The Ref Stop

Junior/Youth Players kicking the ball away in junior football.

J

Jason_Referee

New Member
I was reffing my first match it being an U10s match. But it was a really hostile game. Players persisted to kick the ball away. I gave a verbal warning to the first player that did it and ended up giving verbal warnings 5/6 times for different players. My question being should I have reached for a Yellow Card / Sin Bin?
 
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The Ref Stop
Jason_Referee said:
I was reffing my first match it being an U10s match. But it was a really hostile game. Players persisted to kick the ball away. I gave a verbal warning to the first player that did it and ended up giving verbal warnings 5/6 times for different players. My question being should I have reached for a yellow card or a sin bin and what should I have done differently?
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Book them, one verbal warning is enough
 
With Under 10's, there is the option to say to the coach "Your number 4 kicked the ball away. I could use a yellow card, or he may listen to you if you were considering subbing him for a few minutes. What do you want to do?"
Mini Soccer does not usually include cautions unless reckless or similar.
 
Absolutely coached behaviour. Get on top of that. Third time that happens, positive action needs to be taken, and like Chas 🙌🏻 says… utilise the coach (and also tell them that it won’t be tolerated moving forwards). Draw the line in the sand.
 
Thanks for your replies guys. I will learn from it definitely and as it was my first match refereeing. I will be all the better for next time. 👍
 
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Though if it’s coached behavior, the coach may not end up being supportive on this. And what knucklehead coach 10 year olds to kick the ball away??
 
FirsFox40 said:
You have encountered youth football coaches, right? 😂
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Oh, I sure have. And U10 coaches (and parents) can be the worst. But it does take a special knucklehead to think a 10U game is so important that he should teach players players to do something so blatantly unsporting. Probably the same coach who will scream that the players are too young to get cards.
 
socal lurker said:
Oh, I sure have. And U10 coaches (and parents) can be the worst. But it does take a special knucklehead to think a 10U game is so important that he should teach players players to do something so blatantly unsporting. Probably the same coach who will scream that the players are too young to get cards.
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I watched an U-9's game last month. At every corner for the away team, one player's job was to block the goalkeeper and another player was tasked to push his team-mate into the goalkeeper.
I said "Interesting tactic" to the coach. His reply was "Ain't a foul, is it?"
The adult referee (why they used an adult for 8-year old's is another issue) either failed to notice or just ignored it.
Easily solved at the very first corner, preferably before it is taken.
 
And that is unlikely to even accomplish anything in a U9 game. So instead of teaching players skills and helping them develop, he’s teaching the, to be knuckleheads and take advantage of not having experienced refs. It drives me nuts. As a youth coach, I always thought my job was to help the kids develop and to have fun. (Age dependent on which was the higher priority.)
 
ChasObserverRefDeveloper said:
I watched an U-9's game last month. At every corner for the away team, one player's job was to block the goalkeeper and another player was tasked to push his team-mate into the goalkeeper.
I said "Interesting tactic" to the coach. His reply was "Ain't a foul, is it?"
The adult referee (why they used an adult for 8-year old's is another issue) either failed to notice or just ignored it.
Easily solved at the very first corner, preferably before it is taken.
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I suppose this is the place to say that at a U10 game where I was mentoring a young referee, the coach complained long and loud about him stopping the game to get treatment for a player crying on the floor as his side were on the attack...
 
Again from the left side of The Big Ditch...

Wow. And I thought we had a problem with coaches in the US! In 25 years as a referee and 10 years as a Trainer/Mentor for juvenile referees, I've never seen that kind of blatant behavior in any game below U-17, let alone U-9/10.

It is an understatement to say that coaches who coach such tactics have no sense of perspective, no personal ethics, and no awareness of the attitudinal damage they are causing. Kids of those ages are incapable of differentiating disrespect for law and authority on the pitch and disrespect for law and authority in the broader society - wonderful life lesson!

Carding a kid that young seems excessive and inappropriate, especially if the ref suspects they are just doing what they have been coached to do. As a matter of fact, in most states over here, referees are explicitly instructed NOT to use cards with players below U-11 (that does not apply to coaches).

I agree with ChasObserver's response - first a word with the coach, offering him a choice. Failing that, I'd issue a warning that you will be sanctioning the coach if such behavior doesn't end immediately. Failing that, a yellow to Mr. Wonderful (and one needs to be prepared to issue either yellow/red or straight red if he doesn't take it well). In any case, the coach's tactics certainly merit a report to the home club/assignor/league, whomever.

Under LOTG Law 11.3, a coach can be cautioned for "showing disrespect for the game", and that vague wording gives a ref all the leave they need to act on the basis of the letter of the Law.
 
I would, and have, told the player to go and get the ball. Have done this at U16 level, trying to remember if I’ve done it at U18. May even have done it in OA, but not sure.

Wouldn’t do it in every game, I’d “read the room” first, but it’s certainly more powerful than either not doing anything, or giving a yellow card.

But then I do have 28 years experience in the classroom as a teacher!

“You can go and get that” issued in a firm, but non shouty or aggressive tone, usually gets compliance - in part because they are shocked at being told what to do, they just get on and do it. “It will be a yellow card if you don’t “ would be my follow up if they don’t comply.

A high risk strategy- and I may cop some flack from my fellow refs - but for younger age groups, well worthwhile. All but the most knucklehead parent or coach will be appreciate and support your actions.

If they don’t get the ball, when issuing the card I would say: “I gave the chance to collect the ball, but you chose not to get it, so you chose to get a yellow card.”


As an aside, you do still get some youngsters who go and collect the ball when it’s not their team’s restart - say corner, goal kick, throw - when they do, I always publicly thank them, and insist the restart doesn’t happen until they are back in position.
 
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