You can have my whistle': The ugly reality of adult abuse targeting teen refs

Adult abuse targeting teen basketball referees is emerging as a systemic crisis for grassroots sport in NSW, highlighted by 17-year-old Laura Pouliot of the Far South Coast. Pouliot described weekly psychological pressure from parents, including being told “You’re doing a s--- job,” alongside scrutiny from players, coaches and spectators. She recounted an incident during an under-18 match when a player stood close at half-time and told her she was calling “really bad calls,” after which she offered, “You can have my whistle for the rest of the game if you like.” The league, Pouliot said, has to balance inevitable mistakes with the need to improve. Refereeing 11 representative games in a weekend demands rapid decision-making across more than 1,000 rules. Data cited by the article links abuse to young officials quitting within their first year.