This is embarrassing isn't it

[ohmyohmyactual]

Children playing league football and parents calling out to the ref constantly calling for decisions and getting generally arsey with them?

It's happened a few times but this week was a parent on our team and I just wanted the ground to swallow me up.

It's embarrassing isn't it?

Be honest, are any of you or or husbands like this?!

My friend who was a high level trained ref jacked it in for this very reason.
He got fed up of spending his weekends travelling to amateur matches only to be abused for every decision he made.
When he had a few almost physical encounters from upset parents he hung up his boots.
It's a symptom of the respect professional give refs and a case of learned behaviour for young kids and parents who watch the antics on TV.

If someone I knew was upset or was otherwise having a hard time, of course I’d feel sympathy for them. But embarrassment? For something they’re not even embarrassed about themselves? Why would I feel that?

Because it's a pretty normal human thing to experience. It's why 'cringe comedy' like The Office etc affects people the way it does. I definitely wouldn't go as far as to say that people who don't experience it are sociopaths, but a quick google will show you that vicarious embarrassment is a normal thing, and that it's generally felt by people who have empathy.

Agree that vicarious emotions, including embarrassment, are a sign of empathy within the normal range.

It's mortifying. The onlookers reflect badly on the team, upset the kids and offend the officials. I've seen games stopped and parents told to move away from the touch line.