U9 (and younger) Games

[Laggard]

Did my first U9 game last night and it was fun but trying.

How strict do y'all get with this age group? They do so many things wrong that I could have stopped play a couple dozen times. But I hate to be 100% by the book with these kids. It seems sorta mean spirited. I also realize that they need to learn this stuff early.

How do you handle this?

[Ref Flunkie]

Did my first U9 game last night and it was fun but trying.

How strict do y'all get with this age group? They do so many things wrong that I could have stopped play a couple dozen times. But I hate to be 100% by the book with these kids. It seems sorta mean spirited. I also realize that they need to learn this stuff early.

How do you handle this?

Any examples? Usually the things I noticed most were bad throws and some handling. Usually they don't do much in the way of shoulder charges and stuff, so I pretty much call things by the book, but am sure to explain to them what they did wrong and how to fix it (in the case of a throw or something). Biggest thing is to prevent them from getting hurt.

[NHRef]

With this age group I find I call very few things cause they actually don't do much wrong. There's no offside. The things I see them do:

- illegal throw ins, can't keep the feet down
- kick each other trying to get the ball (thank god for shin guards!)
- goal kicks that never leave the area (if you have one)

Very little body contact, very little handling cause the ball hardly leaves the ground.

I also talk alot to these kids during the game, don't give instruction or anything (unless its a rec league), but will give the "good play" type of statement and will tell them what I called.

[Chubbywubby]

The kids just want to run around with their friends and kick the ball. As long as what they're doing sort of resembles soccer and it stays safe, let 'em play. Some leagues specify that the referee explain his calls to the players. Usually a good idea, since they seldom know why you blew the whistle. Also helps to verbalize every restart, since most of them have no idea what the hand signals mean.

[Laggard]

1. On a free kick, player wiffs the ball on the first try and it rolls four inches. He then kicks it again. I saw this twice. Do I call him on this or let it go?

2. Defensive player kicks the ball to his keeper who then picks it up.

3. Player tries to throw the ball in from the goal line. I stop him and explain the correct procedure.

4. Players take forever restarting play. I suppose I could call them on this, but I don't.

[BC_Ref]

Have fun with these games. Very enjoyable. Keep it safe and fun, and try to briefly explain what they did wrong and what the call is.

Other than that, my only suggestion is be very careful where you run - these players can be anywhere and everywhere. Make sure you don't run them over :)

[JohnR]

Rec league?

In a state with competitive U9 games (or Hispanic league games), you'd be surprised how cynical these little 'uns can be.

For example, on my kid's U9 team, the final defender routinely dragged down an attacker who beat him, secure in the knowledge that he would not be red carded, and usually not yellow carded. And yes, he knew the LOTG.

So you gotta be careful ... sure, most leagues & most levels it's just innocent fun, but not across the board.

[Chubbywubby]

1. On a free kick, player wiffs the ball on the first try and it rolls four inches. He then kicks it again. I saw this twice. Do I call him on this or let it go?Apparently they don't know the rule. First time, tell him he can't do that and let him retake. After that, call it.

2. Defensive player kicks the ball to his keeper who then picks it up.Again, I would stop play the first time to explain the rule, then let play continue. No more freebies after that.

3. Player tries to throw the ball in from the goal line. I stop him and explain the correct procedure.Spot on.

4. Players take forever restarting play. I suppose I could call them on this, but I don't.Probably not yet coached to do this at this age. Encourage them to get the ball back in play quickly. Add time if you have to.

[Ref Flunkie]

Apparently they don't know the rule. First time, tell him he can't do that and let him retake. After that, call it.

Again, I would stop play the first time to explain the rule, then let play continue. No more freebies after that.

Spot on.

Probably not yet coached to do this at this age. Encourage them to get the ball back in play quickly. Add time if you have to.


Agreed on all four. Blatent violations need to eventually be called after a warning. Beyond that, just instruct.

[NHRef]

On restarts, they are probably waiting your permission to start. After all you told them to stop. They just don't know they can go. I usually give a little "go ahead" when they get to the ball.

[pasoccerdave]

Depends on the level of the players. My son's U-9 team was highly competitive and became a Premier team a couple years later. These guys knew the rules of the game and what was expected. Most of the teams they played did as well. I remember our parents were shocked when a referee allowed a center tap to be retaken following an explanation of what was done wrong by the other team. For this level, that was the exception. For other teams and other levels of play, teaching and initial explanation are the better path to take. If the infraction(s) continue following the teaching, then they should be whistled. That's a rule all of the kids recognize and understand.

[blech]

1. On a free kick, player wiffs the ball on the first try and it rolls four inches. He then kicks it again. I saw this twice. Do I call him on this or let it go?

2. Defensive player kicks the ball to his keeper who then picks it up.

3. Player tries to throw the ball in from the goal line. I stop him and explain the correct procedure.

4. Players take forever restarting play. I suppose I could call them on this, but I don't.

i agree with Chubby on #1 - give a warning and explanation the first time (and if you're feeling generous a reminder before the kick the next time).

As for #3, the correct step at any level would be to insist on a properly taken goal kick. Yes, you shouldn't have to explain it, but it's not a turnover no matter what.

As for #4, like #3 there is no basis for a turnover, and at most you might give a yellow card if you thought they were delaying the game on purpose. however, i wouldn't card a player for this unless i truly thought he was wasting time. that requires intent, which these players probably don't have. so, just encourage them to get the ball back in play.

As for #2, you've got to take the player's ability and intention into account. Did the player mean to kick it back to the goalie, or was s/he just kicking it and it happened to go to the goalie? If the latter, my opinion is that it would be appropriate to allow play to continue as there has been no violation. It's interesting, because at some level passing back to the goalie is somewhat sophisticated and you often can't get them to do it even when they should. So, allowing play to continue in this situation is often the "right" thing to do.


as others have noted, play at this level is often not mean-spirited, and it's really a matter of judging what is dangerous and what isn't. have fun with it. the kids are.

[JohnE]

I might add that a short, non-threatening whistle be used, followed by instructing the nearby players, rather than singling out only the offender for a lecture. Keep it simple.