The Ref Stop

Just my first U16 match.

R

RayCharles

New Member
Hi all.
So i begrudgingly agreed to help out for a stuck team of U16s today.
Bottom third v third top.
Good chat before asking what to expect and how the teams usually play.

Went very well. Found myself in good positions. Not scrappy apart from the striker constantly niggling with high defenders off the ball.
Had to call him over as trying to keep an eye on him while play was continuing was distracting me from focus on the game.

Had two shirt pullers on the left of the pen box both giving as much as each other.
Benefit of doubt used and awarded free kick to defending team. IMO it was the call that caused the least chance of opportunity.

Was I right?

Got a few remarks. But pretended to be deaf.

Other than that. First half went well.


Second half. Top team scored within the first ten mins. Opened up a game that started to get a little bit feisty. Hard 50/50s that I let play. Couldn’t give a fouls as both each time connected at the same time.

Ball played at speed bounced off a players foot and onto elbow. Played on. After big shouts of hand ball.

Didn’t make his body bigger. It was unable to be stopped. Let play continue.


Clash of heads at speed. Both down. Luckily this gave a chance for the game to calm down a bit. Made sure both were able to continue otherwise I would have advised to sub.

From my angle 10 min from time. A ball went out. Lino awarded corner. Seemed to be flagging for offsides that I sometimes doubted but as I asked him to call them. I trusted his judgement. Didn’t over rule apart from once that went wide. So I awarded a goal kick. Players went mad. Again I played deaf.

Until a lad walked past and asked me how much I was being backhanded by the other coach.

Called over. Yellow. Sin bin and with remaining time left. Wasn’t going to be getting back on.

Finished 1-0


Done 14000 steps. Harder than an hour and a half light run. Went into the game with the mentality of not being stressed and let myself just flow. Seemed to help with nerves.

Few times play was switched and I had to get over to grab my position and I felt I was late to the show. But in all honesty. That’s the first match I have blew for full time and enjoyed it.

My son watched. He’s 10. Said there was a few arguments with parents but they didn’t call me out today.

About 9 lads walked over to the respect barrier where I was with my son to shake my hand.

So I lost my yellow virginity today.
But could I have done better? Yeah I think so.
 
The Ref Stop
RayCharles said:
But could I have done better?
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Which bit(s)?

When I started (which wasn't very long ago) I used to give myself just one or two areas to concentrate on for the next game: foul recognition; communication with players; positioning etc.

What will be your focus for the next fixture?
 
Well done. As you move through the ages of reffing youth football from U13s to U18s is that different challenges present themselves. All part of the learning process. One thing I would say is in relation to this:
RayCharles said:
Until a lad walked past and asked me how much I was being backhanded by the other coach.

Called over. Yellow. Sin bin and with remaining time left. Wasn’t going to be getting back on.
Click to expand...
This is a RC at any age group. I appreciated we all have different tolerances but it's one thing to be frustrated at a decision; it's one thing to have to moan and remonstrate. It's entirely another thing to accuse you of cheating or being bribed.
 
The Gump said:
Well done. As you move through the ages of reffing youth football from U13s to U18s is that different challenges present themselves. All part of the learning process. One thing I would say is in relation to this:

This is a RC at any age group. I appreciated we all have different tolerances but it's one thing to be frustrated at a decision; it's one thing to have to moan and remonstrate. It's entirely another thing to accuse you of cheating or being bribed.
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In all honesty. He was the straw that broke the camels back. The yellow had him missing the rest of the match anyway but I get your point.
 
Viridis1886 said:
Which bit(s)?

When I started (which wasn't very long ago) I used to give myself just one or two areas to concentrate on for the next game: foul recognition; communication with players; positioning etc.

What will be your focus for the next fixture?
Click to expand...
I need to improve on my lack of soft foul free kicks. Also trying to look for offsides when focusing on the play in front of me at the same time.

These two things will be my focus for a good few matches.

I will try to ref a game at each age group and once I have I will take an OA game and see if I get out alive
 
It takes a while to get your eye in for fouls a d work out the right threshold. The challenge is also that it is different between games, and also within a single match according to the ebb and flow of the game. It's an art more than a science!
 
Viridis1886 said:
It takes a while to get your eye in for fouls a d work out the right threshold. The challenge is also that it is different between games, and also within a single match according to the ebb and flow of the game. It's an art more than a science!
Click to expand...
It is so difficult. Two lads at each others kits. Both at it. That is a hard one for me to decide who I whistle in favour of.

The niggling fouls I just let go but only because I don’t see any real contact is also one I need to brush up on
 
RayCharles said:
Two lads at each others kits. Both at it. That is a hard one for me to decide who I whistle in favour of.
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I'd try and pre-empt it by shouting "Release, stop holding" and then you can always penalise the one that doesnt.

If they're both at it, I'd just let them get on with it until there's a clear foul.
 
Viridis1886 said:
I'd try and pre-empt it by shouting "Release, stop holding" and then you can always penalise the one that doesnt.

If they're both at it, I'd just let them get on with it until there's a clear foul.
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That’s the thing. Three matches now and I can’t fathom out who is being worse.
 
Sounds like you did well 👍
I agree that this is a straight red, player is calling you a cheat.
 
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RayCharles said:
Got a few remarks. But pretended to be deaf.
Click to expand...

RayCharles said:
Until a lad walked past and asked me how much I was being backhanded by the other coach.
Click to expand...

I can't really say this confidently as wasn't there but i cant help but feel these two are related. There are some comments you can ignore but some you can't. If you do, it just sends the wrong signal and players think they can get away with bigger comment.

Overall it sounds like you did quite well. And gained good experience.
 
one said:
I can't really say this confidently as wasn't there but i cant help but feel these two are related. There are some comments you can ignore but some you can't. If you do, it just sends the wrong signal and players think they can get away with bigger comment.

Overall it sounds like you did quite well. And gained good experience.
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This game was either easier due to me having more experience.

Or I was lucky enough to not have much to do.

Who knows 🤷‍♂️
 
Done a fair few youth games and from experience there will always be one player who stands out and will see you as an outlet for frustration and will always question your decisions. I am learning to let the words flow in one ear and out of the other. But I have been advised to use the card for dissent from now on if it continues for far more than it should. It is nigh impossible to be on good terms with everyone on that pitch - or even at the side so you shouldn't even try. We are there to referee the game, not just the players and your control and confidence is key to that. I am learning to give fouls when they need to be given and trying to play advantage as much as I can too as this will aid in match control. You know in yourself if you have had a good game or not, you certainly don't need commentary from people who don't know the LOTG or how and when to apply them. Every game, you can do better I just look at it that way.
 
The “6 of one…” thing… there’s really no such thing as two simultaneous equal fouls - as a get out of jail.

Tussling for the ball, competing, jockeying, hustling - all good.

But if two players are fouling each and one comes away with ball - you have to react. Not necessarily with a whistle. Communicating non-decisions also works. ”Not enough for me”, ”You can play through that”, ”carry on” etc.

If you react to those contentious decisions, tell what you see, the players have far less reason to come at you. ”Normal contact, no foul for me”, ”small foul, big effect - this time”.

Learn your own basket of phrases. Be proactive in ”selling” decisions. Selling those little decisions in midfield set you up for the big decisions later.

And do get used to the idea that one player always makes contact first, one foul is always worse than another;)
 
The "basket of phrases" that @santa sangria refers to is great advice.

As you go through more games you will start to hone stock phrases that you can just roll out. They are so helpful and I have picked up many on here that I have adopted myself, and practice them. It seems strange, but just getting used to saying them at home will really help you in the game. It's like a striker practicing free kicks or penalties. It makes it easier in the game when you don't need to think about it.
 
Viridis1886 said:
. It seems strange, but just getting used to saying them at home will really help you in the game. It's like a striker practicing free kicks or penalties. It makes it easier in the game when you don't need to think about it.
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For me it's the other way around. Using and practising them in games makes it easier for me to use them at home. 😉
"I am comfortable with you not agreeing with me."
 
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