The Ref Stop

Junior/Youth What would you do?

Phonesurgeon

Phonesurgeon

Cook, Cleaner and Bottle Washer
Level 7 Referee
Guys I need a bit of help with the tricky sticky situation.
Bit of background... myself lev 9 referee also coach the U11, my other half welfare officer at same club.
On sunday our U11 kick off current season, and we both became aware that the other coach(lev2) is going to field an unregistered player. I made my other half and chairman aware of this, but nothing seems to be getting done and our wods are falling on deaf ears.
On sunday I probsbly will be reffing our lot and was thinking to either stop said player from taking part or let him play and send a misconduct report for that coach...
So what will you do in my shoes?
 
The Ref Stop
Are you sure nothing is being done? I'm club secretary at a junior football club, and its often a case of the duck on water. Also, what is the intent of the manager - to play a "ringer" (at U11?!?!), or is it simply that this player has joined the team, but his club/league registration hasn't completed yet? I would assume its the latter, in which case if your league does not insist upon a registration card check at the beginning of the game, as a coach I'd say job done - you've reported it internally and what will be will be (ie no great harm at U11 if his registration is in process). As above, as a referee no concern of yours, even though lots of times before matches I get asked "do you want to check cards ref?", to which the reply is "no, thanks".
 
I truly don't know what manager intention are.
This child has joined our team last April, and played the last 4 games in season as unregistered.
This season, manager sent out registration forms, but parents are taking their time to fill them in. At the 31st august deadline, only 6 out 17 forms went back to league.
 
Speak to your club Secretary.

And why are you refereeing a team from a club where you are involved in an official capacity?
 
@Padfoot that's half the problem, as the club sec is not in office yet, and the club paid for my ref training, and now I ve been selected as the club ref.
 
As others have said, it is a league problem not yours as referee.

That said, if the league do charge the club for an unregistered player, make the manager answer the charge (and pay the fine). That would focus his mind next time.
 
Padfoot said:
As a club chairman and welfare officer I would be VERY reluctant to referee a match involving any of our teams....I know I would be unbiased however it is just asking for accusations to be made.
Click to expand...
I'm a club secretary and end up having to referee our teams. Another committee member qualified last season and now also gets involved, and the club chairman has just signed up for his BRC. Unfortunately a lack of referees on our leagues means those people willing to help out (which is why they are on the committee etc) ending up taking on more and more. Bias is a difficult one to overcome: you have to stop yourself over-compensating when giving decisions (ie its really hard to not be more biased to the away team, just so that you're not seen to be biased to your own). I'm past that on the whole now, but there are still situations... Fortunately most managers know me now, and have even had to fill in on away games where the home team hasn't managed to get a ref in place (yes, the bag always travels with me...)
 
Remember this is U11 - is it usual to appoint qualified, neutral referees at this age group? In my area matches up to U12 are refereed on an informal basis by volunteer coaches or parents from either team. In 99% of cases these are not qualified referees. Official, qualified referees are appinted by the league from U13 onwards.

With regard to the unregistered player I would leave well alone - eligibility is not a refereeing matter.
 
But even at U13 where officials referee are appointed, they can check the players ID cards. Most of them don't but one of them do, as my girl plays for U14 this season.

Update:
Reported the matter in all details to club chairman again, and he will be on the case. Thanks guys for your input, it has been much appreciated.
 
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As part of registration, with the various forms, we have a form where they need to attach a photo, and show a document (usually birth certificate) this is Harrogate & District Junior League.
 
I though the photo thingy was always in?

I use to have to supply 2 x passport photos with my registration from under-11 all the way to when I stopped playing 2 years ago?
 
As above. I used to play in the mid herts league and ID cards were presented to the opposite team on the center circle before each match.

They were hot in it too. Could never get away with trying to field an unregistered player
 
All I know is that we carry them with us should the ref or the opposition want to check. But so far nobody has ever bothered.
 
Compulsory for teams to check oppo ID cards in Harrow Youth League.
All youth players registered with photo ID and its one of the biggest youth leagues in the country.
 
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