Keep This Up, and Soon There Will Be No One Left to Referee.

❌ I travel to tournaments all over Poland, and you know what I often see instead of a football festival for kids? Frustrated adults attacking referees over literally every decision – no matter which way the whistle went.

Dear people! At kids’ tournaments, young, beginner referees show up who are just learning – just like your children! Your child isn’t at Lewandowski’s level and makes mistakes sometimes. Nobody expects them to be perfect. So why do you expect referees, officiating their first, second, or maybe third game in their life, to be the next Marciniak?

Both young athletes and young referees are at the beginning of their journey. They also have the right to make mistakes, learn, and grow. So why do we so often react negatively, even aggressively, instead of supporting them? Especially when children are around, learning from a culture of constant arguing with referees and challenging their decisions.

Refereeing is a huge challenge. At a tournament for seven-year-olds, there is no VAR to double-check a potential foul in a critical situation. Decisions must be made here and now, and that skill only comes with experience. When and where are they supposed to learn if not at tournaments with kids, where theoretically there should be no pressure?

Do you know that many young referees quit before they even properly start? I was one of them! I spent one season refereeing matches and quickly decided I wouldn’t endure insults when I couldn’t do anything about them – 100 PLN isn’t worth it.

But there are many people who don’t have the mindset or confidence I did. My decision to quit came from self-respect – I didn’t allow myself to be treated that way. How many people aren’t able to handle criticism from the stands? And yet they start at tournaments, friendlies, and the lowest league matches! Some might say: if you can’t handle it, quit. But this isn’t just their problem. It’s a problem that affects all of us – the shortage of referees is becoming increasingly noticeable.

Commercial tournaments often have to run without enough referees because those who could officiate simply don’t want to anymore (especially since parent/coach demands are even higher there). The Football Association increasingly assigns smaller referee teams for league matches because there aren’t enough people willing to work under those conditions. And instead of addressing the issue through awareness and education, we usually just slap a bandage on an open fracture. Why bother solving the problem when you can allow untrained referees (based on a coaching license)? Honestly, with this approach, we’re setting ourselves up for a big problem in the future.

Imagine how a young referee feels, trying their best but hearing only criticism instead of support. If we, the adults, don’t show them respect, who will? Without referees, there’s no game! Without them, kids can’t develop their passion, and we won’t have anyone to cheer for on the field.

Do we really want to contribute to making football harder to play in our country? If you see a parent or coach putting unnecessary pressure on a referee, don’t be afraid to speak up. Point it out. Remember, if we – coaches, fans, and parents – don’t support young referees together, soon there won’t be anyone left to officiate matches for either children or adults.

Let’s take care of young referees, because they will determine the future of football in our country. Support them just as we support our children, because only together can we create an environment where everyone – players and referees alike – can grow and enjoy the game.

I always say football is more than just a sport – it’s a shared passion and a way of life. Let’s not destroy what we love so much.