Bermuda Football Association President sent an email to the media to publish a request “For Respect To Be Shown To Youth Referees”
In January the BFA announced that a group of young people were training to be Youth Referees for youth matches.
We have been absolutely delighted that on Saturdays our Youth Referees are on the field and officiating at youth matches all around the island.
Early reports show that the Youth Referees are getting into their groove, learning the Laws of the Games and gaining confidence with the whistle and flag. Youth Coaches have been fantastic and giving support to them. Senior referees, club officials and BFA officials are making their visits and giving advice, feedback and encouragement. We also have further training planned for the Youth Referees. So a huge shout out to Bermuda's Youth Referees - we are so proud of you!!
All this bodes well for the short-term and long-term aims of the Referee Committee to bring on younger referees now in order to graduate to senior referees who are desperately needed for the good of the game.
So its disappointing news that not everyone is supporting our Youth Referees as they should. Some parents and spectators are supportive. But we hear that some parents and spectators, both male and female, are shouting harsh criticism to our Youth Referees - when those same parents won't even take up the whistle or flag themselves.
So we say to the rude and obnoxious parents/spectators - leave our Youth Referees alone. Just like our young footballers, the Youth Referees are learning by playing and will make mistakes. So please use these opportunities to teach the players and yourself to respect the referee's decision, keep quiet and play on. Remember, the Youth Referees don't shout at parents or players when the players make mistakes!
Parents/Spectators - Please abide some basic rules going forward in respect of our Youth Referees:
1) Give encouragement or keep quiet. 2) Cheer on the teams. If you shout criticism or abuse, then you will be told to leave the field, and you must leave the field. Failure to leave the field may cause further measures to be taken. 3) Loudmouths stay home. 4) Use positive language. No profanity allowed. 5) Support the coach or become a coach. 6) Pack up the gear/equipment or clean up the field. 7) Donate to the youth programme, help mark the field, put out the goals. 8) Be part of the solution - not the problem. 9) Don't smoke anything (yes we said anything!!) at our games. 10) Be a role model for our Youth - players and referees. So Bermuda, let's all build up our boys and girls through football!! So Bermuda, let's develop outstanding Youth Referees!! So Bermuda, let's work to get these Youth Referees on the FIFA list in a few years’ time - so we can watch them doing international matches all over the Caribbean, Central America and North America. Remember it starts here at the youth level. Let's do it together!!
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