The Ref Stop

Junior/Youth Red cards in Youth football

F

FN14

New Member
Level 7 Referee
Today I had two fixtures where in both I had to show a red card (first time I’ve ever had to show one).

The first was U12, div 1, the attacking player received a cleared ball after a corner against his team. As he’s dribbled it past the defenders the only player in front of him was the keeper who decided to come quite far out his box (closer to halfway line then his box) and catch the ball. I’ve seen this as a DOGSO as no other defenders were back, so shown a red, which parents did complain about. After the game the manager had a word and pleaded he understood my decision but they have a cup final next week and hoped I could log it as a yellow.

Second game an hour later in the second half a player is in a 1 on 1 with the keeper in the penalty area. A defenders come in from behind him and recklessly mistimed his tackle and had his foot hit the heel of the attacker who went down. I’ve also thought this was DOGSO, and shown a card, which received minimal complaints from parents and players. After the game though the manager has told me that it’s kids football and not the premier league to which I told him it was a red card because it was DOGSO. He’s told me ‘if you log this I’ll come after you, and mark you down, and if you’re ever my referee again I will refuse to play.’ This was an U13 league game. Until the confrontation I was sure I made the right decision but after he’s made me doubt myself.

Was I right in my decisions, and what should I do now?
 
The Ref Stop
FN14 said:
what should I do now?
Click to expand...
Report absolutely all of the above.
  • Direction
  • Distance
  • Defenders
  • Control
and
“There are different circumstances when a player must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour including if a player:​
​
* denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing an offence which was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball and the referee awards a penalty kick​
Bold text my own emphasis.
 
Last edited:
Report and absolutely do not change your awards.

However as it reads that first one sounds like a SPA yellow not a DOGSO due to how far the keeper has come and age of players obvious sounds a stretch but to be 100% I would have to of been there but from what you describe I do feel for the lad missing a cup final but do not change it on reporting ever.
 
Archer said:
Report absolutely all of the above.
  • Direction
  • Distance
  • Defenders
  • Control
and
“There are different circumstances when a player must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour including if a player:​
​
* denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing an offence which was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball and the referee awards a penalty kick​
Bold text my own emphasis.
Click to expand...
Are you saying both should have been yellow? For the second one at least the angle the defender came at meant he had no chance at winning the ball so I don’t think it was an attempt to play the ball
 
FN14 said:
Are you saying both should have been yellow? For the second one at least the angle the defender came at meant he had no chance at winning the ball so I don’t think it was an attempt to play the ball
Click to expand...
It's your opinion that counts - you were there.
In the first instance, if the attacker had a clear run to an empty goal had they not been fouled, red card.
In the second, you did not see a challenge for the ball, red card.
In youth football cards are appropriate whereas in Mini soccer they are very rare.
Report both dismissals and also report the manager for the comments made to you.
Well done.
 
Obviously you had to be there, but I’m a firm believer that keeping cards in the pocket at U12s and up is simply doing the players a disservice. I do on occasion, depending on the nature of the game, not issue cards at this age for what LOTG says should be but when it comes to things like DOGSO, SFP, VC, dissent etc then laws are laws. Well done, and I would 100% put them through despite the coach’s pleadings.

My only comment on the decisions would be if the second one was a genuine but mistimed attempt to play the ball, as it’s in the penalty area the decision should be penalty and YC for DOGSO. If no attempt to play the ball then penalty & RC is the correct decision.
 
The Gump said:
Obviously you had to be there, but I’m a firm believer that keeping cards in the pocket at U12s and up is simply doing the players a disservice. I do on occasion, depending on the nature of the game, not issue cards at this age for what LOTG says should be but when it comes to things like DOGSO, SFP, VC, dissent etc then laws are laws. Well done, and I would 100% put them through despite the coach’s pleadings.

My only comment on the decisions would be if the second one was a genuine but mistimed attempt to play the ball, as it’s in the penalty area the decision should be penalty and YC for DOGSO. If no attempt to play the ball then penalty & RC is the correct decision.
Click to expand...
I usually keep my cards in my pocket as well for u7-10s but after that I think if I show a card it was deserved as I try not to show reds most the time which was why I haven’t gave a red all season till now
 
ChasObserverRefDeveloper said:
It's your opinion that counts - you were there.
In the first instance, if the attacker had a clear run to an empty goal had they not been fouled, red card.
In the second, you did not see a challenge for the ball, red card.
In youth football cards are appropriate whereas in Mini soccer they are very rare.
Report both dismissals and also report the manager for the comments made to you.
Well done.
Click to expand...
Glad Chas added something I forgot report the manager 100%
 
FN14 said:
He’s told me ‘if you log this I’ll come after you, and mark you down, and if you’re ever my referee again I will refuse to play.’ This was an U13 league game. Until the confrontation I was sure I made the right decision but after he’s made me doubt myself.
Click to expand...
A team official coming onto the field of play to confront you is a red card anyway (even at full-time), but that particular comment might make me consider using the word "threatening" in my report...
 
FN14 said:
He’s told me ‘if you log this I’ll come after you, and mark you down, and if you’re ever my referee again I will refuse to play.’ This was an U13 league game. Until the confrontation I was sure I made the right decision but after he’s made me doubt myself.

Was I right in my decisions, and what should I do now?
Click to expand...
Add an extraordinary misconduct report with these exact words because your CFA will take a very dim view of managers threatening referees to try and get a change in cards after the fact.

Sometimes cards happen. A few weeks ago I had a keeper in a U14 game make a save outside the area, DOGSO-H, and while he clearly had no idea where he was, it's still the same rules for everyone. I've even once had a VC red in a U12 match (it was a very strange experience all round, one team clearly coached to just kick everything that moved).

Chin up, move on to the next game.
 
JBeil said:
Add an extraordinary misconduct report with these exact words because your CFA will take a very dim view of managers threatening referees to try and get a change in cards after the fact.

Sometimes cards happen. A few weeks ago I had a keeper in a U14 game make a save outside the area, DOGSO-H, and while he clearly had no idea where he was, it's still the same rules for everyone. I've even once had a VC red in a U12 match (it was a very strange experience all round, one team clearly coached to just kick everything that moved).

Chin up, move on to the next game.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I did do the extraordinary report quoting him, so hopefully it is dealt with
 
I have to laugh when they give the "it's a kids football match" but you hear the coaches cursing away and even encouraging their players to block early free kicks or "get stuck into them!" or infamous "hit them!". The cards are about match control. If you give a yellow for the dogso outside the area then be prepared for another dogso where they will be expecting a yellow. The point isn't to punish players but to control the match through the sanctions in the LOTG. The punishment part is a deterrent after the fact, but the cards are the real deterrent you use during the game. I do think the leagues could look at the suspensions etc, and keep them for VC or SFP and instead make it a double fine for 2 yellows. Kids just want to play football and with the pressure that these coaches put them under you can sympathise when it is they who get the result of it all.
 
Another way of processing these decisions to justify it to yourself / dissenting voices is that instead of being empathetic and ‘managing’ the situation - you haven’t denied the opposition the advantage they’re owed.

Pre-season (adults), my team saw an opponent sent-off (DOGSO handball) about half-hour in. Ref was talked into letting him play second half as “it’s only a friendly, blah blah”. We were denied a full 45 minutes of experimenting playing against 10 men which WILL HAPPEN during the season (and vice versa), and no one learned anything - them, us, player who got away with one etc

If they don’t want a Referee, don’t have one appointed.

(Edit for grammar. I r did typing wrongs)
 
Last edited:
I've only given 2 reds while in the middle - the first was U13. If they are needed, they should be given. Players know what they are doing and should be punished accordingly otherwise they will do it again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top