Hey and Hello to all soccer fans!
PRO (Player Referee Organization) is growing! We hope that the successes and excitement of some of our returning youth referees has rubbed off on their peers and brought out more interest. Part of it may be that we are just doing a better job in creating a contact list of our youth referees. Either way we are excited about the prospects!
The larger numbers of youth referees will increase the confidence and the comfort of the group as a whole. Youth referees will be encouraged to work together in referee teams, working games as Referee and Assistant Referees together. I believe as they work with each other and listen to each other, they will, as a whole, be more confident and better trained and therefore of course better referees.
PRO is still looking for responsible Mentors for the
program. The region is expanding the fun patrol program, in part to respond to
the serious concern of abuse of youth referee’s. While no volunteer referee
ever deserves any type of harassment, harassment (abuse) of a youth (child)
referee is in reality “Child Abuse”. The
While training continues and proficiency levels are increasing, we recognize that mistakes will be made. “Mistakes are OK” is the message we would like everyone to recognize. As a PRO Member, it is likely that you will make errors in calling a game and it’s OK! As a coach and a spectator please recognize that mistakes will be made and it’s OK! And for the most part, as long as Coaches and Spectators do their part, Players will just be excited to be playing. Please accentuate the positive by complimenting the positive, leaving the training and correction to the PRO Mentors!
Looking forward to a great year for all!
Gene Young