Everyone has their opinion these days. Everyone thinks that they are better than the person sitting next to them, the first to make sure that you know you made a mistake. They know better than you but if they make a mistake, they don’t want to know about it. You also have the people that think they know how to run things better then you but never put their hands up when help is asked. You know who that person is, they talk louder and over the top of you because people think they are talking the truth.
This week I watched several games around the area where referees have made simply mistakes, which always happens in any game but even more so now with the new adapted rules. This has spilt the rugby community in two, some players happy to play and some not returning until the game is back to ‘normal’. But watching coaches ‘have a go’ or argue with the ref’s for missing something in front of the younger players on the pitch is not a good example for anyone to set. The first thing we should do is set a good example, show best practise instead of shouting, ask the ref during half time when the game is not in play. But it’s not just referee’s who seem to be getting the brunt of coaches frustrations, I have heard parents and other coaches ‘have a go’ at other coaches just because they run things differently to them. I’ve even seen the supporters shout stupid things at the players or the ref just to get a laugh from their mates sitting next to them.
In a world where suicide is on the rise due to trolling on social media, depression and bullying, in a world where people are adverting the “Be Kind” movement. People need to remember that in grassroots sports 99 per cent of people are volunteers and don’t wake up in the morning and say “you know what I am going to ruin some teams weekends by making mistake”, no one ever does that! People are not perfect, we all make mistakes every day of our life’s so why are we all so quick to criticise others for a split second decision? Something that no one can re watch that no one got the ‘perfect’ view of, something that will not matter in weeks to come.
If you are so perfect then why not take that referee or coaching role? Show the world what you can do. But believe me if you are not as good as you think, if you make a split second decision based on what you saw at that time, get ready for someone to say your rubbish and not up for the job.
Next time you think of ‘having a go’ at the ref, coach or player, stop! Think! You don’t know what the name calling might do to their mental health. You aren’t always right.
Why don’t we give each other a break? After all, we are all human and are all doing our best.
