Does not perpetuate the myth that getting the ball automatically makes it a viable challenge?
Interesting point... I think it is clear in context that as a ref I want players to try to play the ball and not the player... to attempt a tackle for the ball, rather than e.g. hack a player late when they know the ball has gone.
Context again. "Play the ball" works for me in serious but naughty OA where players might be looking for some afters.
The kinds of challenges where a player takes the ball and then a lot of the player - and its careless and punishable rather than applauded - tend to be a division or two higher, where "play the ball" is condescending.
I have an interesting mix at the mo:
Last night level 6 - mixed ability - matches tend to either be friendly or totally nuts as the players get easily frustrated, and they don't care about the result, or the ref. Expect the unexpected. And the beginner ARs will drop you in it when you least expect it.
Sat level 5 - serious but functional - matches are tense, pressure builds, dissent is more systematic, a lot of rehearsed BS, the ref is tool for many players who can't influence a game as they don't have the skills. Much stronger challenges. Problems with blatant elbows, trips. ARs have some weaknesses so can be picked on by players and affect match control.
Tomorrow level 4 (flag, one day whistle I hope) - serious, much faster players and play, and much tighter. Flash points happen fast but localised, strong personalities to be dealt with individually. Very little BS from the players. They will play hard but it's football. Here is where the ball plus man, ankle scrapes/stamps and fast sliders happen. The odd sharp elbow. All officials are very good, top of their game, very tidy, maybe comms and "mistakes" on any scale are very rare.
...all three have to be reffed differently IMHO, especially the in-game talking with players. At 6 and 5 there is so much contact that sometimes there's a running commentary required. At 4 not so much because the players are so much more controlled. At 5 and especially 6 a lot of my effort goes into players that I think are about to lose it or retaliate, again almost none of that at 4 - instead it's sly shirt pulling. At 6 an idiot will jump into a GK or trip someone up off the ball, at 5 it's the barge into the fence, at 4 there's a crowd and naughty stuff is usually quick and around the ball...
Do you get a mix of games like this in the UK?
