Thanks Swayz, no I was not the ref, I was not the head ref and actually don't appreciate being brought into this debate, on any measure. I have tried to never get mad at coaches or wrestlers and think I have done a pretty good job of that. I also think that coaching kids helps me understand coaches and knowing how to relate to them. I could go into a lot more detail there but won’t. I have a couple of great guys helping teach me those things, Mike Wilms and Steve Herman have been great in the way they relate to coaches, parents. wrestlers and fans. I have been stern and there is a difference. When a ref looses control of their emotions, they have lost control of the mat they are on.

I did get onto several kids for the reasons Swayz and Nigel mention. The truth is though, that I don't think I had problems with kids on the mats except when there was empty mats next to us. I get control of that situation before the start of the match, and say something to the coaches mat side. They have always complied and thus, no problems. It becomes a safety thing and there are times that when you become more concerned about the people mat side than you are the ones wrestling on the mat, something has to be done.

I actually had a coach or a dad say something to me 2 weeks ago at Valley Center about the fact that the mat the kids were playing on and warming up on was empty and the kids were not bothering anyone. Yet those kids that weren't bothering anyone was running onto the mat where wrestling was taking place, and continuing to endanger the wrestlers on the mat. I finally told everyone to get off the mat while wrestling was happening; this dad or coach proceeds to yell at me. Wrong move, I gave him a quick and stern warning that if he didn't like the fact that I was clearing the mat for the safety of the wrestlers he could leave the tournament. I personally did not have time to decide which kids were appropriate and which kids were not appropriate, the easiest solution was to clear the mat.

Not only do officials have the responsibility to provide a fair playing field within the guidelines of the rules, they have the responsibility to provide a safe playing field. Parents and coaches know the rules, an official should never be put in a position to do something that a parent or coach should do. The guide is simple, 2 coaches to a corner, and those coaches should have a USA Coaches Card.