Former referee pleads guilty after pushing teen at soccer match

Randall Smith, a 64-year-old registered official, pleaded guilty Jan. 12, 2026 to assault and battery for pushing a 16-year-old student manager during a soccer match at the Keystone Soccer Complex near Traverse City. The plea follows a Michigan State Police investigation and Smith’s arrest on Oct. 28 after the incident on Oct. 14.

Court filings and law enforcement reports show that while officiating the match Smith tripped over the student manager, who was standing near the team bench. After bumping into the teenager, Smith raised his penalty flag and pushed the student over the bench. The Michigan State Police investigated and submitted their report to the Grand Traverse County Prosecutor’s Office, which brought formal charges of assault and battery.

After the assault, Smith was removed from the roster of registered officials with the Michigan High School Athletic Association, effectively ending his officiating career in interscholastic sports. He will be sentenced next month and faces a fine of up to $500, possible jail time and probation under the conviction.

The immediate consequences are clear for those who attend youth and high school games in Grand Traverse County. Parents, coaches and athletic directors rely on officials to enforce rules and keep sidelines safe; an incident of physical contact between an official and a minor undermines that trust and shifts attention from play to safety and accountability. For local leagues that depend on a small pool of volunteer and paid referees, the removal of an experienced official can increase the burden on remaining referees and schools working to staff contests.

School administrators and the Michigan High School Athletic Association may face pressure to review sideline protocols and training for both officials and team personnel to reduce contact and de-escalate confrontations. The legal penalty in this case — a maximum $500 fine plus possible incarceration and probation — underscores that aggressive actions by adults at youth sporting events carry criminal as well as professional consequences.

If you attend games at Keystone Soccer Complex or other local fields, watch sidelines and report unsafe conduct to school officials or law enforcement. Encourage clear boundaries between players, bench personnel and officials so matches remain focused on youth play rather than disputes.

The takeaway? Keep our sidelines safe and accountable: report misconduct quickly, support policies that protect teenagers at games, and insist on training that prevents small incidents from becoming criminal matters. Our two cents? A safer sideline starts with clear rules and bystanders who act when those rules are broken.