All,

Message from the State Referee Administrator to all Western PA Referees.  Please read this carefully.  This message below was sent yesterday to Western PA referees in all zip codes.  Coaches and clubs, do not let your parents/spectators come unprepared.  Please forward this message to your parents.  The procedures apply across all skill divisions and programs.  The message is obliged to continue until it stops.  It continued last wknd, very bad in some districts.  Classic division games are worse than Travel.  Nobody, at any level, is entitled to abuse game officiators.  Referees may refuse assignments and work only for clubs that control it.  If your child plays in Classic divisions, please forward this message to the coach/parents.

~Cristine

ABUSE OF REFEREES

What drives our referees out of officiating.  IT IS ABUSE.  Abuse by coaches, spectators and parents.  This practice must stop and adult referees MUST show an example to our younger referees that ABUSE will not be tolerated.  WPA referees are to follow the guidelines listed below.  Share these with your fellow referees before and after the game and reinforce that ABUSE will not be tolerated.

1.  Prior to Game -- Referees are to inform both coaches that ABUSE will not be tolerated by the coaching staff, spectators or parents.  If there is ABUSE, the game will be terminated.

2.  If during the game, there are signs of ABUSE, inform the coach that the next outburst will result in termination.  Do not speak directly with spectators.

What is ABUSE?  What are the signs as to when the referee should get involved?

Not limited to:

1.  Constant complaining from the bench.

2.  Questioning every decision

3.  Sarcastic remarks

4.  Personal attacks -----  SEND THE COACH OFF IMMEDIATELY

5.  Gyrating actions

6.  Kicking or throwing objects -- SEND THE COACH OFF IMMEDIATELY

7.  Unpleasant comments by spectators or parents ------ NOTIFY THE COACH THIS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED

8.  Personal attacks on any member of the officiating crew -------TERMINATE GAME IMMEDIATELY

9.  If you are threatened in any way ---- TERMINATE GAME IMMEDIATELY.  STAY AS A TEAM AND CALL POLICE IF YOU STILL FEEL THREATENED.

10.File a report

11.Call the SRA, Peggy Neason, with details.

Let’s be clear, this is not the case in every game and there are certain teams, spectators and parents who have a reputation of abuse.  Focus on these teams and raise your awareness level.

Protect our younger referees. They do not deserve the abuse. The question you must ask yourself.

Would I want my son or daughter or my mom or dad to be treated like this? If the answer is no, then you should not take the ABUSE either.