Kentucky Children's Football League Holds Silent Game Day After 'Inappropriate Behavior' Towards Referees

OWENSBORO, Ky. (WFIE) – A youth football league in Western Kentucky is testing new playing rules after a number of incidents in which parents confronted referees inappropriately this season.

Every year the league loses referees due to inappropriate incidents. So organizers are looking to make changes to ensure everyone has a good time.

The Daviess County Youth Soccer Association is asking parents to keep everything in check for Silent Sunday after a number of incidents of inappropriate behavior towards their referees.

“People who were training told me that most of the referees quit because of the anger of parents or teachers,” said referee Levi Cecil.

Levi is only 13 years old and has just started as an assistant referee in the league this season. He says he has already experienced pushback from his parents.

“Who told me I did something wrong and a few parents who told me got into arguments with my calls,” Levi said.

Like Levi, most football league referees are students in training.

“The majority of our referees are between 13 and 17 years old, so it’s important to discourage these things when they creep in.

“We get complaints after every weekend,” said John Congleton, board member of the Daviess County Youth Soccer Association. “Most of them are very minor, but it’s one of those things that happens in youth sports where people get upset

Congleton says each year the pressure proves too much for some young referees.

“It can be very difficult for a kid to be put in that position, so we see referees every year saying it’s not for me,” Congleton said.

On Silent Sunday, only positive cheers are allowed. No secondary coaching and no arguing with calls. Not all parents were happy about it.

“I was against it because I’m a very loud person and I like to cheer from the sidelines. I’m competitive,” said Beth Jordan, her mother.

After Beth Jordan saw her daughter play one of her best games without anyone’s help, she now says Silent Sundays was a good decision.

“Seeing the ability that they have, the fact that they listened to their coaches and actually took what they said to heart, it’s really good to see,” Jordan said.

Organizers say they hope to bring Silent Sunday back next year.

They say their goal is to help put the focus on the kids and the game itself.