What's the best compliment you've received?

[andymoss]

i am willing to bet that at almost any adult match there are parents present. players are often parents, too.:D

We have a father/son that play on the same team.

It's a toss up as to which one will get cautioned/sent off first!

[USSF REF]

Impressive! Parents at an O40 game!

I moved away after college, and my parents have never seen me play. I first played when I was a senior in college!

I can do you one better. When I was getting assessed for my grade 6 some years ago, I was refereeing an O-40 game.

The assessor, a national assessor and former SPL and NASL referee, was also the father of one of the players in the match. Every time anything happened that anyone didn't like from me, players were turning to the assessor and saying "Mr. M****** jot that one down in your book!" And players were trying to get my off my game saying that the assessor would fail me, blah blah.

I passed, easily. Most negative feedback I got from the assessor was to "Get rid of that Fu**ing Whistle and get a proper one!"

[Nesto]

I can do you one better. When I was getting assessed for my grade 6 some years ago, I was refereeing an O-40 game.

The assessor, a national assessor and former SPL and NASL referee, was also the father of one of the players in the match. Every time anything happened that anyone didn't like from me, players were turning to the assessor and saying "Mr. M****** jot that one down in your book!" And players were trying to get my off my game saying that the assessor would fail me, blah blah.

I passed, easily. Most negative feedback I got from the assessor was to "Get rid of that Fu**ing Whistle and get a proper one!"

What kind of whistle!?

[gosellit]

Even better is when they take the time to come and find you after the game in the ref tent and thank in front of the assigner and everyone else.

Yea. Irish lad to Andy, "f'ing fine job, mate"

[Citiref]

My best compliment:
"Hey, you're the second best ref we've ever had!"
"Who was the first?"
"Everyone else"

Old jokes aside, the best compliment from a player came after a Mens D1 match involving a team who has a reputation for whining/complaining/dissenting/the whole nine yards.

A player from the other, non-whining, team came to me after the game and said "You did a good job. It's sad how they treated with you disrespect. You kept it under control and protected us. You'll be a FIFA Referee someday. Mark my words." I shook his hand and thanked him.

Best compliment from a referee: "Citi, you didn't mess up too bad today."
The real best compliment has to be two National Referees telling me that I will be a National.

I walked a little taller after all of that!

[Funkfoot]

I was asked if I would be interested in being "head referee" or something similar (I forget what they call it exactly) for our club (rec games). I was really flattered, but I still feel like I have a lot to learn, myself. Maybe some day...

[Kyle787]

I was called by a township in which I don't normally work in, but their ref was not there that week so I filled in. Turns out the kids had no discipline at all. I issues 6 yellows and 4 reds. It was U16 and after the game, the parent and coaches all came up to me and told me I was the best referee they have every seen.

[intechpc]

My best compliment:
"Hey, you're the second best ref we've ever had!"
"Who was the first?"
"Everyone else"

Old jokes aside, the best compliment from a player came after a Mens D1 match involving a team who has a reputation for whining/complaining/dissenting/the whole nine yards.

A player from the other, non-whining, team came to me after the game and said "You did a good job. It's sad how they treated with you disrespect. You kept it under control and protected us. You'll be a FIFA Referee someday. Mark my words." I shook his hand and thanked him.

Best compliment from a referee: "Citi, you didn't mess up too bad today."
The real best compliment has to be two National Referees telling me that I will be a National.

I walked a little taller after all of that!

OK, probably bad form for me to post twice in this thread but I like the idea of including a compliments received from those in the referee community as well. Your post reminded me of one I received. Regionals, I'm there as a grade 8, my SDA is working with my on my upgrade to a 7. I center a match with another referee from our state, a state 5, there as the fourth official. After the match, me and the fourth were back in the referee area talking about the match and our SDA came up to us. Right in front of me he says to the fourth, "based on what you saw out there, what level do you think he is?" My fourth responded "Well based on his badge, he's gotta be a 7". The SDA came back, "OK based on what you saw, what level should he be", the fourth's response "a 6 maybe a 5". Based on that my SDA worked his magic to make sure I'd get my upgrade at regionals!

[USSF REF]

What kind of whistle!?

At the time I was using the Fox Pearl whistle. I liked it's lower, less abrasive tone.

Now, I use the Fox Dolfin (my favorite whistle yet) for the exactl opposite reasons. Oh the things we learn as we climb the ladder!

[Emmet Kipengwe]

I like this thread a lot.

High level Memorial Day tournament. U-16 Boys, one team from MD, one from NY. Team from NY loses 2-0, I give them 3 YC, 1 RC, all deserved, of course:). MD earned a couple YC, no red.
After the game, 4-5 of the NY players walk over to thank me, followed by their coach, who says, "That was the best refereeing we've had in the last 2 years."

It was nice that the field marshall next to me at the time was a cute soccer mom!

[d|hogan]

Reviving an old thread... Sorry!

When I used to referee in San Diego (nearly 6 years ago, when I was still in HS), I was repeatedly told by players, coaches, and the occasional center that I was the best AR they'd worked with in a long time. Of the same accord, a bit of a story:

My first year refereeing, I had a very difficult coach in one game. He spent the entire match belittling me and complaining about every call (or non-call) I made. It got so bad that I was almost reduced to tears (mind you, I was 15 years old and wasn't used to a 40 year old yelling at me for 60 minutes straight). Unfortunately, being a new official, I didn't have the gall to send him away, so I just took it.
The next season, I came back and he was one of the first games I dealt with. I'd gotten a lot of support in the off season from my assignor, and the minute the coach started in on me (apparently he remembered me from the year prior), I walked over and calmly informed him that I wouldn't be tolerating abuse from him and that if he wanted to yell, he would have to find out the result of the match from his team at the next practice (meaning good bye!). He looked quite shocked, but shut his mouth. The game went on without a problem, and afterwards, he came up to me and complimented my professionalism and thanked me for a well called game. I officiated many more games with him and developed quite a bit of respect in his eyes, which began to spread to other coaches. He frequently complimented me after that second game, and we never had an issue again. It pays to be in control!

My favorite compliment has to be the one I got at an Under-12 boys game. As I approached the home team for the usual shinguard/boots inspection, I heard one of the players exclaim, "YAY! We get the good ref!" Still puts a smile on my face 7+ years later...

[jayhonk]

Just read this thread and kudos to all of you guys. Makes me wish I had done a better job last weekend... (Ya live and learn).

Of all the stories, this one is the BEST!!

...an Under-12 boys game. As I approached the home team for the usual shinguard/boots inspection, I heard one of the players exclaim, "YAY! We get the good ref!"

[Tarheel Ref]

OT!!! ..... LOL the quote from the commentators about the NCAA tourney games on ESPN is "Anything over TWO overtimes is just bad officiating!!!" OMG I just have to laugh at that!!! Hate working for free!!!

Back to the best compliments I've ever received.....

As our crew is walking off the pitch doing the match report....and getting comments from the winning (and more importantly the LOSING) team's parents...."You guys are the best referee crew we've ever had! Thanks for keeping the play under control and not letting it get TOO physical!"

Not trying to brag but I get this at least a few times each season and I LOVE it!!!! Yet I take the compliment with a simple "thank you sir/ma'am" and walk off like we do EVERY game like that! Uh huh...sure.....most times I'm happy to disappear without getting too much heckling AFTER the match!

[d|hogan]

Just got a real nice compliment this last weekend at my re-cert course. I was invited to start attending both "Advanced Referee" and "Academy Referee" seminars by our SRA in Colorado, about two hours before I even took the test for the Grade 8 badge! I should mention that I have been certified previously, but it's been years. Apparently my instructor must've said some really, REALLY nice things about me to the SRA because he was quite insistent on me making it, and when I told him I'd be out of town, he told me to get in touch with the assignors up here and assist them in setting up an Advanced seminar. To have someone speak so highly of you before you've even done a match, let alone taken the test, is really quite a nice compliment!