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Comfortable with the pen. Holding prevents the attacker securing effective possession and turning for a shot on goal. As One has said, the holding was impactful if not protracted.

U13s in my view. Below that referees should be adopting a coaching based approach and have other tools to use like substitution and agreed player withdrawal which can be implemented with the assistance of the actual team coach.

14s will be more of a challenge but this is what you want as a new referee - progression of difficulty. If you view it as the natural progression of your refereeing journey, it will be easier to manage the level change. Even if you aren’t confident, try to display an air of confidence. Good...

It is tough to begin with but persevere. The learning curve is massive early on but the harder you work and the more you prepare the better you will become. With a good attitude and the good support you will be a much better referee after 5, 10 and 20 games. As others have said, focus on one or...

Good teams go bad and visa verse. As others have said try to avoid pre-conceptions based on past encounters and referee what is in front of you. Keep the game on a tight leash early on and let things flow once you feel you have control. Let confident and consistent early decisions set the tone...

In the circumstances you describe this would not be handball because the position of the arm is justifiable by the player’s body movement for that specific situation. IFAB guidance indicates that a handball offence is not committed when a player falls and the ball hits their supporting arm...

No control, lunging, excessive force, high contact, studs out. Could it be any clearer on video review.

I am not sure how I feel about strikes as an effective measure. However, I absolutely feel sympathy for, and solidarity with, a group of referees who feel this is a necessary measure. They have my support because clearly nothing else has worked to date. We deserve to feel and be safe in pursuing...

At ceremonial free kick situations you will often see the referee hold the whistle up, point to it and simultaneously explain to all players that this free kick will be taken ‘on my whistle’. This communication is particularly important for goal keepers who may need to prepare walls and...

Perhaps seek to understand what external factor(s) may be affecting your enjoyment as there doesn’t seem to be any cause directly related to this game. It is true that enthusiasm waxes and wanes over the seasons and even by game but it does seem strange for it to be so acute in your second...

OMG. I am definitely losing it. Of course… Team Official.

The match official is required to leave the technical area and the vicinity of the field of play such that they cannot practically be further involved in the game. If they refuse to depart the vicinity of the FOP you should not restart the game.

Even if he is a referee (which I very much doubt [although he might have done a course at some point]) he is not THE referee. In any event, pretty much all qualified referees understand the sensitivities around their involvement in other aspects of the game and would not confront a colleague in...

Most of the case supporting the involvement in referees in these types of games seems to be around parent and spectator management. If this is so, then I am not really sure involving a qualified referee is the right answer. If U8s can’t have a kick around without the pressure to perform and...

Try to tune most of this nonsense out whilst reserving the right to intervene if you think it is a risk to your authority. Free character assessments (from everyone) tend to be a constant part of refereeing and over reacting to very minor incidents can also pose a risk to your authority. If you...

I mostly position myself just outside the penalty area far side of the goal. This tends to allow for the best range of views of the likely contact area. I will vary this position depending on what is happening in the game and how the attacking team is constructing its corners. I will often...

Well done. An U17 game second up is a pretty tough examination in my view. It is also a big achievement to get the cards out so confidently. Many new referees take a while to get into that groove. Self examination and a commitment to continuing improvement will serve you well on your refereeing...

Matt, you seem to have the right attitude… which is almost everything in refereeing. Your first game sounds like a diabolical introduction to refereeing, but the fact you survived and are hear talking about it is a good thing. Not all games (and hopefully most future games) won’t be like this...

I am always sorry to hear when a referee feels like this although I know it is common. Sometimes things just run their course. However, as others have said, a break may help to refresh your enthusiasm. If you decide to continue/return perhaps give some thought to a goal or game standard you want...

Threats of violence and homophobic slurs are not acceptable and not something any referee should have to contend with. You have done most of the right things in your response. As the CR indicated the best immediate action is to bring to the matter to the attention of the CR so that it can be...