Is it just me or does it seems like there is a huge power struggle between refs and their egos? I have a lot of respect for refs and know that no one is perfect. However, I do think so refs take advantage of the powers given to them to the extreme. Our club, in the past, have been criticized for being too loud or having too many people mats side… … but in the last three weeks I have experienced something very unique… I’ll call it the offensive and the defensive ref.

THE DEFENSIVE REF

I’ll take about him first because he is the most fun. The defensive ref is the one who blows a call then refuses to correct himself no matter how much he knows he/she is wrong. I have experienced this ref several times in the past years. He normally has a happy trigger finger and loves to hear himself blow the whistle and make calls. Then when he blows the whistle on a blown call he runs over to you and tries to explain himself just to justify his call. His pride tells him that he is the ref, he is perfect, and his judgment is final, but his heart, however, says otherwise.

I call this ref defensive because he goes out of his way to defend himself (herself) no matter what’s the situation.

THE OFFENSIVE REF

Not that I like defensive refs but I can’t stand the offensive ones. I encountered an offensive ref this past weekend and at state (funny how it was the same guy). At state one of my kids got pinned after being on his back for half a second. As you know coaches can get emotional as you really want your wrestlers to do well. Well after this spit second pin, my mouth dropped so fast that nothing could come out. He races over and tell me my wresters was really down for 3 second (one second more than the required two) before I even said a word to him (his intuition must have been in high gear) thus provoking me to question his 2 second “judgment” then of course I was threaten/ and reminded that he had the authority to remove me from the building…

The same ref this weekend in District 1 reffed a match we were in. During the match I screamed “that’s a reversal” the ref looks over at me and starts talking to me during the middle of the match… he says “coach you need to handle your business over that and let me handle mine in here I don’t need your help…” while he was yappin he failed to give us the reversal till 10 second later… can we say personal???

Another match at the Wichita Classic… I went to the table and stood there, and as ignored until I walked directly inform of the timekeepers. The ref comes over and start to yell at the top of his voice so I yell back.. “Can I speak” He says “ok” then listens to what I had to say.. in his defense, after the match he did come over to me any apologize for not letting me talk.

Now I know there are some coaches who like to provoke arguments with officials… and I’m not talking about them. I’m talking about the coaches, who show up, are cooperative, and just have a question about a legit questionable call.

The question I pose is… Is it against the rules for a coach to yell out calls? Like an illegal hold, out of bounds, or takedown. Should refs hold conversations with coaches or anyone during the match? Should refs threaten to kick you out the tournament because you disagree with them?

Keep in mind I have not nor have any coach in our club have ever been removed from a tournament. However, if I walk up to the table and ask for an explanation I don’t want to be yelled at or threaten by a ref. I know that there is nothing anyone will do to stop me from yelling and cheering for my wrestlers. If I am correct, the refs are paid to officiate thus should do so with professionalism, and restraint again all other outside pressures and influence.

If more refs knew how to listen to a coach then explain how they saw it on the match and why they called a call. Most arguments would never arise.