Who'd be a ref ?

[bfcjg]

https://uk.yahoo.com/sports/news/refere ... 29911.html
It's no surprise that top level refereeing is getting worse when there is a shortage of young refs coming through. I know society has declined regarding respecting any form of authority but how can they be protected as grassroots ? There has been all sorts of respect campaigns to help refs but it would appear to no avail. Should professionals be straight redded for arguing,should managers be banned for blaming refs when a defeat is actually down to their incompetence?
Something will give soon.

[Colburn_Claret]

I watched my grandson play for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and the game just deteriorated the last 10 mins.
My grandsons team won 11-3, and the abuse and sulking from the losing team players, and giving it large from the grandsons team was really sad. They were 11-13 year olds, but the biggest issue is neither manager, or referee did, or said, anything.
I always thought part of youth sports, was teaching kids how to be men, accept defeat with grace and enjoy the game. I explained as best I could to the grandson that there's no need for that carry on, even if the other team started it, but I doubt the other kids learnt anything.

Refereeing standards in this country are shocking, but at a professional level we should have better ways to deal with it.
At grass roots referees are learning the game in the same way as many of the players, and it really should be down to parents and managers to teach their kids to be sportsmen. Sadly many of the parents come from an entitled demographic, who care little for sportsmanship, only about winning.

[Lancasterclaret]

Its hard

Lads team won 11-1 at the weekend at U14 level

Told the ref (a 15 year old lad) at half time that he was doing a good job after running the line for the first half

I really don't think the coaches and the players know how serious the shortage is going to be unless they moderate their behaviour

One of the losing teams players essentially attacked our winger just before the end of the game, and I get the frustration and the desire to be shown to care, but you have to keep within the rules.

The ref is a 15 year old lad, and he shouldn't be telling 14 year old lads not to tackle like that, and the coach of the opposition team should have taken him off, or at the very least backed up the ref

[beeholeclaret]

In my experience the coaches are the worst example - its no wonder that mummy and daddy's little darlings act like jumped up little ShII$.

I used to go and watch my son play in local leagues from ages 6 up to about 13. I used to look forward to this until a refereeing shortgage led to me being asked to referee the game. The players generally were good but the parents and "officials" of the opposing teams were horrendous with abuse to the point where I warned the manager and coach of one particular team about their behaviour. It wasnt just verbal abuse to me but screaming at a 4 ft 6" goalie who let the ball slip from his grasp. At half time the coach approached me with more verbal abuse so I took my whistle off and told him I was not refereeing anymore. The upshot of it all was a big argument between both teams as no-one else wanted to ref. All I wanted to do was have a quiet morning watching my son.

As a side note I generally got positive comments about the games that I refereed although before one match my son's own team coach sidled up to me and suggested I should start giving more decisions in our favour as all the opposition teams' refs were biased to their own team. I told him to get lost and that I had a responsibility for the well-being of all the lads on both sides.

[wilks_bfc]

Unfortunately there is a major shortage at grassroots level and based on some of the incidents I’ve heard of this weekend, which incidentally was the FAs “Play Safe” weekend, it’s no surprise

I had to ref our game at the weekend as the ref we had been allocated didn’t arrive

[bfcjg]

A guy I worked with was an ex police officer and he coached the under 14 team, he was a stickler for respect so the players knew where they stood and they were better players,better young men and more successful footballers as a result. As mentearlier its parents and coaches who cause the aggro and it filters down to the team. The guy I worked with would confront such actions and no doubt his experience helped and it would in the main stop. However it should not be necessary to have to confront deranged numpties but sadly is a reflection of society in general and I can only see it getting worse.

[Billy Balfour]

With kids, it's best to have a child-friendly approach to football, rather than a win-at-all-costs mentality. Kids wants to enjoy themselves, and not be put off when they make mistakes. Best to have a good time and still remain competitive, but not at the expense of good behaviour from either the kids or coach.

[Lancasterclaret]

With kids, it's best to have a child-friendly approach to football, rather than a win-at-all-costs mentality. Kids wants to enjoy themselves, and not be put off when they make mistakes. Best to have a good time and still remain competitive, but not at the expense of good behaviour from either the kids or coach.

I think as they become teenagers, the atmosphere changes as well, as they want to do well, and the standard is a lot better

Our coach is ace and has been brilliant for the team, but he let himself down a bit on Sunday (especially as I ended up being the peace maker as the linesman between the two sets of coaches)

It was very one sided, and until this season, its has been my kids team that has been on the receiving line of hammerings and I expected better from our team on how they dealt with it

Still, people have to put themselves forward to run teams, and up here in North lancs at our age group, there are only 12 teams, and they come from places as far apart as Ambleside, Heysham, Cockerham and Kendal

[fanzone]

I watch my lad Saturday and Sundsys, had a referee every game and while I do agree some coaches and players can be a pain for refs I have to say the majority of them are just doing it for easy money.

The mistake is made when they are called volunteers and its not true. The coaches and parents running the lines are volunteers. The referees are paid very well £25 for an under 13s game. A couple of games a week or 2 on Saturday and 2 on Sundsy and it's very nice pocket money.

[RHansburyEsq]

My eldest is u16 now and to be honest I dread many of his games now. There is often an 'atmosphere' both on and off the field. You only have to take a breath and step back to see how objectively ridiculous it is that people get so wound up and angry over the game. I managed them up to u12 and very glad I stepped back after that

[RHansburyEsq]

Its hard

Lads team won 11-1 at the weekend at U14 level

Told the ref (a 15 year old lad) at half time that he was doing a good job after running the line for the first half

I really don't think the coaches and the players know how serious the shortage is going to be unless they moderate their behaviour

One of the losing teams players essentially attacked our winger just before the end of the game, and I get the frustration and the desire to be shown to care, but you have to keep within the rules.

The ref is a 15 year old lad, and he shouldn't be telling 14 year old lads not to tackle like that, and the coach of the opposition team should have taken him off, or at the very least backed up the ref

When my son was u11 he scored and on goal in a match we were losing. He took his frustration out on one of their players with a silly dangerous tackle straight after kick off. His feet didn't touch the floor - subbed straight off, spoken to in no uncertain terms about behaviour, made to apologise to the ref and the player after the game. Touch wood no other issues since. I just don't understand parents and managers who seem to defend 'their' players no matter how they have behaved.

[Devils_Advocate]

Im sure it doesn't help that in the professional game refs are blamed, abused and scapegoated by the majority of fans. It cant be good for young kids growing up seeing adults (including parents for some) behave that way towards referees and it can easily become learned behaviour they take into junior football.

Probably also true for some of the coaches and parents that blaming refs can become so second nature its hard not to react that way in other settings. You only have to look at the dogs abuse refs get on this messageboard to understand how this could easily manifest itself into junior football

[Lancasterclaret]

I watch my lad Saturday and Sundsys, had a referee every game and while I do agree some coaches and players can be a pain for refs I have to say the majority of them are just doing it for easy money.

The mistake is made when they are called volunteers and its not true. The coaches and parents running the lines are volunteers. The referees are paid very well £25 for an under 13s game. A couple of games a week or 2 on Saturday and 2 on Sundsy and it's very nice pocket money.

If its adult refs, they have a bit more respect from the coaches and the players

If its a kid ref just starting off, its good pocket money for him, but he needs a lot more help from the coaches and the players

[Lancasterclaret]

I often run the line, and there are games that I dread doing it in because of the reaction of the coaches or opposition parents

It shouldn't be like that

[NottsClaret]

Top flight refs should show some solidarity here, have a week or two on strike on behalf of the guys further down the ladder in grassroots. It'd cause chaos but would soon make the FA, parents, coaches and players realise they've no game without them. I'd 100% support it.

[fanzone]

If its adult refs, they have a bit more respect from the coaches and the players

If its a kid ref just starting off, its good pocket money for him, but he needs a lot more help from the coaches and the players

This is where the league should get organisation right and have younger refs 14/15 doing the under 7/8/9/10s for a minimum of 12 months before the go to 9 aside and offsides. Have a progression path.

The FA also need to be doing follow up course and refreshers instead of just a 6 hour course one day and saying away you go.

[Herts Clarets]

I watch my lad Saturday and Sundsys, had a referee every game and while I do agree some coaches and players can be a pain for refs I have to say the majority of them are just doing it for easy money.

The mistake is made when they are called volunteers and its not true. The coaches and parents running the lines are volunteers. The referees are paid very well £25 for an under 13s game. A couple of games a week or 2 on Saturday and 2 on Sundsy and it's very nice pocket money.

My 16 year old son has just qualified as a referee and has started refereeing junior games. Part of the reason he did this was to start to earn some money of his own now he has left school and is at college. I wouldn't suggest £25 is "easy money" as you have to firstly complete the course to qualify, travel to and from the location of the game, complete paperwork and match reports to the local FA and commit to giving up a portion of your own time to ensure 22+ others are able to enjoy a game of football. I get that coaches are volunteers (i did it for 4 years after completing my Level 1 FA Coaching badge, plus emergency first aid and safeguarding courses and a DBS), but in the vast majority of cases the coach will have a vested interest in coaching a team, usually that his/her child plays for the team. A referee will have no such interest and are rightly rewarded for giving up their time to allow football matches to be played.

[Lowbankclaret]

I used to take my step lad to games on a Sunday morning and later helped the CoE at Burnley.
Saw a lad punch a ref in a game in Burnley.
The behaviour of some parents at games is horrible.
One game the step lad was playing in, the ref didn’t turn up and the only person willing to ref was his coach. He got abuse from the kick off, at half time I went and spoke with the opposition parents and said we would abandon the game if it continued, the coach was not a ref and was just trying his best to keep the game on, we were playing away not at home. Second half after ten minutes I walked onto the pitch and the coach and I agree the game was being called off as the abuse was just getting worse.
The opposition team started falling with their parents and in the end after about 10 minutes some agreed to leave and others to keep their mouths shut. The rest of the game went without issues.

No ref, no game. No need for it a grassroots level.

[Cirrus_Minor]

I used to watch my nephew about 10 years ago playing in a junior pendle league. He would be about 12 / 13 years old. I had to give it up because the parents, especially the brother in law, behaviour was appalling. Effing and blinding constantly at the referee, aggressive shouting. Mostly fathers who think their lads are budding professional stars. Why the refs put up with it us beyond me but they certainly have my respect.

[fanzone]

£25 a game is definitely easy money compared to the alternatives out there for that money, most jobs you have to travel to and from and embark on a period of training.

None of the alternative weekend jobs for students will have the hourly rate that referees get paid.

[claret59]

Women's football does not ( at least when seen on TV,) have these problems , does it ? Respect for the referee is a thing that is taught, as is fair tackling. I assume that most of the matches quoted in this post are of boys/ young men. If there was a points system for fair play and results awarded on points as well as goals it could lead to better attitudes. Who are these parents who get violently obsessed? What are they doing in the rest of their lives? Other forms of criminality perhaps.

[NoFixedAbode_Claret]

I have watched my 2 sons grow up playing in different countries. With referees of different ages and levels. I have never seen any of the behaviour described in the above posts.

[jrgbfc]

Too many parents are complete idiot's when it comes to kids/junior football. You must lead a pretty sad existence to treat a game of kids football as though it's life and death.
Don't acadamies ban parents from watching now, certainly up to a certain age?

[Lancasterclaret]

I have watched my 2 sons grow up playing in different countries. With referees of different ages and levels. I have never seen any of the behaviour described in the above posts.

Its a minority mate

Vast majority of the games I've seen both my kids play in over a period of about ten years, there have been maybe three or four incidents, and the one I described on Sunday was a very minor spat sorted out by handshakes and apologies at the end

[Somethingfishy]

This is also apparently a problem with umpiring in cricket. The Lancashire League has had a shortage of umpires on some weekends this past season. Clubs asking for people to come forward and offering to pay for the courses to enable to umpire the junior teams and even some senior games.

I did..and still am considering it but I have been informed that umpire abuse is quite common...although I don't think it has quite got as violent and emotive as it has in grass roots football.

I think a couple more years supporting the House for now.

[NoFixedAbode_Claret]

Its a minority mate

Vast majority of the games I've seen both my kids play in over a period of about ten years, there have been maybe three or four incidents, and the one I described on Sunday was a very minor spat sorted out by handshakes and apologies at the end

Good, or at least better then. Seeing a number of incidents in one thread makes it appear like it happens all the time I suppose. Kids should just be able to enjoy playing competitively, its about them after all (something parents don't always grasp).

[Herts Clarets]

£25 a game is definitely easy money compared to the alternatives out there for that money, most jobs you have to travel to and from and embark on a period of training.

None of the alternative weekend jobs for students will have the hourly rate that referees get paid.

Plenty of weekend work around here for youngsters paying £10-11 an hour, supermarkets, fast food outlets, warehouse etc. where you have no responsibility and wont be subject to abuse, verbal and sometimes physical from a group of bystanders for doing a job. A 16 year old daughter of a friend has just started a weekend job picking food orders in a local warehouse, 8 hour shift including an hour paid break at just under £90 a day. £25 for refereeing a football match is comparable with this.

As others have said, no referee, no football.

[Herts Clarets]

This is also apparently a problem with umpiring in cricket. The Lancashire League has had a shortage of umpires on some weekends this past season. Clubs asking for people to come forward and offering to pay for the courses to enable to umpire the junior teams and even some senior games.

I did..and still am considering it but I have been informed that umpire abuse is quite common...although I don't think it has quite got as violent and emotive as it has in grass roots football.

I think a couple more years supporting the House for now.

30 plus years ago i was playing for Briercliffe v Hapton Inn up Towneley and it kicked off on the pitch next to us with one of the players threatening the umpire Jack Green. The players walked off and the umpire came over to our pitch, where one of the Hapton Inn players took Jack to sit on the tailgate of his car. They won't bother you when you are with me he said, and if they do i have a 7 iron in the boot. The Hapton Inn player was one Vince Overson. I think the player who made the threats received a 4 or 5 year ban from playing cricket.

[fanzone]

70 minute match at under 13s works out at £21.40 an hour. Rates go up the older the kids are.

Not comparable at all.

[Billy Balfour]

Who are these parents who get violently obsessed? What are they doing in the rest of their lives?

Pushy parents who think their little smasher is going to turn into EPL gold. Then you get the parents who want to relive their childhood through their kids. Both sets become deeply depressed when little smasher is in their late-teens and no longer wants to be getting up early at the weekend.

[Billy Balfour]

I can't believe that people on here are quibbling about the rates of pay for local refs. There's too few of them already, but what a subject to quibble over, eh. Says it all, doesn't it.

[fanzone]

I can't believe that people on here are quibbling about the rates of pay for local refs. There's too few of them already, but what a subject to quibble over, eh. Says it all, doesn't it.

Yep, bored at work unfortunately so just dropping a couple of facts

[Herts Clarets]

70 minute match at under 13s works out at £21.40 an hour. Rates go up the older the kids are.

Not comparable at all.

Arrive at the venue 30 minutes before kick off to ensure the pitch, goals, nets, corner flags etc. are set up correctly, 10 minutes half time, formalities at the end of the game let's say 10 minutes equates to 2 hours. £25 for 2 hours equates to £12.50 per hour which is comparable to rates of pay i have highlighted for other part time work for students in this area.

No referee, no football.

[Hipper]

This is where the league should get organisation right and have younger refs 14/15 doing the under 7/8/9/10s for a minimum of 12 months before the go to 9 aside and offsides. Have a progression path.

The FA also need to be doing follow up course and refreshers instead of just a 6 hour course one day and saying away you go.

When you say a 'six hour course' do you mean spread out over three weeks or so?

I'm out of date with all this but I recall from the 1980s evening classes of a couple of hours a night not very local to me, plus a test including a subbuteo table to question things like offside. Compared to today the Laws were relatively simple, including the useful get out clause 'in the referee's opinion'. Now the referee's opinion has gone and it seems more exact with many ifs and buts.

However, nothing can substitute for actually refereeing a match, having to be decisive and deal with all that human nature throws at you. It's not for everyone, certainly not if you haven't got a thick skin.

On earnings, firstly it's not 'easy money'. Most games are pretty reasonable and satisfying to referee but a few are not. Secondly a new referee will not only have to pay for the course and exam but will also have to buy his kit. Thirdly it's not just one and a half hours of a match but travel time, not to mention costs, and perhaps post match admin time too.

Referee's of any reasonable quality will keep themselves up to date with the latest Laws and may even attend Referee's Association meetings that might discuss the finer points and experiences - all at their own time and expense of course.

Knowing the Laws inside out is part one of a referees skill. Dealing with people and all the crap that can go with it is part two and the hardest part. It would be helpful if players and coaches both learnt the Laws and had a go at refereeing to appreciate the job. The FA coaching courses do give some education on the Laws.

Finally, I always understood that an assault on a referee, if reported to the relevant FA, was at grass roots level a life time ban (sine die as it used to said).

[fanzone]

Arrive at the venue 30 minutes before kick off to ensure the pitch, goals, nets, corner flags etc. are set up correctly, 10 minutes half time, formalities at the end of the game let's say 10 minutes equates to 2 hours. £25 for 2 hours equates to £12.50 per hour which is comparable to rates of pay i have highlighted for other part time work for students in this area.

No referee, no football.

Lucky to get them turning up 10 minutes before a game don't kid yourself

[Herts Clarets]

Not my experience, as recently as watching an U13 game on Sunday (not refereed by my son by the way). We arrived at 9:30 for a 10:00 kick off and the referee (a young lad) was already at the location, as were the coaches who had already set up the goals, corner flags and filled in the plethora of rabbit holes on the pitch so it was safe to play on. I ran the line for the ref on Sunday and got a bit of back chat from one of the players for having the temerity to award the opposition a throw in when he was the last player to touch the ball before it crossed the line. The ref had a quiet word with this lad and the next time the ball went out of play near me, he apologised. The situation was handled well by the young ref.

No referee, no football.

[Lancasterclaret]

Not my experience, as recently as watching an U13 game on Sunday (not refereed by my son by the way). We arrived at 9:30 for a 10:00 kick off and the referee (a young lad) was already at the location, as were the coaches who had already set up the goals, corner flags and filled in the plethora of rabbit holes on the pitch so it was safe to play on. I ran the line for the ref on Sunday and got a bit of back chat from one of the players for having the temerity to award the opposition a throw in when he was the last player to touch the ball before it crossed the line. The ref had a quiet word with this lad and the next time the ball went out of play near me, he apologised. The situation was handled well by the young ref.

No referee, no football.

I've run the line a lot and the amount of time a lad has apologised for moaning about me making a decision he agreed with can be counted on a hand with no fingers on it

One team in particular claim for everything, even when they have kicked it out, and the coaches appear to condone it

[Hipper]

I've run the line a lot and the amount of time a lad has apologised for moaning about me making a decision he agreed with can be counted on a hand with no fingers on it

One team in particular claim for everything, even when they have kicked it out, and the coaches appear to condone it

On this they are just copying the professionals and for all I know I expect it is coached to do this. The attitude is 'what's the harm and it might pressurise the ref/assistant, especially in a questionable decision'.

[bfcjg]

I watch my lad Saturday and Sundsys, had a referee every game and while I do agree some coaches and players can be a pain for refs I have to say the majority of them are just doing it for easy money.

The mistake is made when they are called volunteers and its not true. The coaches and parents running the lines are volunteers. The referees are paid very well £25 for an under 13s game. A couple of games a week or 2 on Saturday and 2 on Sundsy and it's very nice pocket money.

It's as though you are justifying a bit of abuse because they get paid for it so it is fair game.
Would you do it or want your kids to do it on a wet and windy Sunday/Saturday morning for what works out less then the minimum wage or is it the subs you don't like paying in case you get a bad decision and you're paying his wages ?

[Lancasterclaret]

Big shout out to all the coaches, parents, refs who without them we wouldn't have kids football

[Marney&Mee]

I often run the line, and there are games that I dread doing it in because of the reaction of the coaches or opposition parents

It shouldn't be like that

and not just the opposition parents. I've had grief from our own parents ! You even have oppo parents standing directly behind you, in your ear. I've stopped doing it. The only parent who volunteers to lino is one of the coaches. Ridiculous really

[AlargeClaret]

Lucky to get them turning up 10 minutes before a game don't kid yourself

Why would the ref turn up more than 10 mins for any grass roots game? Maybe you’re forgetting travel costs , the distances and the absolute jigsaw puzzle of ko times and venues ? The chances of fitting in 4 games over a weekend is almost ludicrous ( unless you’re lucky enough to “ back to back “ couple of kids games . Never heard any league pay less than £30 though ? My 15yo did an u14’s on Sat with 2 reds a full on punch up ( parents no issue ) and the coach shouting ( really ) “ call the police I’m gonna start knocking people out “ match abandoned in the end .

[Tricky Trevor]

This incident should end up with a gaol sentence and a sine die ban from having any involvement with football. Beyond belief how wound up some people can get over a game.

[Inchy]

I’m going to play devils advocate here, and might get stick for it.


I played a bit of amateurs football in my youth, and always found the best refs were the older blokes who talk to the players like adults. The refs that talked to players like idiots and children with an air of arrogance always ran the risk of getting punched, just like you would if you behaved like that in the pub.


I remember particular Rochdale ref that was bloody awful. Spoke to people like ****, would book defenders for genuine mistimed challenges like it was a premier league game. I wasn’t shocked when I read a news report that he got his car smashed in

[Inchy]

Just to add things might have changed now. I’m 35 and haven’t played regular amateur football for 10 years. The vast majority of refs I had were brilliant. Strict and had a bit of banter. If you gave them grief they would give it you back and we respected that. It was only very rarely you got a ref that thought he was destined for the football league. The type to have all the official gear but no idea, talking to adults like crap and thinking they can get away with it. They were the ones that struggled. That was very rare though.


I was walking through the local park last winter and watched a bit of a local kids match (probably about under 14s). One of the managers was going ballistic on the touch line at the ref, his own players, the opposition players, basically everyone. I was ******* my sides. Was hilarious how serious he was taking it. There are a lot of amateur footballers who think they should be pros and amateur managers who think they slipped through the net

[SurreyClaret]

I'm Head of Youth at my local club which has 17 youth teams, plus I have coached for 4 years (currently U12), so spend time a lot of time dealing with this. The primary issue for me is the Coaches, but thankfully it's only a minority of them. In my opinion are the key person at every game who are responsible for keeping their players, parents and themselves in check, and nipping anything in the bud when issues arise.

Far too often people think the Referee should do that but whilst they are paid, they are not paid to take abuse or deal with aggression from off the pitch. As a Ref they will always potentially upset one side, whilst please the other but they are only making football decisions. The Coaches for me should be given far clearer instruction from the FA that they must work with the referee, to help make it an enjoyable experience for everyone (including the Ref). Unfortunately for some Coaches, and then by that parents, winning is everything.

I have seen some shocking Coach behaviour out there, and the issue is that teaches others that it's ok to act in that way. On the other side you have Coaches who will not, or do not, deal with players and parents who step out of line, so they just continue the poor behaviour, something which often gets worse as the kids get older.

Sadly the FA only get reports of serious incidents reported by Refs (and sometimes clubs who can be bothered), not minor ones. There are definite patterns that could be looked into and subsequently cracked down on, but to do that, they just need better match feedback at all levels of Youth football.

In my area (Surrey/Sussex border) we have one club who are an absolute disgrace, and even from U7 age their behaviour is shocking, even their welfare officer is a piece of work from stories I've heard. The FA don't seem to ever crack down them, and their shocking culture, and year after and they continue to cause 95% of the issues in our U7-U10 league, and then continue in other leagues beyond that age group.

Some Referees definitely are poor, some are jobsworths and don't use common sense, but both of those are not the problem, whilst being frustrating. Some kids and parents are bad eggs but if they are brought in line at the first incident or two by the Coaches, I doubt it would be a major issue longer term.

Ultimately it should be about the kids, and it is the Coaches that have that duty of care to look after them. It starts with checking their own behaviour (not easy!) and then managing everyone around that match. Coaches who lead by example promote positivity, enjoyment, and encourage the development of all players, not just their own side. The FA need to educate Coaches far, far better than they do.

[bfcjg]

No refs coming through results in poor refs like we had tonight.

[Kingsleyclaret]

My eldest played football upto under 9’s when we lived in Coventry. Similar experience to many above, the abuse from parents and coaches on the sideline, plus a coach telling him he let the team down by conceding 2 goals (he’s a Gk), led to him giving up. On the plus side, he took up hockey and hasn’t looked back since. Here in Oz at junior hockey, if there’s any abuse from the sidelines, the captain gets a green card meaning 2 mins off the pitch, then 5 minutes if it happens again. Very rare anyone, coaches or parents, ever shout anything negative.

[Hipper]

My eldest played football upto under 9’s when we lived in Coventry. Similar experience to many above, the abuse from parents and coaches on the sideline, plus a coach telling him he let the team down by conceding 2 goals (he’s a Gk), led to him giving up. On the plus side, he took up hockey and hasn’t looked back since. Here in Oz at junior hockey, if there’s any abuse from the sidelines, the captain gets a green card meaning 2 mins off the pitch, then 5 minutes if it happens again. Very rare anyone, coaches or parents, ever shout anything negative.

Interesting idea. How and who determines which team's parents are giving abuse?

[Luppy]

Watch lots of kids football matches - my two are playing Under 15s and Under 12s. Our club is strict on parents making comments - it's sadly not reciprocated, and some clubs are simply appalling. The kids think it's ok to abuse officials. The language I hear week in week out - and sadly much of it racist - is appalling.

As for the article, the injuries are shocking. Broken nose, dislocated shoulder, 4 broken ribs, broken collarbone, concussion and whiplash. I mean wow. It almost sounds like he's mowed him down with a car!

I also believe the lad who's carried out the attack is the manager's son? Saw some comments on Twitter telling folk to keep their noses out and you don't know what the lad has been through etc - just staggering that given the extent of the injuries sustained anyone could offer any kind of justification! The lad needs locking up - which will hopefully happen as I believe he's now finally been arrested.