Playing without officials

[Tigertail]

Looked this up because I was curious with the banter regarding the St. Charles Catholic/Destrehan game played last week without refs.

The result must stand according to LHSAA officiating guidelines:

www.lhsaa.org/officials/ContestOfficiatingArticle9.pdf

9.3 SELECTION OF OFFICIALS
9.3.1 GENERAL
9.3.1.1 During regular season non-district, district, and playoff games schools shall be required to use
the services of an LHSAA-sanctioned officials’ association of its choice in all sports.
9.3.1.1.1 The choice of a particular officials’ association shall be left to the school.
9.3.1.2 After a school enters into a written agreement with an officials’ association in football,
basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, wrestling and/or soccer it shall fulfill the agreement for
the remainder of the sports season unless the association agrees in writing to cancel the contract.
9.3.1.3 A host/sponsoring school shall ensure contest officials’ security and welfare.
9.3.1.4 A school shall not use any contest officials from an LHSAA-sanctioned or independent officials’
association in any sport that does not comply with LHSAA rules.
9.3.1.5 In emergency situations, if necessary, schools may mutually agree to use any available official;
otherwise a school shall not be allowed to use an official who has a direct relationship with
either team in the following ways:
9.3.1.5.1 Faculty member or coach of either school
9.3.1.5.2 Parent of a player or coach of either school
9.3.1.5.3 Brother or sister of a player or coach of either school
9.3.1.5.4 Graduate of either school within the past seven years
9.3.1.5.5 Husband or wife of a coach of either school

9.3.1.8 If both schools mutually agree to play a contest in violation of any contest officiating rule(s), the
results of the contest shall stand.

[sokerfan]

I know Cajunref may have blown a gasket saying to stop bashing the refs, but it is nice to know that if both teams agree to play without refs the results of the game will stand. For a program struggling to raise the funds to pay the officials, this could be an alternative. Not reccomended though.
Cajunref, MOST fans appreciate the fact that you guys take time to officiate the games. Just like MOST officials call an unbias and fair game. But sometimes officials who hear the bashing of officials in general, need to let it roll off their backs if they consider themselves as a good ref. The only way it should bother you is if you were the official of the game being talked about and you know they are right. Even REFS have bad games. So please allow fans to vent and just sit down with an adult beverage and C-H-I-L-L.

[cajunref]

sokerfan said:

I know Cajunref may have blown a gasket saying to stop bashing the refs, but it is nice to know that if both teams agree to play without refs the results of the game will stand. For a program struggling to raise the funds to pay the officials, this could be an alternative. Not reccomended though.
Cajunref, MOST fans appreciate the fact that you guys take time to officiate the games. Just like MOST officials call an unbias and fair game. But sometimes officials who hear the bashing of officials in general, need to let it roll off their backs if they consider themselves as a good ref. The only way it should bother you is if you were the official of the game being talked about and you know they are right. Even REFS have bad games. So please allow fans to vent and just sit down with an adult beverage and C-H-I-L-L.

1 I did not blow a gasket. Just tired of all of the complaints and not finding anyone willing to sign up. Just like complaining about the govt. If you didnt vote you have no gripe. I am just waiting for someone to say, "I think I can do a better job than these guys" and sign up to work as an official.

2. Thanks for your appreciation that we are out there giving your children an opportunity to play the sport that they love.

3. I have been on this board for several years and do not remember reading any posts saying that the players had a bad night and just lost the game. It has always been "If that official had not made that bad call ........" That call only takes a few seconds to make. What about the other 39 minutes and 55secs in the half and the 40 in the second half that the players have an opportunity to score. Please dont teach your kids to blame the outcome of a game on the officials.
Thanks for this opportunity to CALMLY express myself on this matter.
I would like to hear from other refs and get their opinions too.

[ShreveDad]

This goes along with what cajunref had to say, this was in todays Shreveport times and written by Brian Vernellis:

Brian Vernell is is the high school soccer reporter.

"Great game, fantastic atmosphere, poor sportsmanship
Two of the best soccer programs in the area (Caddo Magnet, Captain Shreve) faced off Monday night in another classic showdown. This time, it was Shreve upending No. 5 Magnet, 1-0.

Magnet head coach Radi Baltov gave all the props to Shreve for the win, but he knows his club is the better of the two...and it is. Sorry Shreve parents.

Magnet's club is better on several fronts - not Monday though.

Want to know how much this game meant to Shreve? Freshman Connor Randel, who scored the game-winning goal, was in tears over the accomplishment. The Gators faced a serious setback when it lost to Byrd last week and needed a great showing against their rival.

This isn't the U.S. hockey team upsetting the Russians in Lake Placid, but it's a pretty big upset for local soccer.

The atmosphere was absolutely amazing. Only the Shreve-Magnet game could have produced such an outpouring of support from fans, parents and students. I'll put it this way. It was like Shreve facing Byrd or Calvary meeting Evangel in football.

One thing that was upsetting was the number of times players challenged the officials' rulings on the field. Players on both sides grumbled vehemently at the head official throughout the game. A Magnet player even fired back after the game: "Hey ref, shouldn't you be leaving with Shreve?" Wow. Where are the coaches in that situation?"

I had the chance to talk with the 2 AR's from that match last night and neither heard that comment after the match. Most of us are pretty good about turning a deaf ear to that stuff anyway. That was a huge match and the kids were upset when they lost.

I agree with everything cajunref had to say. Refereeing any sport is a thankless job, soccer is no better or worse than any other sport. I see big problems coming down the road with the lack of new referees in soccer. It seems like most of us are in our 40's or 50's and will be shutting things down soon. They need to get some young folks involved but with the way people treat referees who wants to put up with it.

[soccerrookie]

I am fairly new to soccer, really getting into it within the past three years. One thing that I have noticed that really blows my mind is how out of control some of the officials let things get. Too many officials try to justify calls to the players or let the players sit there and talk about the calls. Put the ball down and start play, don't give the whiners a stage.

Do you old time soccer fans see it this way or is it just me? I don't see this kind of conduct in any other sport.

[dulac]

A lot of refs want to "explain" their calls to justify the whistle. A good/great ref does as previously stated, gets the ball back in play as quickly as possible. Even if a mistake was made, the appearance of control is what sets the mood for the game. I've worked games with refs who want to "explain", and it has never proven to be a benefit. Most of the time, by the end of the game, the players are DEMANDING an explanation for every whistle and the foolish ref is obliging.