Official Reveals 5 Cold Hard Truths About Youth Football

I’m a football official who’s going to reveal the cold hard truth about youth football.  The information I’m about to reveal is so secretive that if this was a news video I’d be sitting in the dark and my voice would be altered.

Yes, I’m going to finally reveal what those football officials, the one’s that dare to flag your child, really think.  I’m going to reveal our hidden agenda. 

What you’re about to read will shock you and possibly change your life forever.

Here it is: when it comes to youth football, referees don’t care who wins or loses!  Cue dramatic music.  I know that’s hard to believe, but it’s true. 

The team in the blue jerseys can win.  The team in red jerseys can win.  It makes no difference to us.  We’re not rooting for any team or any player.  We’re there to administer the contest, enforce the rules, and uphold the integrity of the game of football.

As shocking as that is to hear, there’s more.  Below are five more cold hard truths about youth football.

What officials really care about is timing and safety.
I’ve officiated youth football for ten years.  Not only can’t I tell you a score of one youth game, I can’t even tell you the name of one youth team.  What officials care about is finishing the game on time and making sure everyone is safe.

We want the game to have a good brisk pace, which generally serves kids—a group not known for having the longest attention span—and we want blowouts to end as soon as possible.  Also, we truly want your kids to finish the game in one piece.  We don’t like injuries any more than you do.

Youth football can be difficult to officiate.
At the youth football level, kids are still learning the game.  That means they’re making mistakes and a lot of their mistakes can draw a flag.  Officials are always trying to balance enforcing the rules with letting kids play.  Yes, kids need to learn the game, but they also deserve to have fun.  Throwing a flag on every play teaches them nothing and ruins the experience of football.

Prolonged yelling at the officials doesn’t help.
I wrote “prolonged yelling” because I’m fine with a chirp here and there.  Prolonged yelling, shouting obscenities, or ridiculing the officials (calling us zebras or saying we’re blind) does not help.  We aren’t going to change a call, and we’re not going to throw a make-up flag.

Some referees don’t want anyone, coaches included, to say a peep about officiating.  I’m a bit more lenient. I understand that the only two jobs on the planet where it’s impossible to be objective are parenting and coaching.  So, a quick reaction like “come on referee!” or “where’s the pass interference?” is fine as long as that’s all you say.

Youth football is used as a training ground for officials.
Every region is different, but a lot of youth leagues employ organizations that officiate many levels of football.  These organizations often use youth football as training grounds.  Therefore, you child’s game might be officiated by an inexperienced official.  That can be frustrating but think of it this way: would you rather have an official learn during your child’s youth game or during your child’s varsity game?

Poor officiating isn’t necessarily blowing a call.
A lot of officiating depends on judgement.  One officials may throw a flag for a hold or pass interference while another official, on a similar play, keeps their flag in their belt.  Blowing a hold or a pass interference call, even an illegal formation or an offsides, isn’t necessarily poor officiating. 

What’s definitely poor officiating is not hustling, being out of position, having a bad attitude, and poorly communicating with coaches, players, and other officials.  Basically, acting in an unprofessional manner.

Officials dislike poor officiating as much as you, but remember, we are also human.  Just as a player can have a bad game, so can an official.  Yet, a bad game doesn’t necessarily mean a bad official. 

If you think an official is acting unprofessionally, then you might want to speak to a league administrator after the game.  They can contact the official’s organization.

I guarantee every football official’s organization wants to know if one of their own acted unprofessionally.