Officiating is a "thankless" job. If you do a great job then you aren't noticed. If you make a bad call, you get jumped by "Little Johnny's" mom and grandma.....
There are less and less officials that are willing to do it because morons in the stands lose their mind every time a call isn't made in their favor.....
The officials that do work the games are mostly new to officiating b/c most sane adults get out of it because of (see above statement)
Without a doubt, fans have gotten worse.....so far as to actually make personal bodily harm threats against officials.....?? Are you friggin kidding me? Over a game? Over a child's game?
Let's be clear on something else. The pay is better than it used to be, but it is still not great. $60-$120 depending on the level you are officiating and if there is one or two games. This does not include the fact that officials have to drive usually well over 30 minutes to get to the game along with having to purchase all of their own apparel, gear, etc.
Parents/fans need to sit back and enjoy the kids getting to "PLAY A GAME"........I repeat......."PLAY..... A..... GAME"
Stop living vicariously through your children and let them chart their own path....... This is not life or death.....