Some interesting points were being raised in a different thread, that got closed off for obvious reasons.
There were two distinct discussions: one, regarding letting a game "flow", and two - stopping for injuries.
On letting a game flow, the younger the participants, the more you should be letting the game flow. Are you really going to blow the whistle for every minor infraction at an U12 Div 5 game? Of course not, so let the little niggles go (if you believe them to be accidental), and focus on the bigger issues. I was going to joke that you will always know if you have the balance wrong because the managers/parents will let you know - in the past I have nipped that in the bud by explaining to the managers pre-kick off that I like to let the game flow, but if they would like me to tighten it up, they can let me know by speaking politely with me during a substitution or similar - always worked for me.
On injuries, again the management of it will change dependent upon the age, but also based upon your own experience. I'm the father of a teenage son, who got me in to football (coaching, then refereeing) - I have a pretty good spidey sense as to the severity of an injury. What works for me, is to make it clearly visible to everybody that you have seen the player go down - if its a foul then you're blowing for it or signalling an advantage, if its not a foul point at the player that has gone down and shout no foul. Whilst keeping an eye on play, go and ask the player if they're OK. Until the ball goes out of play, keep looking back at the player to check on them. When they realise play isn't stopping you would be surprised at how they miraculously recover - you would almost think they played for a Premier League team with such an astonishing recovery time. You would be horrified at the age kids get taught to "go down and stay down" if they are fouled. If you do feel the need to get the coach on at the appropriate time - immediately, when the ball goes out of play, or at some point in between, remember that the player will need to leave the FOP - even at youth football (U11 and up).
I'll leave the topic of mummy running on to the pitch because their darling little Johnny has been hurt for another day.
There were two distinct discussions: one, regarding letting a game "flow", and two - stopping for injuries.
On letting a game flow, the younger the participants, the more you should be letting the game flow. Are you really going to blow the whistle for every minor infraction at an U12 Div 5 game? Of course not, so let the little niggles go (if you believe them to be accidental), and focus on the bigger issues. I was going to joke that you will always know if you have the balance wrong because the managers/parents will let you know - in the past I have nipped that in the bud by explaining to the managers pre-kick off that I like to let the game flow, but if they would like me to tighten it up, they can let me know by speaking politely with me during a substitution or similar - always worked for me.
On injuries, again the management of it will change dependent upon the age, but also based upon your own experience. I'm the father of a teenage son, who got me in to football (coaching, then refereeing) - I have a pretty good spidey sense as to the severity of an injury. What works for me, is to make it clearly visible to everybody that you have seen the player go down - if its a foul then you're blowing for it or signalling an advantage, if its not a foul point at the player that has gone down and shout no foul. Whilst keeping an eye on play, go and ask the player if they're OK. Until the ball goes out of play, keep looking back at the player to check on them. When they realise play isn't stopping you would be surprised at how they miraculously recover - you would almost think they played for a Premier League team with such an astonishing recovery time. You would be horrified at the age kids get taught to "go down and stay down" if they are fouled. If you do feel the need to get the coach on at the appropriate time - immediately, when the ball goes out of play, or at some point in between, remember that the player will need to leave the FOP - even at youth football (U11 and up).
I'll leave the topic of mummy running on to the pitch because their darling little Johnny has been hurt for another day.