My first time...

It happened... Nearly got through my qualifying games without one, but I gave out my first card, will I remember it forever?

On reflection, didn't feel great giving an u12 a yellow card, but to say he earned it is an understatement. A fairly clumsy trip, followed by a fairly cynical trip to which he received a strong warning, finally followed by a really cynical trip denying a promising attack. Couldn't decide whether to report it as tripping, PI or SPA.

I genuinely didn't think I would have to give out yellows in the lower age groups, but it felt like the lad gave me no choice, he then followed it up with refusing to give his name when requested, not once, but twice... when I told him that he had one more chance to give me his name, it soon came out.

It's a strange game

The Ginger Ref said:

It happened... Nearly got through my qualifying games without one, but I gave out my first card, will I remember it forever?

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Yes. I too gave my first yellow card to an u12. Similar to you, but off the ball tripping an opponent running past and it was my very first game

The Ginger Ref said:

On reflection, didn't feel great giving an u12 a yellow card, but to say he earned it is an understatement. A fairly clumsy trip, followed by a fairly cynical trip to which he received a strong warning, finally followed by a really cynical trip denying a promising attack. Couldn't decide whether to report it as tripping, PI or SPA.

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SPA isn't a caution code. I'd be inclined to go C1 TR, unless I actually gave it for persistent

The Ginger Ref said:

I genuinely didn't think I would have to give out yellows in the lower age groups, but it felt like the lad gave me no choice, he then followed it up with refusing to give his name when requested, not once, but twice... when I told him that he had one more chance to give me his name, it soon came out.

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They are few and far between but if we don't use cards then they never learn, kicking the can down the road.

The Ginger Ref said:

It's a strange game

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True enough.

While the code doesn’t make any material difference, C1-TR I’d say. C3 is more about when you set them up for the fall, and they then commit another offence.

Regardless, well done on dealing with what you were presented. Next one gets easier and so on so forth

The Ginger Ref said:

didn't feel great giving an u12 a yellow card, but to say he earned it is an understatement.

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I've only had one myself, was also at U12. In my (little!) experience on the field this season, this age group seemed to be the one where I came closest to giving cards. The same person I cautioned should have really had a 2nd but stupidly I let it slide because it was the last 2 mins in a cup same that they were losing 5-3 at home. If I'd have given him the second, my card tally for the season probably would have been significantly higher because of the increased ease and confidence etc. Trust me when I say you will remember everything about that card. I even remember the exact location on the pitch of mine!

The Ginger Ref said:

refusing to give his name when requested, not once, but twice...

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Also, this age group. Any other, if I ask for a quiet word with a player they tend to comply. U12? May as well sprint to them and put them in handcuffs to get them to listen!

Three separate trips after a warning = persistent infringement.

While the codes are purely administrative, this can help you with identifying trends in a game. As you I’ve through the age groups you might end up cautioning for a fairly minor foul, but being able to clearly define persistent infringement helps you here. Any complaints you meet with “It’s his third, fourth, fifth foul.”

My last persistent infringement caution was exactly this, a “light” barge. On its own never a caution, but I’d warned him that the next foul was a caution. I made it clear this was 5 fouls, pointing out the locations of them all to leave everyone in no doubt why I’d done it.