One of my kids refused to play pretty much any sport. Too hot, too wet, too much touching, not fast... you get the picture. So I struck a deal: if he would play soccer, I would volunteer to coach. He went for it and so I applied. 

Our local club was full up with coaches but needed someone to schedule the referees. So I took that on and discovered that I not only loved the complicated logic of trying to get the right refs and lines officials on the right fields but I enjoyed working with the young referees in particular.

Right away, however, I noticed how little support these new refs were getting. Like other clubs, mine was training 12 to 15 each spring, only to have more than half of them drop out in their first year, and 90% by the time they were 16. So I qualified as a referee myself and started taking some games and hanging around the fields to support our new refs. Here's what I learned:

1. It takes an incredible amount of courage to walk onto a field (or a rink) armed with nothing but a whistle.

2. Officials hear the things you say. Even when we pretend we don't.

3. Teenagers are seldom armed with the perspecitve to let those comments go. They take that remark you made and they internalize it. 

4. The way parents and coaches treat officials is how players believe they should treat officials. Respectful coaches = respectul players.

5. When clubs and parents actively and obviously support the learning curve of their officials, we all win! 

6. Just like athletes, officials want to do a good job, build our skills and have fun.

7. Yes, we would love to be invited to your banquet (just saying)

So my challenge to everyone here who plays, coaches or supports athletes, after your next match, thank the officials -- even if the calls didn't go your way -- trust me, you will make their day, build their confidence and improve the game.