This video is short so I have no clue what happened but this is all over youtube. Anyone know anything about this? I can tell you as an Official I ain't grabbing no kid, just eject him and let the coach handle him!!

Fab1b wrote: This video is short so I have no clue what happened but this is all over youtube. Anyone know anything about this? I can tell you as an Official I ain't grabbing no kid, just eject him and let the coach handle him!!

From my understanding, there was a dispute between the 2 wrestlers and instead of ejecting the one who started the argument as we can see,the ref went too far.

Should be fired

if that was my kid...i would pound that refs ass

Grabbing a kid by the neck ? What was he thinking?
+1 on the but kicking!

He didn't seem to choke the kid, but rather push the kid using his hand against the boy's neck. If he'd have used the hand on the chest, I doubt this is even talked about.

Best to not touch the kid though.

1_beast... You just about tempted me to put the stripes on!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wow, that ref was way out of line.

cruiser_96 wrote: He didn't seem to choke the kid, but rather push the kid using his hand against the boy's neck. If he'd have used the hand on the chest, I doubt this is even talked about.

Best to not touch the kid though.

1_beast... You just about tempted me to put the stripes on!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would agree on the point that if he would have pushed on his chest it would have been ok. BUT when you grab someones neck, it brings out a natural reaction in most people and if I were that kid I would not have reacted the way that kid did!. Just out of reaction alone! Look very closely to his fingers on the video. He is squeezing ! Even if the ref would have spun the kid around and grabbed the back of the neck it would have been seen a little different. Still not the correct response.
I hope everyone sits back and puts themselves in this boys place.

Get him off the opponent, get him away and into the hands of the coaching staff, then stop touching. Contact is essential as an official, however correct contact. In this case, with the opponent nowhere in view and the kid clearly not trying to aggressively pursuing his opponent, there is no need to grab the kid. All that being said I didn't see what this kid did and if I felt I needed to push a kid off the mat, I would do so (not by the throat though.)

I witnessed a similar incident where a kid got up and was clearly looking to harm his opponent. The ref reached out to stop the aggressor and wound up at the throat. Once the kid was stopped he slid to the chest and nothing else happened. In that case I felt the intent of the ref was to protect both kids. One from physical harm and the other from further punishment if he would have taken things further. In that video it appears that the only one needing protection was the kid...although if it was so bad why wasn't the coach stepping in?

I agree with crusier that it wasn't a "choke" just contact to the throat. If it was a choke he wouldn't have been able to shout to let go like he did.

When I posted this last night it was from my Iphone. Now watching the video on my computer screen with Audio I am very interested to know what happened here. I never take the comments on youtube as truth either!! He did grab the kids neck no doubt. In all my years of officiating (in my 12th season) I have never had to restrain a wrestler like that. I have seen plenty of coaches restrain their kids but that is their job. I have gotten in between competitors so nothing happens or put my arm around a kid and told him to calm down. That ref was angry about something but the video is too short to conclude what happened but either way I still think unless the kid physically did something to the ref before that point this ref went to far. Issue an ejection and tell the coaches to get him off the mat.

We don't get to see what the ref was so upset about, but regardless his reaction seemed a little over the top.

Close your eyes and try this! Imagine that a match got hot and you were going back and forth with a kid. The reff steps in and grabs your neck. and pushes you back by your neck.
This happened to me in High School with a teacher in the middle of class!
Incorrect response on my part was dropping the teacher! My reaction was instantaneous and I regret it to this day. But it was a reaction to a situation where I thought he was going to harm me and I was defending myself. The Teacher and I both were talked to and no punishment was handed out.
The neck area is odd. Other than the family jewels it is the only area that gets a reaction of fear and self preservation! Maybe the face as well. But not to the level of the neck.
Do I think the reff should be in trouble ..... No, but he should be watched for a long while and maybe he should go through some more classes and he should for sure re evaluate why he is reffing the sport. IMO

Cruiser...Why I oughta.......
Serious , umm i may stop in at the criuser invite with an official shirt for ya....try that on for size

Joe I closed my eyes, but could not read the rest of your post. Did I do that wrong?

huntergreen wrote: Joe I closed my eyes, but could not read the rest of your post. Did I do that wrong?

Well played, sir... Well played! Kind of like the "Sign and Drive" event.

1_beast... Make it an XL... Just like Lord Brakeman!!!

Yeah ! Let me re do!
Close your eyes put yourself in your Happy place ! Now imagine someone grabbing you by the throat.
LOL Just saying anyone that grabs me by the throat gets an instant view of the ceiling. Now I am an old man and can't do what I use to. But that kid looked pretty strong and is probably a little short on nerves. I am surprised at how cool he played it.