Adults Only-Ten Reasons To Become a Referee
by Tom Beecher, PA West Board of Directors
What do you plan on doing with your life when soccer is over? Have you thought about refereeing? No way? Well, before you dismiss it outright, let me explain why this soccer parent & accountant became a referee a couple of years ago.
Like ninety percent of soccer parents, my wife Judy and I started our kids, John and Beth, out at the tender age of 5 with kinder-soccer. That was 20 years ago. They played recreation, classic, indoor, and high school soccer. While the kids played we volunteered as team managers, club officers, boosters, etc. Sound familiar so far?
After John graduated from Hampton High School, I became the PA West Treasurer (that's another story). One night at a Board Directors meeting I realized I was the only one there that wasn't a either a coach or a referee. In fact, I hardly ever went to a soccer game game since neither of the kids played anymore. All of my soccer time was filled with putting together monthly financial statements, presenting budgets, attending (long) meetings and hearings. Booooriiiing!
I knew I wasn't qualified to coach. But over the years I had been to enough matches to know that I could call a better game than those yahoos out on the field so I figured that it wouldn't be a big deal to become a referee (at the time though I didn't know that your eyesight, stamina and understanding the nuances of the game are a hundred times better in a lawn chair than they are on the field). Having officiated for a few years now, I have developed a list of...
The Top 10 Reasons I Still Enjoy Being a Referee
It's a great way to stay in shape
You can run around like a kid and people don't think you're goofy.
You get paid- enough to buy a spiffy uniform and a Big Mac®
It's an opportunity to give something back to the people who did it for our kids.
It's fun
I feel more connected to the sport
I can show off my legs
I can provide a positive role model to our youth (and even some adult) players
I continue to learn more about the game and see some great action up close.
But the BIG reason why I ref is that this is the only time of the week when I'm always right. When I step on the pitch with my whistle in my mouth, I'm in charge. That doesn't happen at home, at work, at church or anywhere else. Life of the referee is good.
In fact it's been so good that I have expanded my horizons. I started refereeing high school and indoor soccer last year. I have passed my instructor certification and I have upgraded to Grade 7 (with the aid of a good tail wind during running qualifications). With 55 year-old legs I don't think I can advance much more but I think I have another 5 to 10 years of fun on the field left.
This winter we will be holding instructional clinics for new referees. I'm even going to be teaching some of them. Most of the prospects (over 90%) will be under the age of 14. Don't let that intimidate you. Please consider being one of the remaining 10%. I hope that I see you there (along with your kids). Watch the PA West Touchline or check the PA West Website (your teenagers will show you how). We desperately need more adult referees. Any questions? Call or send me an e-mail.
To become a Bradford Soccer Referee click here!
Article appeared in the October 2001 edition of PA West's Touchline. Reprinted here with permission of Mr. Beecher. ©2001 PA West