This program was broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) across the Australian Community Radio Network, on Tuesday, 17 May 2011 at 7:00PM.
The season has bearly commenced and a full compliment of "Football fools" are out of hibernation and prowling the sidelines of junior / youth Football.
Young referees are the easy target for these cowardly, ignorant and obnoxious "bullies". They proclaim their stupidity without restraint or consideration for the damage and hurt they do to these young referees. Its no wonder that we loose so many of these referees and then see many games at all levels of the game without a referee.
These same people do more to ruin a good morning or afternoon's Football than a cyclone. Clubs seldom to grips with them, its not easy, but if you asked officials, they could probably draw up a pretty good list of names. But these bullies need to be stopped in their tracks and given the opportunity to moderate their behaviour or be banned from Football.
The really troubling aspect of acceptable behaviour on the sidelines in junior football is that it comes from either the Coach or a Parent. Rarely do you see a casual football spectator turn up at a junior game, for the express purpose of venting their misreable unfulfiled football ambitions on an unsuspecting group of young players. This is usually the preserve of a team coach or a parent.
Their is nothing more disgusting in Football than the spectacle of a parent ranting at the Referee, or assuming the role of coach and bellowing inane and often, devestatingly offensive and hurtful remarks to their child or other young players. And these fools don;t stop after the game has ended - you can bet that their is a forensic game debreif in the car going home. Who would want a parent like that?
In this program, we take a look at this nost distasteful aspect of junior football. Anything you can do at your Club to encourage parents and coaches who get out of control on match day, is something worth doing for the children. No one should have to endure some of the rubbish that passes for adult support of Football from the sideline at the game. And make sure you go upt o the young referee and say well done.
