U10 players pay the same league fees so why do they have so many games without referees?
Some question why the U10 players have to pay as much as the older players when they have more games without referees. First, not all U12 and U14 games have referees. Second, we had more referees at U10 games in 2002 than in the recent past. We continue to have problems finding and retaining referees willing to do U10 games. There are a few factors that contribute to this problem. Older, experienced referees typically do not want to referee U10 games. That leaves us dependent on a steady supply of young referees – our older players. These referees tend to be less experienced. The biggest factor affecting the supply of referees in U10 games is the adults. The parents and coaches yell, criticize and exhibit bad behavior more often than in U12 and U14 games. The older, experienced referees (even adults) do not want to deal with this. The younger referees get a taste of the abuse and decide to quit. We lose about half of our young referees each year. The league goes to a great expense to t
