Matches and Games- 221 for 2023
Good day dear readers and followers, I have wound down and wound out of the calendar year's soccer officiating. A record of 221 matches or games- whichever you prefer was covered. If not for some weather related cancellations it would have been over 240. The legion of youth sports officials is getting ever shorter. Soccer in particular. If not for a solid grouping of older referees, like myself, staying in the game then there would be no games. The problem is the behavior of the fans, coaches and the players too, and it is getting worse, which is unfortunate. Playing sports when I was younger brought great joy. It was fun, we got out, got exercise, socially engaged and made new friends. There are still great people out there, for sure. I coached with a terrific group of people and we were very engaged in the community- to invest in the children. We paid our own way through coaching schools and clinics. W...