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Issuing cards

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Jaylen

New Member
I officiate youth football as I am only 16 yo. I don’t normally give out cards from U13 or below. I am being assessed in my next U12 game. Should I give out cards as I am being assessed or referee as I normally would.
 
The Ref Stop
What are you being assessed for?

If the game requires sanction, regardless of age, apply and record appropriately.
 
Is that as part of a Promotion Pathway? If so, at Levels 7-6 and 6-5 you will receive Matchday Coaching. It's coaching, and guidance with areas on where your refereeing strengths and areas for development are if so.

In terms of cards, referee the game in accordance with law, whilst maintaining empathy for the game when appropriate, regardless of the age of participants.
 
Is that as part of a Promotion Pathway? If so, at Levels 7-6 and 6-5 you will receive Matchday Coaching. It's coaching, and guidance with areas on where your refereeing strengths and areas for development are if so.

In terms of cards, referee the game in accordance with law, whilst maintaining empathy for the game when appropriate, regardless of the age of participants.
Yes it is part of the promotion pathway. Thank you
 
Presumably you’re being visited by a coach as this is youth level progression?

But that’s an aside. Don’t fall i to the trap of arbitrarily using or not using cards at set age groups. Use them as you need to. If an U11 shows obvious dissent (like having a proper tantrum and yelling and won’t stop) or punches someone in the mouth, etc, use the cards. Age is irrelevant in those scenarios.

As for when you’re being watched by someone they are there ultimately to help you. Don’t change your game for them - it’ll be obvious for a start 😎

Referee as you normally would - that’s where the best advice can come from to help you on your journey.
 
I would imagine that as the game is under 12 this is the Y1> Y2 progression pathway
I would agree with this. I'm on 7-6 and asked if my MDC's can be on youth games and the answer was a simple no.

And for the OP and the original point of the thread: don't change the way you referee just because someone is there to watch you. It will be obvious! Trust me on that as I found that out the hard way. And as for cards, just like any other game the answer is simple. If something requires a card to be given, give it (unless you are choosing to manage it which is appropriate in some scenarios). Trust your gut instinct as 95 times out of 100 it will be right.

When I started, I was reluctant to get the cards out in youth football. What I then found was that when I did need to give my first one, it was obvious. It was screaming at me in the face if you like (ironically, it quite literally was a child screaming at me!). Since then, I have found it much easier to tell as it just became quite obvious to me when it was needed.
 
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Take measures to draw the line in the games. As an AR I've seen the Head Refs card the young U12s. Typical challanges and I've seen disent as a trend in games at U-10-14 range as it has grown.
 
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