fivewomacks

The facts were that the situation was defused at the point when the referee repeatedly shook his finger in my sons face and yelled at him. He continued to do so even after my son stepped back. I agree the push when getting up was wrong but it didn't warrant the referee trying to belittle him. This was not an offense that was flagrant enough to get him kicked out as you might be imagining. My son is a good and respectful kid. I just thought he deserved as much respect as he gave that referee. He is only 15 and I can understand him losing his cool briefly but for a man who is supposed to be in control of what happens on his mat to lose it and then feel that it is okay just because he CAN...well, that is wrong. I don't expect referees to be perfect but I do expect them to be held accountable and if the head referee saw the tape and was upset by what he saw, then he too must have felt the referee went overboard. He even felt the need to apologize for the incident.

I know there are rules in place to keep the wrestlers safe and that a referee has the authority to do what is necessary to ensure that safety. I do however question a referee attempting to belittle a wrestler once the situation has been defused. My son was wrestling and got upset because he was getting kneed in the head while he had his opponent in the cradle. The period ended and my son pushed his opponent while getting up. He was frustrated over getting kneed and although he shouldn't have pushed the other wrestler, I did understand his anger especially after viewing the tape. The referee called my son over to him and stuck his finger in his face. My son said yes sir and backed up 2 steps and placed his hands on his knees. The situation was defused at this point. This referee walked up to him again and stuck his finger in his face for a second time. He shook his finger in his face and yelled at him. This was just uncalled for. I don't feel that this was a necessary or acceptable action by an official. I was wondering how the rest of you feel about this. My son is a polite young man and a good kid. I do not feel that he deserved to be treated with such disrespect when he showed respect to this official. My husband questioned the ref after the tournament and he stated that he was right and that he was lucky our son didn't get thrown out of the tournament. I thought that was an odd statement when other behaviors, much worse than a minor push, were ignored. The head referee did apologize after viewing the tape. I am going to take this to the board of referees for the State and will release the video if needed. I just can't believe that anyone would think this action was just, fair, or necessary. Teresa Womack