In Fall 2004 I was an 18-year-old level 2 referee and I had the following experiences with three different people: The R.I.C. for the Winnipeg Women's High School League was reluctant to let me officiate in that league. Another experienced referee was reluctant to spend time in a car to give me a ride to St. Andrews. The R.I.C. who said no to me lined the first game I ever refereed. At the end of the game, he had this frustrated and disappointed look in his eyes that I still

Raise your hands if you have ever had a coach disagree with an interpretation you made. Keep your arm up if you have been told that you are wrong even after giving an A+ explanation. Ok, keep your hand up if you have been in a conversation where you feel that the coach is making the same arguement over and over. There are a bunch of rules that I have been told over the years. Some I follow all the time, some I do not. State your opinion, listen to the coach, then leave. Never