I believe you are asking for grace and compassion of which I’m 110% on board. We DO all make mistakes and are usually appreciative when offered grace when we screw up.

The main issue with this ref is that he seemingly lacks compassion (close relative of grace). A ref MUST be able to consistently ask himself or herself in all situations how they’d personally feel if their season ended due to a wrong call or if their ref refused to keep an open mind about possibly being incorrect when something they have worked their butts off for was on the line. I feel we too often forget the main purpose of what we are supposed to be doing as parents, teachers, coaches, refs, role models, etc…. We need to have our youth’s best interests at the forefront always and let our own pride take a back seat as difficult as that is sometimes. THAT’s what we want to model for our kids and what we want our kids to take from their HS experiences. What message do we think the kids get when they are powerless and the people who they are supposed to trust to have their best interest in mind treat them unjustly or lack compassion?

Look how fast this ref disregarded the coach in the 126 match when he asked for clarification (assuming he did). Also note the wrestler—he didn’t throw a tantrum, engage in the discussion, swear at the ref, etc. as we’ve all seen from time to time from others in that moment. He completely trusted the process as he should have.

The video clearly shows the coach wasn’t disrespectful and it doesn’t appear as if he said anything to warrant the quick misconduct he was handed— essentially eliminating any hope for a meaningful protest thereafter.

Perhaps this ref ought to be suspended with the hopes he can regroup with a different mindset when he comes back? Perhaps we can all learn something from this—myself included.