Student sports are grappling with a severe referee shortage, to the point where games are being played without referees, something that has never happened before. Since the pandemic, an increase in aggressive behavior on the field and in the stands has made recruiting difficult.
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It is no longer uncommon for referees to be the victims of verbal abuse, intimidation or even physical attacks from players, coaches or parents. A phenomenon that has been growing for two years and is contributing to the dire shortage of civil servants across Quebec.
In the state capital, the first games of the school football season took place without referees. Players, parents and coaches had to blow the whistle and act as officials.
“ [Le premier samedi de la saison], we had no one. “All schools were informed that the situation for referees would be extremely difficult this season,” admits Mathieu Rousseau, president of the Quebec Student Sports Network for the Quebec and Chaudière-Appalaches regions.
If all sports are affected by the shortage, the situation in football is even more problematic because the summer season for civilian teams will be extended and school sports will be affected, he points out. A situation that reinforces the lack of officials reporting to the various sports associations.
“The retention rate among referees is very, very low. One of the reasons for this is obviously the excesses of the public, parents and others,” emphasizes Mr. Rousseau.
“After the pandemic, something changed with the interpersonal skills of viewers. It is truly remarkable how varied the number of problematic situations we experience is [voit] in the crowd, but also behavior in the game. There are many more cases and hostility in the crowd” – Mathieu Rousseau, president of the RSEQ for the Quebec and Chaudière-Appalaches regions
A regional awareness campaign on the importance of respectful behavior towards civil servants must also be launched shortly.
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The President and CEO of the RSEQ, Gustave Roel, recalls that the various associations have lost between 20 and 25% of their number of officials during the pandemic.
In addition, there are now referees who give up because of the atmosphere that exists on the field and in the stands. A phenomenon that affects all regions of Quebec and all sports disciplines. As a result, young student-athletes will have to expect a reduced team of officials overseeing their games this year. In basketball, only one referee can be sent. In football, the central official is likely to appear without a linesman.
“We experienced unpleasant situations last year when officers were intimidated or attacked. This is the type of behavior that we find unacceptable, but that discourages people from engaging as public servants” – Gustave Roel, President and CEO of RSEQ
For many, the salary is simply not worth it in the current context. “It’s much more worthwhile for a young person to work at McDonald’s, [il y a] less risk of getting caught than [pour] a young person who decides to be a referee,” adds Mr. Roel.
The Ministry of Education, which is also responsible for leisure and sport, set up a reflection committee almost a year ago. “But it takes time to make progress on this issue.” The RSEQ president particularly wants the government to launch a major national television campaign on the importance of refereeing in sport.
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