Originally Posted by
echappist
well, there are all sorts of stories of how parents or adult rec league players go after referees. Just imagine making an incorrect offside call and getting an earful...
Earful?
You will always get an earful, even on correct calls. You learn how to ignore others (see I'm trained) and make fast decisions on how to control a situation. Getting the call right is not that important, you usually do. Selling it and game control is where it is at. It is very mentally stimulating. I've done about 1,000 games from adults to kids. Adults you can go out after the game and have a beer with the players. Kids, you can have a beer with the other referees, or the police - depends on the parents. Some hated me, most really liked me. And as a referee - they tell you.
You get to run around on a nice grass (hopefully) field forward, backward sideways and blow a whistle. I'd run 20-25 miles on a Sat (GPS watch). That kept me running mid week for the weekend games.