When this was posted on Facebook I was saddened. I was also not completely surprised having watched a season of football and heard some of the things said to those doing their best to make sure our kids get to play a sport they love. I'm glad it was written. Perhaps it'll cause us all to take a moment and watch what we say.
A LETTER FROM A FOOTBALL REFEREE

Dear Parents, Coaches, and Players;

I am sorry.
...
I am sorry that you are so often offended at everything I do. When I don my striped jersey and put on my hat, when I tuck my orange flag into the back pocket of my pants, when I give up my entire weekend so kids can play football, I am sorry that I instantly become your enemy. And I’m sorry that, as it seems many of you believe, I leave my intelligence and my moral integrity at home.

I am sorry that I have spent months and years studying the rules of football, and that I have forgotten more rules than most of you know. I am sorry for all the clinics and hours of meetings I take in every year so that I can get better at what I do. I am sorry I study for the exams and subject myself to evaluations, some of which are harsh, by football officials with more years experience than I have been alive.

I am sorry that you think I would intentionally call a game in favour of one team. Or that I can walk away from a football game and not worry and wonder if the game was called right, that I am not honestly concerned about every single player that gets injured on the field.

I am sorry that you get so mad on the sidelines, when you think you see something that I didn’t, even though you are 60 yards away and I am only 5. Even though I pay for my eye exam every year, I am sorry I don’t have a good enough optometrist.

I am sorry that you don’t think I know the rules, or how to apply the rules. I am sorry that you think I blew the game for your team, when all the while I was acting according to the rules, trying to protect the players on the field. I am sorry that I couldn’t fix the coaching errors or player errors that actually cost you the game.

I am sorry that I am not worthy to be called a “human”, that you think you have the right to treat me like dirt, to yell and scream, to threaten, to challenge my intelligence and integrity, to call me incompetent and blind and dumb. If I wasn’t wearing a striped shirt, you could be charged criminally with harassment or uttering threats.

I am sorry that I have done this for so many years. I am sorry that I have given up so many hours. I am sorry that I cannot please you.

I am sorry that I may “retire” my jersey and give up this hobby that I love. I don’t do this for the money. I do it because I love the game of football and I love seeing kids playing football.

I am sorry that because of the way you treat football officials, there may not be any football officials to watch over your games. And without football officials, there will be no football.

I am sorry.