One year ago, Nebraska State Soccer announced a partnership with the data platform FairWhistle with the intent to grow the game and improve the experience of all involved with the feedback and data provided by you, our members. Over the past year we have gathered information from almost five thousand games. This information included information about fields, referees, spectator and coach behavior. Below is a list of key data points noted in our first year with FairWhistle.
- The overall average ratings for both Coach and Spectator Sportsmanship increased from the Fall season to the Spring season. This shows that overall, referees are reporting a better experience with our teams during league games. Coaching staff professionalism rose from 4.03 average rating to 4.14 out of a possible 5 rating.
- Coach and Spectator Sportsmanship was not significantly different on average for winning teams versus losing teams. This shows us that regardless of result, on average teams are remembering to maintain good sportsmanship throughout.
- Spectators and Coaching staff of younger teams tend to be rated higher in sportsmanship than older teams.
- Training League ratings were significantly higher for both coach and spectator sportsmanship- which means our Training League teams are doing their part to make the experience for our new referees a positive one to keep them coming back and getting better!
- Overall ratings for head referees was higher in the spring than the fall, and overall sentiment (the positive or negative words used in feedback) was positive.
- Compared to other youth leagues in FairWhistle, NYSL is above average in the four key measurables: Spectator Sportsmanship, Coach Professionalism, Referee Composite Score and Feedback Sentiment Score.
NSS and NYSL are excited and encouraged by these statistical findings. The partnership with FairWhistle has been an amazing addition to our league and has helped us gather and react to feedback more than ever before and we are excited to see what information the 2025-2026 soccer year shows.