NEYSO Board Members rotate serving as Officer on Duty on Saturdays  at our McAllister fields to make sure things are running smoothly and  to ensure the safety of all the soccer players. However, for the past several seasons we have seen an increase in verbal abuse towards our referees and now the Board Members are having to watch coaches and parents to make sure they don't verbally abuse the referees. The alarming fact is the verbal abuse is taking place in the U6-U10 age groups. This is a very disturbing fact. Abuse either verbal or physical is taken very seriously by the NEYSO Board Members. It is a growing problem here in San Antonio and will not be TOLERATED ANY LONGER. This is the reason, the ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY is being enforced.

We will no longer allow this type of behavior to go on. If a parent is asked to leave the complex and refuses, the Police will be called. It is truly sad to see the way some of the parents behave on the sidelines in the presence of their own children. What values are they teaching them? It's okay to yell, scream and curse at the referees, it's okay to scream at the opposing team players and say things that degrade, humiliate and belittle them. Is this type of behavior teaching them to respect authority? Some parents have lost sight on what "RECREATIONAL SOCCER" is all about...having FUN!!! What happened to sportsmanship? Unfortunately, verbal abuse towards the referees has become something we as Board Members have to deal with almost every weekend. It doesn't matter what age the referees are, they deserve to be treated with respect. Some of these referees have had to deal with verbal abuse every weekend. They are screamed at, cursed at and some of them have left the fields in tears. The referees job is to use his/her discretion to ensure the game is being played fairly and safely. Referees are human and will make mistakes. It is NOT your responsibility to critique them. It is your responsibility to respect the referees and let them do their jobs without your interference.

NEYSO encourages positive comments and support of players, coaches and referees. ANYTHING negative will NOT be tolerated. This association is made up of volunteers - Coaches, Players, Board Members and Referees. NO ONE has the right to humiliate, insult, intimidate or yell at anyone. This type of negative conduct will result in ejection from the soccer complex. Without volunteers, our children would not have a place to play soccer, people to organize games or referees to officiate and enforce the Laws of the Game.

REMEMBER THESE THINGS ABOUT OUR YOUTH REFEREES.

  1. This could be YOUR child being yelled at or abused.
  2. They are young and trying their best.
  3. They cannot see EVERYTHING even though they try.
  4. They have attended 6-16 hours of MANDATORY training and must pass a written exam every year.
  5. They do not volunteer to do games to receive abuse - they DO NOT DESERVE IT.
  6. If you expect perfection - DON'T! Can you say you have had a perfect season as a coach or parent? If you can, you are one in a million.
  7. They are still learning, but cannot learn from negative attitudes or intimidation.
  8. These are young people doing something for the community, something healthy, working with other young people trying to improve their skills.
  9. They are NOT hanging out in malls or alleys, robbing your homes, making grafitti or causing trouble. Give them a break.

Your games are not World Cup, Olympic or career threatening. If it is THAT important to you - you are in the wrong place. This is a recreational program. Soccer is a physical game of running,heading,throwing, sliding and yes, falling down. If referees continue to be yelled at or intimidated, you won't have anyone to do your games in the future. If they are treated with respect and given the chance, you will have referees with experience, confidence and good judgment when your games will count as more than a Saturday game. I welcome ANY adult to become a certified referee and subject themselves to what these young people do.

UNTIL THEN CHILL OUT — THIS IS RECREATIONAL AND FOR FUN!!!!
ANY MISCONDUCT WILL RESULT IN EJECTION — NO EXCEPTIONS.

Page last updated on: 15-May-2008 07:47 AM

NEYSO
P.O. Box 17931
San Antonio, TX 78217
Rain out: 495-3477
 neyso@neyso.org