A book for fans by referees

I have decided to write a book. A short collection of all of the wonderful experiences I have had as a referee.

It will be about all of the wonderful, amusing and plain out ridiculous things I have heard in my time of wearing the stripes and blowing a whistle.

If I didn’t know any better I would say that a referee is truly the sports equivalent of an IRS agent. They are hated and sometimes despised for simply doing their job to their best of their ability.

Because that is all it is. They aren’t out to get you. They aren’t out to help you lose and that aren’t on your side. They are just simply doing their job the way they determine it should be done. Right or wrong, bad or good each ref is different and each game could be called a thousand different ways.

Yet, fans, and by fans I mean parents of 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th graders believe that each ref should be perfect even if their kids aren’t, and that each call should be a good call even if each decision their coach makes is not.

When a ref blows his whistle it is because he believes that a foul or penalty has occurred. When he doesn’t blow his whistle it is because he does not believe any wrong doing has taken place. Does that mean he is always right no, but you weren’t the one standing next to the play and you weren’t the one that had to make a decision on the play.

Now by no means am I a perfect ref. I have had my good days and my bad. Like a player you are either in the zone or you are not. But bottom line it doesn’t make you a bad person.

However, that is exactly what people will think of you. If you ref a heated game and the losing team thought you were just terrible then you will never be seen in public without them thinking of you as a terrible person who couldn’t call a good game if his life depended on it. When in actuality you are just Brian York a happy go lucky, never hurt a fly and never causes trouble, mild mannered human being that refs, because he does in rare cases enjoys it and could use a little extra money on the side.

That’s right I said that sometimes it is enjoyable, but if you are looking for a quick way to make a lifelong or deeply despised enemy then take up refing.

Oh the things you hear, such as “does that whistle work?” or “are you blind?” or my favorite “BLOW YOUR WHISTLE!”

Because everybody knows that when the fans say it it’s true. It has to be, but then again I never see any of them put on the zebra shirt and take to the court.

All in all my point is this. Next time you are at a game, sit back, relax and enjoy yourself. That is the point of going to the game. Not to get so made that your blood pressure is sky high.

And remember that pathetic no good referee. He is a human too.