I went to a WPSL game yesterday and supported some of my favorite athletes in the world, especially a few of them who I can't see playing soccer in the white and flag blue.
It was not a very dull game at all. It featured a great goal, spectacular slide tackle and an amazing touch off of what looked to be the back of the foot by some of the players I was rooting for. There were also a lot of cheap shots. I could name names but I won't.
On top of that I also saw something that really made me laugh at first, and then began to aggravate me.
I don't know what to say about people who coach at youth levels, and even as something as serious as the WPSL. On one hand the coaches are trying to improve themselves, get noticed, and hired to a better job. On the other hand the coaches are also there to coach their team, and respect the referees, opponents and the game.
There are times and ways to complain to a referee and times and ways not too. In the heat of the moment things happen, and referees understand that. I think coaches understand that for the most part. Coaches need to protect their players and try to work the referees. I get it.
(In order to shut up the coaches, referees should be firm and stern in their responses to a coach. Referees can nod their head in understanding, but they can never give them an inch of agreement to what they are saying as it makes the referee look weak and persuadable. Referees need to be confident and firm in their judgements. It's ok to confer with other referees, but not ok to waffle back and forth. The best referees are also consistent. Everyone has a different interpretation of a foul and as long as they are consistent with their interpretation than they are doing a good job.)
Sometimes coaches are over the top though. I don't know if I can say the coaches of this women's pro team's reserve team went over the top or not. They were certainly very close though and came off as one of the worst I've seen. Whether or not it was over the top is another thing that I can't answer since I haven't watched enough games in their league.
Coaches, especially at the youth level, need to be able to not take themselves too seriously. Honestly the tactical changes made, the working of the referees, etc. is not all of a sudden going to get you noticed by Arsenal or Liverpool. Their owners and management are not scouring high school teams and semi-pro teams looking for the next great coach. No coach went from coaching nine year olds as a side job to becoming the head coach of a college or pro level team.
Coaches should not pull a Bobby Knight and throw chairs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qxu5cvW-ds) because a referee didn't call slight contact. Coaches should not become ball boys either and kick a ball to their keeper when the ball roles out of play. All three coaches should not be arguing a call with a referee for several minutes after a play, while their team plays without their guidance.
Coaches need to coach, but coaching doesn't include them becoming sideshows at games.
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