This news story makes me shake my head…
“Parents of girls on a Maryland soccer team have been banished to a distant hillside to watch games. The penalty was imposed after the parents crowded around a referee after a loss, complaining about his decisions, with one parent yelling at the ref’s daughter, “Your father should be fired!”
“For the parents to be shrieking on the sidelines,’’ said league official Kathie Diapoulis, “goes against everything we’re trying to do.”
Refereeing is a thankless job, especially at that level. Just below coaching. Parents scream at referees and bully coaches. I once was a coach and decided “never again.”
So I became a pastor. Spirtual referee and coach. Sometimes it goes against everything God is trying to do. I am crazy! 
I have no whistle.
We know you’re crazy, but we love you anyway!
with infinite hope, Jim, Cathy, Kajsa and Abby
Pastor Steve,
After spending over 13 years involved with Sheboygan’s chapter of the “Blue Line” with my boys growing up in the world of youth hockey; I can associate to the tone of your blog today.
The only upside to this story is that parents need to keep a focus of the child involved with the sport. This is something for the kid, not the parent and yes, these “refs” have thankless jobs that put their necks on the choping block of parental scrutiny. Thankless, thankless, work.
My hat off to the ref and the coach.
JoN