re: "Mother of the Year" Punches youth ball umpire

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Youth sports officials are heroes in my eyes. They put up with more bullshite in those games than any of the people heckling them do at their own jobs. They get paid shite but they still put up with the abuse because they love the game and want the kids to be able to play. It’s one of the most thankless jobs that exists. Maybe people will realize it once they chase all of them away and little Jaxsonn can’t play anymore cause no one wants to put up with his shitty parents.

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Bubba, we're at that point now. I've been a youth and HS sports official on and off for 35 years. This is the lowest participation level for officials I can ever remember. And 98+% of the problem is entitled parents. It's a rare weekend that I haven't sent a parent from the sidelines over something that they are completely wrong in their interpretation.

Parents need to understand a few important things: 1) This ain't the World Series, World Cup, etc. It's for a damn medal/ring/trophy that won't mean shite to your kid in 5 years. 2) Your kid won't earn a scholarship based on this weekend's performance, but your idiotic histrionics will damn sure cost them one (I know a lot of college coaches and one of the first things they use to cut kids from their recruiting list is poor parental behavior). 3) Parents aren't needed to have a game. Referees/umpires/officials are.

Soccer clubs and travel baseball teams all over Atlanta are canceling and rescheduling games every weekend because there simply aren't enough officials willing to cover all the games scheduled. In Georgia, it's estimated we are down 40% in terms of certified baseball, soccer and basketball officials. COVID had a lot to do with it, but stupid parents are just as big a factor. We aren't paid like a professional official, so don't expect the level of expertise that you're going to get from one. I know I'm a good official, but I don't do it for a living. If you want that level of officiating, pony up $1500 per official per game and you'll get them.