David Gerson ( @refsneedlovetoo ) has been a soccer referee for over ten years, officiating matches in the top amateur and semi-professional leagues in America.

In our conversation, David shares with us what he feels parents need to know about the level of referees at different playing levels, the training (or lack thereof) youth officials receive, and why 80% of youth referees quit within three years.

David also gives a unique perspective of the power imbalance between parents and youth officials that will likely give you something to think about that you've never considered before.

If you like this conversation and want more of David's content, you can join his nearly 250,000 followers on social at the links below:

Instagram.com/RefsNeedLoveToo

TikTok.com/ @refsneedlovetoo

8:38 - What level of youth soccer has the worst parents?

10:38 - What you need to know about the level of referees at different playing levels

13:05 - How should parents respond when they disagree with the official?

16:49 - Youth referees don’t get training or mentoring - your games are where they’re learning

17:20 - How should youth coaches question an official?

18:45 - The power imbalance between parents and youth officials

21:50 - 80% of youth referees quit within three years because of parental abuse

23:32 - A new perspective for viewing your kid’s officials

28:27 - The correlation between how players treat refs and their parents

31:04 - An encouragement to parents who are just trying to keep up

35:22 - Every referee will make a mistake in a game

36:38 - Youth sports are not about winning

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