Alex Martin knows what it’s like to deal with soccer officials, having played on the Goodrich varsity boys soccer team for three years.
However, he also knows firsthand what it’s like to be a referee. Martin, 18, has officiated soccer for six years through the Goodrich Soccer club, officiating age groups ranging from U-8 through U-14.
With the increasing popularity of soccer among youth, more attention is paid to the job referees have. They often come under scrutiny by fans who feel their child or team got the short end of the call.
However, Goodrich varsity girls soccer coach Nigel Barnett said fans need to appreciate the fact the referees do the best they can to maintain the integrity of the game. He said soccer referees have an often thankless job.
‘The way I approach them is like they’re a condition of the game (like dealing with certain types of weather or playing surfaces),? he said. ‘They’re human. They call what they see, which is sometimes different from what the parents see.?
Barnett also said parents who complain about the referees need to remember to treat them with respect.
‘Just because you’re a referee doesn’t mean it’s open season,? he said. ‘You have to understand why the referee does their job.?
The National Association of Sports Officials Web site (www.naso.org) has plenty of tips for those interested in becoming a soccer official.
Initial training to become a soccer official takes about 16 hours, which includes demonstration and exercises on the 17 basic laws of the game. The fee for initial training is about $15.
Martin said he first started officiating soccer games when he was 12 years old.
‘The Goodrich Soccer Club needed some referees, and my mom was the treasurer for the group, so I took part in a one-day clinic through the club,? he said. ‘They taught you all you needed to know.
Proper referee equipment, according to the NASO site, consists of the following items:
‘Polished, black athletic shoes; cleated or flat-bottomed.
‘Special socks with three white bands.
‘Black shorts.
‘A specialized black shirt with white collars and cuffs.
‘Referee tools: A watch, whistle, pencil, note paper, coin, red card, yellow card, and a set of referee officiating flags.
Martin said officiating games involving younger players is different than those involving those approaching high school age.
‘The younger kids don’t really understand the rules, while the older players get more aggressive and get more aggravated, and complain when you make a call,? he said.
Martin, who will be attending the University of Michigan this fall, said he hopes to play soccer at the intermural level at U-M and hopes to coach soccer after he graduates from college.
Barnett said dealing correctly when faced with what one perceives as bad officiating will help people deal with situations in life that don’t seem fair.
‘A lot of the parents blame the referees for bad calls, but you learn lessons from that,? he said.
Martin said hearing fans complain about his officiating can be challenging, but experience is the best way to handle that situation.
‘At first, it was kind of annoying, but now I’ve been able to shut them out of my mind,? he said. ‘Parents think they know the rules of the game. They think their kids should get all the calls.?
Details: www.naso.org.