“You will never ref another game!”

Shouted by a parent to the ref in a 2010 game today, whilst demanding the referee’s name, mid-game.

The cause of the outrage? Ref stopped the game because said parent was on the sidelines with a dog. The official spoke to the team manager and asked the parent to move dog. Nope, not leaving. “But I walked here. I live nearby. It’s a service dog. I can get the certificate.” “It’s a public park!”

Game was stopped for at least 5 minutes. It was nuts.

There’s more, but the “you’ll never work in this town again” ish declaration shouted from the sidelines (technically, at that point parent had stepped on the field :eek:) took the cake.
 
This information is incomplete, as it was not stated what happened after the game stoppage. Since you stated the game was stopped for "...at least 5 minutes...", this seems to indicate that the game continued. Did the party stay, or leave?

  1. First, if the league rules stated no dogs allowed, the referee was within their rights to stop the game and ask for the dog to be removed.
  2. Once the party stated the dog was a service animal, with a further statement that they had the certificate, that would give the dog the right to be there. It would not be the referee's job to 'investigate' the statement. Just a note on the game card, and noting the parties name, if the coach could identify them.
  3. The statement from the party that it was a 'public park', is not relevant, if the league received permission from the city to conduct the games there, as normally happens. At that point, anyone attending the games have to follow the rules that the permit holder, the league, has put into place, for their usage of the city field. Even if a resident living near the park, who normally walks their dog there, came onto the fields, they would have to abide by the rules of the existing permit holder, the league/club. This is normally when a party will get into this is MY neighborhor park, and I pay the taxes for this field!! An issued permit from the city gives the issued party the right to use, and establish their own rules for people to attend their event, which also applies to residents in the area, if they wander onto the fields. The rule against animals exists to protect spectators, and for liability issues arising from potential dog bites.
  4. This whole issue about animals puts referees in a bad spot. They should only have to be concerned about doing their games. The league/club should have field marshals/monitors/board members at game sites to monitor the games.
  5. As for the threat from the parent, to the referee, about not being able to do games anymore--pleasseeee. That is way over the top, to threaten a referee in that manner. On the other hand, maybe the 'service dog' was a dog to help with the parties emotional stability, and the dog was failing in that duty, for that moment.
 
Good clarification. The game continued post-squabble. While the ref was dealing with the parent and team manager (and ultimately the coach) the game was stopped. Kids just standing around confused.

Parent then went to the perimeter off the grass, and watched with the dog. Ref then went and sent him off completely (with assistance from the assistant coach). I assume for at that point for being so argumentative with the official. Game was still stopped and kids still just standing around. The parent actually didn’t move to the walkway/ perimeter until his own team parents were like, come on, you are wasting the kids’ time.

Once he left the area entirely, game restarted.

It was so over the top on the parent’s part. Parent was very Joan Crawford-y about the whole thing. It’s scdsl, so no dogs per the rules. Someone loudly pointed out that his arguing was eating up the game clock and that there was no stoppage time, which is when his own team’s parents were like, “just go.”
 
This information is incomplete, as it was not stated what happened after the game stoppage. Since you stated the game was stopped for "...at least 5 minutes...", this seems to indicate that the game continued. Did the party stay, or leave?

  1. First, if the league rules stated no dogs allowed, the referee was within their rights to stop the game and ask for the dog to be removed.
  2. Once the party stated the dog was a service animal, with a further statement that they had the certificate, that would give the dog the right to be there. It would not be the referee's job to 'investigate' the statement. Just a note on the game card, and noting the parties name, if the coach could identify them.
  3. The statement from the party that it was a 'public park', is not relevant, if the league received permission from the city to conduct the games there, as normally happens. At that point, anyone attending the games have to follow the rules that the permit holder, the league, has put into place, for their usage of the city field. Even if a resident living near the park, who normally walks their dog there, came onto the fields, they would have to abide by the rules of the existing permit holder, the league/club. This is normally when a party will get into this is MY neighborhor park, and I pay the taxes for this field!! An issued permit from the city gives the issued party the right to use, and establish their own rules for people to attend their event, which also applies to residents in the area, if they wander onto the fields. The rule against animals exists to protect spectators, and for liability issues arising from potential dog bites.
  4. This whole issue about animals puts referees in a bad spot. They should only have to be concerned about doing their games. The league/club should have field marshals/monitors/board members at game sites to monitor the games.
  5. As for the threat from the parent, to the referee, about not being able to do games anymore--pleasseeee. That is way over the top, to threaten a referee in that manner. On the other hand, maybe the 'service dog' was a dog to help with the parties emotional stability, and the dog was failing in that duty, for that moment.
Yes, it is VERY incomplete:
1. What team?
2. What is the guy's name?
 
Yep, that information would be needed for the league to invite the parent for a 'discussion' with the league, to correct their behavior. For what happened, this is a necessity, to ensure that this does not happen again. A key element here is the commentary by the parent that their dog was a service dog, and that they had a 'certificate'. If they provide this 'certificate', they are in the right for having the dog there, but not for their commentary and behavior. If they misrepresented the dog as being a service animal, that is a potentially serious matter, as it is considered as 'service dog fraud', which is considered a misdemeanor under California law, and has a $1,000 fine attached to it, and potential jail time.
 
For all refs and managers, coaches asked to enforce the "no dog rule." The teams/club renting grass at public parks get "the field," which basically is everything within the walking path areas, including spectator areas. Outside the walking path areas and the covered picnic areas are separate areas that field permits generally don't cover. A parent with a dog needs to be off the field areas and on the walking paths or outside the walking paths. Outside the field area, the league has no jurisdiction ... so don't overstep.
 
I have heard "you will never ref another game again!" countless times, not necessarily at me. I have heard the word "lawyer" thrown out there like candy before. Guess who is sill reffing out there today... pretty much everyone still.
Empty threats.
The most amusing one I heard was from a savvy parent that asked the right question, she wanted to know who that referee's assignor was. But he was the assignor LOL. Apparently he "let a game get out of control" (a U10 girls game) while he was mentoring 2 first time referees. Who would have thought the jump from semi-pro to U10 girls was too much for him to handle.
 
The other thing to consider is that these kids are 8-9 years old and some kids at that age are afraid of dogs. I had an 8y/o boy a couple years ago come up to me during a game. He was crying and said he was afraid to go to the other side of the field because of the big dog. I calmly walked over and told the dog owner what the problem was and he moved away from the field. I really do not know why people feel the need to bring their dog to a youth soccer game.

The funniest dog story I have occurred at Surf Cup youngers two summers ago. It was a G12 game between SD Surf and another club at the Polo Fields. Surf Cup rules state no dogs allowed at the Polo Fields or Oceanside complex. Before the game I noticed a lady with two large dogs (Labradors) on the sideline. I politely informed her that dogs were not allowed at the fields. She in a loud and bitchy voice said, “I am a Surf manager, so it is okay for me to have dogs.” I said okay and went to the center of the field to start the game. About 10 minutes later I hear the women yelling and look over to see her arguing with 3 guys from Surf Cup Sports that coordinate the tournament. Yes, the women loudly told them she is a Surf team manager and it is okay for her to have dogs at the field. She eventually had to take her dogs to her car and sit there with them until her daughter was done playing. After the game the coach and I were laughing about what happened. He said, “she thinks her shit don’t stink, but evidently her dog’s shit stinks.”
 
With dogs and service dogs, the rules should state "No Pets". Doesn't matter what kind, just no Pets. Then, when a dog is there, the person in charge should state: "There are no pets allowed". That then let the person counter back saying it's a service animal. If it truly is, they will know the correct things to say. If it's a pet, they will likely stumble, or they will be ready to lie. If the service animal, it must be allowed to stay, if not, it can be asked to leave.
 
NO ANIMALS ALLOWED.jpg That is why our policy states 'No animals Allowed, Service dogs are allowed. It all came to a head, years ago, when a party brought a bunny rabbit to the field, during Easter week, which hopped onto the field. It was decided to cover everything, with 'No Animals'. Service dogs are allowed to stay, per law, but 'therapy' dogs are not allowed to stay, as they are not considered by law to be a 'service animal'.
 
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