Protect the players

Maybe each youth team needs to recruit their own Dennis Rodman to do damage control when the ref won't. This is not ideal and can obviously escalate into a dangerous cycle of injuries.
This does exist on many teams. They call them The enforcers.
 
The problem with letting the lower level (but not trifling) fouls go early on is that the refs can lose control of the game really quickly. The players (and coaches) will test the boundaries of how far the ref is going to let it slide and will start pushing things tit-for-tat against each other until finally you have a bad foul. Most refs aren't equipped to manage that situation (heck some refs aren't even physically fit enough to properly officiate the game). You need a pretty experienced ref to know how to manage that properly....which means you can let some of that slide more in the higher levels than in a U11 boys bronze game where the 2 coaches are desperate to earn a promotion or trophy....the more experienced refs get the higher level games. I would expect far fewer fouls to be called at the Gothia Cup in Sweden or an EPL academy game than in a U12 Coast boys silver game. In fact, I think too many fouls are called on the professional level such as handball (I like the new revisions) or a goalkeeper coming off the line prematurely on a PK or even contact fouls.
9 year olds today is very different from 9 year olds 20 years ago. Today those kids watch a lot flopping and gamesmanship and trying to emulate it. The level of the game is also increased a lot. Referee training today is mostly based on examples of professional games and useless for youth level, although I think it's changing. IMO ref education simply fell behind a game itself.
 
I don't pretend to be the perfect sideline parent, and I don't think we should just be appreciative of a ref that just shows up but puts no effort into his job, but given the shortage of refs we should appreciate the refs that show up and put in the effort. Whether they are perfect or not. (I'll try my best to remember to do that myself :))

I don't pretend to be perfect ref, just a parent who decided to start officiating after not been happy with bad officiating and now I am doing it for the past 6 or 7 years. I say, YES, you must appreciate every single ref that shows up for the games. In all my time officiating games I never saw a ref who would come with an intention to ruin someone game. You must be kidding yourself expecting from refs like me or 14-17 years old kids to handle games like PROs. I am not saying we shouldn't be questioned for calls or no calls but we do games as best we can. Again, I am not a professional referee and I am not well trained to handle all those inexcusable behavior coming from parents and coaches. Any team might end up with a ref who is not doing well but nothing can be done during the game to change that except taken the team from the field (never seen that but herd it). After the game coaches/parents/ club officials can report to referee org and expect them to take care of it.

All those refs who come for your games should be thanked before and after the game. Especially those youngsters as without them your teams will have your coaches to officiates the games. And, actually, I think it would be a good idea as they will be silent about their own calls and parents won't question their calls - problem with bad refs is solved
 
I don't pretend to be perfect ref, just a parent who decided to start officiating after not been happy with bad officiating and now I am doing it for the past 6 or 7 years. I say, YES, you must appreciate every single ref that shows up for the games. In all my time officiating games I never saw a ref who would come with an intention to ruin someone game. You must be kidding yourself expecting from refs like me or 14-17 years old kids to handle games like PROs. I am not saying we shouldn't be questioned for calls or no calls but we do games as best we can. Again, I am not a professional referee and I am not well trained to handle all those inexcusable behavior coming from parents and coaches. Any team might end up with a ref who is not doing well but nothing can be done during the game to change that except taken the team from the field (never seen that but herd it). After the game coaches/parents/ club officials can report to referee org and expect them to take care of it.

All those refs who come for your games should be thanked before and after the game. Especially those youngsters as without them your teams will have your coaches to officiates the games. And, actually, I think it would be a good idea as they will be silent about their own calls and parents won't question their calls - problem with bad refs is solved
I agree with everything you said, but I just want to clarify that I don't expect PRO quality, just put a good faith effort into your job.

I don't usually hunt down refs to thank them, but I always say thanks to those refs I cross paths with after the game. I usually shoot the shit with the AR if I'm on the right side.

Thanks for reffing.
 
What a Pathetic little person you are. It must really suck being that full of hate. I feel sorry for you

You have no sense of humor. It is also very disingenuous of you to think your personal attacks and hate is fun, but god forbid someone poke fun at the "strict constructionist" and a soccer parent who thinks the greatest moment of his life was when his 11 year old won a "national championship".
 
You have no sense of humor. It is also very disingenuous of you to think your personal attacks and hate is fun, but god forbid someone poke fun at the "strict constructionist" and a soccer parent who thinks the greatest moment of his life was when his 11 year old won a "national championship".
GG, how is EOTL doing this morning? I've been waiting for you. BTW, my dd won it all when she was 13.6 years old. It still is one of the greatest moments of her soccer life and one I will cherish forever. She and her teammates worked hard and gave up 18 months of their young life to win it all and put medal around neck and be National Champions. She has now played in 17 club matches over the last four years. She did track and volleyball two. Maybe one day she can just focus on soccer and not worry about all the other things life throws a woman's soccer player in the USA! What college again did you tell her she better stay away from again? Threats to a 14 year old female is weak and one big loser from you. Also, the creeps you worked with are losers. Bad apples you guys were. I knew it too. TGIFM!!!
 
You have no sense of humor. It is also very disingenuous of you to think your personal attacks and hate is fun, but god forbid someone poke fun at the "strict constructionist" and a soccer parent who thinks the greatest moment of his life was when his 11 year old won a "national championship".

He seems to have his own attitude about life and most of us are content to leave him there.
 
He seems to have his own attitude about life and most of us are content to leave him there.
I now have uncovered the theory to be true. Golden Gate ((EOTL)) is Espola's shadow/ego. You two can go ahead and talk to yourselves. I understand those conversations all too well. Fake Book is down dude. It's house of cards built on being bought, bribed and blackmailed. Build back better Espola and stop cheating dude and you too can enjoy life
 
So what would you think if there was say 12 yellow cautions given to 11 different players, one red card injection, and multiple penalty kicks in a 90 minute game?

Nothing violent, just regular fouls, almost evenly given out to both teams?

A typical college game with refs protecting players or one that some fans thought the refs may have lost control?
 
So what would you think if there was say 12 yellow cautions given to 11 different players, one red card injection, and multiple penalty kicks in a 90 minute game?

Nothing violent, just regular fouls, almost evenly given out to both teams?

A typical college game with refs protecting players or one that some fans thought the refs may have lost control?
12 cards in one game would surprise the heck out of me.

Normally everyone dials it back after even one yellow.

I take it this is a fictional example. Or did you ever see a game with 12 cards?
 
12 cards in one game would surprise the heck out of me.

Normally everyone dials it back after even one yellow.

I take it this is a fictional example. Or did you ever see a game with 12 cards?
I know of a game with 22 red cards. Not fictional - it's actually happened.
 
Watched the second half of a game from opposing 05 ECNL teams this last weekend. I must admit I was appalled by the lack of calls to protect the players from one of these teams. The ref crew is one I have seen before and in the past they seemed to be decent overall. Unfortunately not this time around. There were many instances of overtly aggressive to violent play by the opposition. In particular there was one player who was literally tackled and laid out on the ground for a substantial amount of time. This player soon after was again fouled in a similar fashion. The ref did nothing to further prevent this from happening again. No card, no verbal warning. And, once again this player was fouled in such a way I am surprised they were able to play further. Parents were pleading throughout the half to the ref to protect the players. The ref's solution was to red card anyone who challenged him.
 
12 cards in one game would surprise the heck out of me.

Normally everyone dials it back after even one yellow.

I take it this is a fictional example. Or did you ever see a game with 12 cards?

Last weekend games between to college teams in Nocal actually.

Yes I've seen other games like this and there are college teams that routinely get half a dozen cards per game.

This particular one I was told was mostly regular fouls, dissent, or a accumulations but nothing in particularly violent or anything out of the ordinary.
 
Watched the second half of a game from opposing 05 ECNL teams this last weekend. I must admit I was appalled by the lack of calls to protect the players from one of these teams. The ref crew is one I have seen before and in the past they seemed to be decent overall. Unfortunately not this time around. There were many instances of overtly aggressive to violent play by the opposition. In particular there was one player who was literally tackled and laid out on the ground for a substantial amount of time. This player soon after was again fouled in a similar fashion. The ref did nothing to further prevent this from happening again. No card, no verbal warning. And, once again this player was fouled in such a way I am surprised they were able to play further. Parents were pleading throughout the half to the ref to protect the players. The ref's solution was to red card anyone who challenged him.

Dang no fun in any of that.

Do you think the coach could or should have taken some action....speak to ref,. switch up, or anything that might have help defuse?

Can be very difficult to hold your tongue in certain circumstances but what outlet to parents really have? Speak to the coach at half?
 
Dang no fun in any of that.

Do you think the coach could or should have taken some action....speak to ref,. switch up, or anything that might have help defuse?

Can be very difficult to hold your tongue in certain circumstances but what outlet to parents really have? Speak to the coach at half?
The coach did switch the player to the oposite side away from the player who committed the fouls. However, their counterpart then committed the third. Coach did comment to the ref. I was not there for the first half and can not comment. That player should have just been pulled as the game was already settled.
 
Watched the second half of a game from opposing 05 ECNL teams this last weekend. I must admit I was appalled by the lack of calls to protect the players from one of these teams. The ref crew is one I have seen before and in the past they seemed to be decent overall. Unfortunately not this time around. There were many instances of overtly aggressive to violent play by the opposition. In particular there was one player who was literally tackled and laid out on the ground for a substantial amount of time. This player soon after was again fouled in a similar fashion. The ref did nothing to further prevent this from happening again. No card, no verbal warning. And, once again this player was fouled in such a way I am surprised they were able to play further. Parents were pleading throughout the half to the ref to protect the players. The ref's solution was to red card anyone who challenged him.
I believe I know the game in question here…..it was awful!
 
I believe I know the game in question here…..it was awful!

Me too.....a good friend's DD on the victorious team told me all about it.....dangerous play by teams is bad enough in a close game but when they are getting smashed 4-0 and still doing it it is even worse......and it's how that team "plays" on the regular......zero passing and smart soccer just kicking the ball AND the opponent to try and win at all costs and be damned development :(
 
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