Insulting coaches, referees, book bans

A football referee’s words to remember

I will always remember the words of a particularly outstanding football referee before a youth football match I was coaching (“Exiting the game,” News, June 16).

He looked at my players and said, “Boys, I’m going to make a mistake today, probably more than one. But if you waste an easy goal-scoring opportunity by shooting the ball over the bar, I promise I won’t shout across the field that you stink!”

“And, coach, if you fail to substitute a player who is repeatedly hit by an opponent, I promise I will not yell across the field, ‘Coach, you stink!’

“So it’s very simple. Players, you play. Coaches, you train. And I will referee the game.”

And I would like to add to the words of this brilliant official: Parents, your role is to model kindness.

— Frank Schmidt, South Setauket

Where has our country come with its bad behavior, its lack of respect and its lack of self-control?

Many referees, officials and umpires take these jobs for various reasons, but not to be insulted, threatened or treated with disrespect. And they give up time with their families.

Things have gotten out of control. What will our children who love these sports be left with no one to referee the games? What will the children do instead?

Many people think they are entitled to something and do not think about what kind of role model they are for the current and future generations.

There are not enough consequences and punishments for those who do not follow rules or do not respect superiors and officials. We continue to ignore most bad behavior and find one excuse after another for it.

We must take a stand against bad behavior before it is too late.

— Claire Fuchs, Copiague

What harms children more? It is obvious

More and more states are trying to ban books to protect our children (“Welcome pushback on school book bans,” Opinion, June 12). How many children have been maimed or killed by reading a book compared to the number of children maimed or killed by firearms?

— Robin Tierney, Massapequa