A petition is circulating in the community in an attempt to raise the pay of soccer officials and improve sportsmanship, which has become an important topic amongst association officials. 

“This is more than just a way to ask for a pay raise,” one of the petition organizers Joel Rincon said. “We are asking the UYSA to recognize the invaluable contribution of referees to the game. We play a significant role in maintaining the integrity of the league. It is a call for respect and acknowledgement. We implore the UYSA to raise the wage of referees.”

The Utah Youth Soccer Association is taking the initiative seriously. 

“We are discussing the petition with the group of referees who created it,” UYSA Chief Executive Officer Bryan Attridge said. “We have an official meeting scheduled with our state referee committee. We know being a referee is hard, but we were just notified of this petition.”

A close offsides non-call in a youth game was further evidence something needs to be done. The coach stood on the sideline wildly waving his arms and berating the referee. Finally the referee yielded a red card to the coach, grabbed the ball and stood at midfield waiting for the coach to leave the field. The game was
eventually forfeited.

“Sportsmanship is becoming a huge problem,” Rincon said in the petition.

The petition includes several comments from past officials and parents. “My son almost quit. We make stressful decisions, Utah is one of the lowest paying states, plz [sic] change for the better,” and “This is a great first job for some teens, but is it worth it,” are among some.

Over 650 people have signed the online petition on change.org. The petition states that referees feel “berated, slighted and improperly enumerated.”

More than two years ago the UYSA adopted a zero tolerance policy toward referee abuse. Any team that has a fan, player or coach that abuses a referee can receive a strict no spectator ruling. The team will not be allowed to have anyone on their sidelines for the entire season. 

In March, USA Soccer adopted a similar referee abuse prevention policy, violations could include lifetime bans.

“Soccer is a beautiful game that brings out a passion in its players, coaches and fans. When passion crosses the line it harms the games integrity and the safety of those who work in it. Referees are essential to our game,” USA soccer released in its abuse prevention packet (policy 53-91).

According to Utah State Soccer Referee Program, the current pay scale for the UYSA was adopted in 2022 and ranges between $30 to $65 per game. The USSRP serves soccer associations by increasing the number and quality of officials and achieving excellence among those officials through education and administration. 

“It is time for us to stand up for change,” Rincon said. λ