#ScheidsBedankt: taking a selfie with the referee

In The Netherlands the Week of the Referee has just started and many people paid attention to it on Twitter with the hashtag #ScheidsBedankt – meaning Ref, thanks. A website called De Aanvoerders asked players to take a selfie with the referee. The results are shown below.

De Aanvoerders (The Captains) is an initiative by both professional and amateur football players. Their golden rules:

• Give the opponent a handshake before and after the match
• Make agreements in your team about sportivity and respect
• Talk with your parents how they cheer for your team
• Whistle every season a few matches at your club

The latter one is important In Dutch amateur football many matches are officials who are a member of the home team. It is a good way for (young) players to get the idea of what referees have to face during a match. It is also a good way to get more young referees, because some actually like being a referee.

Club v.v. Dongen gave the referee some flowers to say thanks for officiating.

En zo ontving elke scheids bij #vvdongen vandaag van de aanvoerders een blijk van waardering. #scheidsbedankt pic.twitter.com/SthRWU5MIM

— V.V. Dongen (@vvdongen) October 4, 2014

Many professional referees went to matches of amateur colleagues to coach them and watch their matches.

Kevin Blom is vanmorgen @VVSBNWHout en coacht zometeen Koen Reeuwijk #scheidsbedankt @knvb @sportenrespect pic.twitter.com/d61N0Gd2XB

— Werner ter Avest (@WterAvest) October 4, 2014

Player on photo with the referee.

De eerste foto in het kader van #ScheidsBedankt hebben we al binnen! Bedankt Nina van @vvdwow. pic.twitter.com/TPM6wFHOaj

— De Aanvoerders (@DeAanvoerders) October 3, 2014

A whole team who took a picture with the referee: #ScheidsBedankt

#scheidsbedankt @DeAanvoerders DWOW C1 – Den Helder C2 1-3, respect pic.twitter.com/C6hORn1GeM

— DWOW (@vvdwow) October 4, 2014

Two captains and the referee

De topper van vandaag #rkdeo4 tegen #GSCEsdo4: scheids Bremmer! #scheidsbedankt @svRKDEO #2-0 pic.twitter.com/XiWPSFRJeK

— lucien groenewegen (@lucien_g) October 5, 2014

Den Haag: @hvvlaakkwartier A1-@svRKDEO A1. Respect voor de arbiter. ⚽ #BedanktScheids #DeAanvoerders @DeAanvoerders pic.twitter.com/JmE9yksHUm

— SoccerMum/oldWAG (@SoccermumYummy) October 4, 2014

Whole refereeing team getting flowers

Arbitraal kwartet bedankt namens de KNVB in de week van de scheidsrechter! #scheidsbedankt @KNVB @sportenrespect pic.twitter.com/TjE0JLiogs

— Sebastiaan Kleijburg (@skleijburg) October 5, 2014