By Rachel McDaniel
news@pikecountygeorgia.com
Everyone should referee at least once.
I’m a coach and have been an athlete and sports fan my entire life.
Although I’m not proud of it, I’ve yelled about quite a few calls over the years (not as an athlete – my coaches and parents would have immediately put me on the bench). It was usually an egregious error or game-altering mistake that caused me to shout at the officials. Still, it was uncalled for. Looking back, I now realize my team (and myself) would have been better off if I had kept my calm instead and focused on the next play.
Over the past several years there’s been a shortage of people who are willing to train and practice for years – only to be yelled at for nearly every call on the field or court.
It’s easy to judge from where you are standing – often way too far away and from the wrong angle. It’s easy to shout a snarky comment about the ref or ump being blind. It’s easy to agree (loudly) with everyone else who is complaining about the missed call.
It’s not easy to be the one making the calls (even without the shouting and belittling comments). My far-from-illustrious officiating career is only a few games long and I was outright shocked at the reactions of coaches when a call didn’t go their way. Keep in mind – I wasn’t getting paid and the games were only scrimmage games – not high-stakes bracket games or championship games. At each game at least a few parents, coaches and even players questioned calls. One coach even threw his hands over his head and said, “Are you high or something? There’s no way that was a strike!” He yelled this in front of two teams of teenagers and I have to admit, that comment is the one that pissed me off and made me never want to officiate again.
I think every player, coach and parent should have to officiate at least one scrimmage game in their sport of choice so they will be less likely to pepper the officials with scathing criticism.
We need to learn to practice patience – especially in front of children who are learning how to behave by watching us. Things don’t always go how we want in life and we need to be able to roll with the punches and make it work anyway instead of pointing fingers and pouring the blame on someone else.
As a species, we move too fast and expect everything to be perfect. Anything that doesn’t go our way can result in an unnecessary outburst like the road rage that happened recently at the elementary school. We should not be lashing out in anger and violence – especially over a game which children are playing and/or watching.
It’s your turn to make the call: are you going to control your actions and reactions? Are you going to help the next generation of humans be better people?
Please make the right call!