Unsure about my decisions

Hi There! New to the forum so apologies if any of my descriptions of situations isn't the same as what is standard around here!

I refereed my first game this weekend, straight into the classic Sunday League adult football! On the whole, everything went well, even had a few words of praise afterwards. However, there were a couple of situations where I don't feel as if I made the correct call so I was just looking for some clarification

1) A direct free kick was given around 25 yards out. I set up the wall etc. However, just before the ball was kicked, a few members of the wall ran forward. The free kick went over the wall and hit the crossbar so I just played on. Later on, I gave another free kick in a similar position. This time after setting up the wall, I gave them a word of warning that I noticed what happened last time. This was ignored and the free kick hit the encroaching player. I blew the whistle and allowed the attacking team to retake. My question is, should this be a retake, or should this be a separate free kick awarded at the point it stuck the encroaching player?

2) One player wasn't happy that he kept losing the ball. His touch was poor and he kept being tackled, fairly I might add. However, every time this happened he felt the need to protest. After this happened a fair few times, I waited for the ball to go out of play and I just had a word with him, just stating that he needs to clam down. From here, he almost became an on the pitch commentator, 'that's a push in the back', 'that's late' and such like. Nobody was arguing these points bar him. Would you class this as dissent? I just ignored him as there was nothing abusive, he was aiming his calls at me, he was just talking out loud.

3) This is my final question (I'm going on a bit). A player on the blue team gave away around 3 free kicks in the first 15 minutes. Nothing malicious, all of which he had full intention of winning the ball. After the third, I had a quick word just asking him to calm down otherwise I'll need to take further action. From here, he didn't give anything away until literally about 20 seconds from the end of the match right in the center of the pitch. Again, just mistimed. His team were 6-1 up, the resulting free kick would have ended with the full time whistle but I didn't caution him. Would you have cautioned him at this stage?

Hi mate, well done on taking the plunge!

1) For the encroachment that didn't directly interfere with the trajectory of the free kick, I'd be going for a public word of warning to the ones who encroached, if it was really blatant - don't need to pull them in, just "watch the encroachment lads, any repeat and it'll be yellow". The second one, where they've ignored you and encroached and been hit; it's a yellow card to the player who's encroached for failing to respect the required distance, and a retake from the original position.

2) After a couple of those complaints, I'd be pulling him in at a stoppage and delivering a strong public rebuke, along the lines of "your commentary isn't necessary, and if it doesn't stop, it'll end up with you in the book" or words to that effect. If he persists, pull him in with the captain and impress upon the captain that he's got one chance to get a grip on him. If he still persists, caution for dissent. This is the stepped approach, and is the best way to deal with consistent low-level dissent.

3) In a word, no. You've dealt with the phase of play where he's had a few, and credit to you because clearly your word of warning has worked, and there's no need to caution for that 4th one in the last second, unless it was a reckless challenge by itself.

Sounds like you did well and enjoyed the experience, keep it going!

1. Caution for C5....failing to respect the required distance....nailed on if you've warned them after the earlier FK. And a retake from the same position.

2. Depends on what he said, how he said it and generally how much of a pain he was.......stepped approach was built for players like this.....

3. Think you got that right.....the 3 closely grouped fouls put him on radar for persistent infringement....but the length of time until the last one meant that he wasn't really worthy of a caution for PI

Great minds eh @Padfoot

I agree with both @forest96 and @Padfoot. You will find that the majority of this forum will agree also.

Yea well done on taking the plunge and yes already your stepped approach for your second and not heading your warning then yes c5 for failing to respect distance and retake if you haven't already as well start going if you've got time go to an referee accocition meetings and also ask your county to get a mentor out to come watch you

Thanks for your responses. The booking to the player in the wall seems obvious now yet it never crossed my mind at the time, so thanks for that! All part of the learning process

Sounds like you did pretty well for a first game.

No. 2 is definitely dissent - he's disagreeing with your decision to allow play to continue. I would definitely have a word, then a loud word which would include the phrase 'this is your last warning' and finally a card if he still doesn't shut up.

Agree with what has been said but I would have cautioned for PI. 3 fouls in a short space of time, or the game is enough for PI. Un-needed, especially when 6-1 up!

QuaverRef said:

Thanks for your responses. The booking to the player in the wall seems obvious now yet it never crossed my mind at the time, so thanks for that! All part of the learning process

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You've got all the advice above.
Just to say - brilliant that you spotted things in your first game. The attitude is great. Good luck to you. Hope you have a long and interesting refereeing future!
There will be more difficult games ahead - and strange unexpected things will happen - take each as it comes

Well done for doing this post-match analysis. It'll really help you as a referee if you come out of every game with learning points about what you can improve.

On 2), that is definitely dissent. You'll often hear players say things like 'I'm allowed an opinion ref' or 'I'm not a mute' (which I got on Sunday!) as a defence for disagreeing with you openly, but the fact is that by continually giving a running commentary about your decisions, the player is attempting to undermine your performance. Use the stepped approach and if he doesn't stop, you'd be absolutely justified in giving a yellow card.

UKColt said:

On 2), that is definitely dissent. You'll often hear players say things like 'I'm allowed an opinion ref' or 'I'm not a mute' (which I got on Sunday!) as a defence for disagreeing with you openly, but the fact is that by continually giving a running commentary about your decisions, the player is attempting to undermine your performance.

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My response to "I'm allowed an opinion," is "yes, but you're not allowed to share it with me."

You are perfectly entitled to disagree with me. You are not allowed to say so.

Personally like.....yes you are and if I want your opinion I will give it to you!

My pet hate is "I'm the captain ref, I am allowed to talk to you" eh..."nope that's rugby, your interaction ends when the toss is called and which way you play is decided, unless I want to speak to you!"

for your first game, you did very well if thats all you are concerned about, well done, remember you have cards for a reason, dont be scared to use them