Referees, or as zebras call them, imposters, have one of the most difficult and unappreciated jobs of all time. They watch, study and play the game as hard as any of the players on the field. They devote a lot of time and effort to perfect and hone their skills. Yet, somehow, these brave zebra-people don’t get the proper respect they deserve.

Even when you’re right, you’re wrong. Imagine with me for a moment this scenario: You are doing your math homework online. After 15 minutes of diligent work, you finally find the answer to this single problem. You press enter and WRONG comes up in big, bold, red letters. However, after further analysis, you find that the “correct” answer is identical to your “wrong” answer. Infuriating right? This type of frustration is something a referee becomes quite accustom to. No matter how accurate your call may be, there will always be “that guy” who moans, cries and pouts claiming your call is wrong.

As a referee, you never win. You are simply there to maintain order in a string of seemingly chaotic situations. You go to the game, do a good job and get yelled at. At this point, you may be wondering, “Why would anyone want to do that?” There is only one simple explanation: Refs love the game. Whether it’s hockey, soccer, football or basketball, referees can’t stay away from the game; it’s a passion.

One of the most difficult things about being a referee is that everyone “kindly” volunteers to do your job for you. Whether it’s the soccer mom in the stands, the coach on the bench, or the players on the field, you have about 100 people trying to give you their personal input on the call you just made. This may seem like a kind gesture, however, as a referee, you quickly realize most of these people don’t know what they are talking about. These “back seat refs” are quite entertaining to listen to as a spectator. However, in the heat of battle, they are about as entertaining and helpful as a stick of butter.

With all the action that happens within a game, a referee is bound to make a mistake. Human error is inescapable. That being said, I think these defenders of justice deserve some leeway. Imagine if every mistake you made throughout the day was witnessed by hundreds of over exuberant helicopter parents, self-proclaimed “experts” in your field and a group of people that are angry for the sake of being angry. I’m guessing it would make your job tougher than it already is. Referees are no different, they may look like zebras but they are actually people; people who make mistakes, people who feel feelings and people who generally try to be the best at what they do. While we’re on the subject of defending referees, contrary to popular belief, referees are not blind. Most of them have excellent vision and even if they do have bad vision they wear contacts. So back off.

I hope that I have opened your eyes today. I hope you now realize how truly difficult it is to be a professional zebra impersonator. These brave men and women deserve our respect for protecting us while we play the games that we love. Go hug a referee today or at the very least compliment them on their hooves, their tale, or their stripes. Thank you.