Looking back
I’ve been a referee for just over 6 years. I average 60-80 games in the calendar year. Almost always a CR and usually 9v9 or 7v7. I honestly do it for fun and enjoyment.
I had a few games on Saturday where the weather was 100 degrees F. Super hot out there and we gave hydration breaks about halfway through each half.
This game was mid-level u11 boys match and one kid on the team leading 3-0 was not happy with a foul I called on him and he started jumping up and down and yelling that it wasn’t a foul. I immediately asked him to calm down but he was still upset. I reached for my shirt pocket and in the spirit of not wanting to give cards out as this game pretty clean overall, and I said to him “If you really want a yellow card, I’ll certainly give you one.” He then started to walk away and as he was about 20 feet away he said something like “this guy sucks” or something like that. I then said to him “22, you must really want the yellow card, don’t you?” I then hear his dad shout “Don’t call my son out” and he started walking towards the sideline to try to intimidate me. I responded to him that it was 22 calling himself out for his behavior and I was trying to give him a break as his dissent was unnecessary. He then said that I sucked and I immediately told him he had to leave the field of play as I would not let him speak that way and he was setting a bad example. He left but was muttering expletives as he was leaving the field.
Was wondering what I could’ve done better or changed in my approach as I hate that this happened and I also want to always improve?