We was robbed!!!

[rfolea]

Originally Posted by Ed Sparks

Amen brother .......

If anyone has a good idea for a "perfect control system" along with "flawless scoring", please submit it to FIRST ASAP. EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE on that field is trying to do the best they can and do the right thing. I suggest YOU volunteer next year as a Ref and get a little taste of what it takes to make the right call EVERY time. I've done this, it's tough!

It's over, done, let's move on and be positive. Next year maybe everything will be perfect.

Hmmm... There seems to be a trend here ... Everywhere Ed goes there is a major field malfunction ... Hmmm...

(sorry Ed, couldn't resist .. <grin>)

[meaubry]

Well said by everyone that has pointed out that nothing is flawless -
but most importantly though -

I wish everyone would take a moment and remind themselves that the ONLY people really getting "robbed", are the students that are NOT even given the opportunity to experience FIRST.

Mike Aubry

[MoeMom]

Our students (all ya'll- not just the green ones) make me truly proud on a regular basis. But this thread reminds me of one particular time.

Last year at the Championship a MOE parent was volunteering to queue on the field where MOE competed. The head ref told him- not realizing he was a team parent- how impressed she was when she ruled against the MOE students who had asked her to review a call because they spoke well and respectfully to her and accepted her decision in a really tough break.

I figured that was another big win for FIRST.

It's easier for me to see this. I've got years of FIRST experience to balance on, but there's lots of kinds of winning because there are lots of goals to work for. The scoreboard is just one.

And off season events are fun just for this reason...friendly rematches!

[Ed Sparks]

Originally Posted by rfolea

Hmmm... There seems to be a trend here ... Everywhere Ed goes there is a major field malfunction ... Hmmm...

(sorry Ed, couldn't resist .. <grin>)

I've been banned from volunteering on any field at the championship .......
It's back to the pits as a lead inspector for me....

See y'all soon.

[DCA Fan]

One of my friends, who is a referee for AYSO soccer put it this way.

Ask a group of parents how many of their teams have lost because of a referee, and most of them will raise their hands. Ask the same group how many of their teams have WON because of a referee, and none of them will raise their hands.

As a referee, we really can't win hearts and minds. We just have to be fair and judge everyone as equally as possible. I'm sorry that the original poster felt "robbed," but in every attempt to make sure rules are followed according to what's written, sometimes you'll have to take a call against you. Sometimes a call will go in your favor. Just remember two things. One, it's not about the winning, it's about the learning. And two, statistically, if an error is made against you in some round, chances are, it has been made against your opponents in another, and it'll even out in the end.