It was a few years ago, and I think it was a U15B competitive game. This was when you first saw the dreaded man-pri sweats being worn by coaches. As AR1 the coach from 3 hours away is complaining to me about something to do with the time. Me: "What's the problem? You need to get home and give your wife's pants back to her?"
Doing a College Club game a few years ago and was being heckled--good naturedly--by some rowdy fans (to be fair, they were heckling everyone, players on both teams, coaches, fans and refs alike). We were wearing yellow. One heckler yells out, "Hey, ref, I've seen better yellow in my pants!" I replied, "Next time wear your Depends!" and took off the other way down the field after play. Chuckles from the crowd, and I didn't get heckled again after that.
Last night Men's Indoor. After game player is complaining to me, Him: "You're horrible." Me: Really? Which one did I miss? Him: All of them. Me: Really? All of them? See. That's where you lost your credibility. Give me a specific and we can talk about it. Him: (Continues walking away.) You're horrible. Me: Give me something specific so I can get better. His teammates: Good game ref. Don't listen to him.
I referee quite a few games in an over-30 co-ed league. Most players are reasonable and tolerate my and my colleagues' refereeing styles, but there are a few, always the same individuals, who test my patience and tolerance for whining, groaning, moaning and complaining. One comment I have not yet used, but may use in the future: "Listen, buddy! This is Over-30, Co-ed, Fourth Division. If YOU were any good, you wouldn't be in this league and you wouldn't have to put up with bums like me! So get off my back!" If I do, I will probably donate my ref gear to a needy ref the following day ....
2/3 length (just below knee, in length) warm up. Originated in Europe where during winter time training sessions the full length warmup was caked in mud. raise the hem and viola:the manpri is born!
May be frowned on, but I couldn't help myself. We were really short on referees at this tournament. Solos up through U12. I'm on a U10B game and a ball likely went out of touch barely. Neither team stopped playing so I let it go. Parents on that side are screaming that the ball went out, but I ignore them. Ball then goes out for a goal kick and a parent said "If you can't see that ball go out, what the heck are you doing here?" I said "Someone has to be here. Parents like you are running off the younger, faster referees. We don't have enough for a three man crew, so you are stuck with one old, fat guy."
This is a standard response but phrased more obliquely. "You are a terrible referee" "I know, that is why I only get games in this league/division." Usually this quietens them down without talking directly about or at them. PH
Use at your own risk. Coach "How can that be a foul" Me "The voices in my head said so" Coach "You're the worst referee I have ever seen" Me "I'm the worst? You need to get out more" Coach "That's a terrible call Me "It's not that bad, I've made worse calls than that" I called PK with 90 seconds remaining in youth tournament semi-final, final score 1-0. Coach is on a rant after final whistle. He is insisting on seeing my referee certification. I am still in center circle and have already told him to go away twice. Coach " You're not a real referee, where did you get your certification?" Me "Coach you're dismissed and I got my certification on Ebay." Coach "I hope you're better than the ref we had last week" Me "I can't wait to hear what you tell the ref next week." Assistant referee on U19 boys Parents/Spectators "Hey ref you're not staying with the 2nd to last defender." Me "I couldn't keep up with them when I was 18, what makes you think I can keep up with them when I'm 3 times their age." Chuckles from crowd, no more heckling. MBB Game solo Attacker "How could he be offside?" Me, while pointing to far side "My assistant had their flag up." While player is looking for AR move downfield.
One of my standard lines, when I get an occasional, "Good call, ref." (Of course, from someone on the team it's in favor of): "I make one good call per game. I'm glad you liked it."
"(insult)" >>>> Youth: "Easy, it's my first game today." >>>> Amateur: "That's why they make me referee YOUR league." >>>> Pro: "Talk to me when you start a game/stop getting beat/connect a pass/get a shot on goal" >>>> Unaffiliated: "F*** your mother"
OK here's one. Late in the match, the coach is right in my AR1 ear on a rant about a call way over on the other side and downfield. "You saw that! That was terrible! How could he call that?" "Coach, we've already established that I can't see what's happening right in front of me. Now you want me to see something eighty yards away?"
Player: How can you call that? Me: By blowing my whistle. Player: I didn't think that was a foul. Me: OK, but your opinion doesn't count.
Was on a 3 man crew at a tournament for either a u10 or u12 game. At half time, the ar2 told us that one of the dad's questioned him about how his kid could of been offside. His response "your kid was off, just as much as your wife is hot."
The guys overall demeanor would remind you of a southern redneck, however he was from up north. Some of the other things he said at half time were less than PC. After the game he retold the story to the ref coach. However I think the assessor thought he was joking.
Do not pass Go, do not collect $200, do not ref in my association or hailing distance ever. Talk about your bringing into disrepute, sheesh.