Ok mum’s be gentle. I’m new to this contact sport scene.
But are we really allowing 12-13 year olds to ref? And to be responsible for the welfare of 9-12 year olds in contact sport!?
The last few weeks I have witnessed some pretty horrific fouls and dangerous spear type tackles, kicks, trips, punches. Not just from other teams our team is just as guilty but the aggressive behaviour definitely escalates as the games goes on.
Where is the duty of care? With Ref? Ground Supervisor? Who is overseeing these decisions? What happens when children are seriously injured when a game gets out of control because a ref allows it to?
9 Replies
This sounds like a culture and sportsmanship problem within this particular league more so than a young ref problem. Even an older ref can only do so much if there's no respect for the rules of the game!
Yeah, most 12/13 year olds probably don't have the skill set to impartially ref their peers but why aren't coaches, senior staff, club managers, supervisors etc stepping in? I mean, I highly doubt this whole league is run, facilitated and managed by a bunch of tweens. Someone is in charge, someone is responsible for the safety and wellbeing of these young players (and its not a 13 year old ref) - you need to find out who that is and take this issue directly to them!
Hey I’m the OP and my perspective is from watching under 10 League, BasketBall, Soccer and AFL.
You as an adult or official are not able to question the ref. Understandably. But no no one is overseeing the actual REF in the NRL, Soccer or AFL capacity. Coaches can be suspended for talking to a REF. Let alone abusing a REF. Ground managers are not watching every game on the field.
I don't mean race out onto the field and lambast the 13 year old ref. I mean take your concerns higher to whoever is responsible for the league!
If that's the ground managers and they aren't coming to the games to see the issue, find out how you get in contact with them so you can discuss your concerns.
If it's sponsors or whoever, again, find out how you'd go about getting in contact with them.
And you can chat with your coach about the culture and sportsmanship on YOUR child's team. That is their responsibility...
Yes he can certainly chat, lecture and discipline our children for poor sportsman behaviour. But he has no power beyond his own team. RefS need to be also addressing this within a game - if teams are being pulled up consistently coach’s have to act. But referee at a young age lack this judgement. It is not a criticism of the individual young refs - it is beyond their scope and there ability to evaluate risk. Leagues need to put an age limit on. Otherwise injuries will spike.
This sounds like a lack of volunteers to be honest, if you don't like it, volunteer.
My Husband Coaches across two codes - we volunteer hours and hours!
This type of deflection is why nothing changes! The assumption that people are idle!
Unsure what state you are in my I'm in SA. My 13yr old has just started to ref Aussie rules footy. The rules are pretty tight to protect the umpire. In our junior football you can only ref younger aged teams than yourself. Each team has a ground marshall that is the only person that can approach the umpire (and to be technical, both not at the same time). Ref's have duty of care and should be paying frees or giving yellow/red cards. Ground Marshall's of each team have the responsibility to talk to umpire if they think the wrong calls are constantly being made (eg sling tackles/dangerous tackles in any age are not allowed but do happen). If teams are getting out of control in any sport of kids than it is a club culture or team mentality that should be reported higher up, it shouldn't be tolerated by Umpires, other players or bystanders. Umpires can also be reported by team coaches and team managers. As a parent you would direct all questions to your coach or team manager to follow up or the club itself.
Without these young kids umpiring younger kids games, there would not be enough older kids or adults for all games. Umpires also should attend training.
Thank you for such a great reply.
We have reported several incidences higher and all we seem to get back is “oh he is only 13 or a 1st year ref”. But when they are failing to stop games when a child is lying injured on the ground. Or not recognising blatant high or spear tackles as was the case on the weekend - it is incredibly dangerous having them responsible without question.
I am grateful to know that the ground manager is responsible for over seeing this! However it is disappointing that the ground managers in these incidences have failed to step in!
It is also hard as alot of teams will have a volunteer ground manager and it changes each week for smaller kids so it is very inconsistent. I'd take it up with the president of the club if its consistent. When they get to premiership grades it usually settles a bit. And like I said I can only talk afl footy but under 10 and below cant even tackle to the ground. The umpire may not see a child on the ground and then it is upto the teams 1st aid person or team manager to get on the field and call out, also coaches in u10 and below are on the fields also. From u11 upwards, it is the responsibility of first aid to render 1st point of contact and not the umpire. If this isn't happening then it's a team or club problem. Trust me, I'm frustrated all the time. Both my kids play and 1 umpires also- I always tell him to make sure he umpired how he would like the be umpired- be fair and player safety first. Call A soft call if needed, most people are happy with a soft call rather than a play going un noticed however if the umpire is calling too many soft calls then it gets frustrating also.