We were at Christian’s soccer game today, waiting for it to start when the refs came around asking for a volunteer to be a line ref.
Initially, I sat back, since I know next to nothing about soccer. However, when they said that the game would have to be delayed and it was obvious that no one else on our side was going to step up, I went ahead and volunteered.
The sideline ref position is pretty easy actually; all you need to do is watch who kicks it out to determine which team gets the throw in, and then occasionally call “offsides” whenever that might happen. It was the latter that I was a little unsure of the details on (although after I got home today I confirmed that it was pretty much exactly as I had been thinking).
The problem came in when all these people behind me (parents sitting there watching the game) started complaining after a couple plays in which the other team scored a goal, stating (intentionally loud enough for me to hear without directing the comments “at” me) that it should have been called offsides.
Now, like I said before, I certainly could have been wrong, since I’m no soccer expert, but what I saw was the offensive team just plain outrunning the defenders. There were a couple times in which there were more than one such fast offensive player that had run past the last field defender, and if the one with the ball would have made a pass to them, then it would have been offsides, but the one that ran the ball up made the shot, so I didn’t see that as being offsides.
For all I know, I could still be wrong on that (and maybe one of you who know soccer better than I can tell me), but what I felt like doing was turning around and saying “Well, it’s good to know that we’ve got a bunch of soccer experts here; but I do find it odd that you take it so seriously yet none of you came forward when they were asking for volunteers. So shut up.” The only reason I didn’t say something to that effect was that these were parents on our own team, and I thought me chewing them out might make it a bit awkward going to games and such with them every week.
But seriously, these people need to get a grip. I thought I’d take this opportunity to share some general tips for soccer moms / dads / other fans out there:
- It’s only a game.
- Do not sit there and yell and scream throughout the game - you are making fools of yourselves. (see #1)
- If you have any experience with the game at all, why not step up when they’re asking for volunteers?
- If you don’t do #3, you have no right to get all worked up about the calls you don’t like. (Also, see #1 again)
8 Comments
You’re right. It’s not “offsides” unless you’re between the defenders and the goal and actually receive a pass. If you get it past everyone on your own, it’s not offsides. You did great!
Yeah, that’s what I thought. It still might have happened and I just didn’t see it, but oh well, that’s the way it goes.
i agree except for #2. screaming and making a fool of yourself is part of the joy of sports spectator-ship, so long as overall you adhere to rule #1. as a matter of fact, if they’d loudly and obnoxiously chided you for missing the “offsides,” i’d find that completely appropriate, whereas the whispering behind your back is just silly for all the reasons you mentioned above.
Yeah, I’d agree that cheerful yelling and screaming could be appropriate, but unfortunately that isn’t always what goes on at kids’ soccer games.
I’m also not necessarily opposed to people really getting into their particular favorite sport to the point where they (in the moment they’re watching) seem to take it a bit too seriously and (as you said) “loudly and obnoxiously chide” the ref for what they perceive to be a bad call. I personally would still find it a bit silly, but it’s understandable.
However, I feel that kind of non-lighthearted emotional involvement in the game on the part of the parents is completely inappropriate for a kids soccer game.
You should have middle fingered them, then they could have figured out what you wanted to say by that simple and short expression.
It’s close to impossible for most people not to yell when they “know” something is wrong, whether you were right or wrong, inappropriate or criticisms will always come with being a ref. in any sport. Players, fans and spectators or parents of kids just need to realize refs. will never be perfect especially volunteers.
Yeah, you’re right. I understand that people can’t help getting worked up.
It just sucks for the volunteers, because it makes them (or I should say me) much less inclined to volunteer in the future.
It’s especially irritating since I know that I definitely could be wrong and that most of them probably do know way more about soccer than I do, but the only reason I’m doing it at all is because none of them got off their buts when the time came.
Go Jared! It’s OK! Shake it off! Your doing great! Don’t let those guys get you down! You can do it! Don’t give up! Hang in there! You’re a winner! We’re proud of you! How’s that for some cheerful cheering?
You think soccer parents are bad, try little league! And the games drag on for hours!
I think that cheer would be ok, except for the “don’t let those guys get you down”. That might be misconstrued as negative and demeaning to the other boys and damage their self esteem.