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Cards at U7 and U8 level

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newref1097

New Member
I’m a relatively new referee mainly refereeing matches at U7 and U8 level. I’m unsure about the use of cards at this level and would start by saying that it seems obvious to say that it’s preferable to avoid using them.

That being said, in recent weeks, there have been one or two occasions where deliberate tackles have taken place including to deny a player who was through on goal with no other defender between him and the goalkeeper. I also get the sense that there are coaches who ‘teach’ their players even at this young age to foul cynically before the attacking player reaches the penalty area to (a) stop a goalscoring chance and (b) avoid giving away a penalty.

Does anyone have any advice? Should I start issuing cards when these situations arise? Thanks in advance.
 
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newref1097 said:
I’m a relatively new referee mainly refereeing matches at U7 and U8 level. I’m unsure about the use of cards at this level and would start by saying that it seems obvious to say that it’s preferable to avoid using them.

That being said, in recent weeks, there have been one or two occasions where deliberate tackles have taken place including to deny a player who was through on goal with no other defender between him and the goalkeeper. I also get the sense that there are coaches who ‘teach’ their players even at this young age to foul cynically before the attacking player reaches the penalty area to (a) stop a goalscoring chance and (b) avoid giving away a penalty.

Does anyone have any advice? Should I start issuing cards when these situations arise? Thanks in advance.
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Don't worry about what the coaches are teaching, thats none of your business and not in your remit, just leave them to it.

I've never done a game for such young kids and therefore others may well be in a better position to advise, but unless its violent conduct or SFP then this is where your personality comes into play. Feel free to tell the player that they could be carded and to be careful next time etc. Its a learning environment, there's no points to play for they're all friendlies at that age, but feel free to help the players when required. My advice would be to only do so in extreme circumstances. I've seen the occasional ref at my step sons matches a couple of years ago that were more coaches than refs. Leave the coaching to the coaches and just talk to the players in simple but clear and friendly terms when absolutely necessary. Other than that smile and relax, everyone is there to have fun.

If you're dishing our cards for technical offences etc at u7 level then thats a clue to work on your persona.
 
Ben448844 said:
Don't worry about what the coaches are teaching, thats none of your business and not in your remit, just leave them to it.

I've never done a game for such young kids and therefore others may well be in a better position to advise, but unless its violent conduct or SFP then this is where your personality comes into play. Feel free to tell the player that they could be carded and to be careful next time etc. Its a learning environment, there's no points to play for they're all friendlies at that age, but feel free to help the players when required. My advice would be to only do so in extreme circumstances. I've seen the occasional ref at my step sons matches a couple of years ago that were more coaches than refs. Leave the coaching to the coaches and just talk to the players in simple but clear and friendly terms when absolutely necessary. Other than that smile and relax, everyone is there to have fun.

If you're dishing our cards for technical offences etc at u7 level then thats a clue to work on your persona.
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Well, as I mentioned, I haven’t issued any cards yet and feel uncomfortable doing so hence the reason for posting. I hope that gives you a clue re my persona.

Part of the guidance for mini football does have the referee acting in a semi-coaching capacity in some limited terms e.g. if a throw-in is taken incorrectly, encourage the player to take it again and demonstrate it needs to be over the head or making sure a player is standing to the side of the corner flag to take a corner rather than at an angle where they’ll kick nothing but the corner flag itself.

I completely agree re the fun, learning environment but the reality is that in the league I referee in, there are some coaches and parents who take the games very seriously and question the referee in every game.
 
newref1097 said:
Well, as I mentioned, I haven’t issued any cards yet and feel uncomfortable doing so hence the reason for posting. I hope that gives you a clue re my persona.

Part of the guidance for mini football does have the referee acting in a semi-coaching capacity in some limited terms e.g. if a throw-in is taken incorrectly, encourage the player to take it again and demonstrate it needs to be over the head or making sure a player is standing to the side of the corner flag to take a corner rather than at an angle where they’ll kick nothing but the corner flag itself.

I completely agree re the fun, learning environment but the reality is that in the league I referee in, there are some coaches and parents who take the games very seriously and question the referee in every game.
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Re the throw in scenarios you mention,I do this myself. I often do mini soccer under 8s through to under 10s and all I ask the thrower is to throw from behind their head. I dont even worry about their feet placement yet. When I pull up their throw and allow them to retake it I just say 'This is practice for when you play in the older age groups.' This tends to stop any complaints from all concerned.
 
SpecsSaver66 said:
Because there are so few people willing to be referees,even stand in ones,in many areas of the country. Many parents wont even dream of doing it no matter how young the players.
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The point is that qualified referees should be getting appointments in Under-11, Under 10, Under 9, not the very young players
 
newref1097 said:
Well, as I mentioned, I haven’t issued any cards yet and feel uncomfortable doing so hence the reason for posting. I hope that gives you a clue re my persona.

Part of the guidance for mini football does have the referee acting in a semi-coaching capacity in some limited terms e.g. if a throw-in is taken incorrectly, encourage the player to take it again and demonstrate it needs to be over the head or making sure a player is standing to the side of the corner flag to take a corner rather than at an angle where they’ll kick nothing but the corner flag itself.

I completely agree re the fun, learning environment but the reality is that in the league I referee in, there are some coaches and parents who take the games very seriously and question the referee in every game.
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Please don't think I was questioning your persona, I wasn't and I apologise if it came across that way. I was just explaining the importance of a referees personality.

There will always be parents and coaches who go over the top even at u7s. I wouldn't even give them a 2nd thought. I often politely tell people that "ill referee this game thank you" (with a smile), 2nd time is less polite but like I said, I have no experience with such young kids and I'd probably be learning from you if I watched one of your games.
 
Ben448844 said:
Please don't think I was questioning your persona, I wasn't and I apologise if it came across that way. I was just explaining the importance of a referees personality.

There will always be parents and coaches who go over the top even at u7s. I wouldn't even give them a 2nd thought. I often politely tell people that "ill referee this game thank you" (with a smile), 2nd time is less polite but like I said, I have no experience with such young kids and I'd probably be learning from you if I watched one of your games.
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I appreciate that. I had a coach loudly disagree with a decision recently and this attitude inevitably spilled onto the pitch with his players - not a good look imo when you have 6 and 7 year olds using phrases like ‘I never touched him’ for the rest of the game.
 
At the risk of sounding obnoxious ... FFS!! 🙄
6 and 7 year olds do not need a referee. They just need managing and supervising ...
 
ChasObserverRefDeveloper said:
The point is that qualified referees should be getting appointments in Under-11, Under 10, Under 9, not the very young players
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There are probably a number of reasons for this.
I mentioned the discipline side in my other post but you and others also mentioned it being better paid for students than less than minimum wage jobs too.
Mini Soccer has the most vibrant leagues and games in large parts of the country so there were always be a role for a ref as the lines are usually very large and vocal too. The other reason for this is quite simply that its almost exclusively in mini soccer that kids will be scouted by clubs. The clubs hardly touch older (post 10/11 year olds) to recruit for their Academies and Centres of Excellence. The better quality players who are released either go to other academies or see the lack of quality in their local older age groups and lose interest. So if a young ref wants to stay busy then mini soccer is the place to be to get work. This doesnt help recruitment but if a ref cant get games then he/she will stick to mini soccer.
 
SpecsSaver66 said:
There are probably a number of reasons for this.
I mentioned the discipline side in my other post but you and others also mentioned it being better paid for students than less than minimum wage jobs too.
Mini Soccer has the most vibrant leagues and games in large parts of the country so there were always be a role for a ref as the lines are usually very large and vocal too. The other reason for this is quite simply that its almost exclusively in mini soccer that kids will be scouted by clubs. The clubs hardly touch older (post 10/11 year olds) to recruit for their Academies and Centres of Excellence. The better quality players who are released either go to other academies or see the lack of quality in their local older age groups and lose interest. So if a young ref wants to stay busy then mini soccer is the place to be to get work. This doesnt help recruitment but if a ref cant get games then he/she will stick to mini soccer.
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Under11/10/9 is mini soccer - players that age benefit from having a referee, prior to moving to offside and youth football. 7 year olds do not need a qualified referee.
 
I refereed my son at the lower age groups only because I was there anyway.

At that age group there are very few fouls and not much in the way of tactics. Role involved mostly tying up laces and making sure the kids got involved more than refereeing.

Was only as he started to get a bit older they played in more defined positions and tactics started to become more apparent.
 
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