification of minimum age, experience, completion of the training course requirements, passing the written examination and the physical fitness test. The last step in the process is the field evaluations.

      Field evaluations for Grade 6 will be U-19 matches or higher. For Grade 5, field evaluations will be Division 1 matches or higher. Referees may have to travel to different locations to officiate quality matches for their upgrade. It is further proposed that the field evaluations for State Referee 1 and 2 be conducted by three different assessors.

More information about State Referees and Upgrading:
      State Referees are required to attend an advanced training session in order to get or keep your certification. Jan. 9-11, 2004 is the next scheduled State Referees Course. Make plans to attend if you are required.
      Grade 7 upgrading to Grade 6, and Grade 6 upgrading to Grade 5 will be required to take one of these advanced courses as part of the upgrade process. Read your “Referee Administrative Handbook – Rev. 2002” for complete instruction on upgrading and maintenance requirements for all referees. The State will start following these guidelines stringently.
      Always keep a log of all games worked. You will need to produce a copy of this log, as documentation, during the upgrade process to prove that you have met the minimum number of game requirement as stated in the Referee Administrative Handbook.
      There will be spot informal assessment accomplished this Fall. All USSF Assessors are required to complete 10 assessments during each year, and therefore, these informal will help in meeting those requirements. This is not really a change to NASOA’s policy… informal assessments have always been available. Now the assessors can appear at any game, at any time, and evaluate the referee crew working the game.

• Match Logs for Upgrades
  This is an example of the type of match logs that referees will be required to produce for future upgrades.  They can pick their own format as long as it contains the information shown. Barry Pharris
  • Match log 7-6.doc
  • Match log 8-7.doc
     
• Clarification about Upgrades for Referees
  Alabama Referees:
       During the past year there has been some confusion about upgrading. Referees that completed an upgrade from 8-7 or 7-6 have requested assessments for upgrade to the next level prior to completing all of the requirements for the current grade.  According to the Referee Administrative Handbook, 2002, anyone completing a successful upgrade must complete 12 months in the present grade before requesting a further upgrade.  There are other requirements that must be completed before requesting assessments.
        David McKee, Director of Assessment, USSF, was contacted to clarify the issues.  Before applying for upgrade, the applicant pass the physical test, be in the previous grade for 12 months prior to an upgrade, and pass the written examination.  Field assessments should be the final the final step. 
       The Administrative Handbook states that the competition for upgrade should be U-19 matches or higher.  U19 matches include any matches that have 45-minute halves.  Thus, U17 and U18 matches could count.  However,  for an upgrade to Grade 5, State 1, assessments must be completed in top adult Division 1 leagues or higher.  Maintenance assessments are required for all Grade 6 and 5 State Referees. I am in the process of developing a Web site for assessments. Hopefully, the site will have all of the above information in addition to an assessment application form.
  Lowell Frobish - SDA 
   
• Assessments:
       I've received guidance from Lowell on maintenance assessments. Alabama is now requiring grade 7's to complete a yearly maintenance assessment along with all State referees. This requirement is being imposed by the State, not Nationals. Grade 7's can schedule assessments through their local associations. Grade 7's do not need to go through Lowell. I will take care of notifying the State referees as soon as I know the expense. State referees will need to send the cost of the assessment to Lowell and he will work with them on assigning an assessor and match. Please disseminate this information to the general membership.
  Thanks,  Barry Pharris

No Overtime

All USSF regular season youth games that are tied at the end of regulation time are completed. There is NO OVERTIME. This includes the State D1 & D2 games and the Region 3 Premier League games. Overtime is reserved for games that require a winner for advancement in a tournament or tournament type format. Please send this to your referees.
Bill, SYRA

Overheard at the recent Re-certification Clinic:

• Directors of Coaching may coach any team in their club without having a pass.  Referees should note the name and details in match report.
• For AYSA State games referees do NOT keep player passes for players who receive red cards.  Referees are to record the card number (not uniform number) and player name and return the pass.
• For NASL games referees do retain cards for players who receive red cards and turn them in at Pete's Soccer Shop in South Huntsville.
• Be sure to record any serious injuries.
• Referees should acquaint themselves with the following AYSA documents:
  • AYSA Rules & Regulations - Revised 4-29-2001
  • State League Guidelines 20 1
  • State League Guidelines 2003-04
  • State League Guidelines 2003-04 Revisions

High School Referee Uniforms:

• Primary uniform will be fuchsia and flat black

• Alternate uniforms are all USSF colors without the USSF logos.
• Old Jerseys needed for New Referees
  If any of you have any old fuchsia or solid black jerseys that you'd like to sell, let me know. There will be several new referees that need these types of jerseys to support AHSAA matches. We're suggesting a $10 payment for these shirts.
  We'll begin compiling a list of donors and recipients and will help everyone get in touch with each other.
  Tommy Hunt and Tom Coatoam
   

NASOA Referee Pay Rates:

• NASOA Referee Pay Rates for Fall 2003
• Fall 2003 NASOA Pay Rates (Excel Spreadsheet) NEW 7/21/2003
• High School Pay Rates
  Varsity           $40 - $30 - $30
  Junior Varsity  $35 - $25 - $25
  Middle School  $30 - $20 - $20
        From these amounts there is a deduct of $3-3-3 from each game, this is distributed as follows: Assignor 1-1-1, Treasurer 1-1-1 and NASOA 1-1-1. Mileage is paid in once separate check at the end of the season. No need to track your mileage. You get a set rate based on the distance from the school to Whitesburg, divided equally among the crew. No mileage paid for schools within 10 miles of Whitesburg.
       Paychecks are distributed at the Monday meetings. It is not permissible to pick up a check for someone. If you are unable to make the meeting, you can send a SASE to the treasurer, requesting your check to NASOA, 915 San Ramon Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35802
   

Click on the photo to check out the team of NASOA referees that played in the CCFA Tournament to raise money for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA)  - more info about the event is here.

 

USSF Match Cancellations - General Info:


From Mike Costello:
       With the large number of USSF match cancellations this season, it's important that you understand the processes involved in making cancellation decisions. Here's a brief description...

1) Team Cancellation - Sometimes a team or teams decide to not play. When this happens, I'm supposed to be contacted by NASL 24 hours prior to kick off. If this happens during the work week, I send an e-mail to the ref crew. When it happens on the weekend, I contact you by phone.

2) City Cancellation - Sometimes COHPAR will cancel a match due to field conditions. First they call NASL and then NASL calls me. This can happen within hours (or minutes) of kick off. If I get the information in time, I
send the crew an e-mail or make contact by phone. If I don't contact you in time, there's little to be done beyond showing up for the match and finding out for yourself.

3) No Cancellation - If both teams show up, but the pitch is in an unplayable state, I recommend canceling the match. Moving the match to another field, even with both team's consent, is risky (you don't know whether the other field has been scheduled by someone else, plus you don't know whether it's a COHPAR approved field). Use your best judgment here.
 

Football's Code of Conduct
from FIFA Magazine, August, 1997

For the good of the game, always:

1. Play to Win
2. Play Fair
3. Observe the Laws of the Game
4. Respect Opponents, Teammates, Referees, Officials and  Spectators
5. Accept Defeat with Dignity
6. Promote the Interests of Football
7. Reject Corruption, Drugs, Racism, Violence and other Dangers to our Sport
8. Help Others to Resist Corrupting Pressures
9. Denounce Those who Attempt to Discredit our Sport
10. Honour Those who Defend Football's Good Reputation

NASOA CODE OF ETHICS

I shall always maintain the utmost respect for the game of soccer.

I shall conduct myself as a gentleman at all times and maintain the dignity of my position and support a professional separation from both players and coaches.

I shall always honor a contractual obligation.

I shall attend local meetings and clinics to best know the rules and their interpretation.

I shall always strive to achieve maximum teamwork with my partner.

I shall be loyal to my brother officials, and never permit or promote criticism of them.

I shall be in good physical condition so as to be in the right place at the right time.

I shall control the players effectively by being courteous and considerate without sacrificing firmness.

I shall do my utmost to assist my brother official to better himself and his work.

I shall live up to the credo of the ideal official who notices everything but is seldom noticed themselves.

I consider it a privilege to be a member of the NASOA and will uphold its ideals at all times.

I shall not solicit games.

I shall not allow personal relationships to affect my professional standards on or off the field.

THE REFEREE COMMITMENT

The U. S. Soccer Federation National Referee Program, through the involvement of each referee, is recognized by players, coaches, and administrators as a program which consistently provides excellence in officiating and displays the highest level of professionalism through service and dedication. 
To accomplish this, I, as a referee, am committed to:

1. Officiating matches in a fair and safe manner that ensures players and spectator enjoyment.
2. Maintaining my physical fitness for peak performance.
3. Faithfully keeping all appointments assigned to and accepted by me.
4. Supporting my fellow officials with loyalty, pride, and dignity.
5. Conducting myself in a way to be ethically and morally beyond reproach.
6. Granting players and coaches dignity and self-respect.
7. Contributing to the overall development of the National Referee Program.
8. Remaining committed to a continuous learning and improvement process that enables me to perform to my full potential. 
   
   UNITED STATES SOCCER FEDERATION, INC.
   1801-1811 South Prairie Avenue
   Chicago, Illinois 60616
   (312) 808-1300 (Telephone)
   (312) 808-9572 (Direct fax to the Referee Department)
   Revised 1996

---

NASOA By-Laws:

ETHICS, DETRIMENTAL CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE OF MEMBERS

SECTION 1.  ETHICS

1. That I shall always maintain the utmost respect for the game of soccer.
2. That I will conduct myself as a gentleman at all times and maintain the dignity of my position, and support a professional  separation from both
   players and coaches.
3. That I shall always honor a contractual obligation.
4. That I will attend local meetings and clinics so as to best know the rules and their interpretation.
5. That I will always strive to achieve maximum teamwork with my partner.
6. That I shall be loyal to my brother officials, and never permit or promote criticism of them.
7. That I shall be in good physical condition so as to be in the right place at the right time.
8. That I will control the players effectively by being courteous and considerate without sacrificing firmness.
9. That I shall do my utmost to assist my brother official to better himself and his work.
10. That I shall live up to the credo of the ideal official who notices everything but is seldom noticed themselves.
11. That I consider it a privilege to be a member of NASOA and will uphold its ideals at all times. 
12. That I shall not solicit games.
13. That I shall not allow personal relationships to affect my professional standards on or off the field.
     

SECTION 2. DETRIMENTAL CONDUCT

The following examples of misconduct, among other matters, shall be considered grounds for suspension or expulsion from the association:

1. Refereeing a game or appearing for a game while under the influence of intoxicants, or being a spectator at a game in this condition.
2. Wagering upon soccer in any respect or acting as a stakeholder for a wager upon a game.
3. Conviction of a felony, or conviction of a misdemeanor if such may bring discredit to the member or to NASOA.
4. Failure to meet financial obligations, if such may bring discredit to the member or to NASOA.
5. Smoking in uniform in the vicinity of the field.
6. Making derogatory statements about any other game official, whether as a coach, player, spectator, or an official.

---

Dealing with an Angry Coach:

First, calm down your adversary.
Use peaceful body language.
Once you achieved this, let your adversary speak.
Ask your adversary if you can reply to his/her concern.
Keep your arms behind your back.
Use respectful words/titles to address your adversary
and his/her concerns.
If you are at fault, DO ADMIT IT.

You are the law.... they perceive you as perfect.
Remind them you are just like anybody else and
subject to making errors.
Angry coaches want to spill gas on the fire and draw you in
as to be a guilty party so they have you as a proven part of
their problem. Your job is to cool the fire down.

(submitted to the ref's e-mail list by David Albany)

---

A Simplified Laws of the Game for Spectators:

        I have posted a simplified version of the Laws of the Game provided by Bob Christensen of the Mandan Soccer Club which are a good prep course for newcomers, players and spectators.  They are not designed to cover all aspects of the game but do cover the major portion of the Laws. 

---

Handling Dissent:

This was posted to a referee's e-mail list by Mike Goblet:

 A good, no, a very good friend sent me this note. I think this answer may be of use to others, too:

 I have found that dissent covers two different types of situations: facts and law interpretation. I am comfortable with the fact part (since Law 5 says we have the ultimate say), and I calmly say something like "you kicked him in the heels". On Law questions, since I really pride myself on knowing this, and usually get the highest grades on tests, I tend to take that dissent more personally. I have yet to come up with a good response that doesn't sound officious, if someone persists in questioning my knowledge of the laws. Have you come up with something?

In many clinics I am honored to present, dissent is one of the primary subjects I address. Anyone who has read my thoughts is fully aware that I speak often of the referee's responsibility to be a man- and match- manager. I continually raise the premise that the referee must learn to pick battles carefully, choosing to fight those that offer some real benefit, not merely an opportunity to impress others with their excellent debating skills. I take the position that most cautions for dissent are really cautions to soothe the referee's ego, and the dissent they caution often results from an omission on their part - a failure to fully discharge their duties and powers. I mention that it is impossible to argue with someone who is not there. Perhaps the surest method to quell dissent, valid or invalid, is to get the ball back into play as quickly as is practical. I don't hang around after calls, and absolutely ignore the touchlines.

Please don't misinterpret my position. Real dissent is cancerous, and must be dealt with. Each of us must learn to filter real dissent from comments born of frustration and disappointment.

A friend told me something I found profound - there are times when it hurts to be a referee. This can't be helped. The only advice I can give that may assuage the real pain that is experienced by referees, who are doing their level best, when the great mass of unknowing complain, is to take comfort in the knowledge that you have done your best to fulfill your responsibilities to the highest standard ... and if you haven't, that you take the responsibility to correct any errors you discover .

We all make errors, yet even the least skilled usually call balanced games - they indeed call it both ways. With a little time and a few games under their belt, I would suggest the vast majority of all referees get it right more than 80% of the time. How many athletes can say the same?

In the final analysis of any human relations situation, each of us has the responsibility to choose how we will respond in our interactions with others. We can accept or reject the baggage others want us to carry. We benefit no one if we allow the often self-serving comments of others, often born of frustration, define us.

The best response is to be found in action, not words. A comeback only validates criticism and lowers the referee in many peoples eyes. Try not to go there.

I hope this helps ... 
Mike "Skipper" Goblet

---

Referee Problems: 
Good article about problems with referee retention:
Soccer losing referees because they just can't take it anymore