What types of cards to purchase?

[irod]

My 16 year old son will start to center ref U10 and U12 games this coming summer and was thinking about purchasing the "Write On" cards, as he saw a center ref using them in a game and thought they would be the ticket here in the wet Pacific NW.

What do you all think of these cards?

Thanks for any input.

Irod

[Caesar]

Write-on cards are great for not washing off in the wet once they've been written on. Unfortunately they're difficult to write on if they have water on the surface, as it eliminates the friction between the pen and card.

A referee I know had a great solution. He bought a ceramic-plastic tablet used by scuba divers for writing on underwater from a local dive shop. He cut it in half with a hacksaw and it's about the same size as a card booklet and can be written on front and back using a normal pencil - even underneath a running tap. You just clean it with methylated spirits or nail polish remover at the end of the day.

The one problem with write-on, wipe-off cards is that you don't have a permanent match record. I generally use a normal paper notebook, and if it's wet I'll use my waterproof card and transcribe the details after the match.

[Englishref]

My 16 year old son will start to center ref U10 and U12 games this coming summer and was thinking about purchasing the "Write On" cards, as he saw a center ref using them in a game and thought they would be the ticket here in the wet Pacific NW.

What do you all think of these cards?

Thanks for any input.

Irod

They're also only really worthwhile if you get team sheets before the game, as the ones currently available only really have space for numbers. And anyway, it's a problem when/if it comes to red carding someone. Not particularly advisable IMO, but if you must, the new ones from OSUK are probably the best available.

[ur_land]

And anyway, it's a problem when/if it comes to red carding someone. Not particularly advisable IMO, but if you must, the new ones from OSUK are probably the best available.


Solution to that is to have 2 sets of cards. One in your breast pocket to serve as a record and/or "slow draw" set of cards when you want to be deliberate when giving a caution or send off and slow the game down, and another set of "quick draw" cards in your pants pockets (yellow in side, red in butt pocket), for when you need the card out asap to calm things down and get them sorted quickly.

[Englishref]

Solution to that is to have 2 sets of cards. One in your breast pocket to serve as a record and/or "slow draw" set of cards when you want to be deliberate when giving a caution or send off and slow the game down, and another set of "quick draw" cards in your pants pockets (yellow in side, red in butt pocket), for when you need the card out asap to calm things down and get them sorted quickly.

True, although two problems. Firstly, if you don't have team sheets, you have to do a slow caution/send off anyway, and secondly, we're taught not to do 'quick' cautions, and we're taught a set cautioning procedure. However, if that's not the case in the US, then your suggestion is fine.

[MidwestRef]

True, although two problems. Firstly, if you don't have team sheets, you have to do a slow caution/send off anyway, and secondly, we're taught not to do 'quick' cautions, and we're taught a set cautioning procedure. However, if that's not the case in the US, then your suggestion is fine.

I've been taught to show the yellow quickly in potentially volatile situations in order to allow the players to understand that I'm dealing with things. There are times when a slow caution is perfectly understandable, but there are also times to let everyone know that you mean business.

I do like how the English referees show the yellow card. They are very deliberate and look like they are totally in control of the situation. I wish I could adopt that style more, but then I think of reasons not to give the card.