Referees, after all, are professional, and they get it right. However, sometimes they make mistakes. It happens.  Referees are human, just like the rest of us. When I first put on a badge, many years ago, I was told ‘you’re going to make mistakes, it’s going to happen’. Since then, I’ve learned that when I blow a call to acknowledge the error, to learn from it, and to move on. What else can you do?

I was just asked to write an article about alleged incidents that occurred in a particular State Cup game that a particular parent did not like. There was allegedly a missed offside call that resulted in a goal that allegedly decided the outcome of the game. Also, one of the AR’s was allegedly less than professional in his dealings with the coach and players.

I’m not sure what to write about. The ref may or may not have blown an offside call.  That's news? It happens on occasion. We all wish it didn't, but it does.  Even in the World Cup.  And don't think I'm trying to be rude here, but that’s the way it goes.  Even if I did look at the video (which I haven’t) and said ‘yep, looked offside to me’, what difference would it make in the outcome of the game?  And the video only offers one point of view, and not the view of the ref making the call, and that is the only view that matters.

As to being less than professional, just the other day, we were finishing up a scrimmage, and the team of referees for the next game arrived on the field. One of the AR's, in uniform, went up to our head coach, and very disrespectfully said 'Coach, get off the field.'  I was shocked. Where I grew up, that type of behavior got you a remodeled face. Some people are just that way I guess. I always thought that unless you spoke Klingon or you lived in New York City, you were supposed to be courteous.  

But we’ve all noticed, recently, that we’re just not as nice to each other.  This may sound as though I’m digressing, but I think the larger reason for this behavior is that the last three years have really taken a toll.  After the economic crisis of 2008-2009 and the greatest recession since the Great Depression, it is no wonder that people have anxiety or are disrespectful to each other.  Or blow an offside call on occasion.

In addition to all of this, I can tell you that, in fact, our country is broke and the sky is falling.  No doubt about it. I read it every day on the Internet. People read things on the Internet that they shouldn’t.  You can get a healthy dose from what I refer to as ‘Scare, Inc.’ on the Internet. You can read daily about the impending doom of the human race, so it’s no wonder some people may have a bit of anxiety or maybe are disrespectful to one another. Or maybe blow an offside call now and then.

But, despite this, for the most part, Referees come to the field ready to perform, and they get it right. If you think about it, referees are often in the situation of having to make tens, if not hundreds of decisions, on the run, in each game. Statistically, that’s pretty good if all that happens is there’s a missed call, or an improper re-start (dropped ball versus Indirect Free Kick, for example). Even the best refs in the world make mistakes, but they’re usually the best because they don’t make a habit of it. 

And so . . . that's the way the cookie crumbles. The way the ball bounces. Them's the breaks. Stercus accidit. Whatever. The game in question is now past history, and complaining about it will get you nowhere. Go rip a phone book in half. Then move on. Focus on the positive. Tomorrow is another soccer game, another photo opportunity, another shot at redemption.  

Since the complaint involved a game at State Cup, I will add some perspective here, particularly having to do with State Cup. Over the course of a regular Fall youth soccer season, which is perhaps 10 weeks, maybe 12-14 games depending on the bracket, the teams that are the best teams are those who do well in bracket play. Teams that win in a playoff or a tournament are not necessarily the best teams, because as legendary UCLA Basketball Coach John Wooden put it 'any team can beat any other team on any given day', and so beating another team doesn't mean you're the best . . . unless you've consistently made a habit of it. And congratulations to those that do.

State Cup is a good program, but it doesn't mean anything, standings-wise (People ask me “Why Lancaster?”  It’s the only place where you can get 34 dedicated, regulation size soccer fields all in one venue.)  Sure, it might get your team a higher ranking on GotSoccer®, some bragging rights, and maybe an invitation to a prestigious tournament, but the real value of State Cup is that it gives your team experience, 'road-test' against some of the best teams;  some of the better teams from outside your local area. It allows a team to ‘test your mettle’ of sorts. (And, look at the bright side, you get a weekend or two in Lancaster. Or Palmdale, depending on which of those two garden spots of California you’ve chosen to stay in.) 

So remember; Refs are human. That means they make mistakes, and it also means that sometimes they can act in a way that we might not always approve of. But they're the ref. They're out there so your kid can play soccer and have fun. (I know, it’s hard to imagine sometimes, but soccer is supposed to be fun.)  Without them, there is no game of soccer. They are part of the game of soccer. The fact that they may miss a call here and there is also part of the game of soccer.  They’ve paid their dues by taking the training and putting on the uniform, and having the courage to go out on the field, knowing full well that they are probably going to make mistakes and catch a whole lot of flak for it . . . but going out there anyway.  Referees don't get out of bed in the morning, and think "What sort of diabolical plan can I put in place to really spoil someone's day on the soccer field?" They have all the same foibles and shortcomings as the rest of us. And when the match is done, it's over. Lighten up. Shake hands. Move on. Look forward to the next challenge.  

Because remember: it may be soccer, but it's still just a game.

Dr. Rob reminds readers that opinions expressed in “Ask the Ref” are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, policies or rulings of any of the governing bodies in soccer, including but not limited to US Soccer, CalSouth or Presidio League.  Dr. Rob is not an attorney, but if he were, he would remind readers that any opinions expressed shall not be used as advice on any topic, including but not limited to, the game of soccer, swimming, or travelling to the Cities of Lancaster, Palmdale, or New York City.

As always, SoccerNation invites comments from interested readers.