Big, strong player, no calls for you

[The Lion Keeper]

My son is a very strong built athlete. He is 5'1" and around 101lbs, 11 y/o.
He is not in the slightest bit fat, actually low body fat count.
He's not huge but he is the biggest, strongest player on his team(not biased, its true).
I am certainly not gloating, the reason I write his stats down is to outline the point of this thread.
For whatever reason, he doesn't seem to get calls from referrees for obvious
fouls against. FYI, I have been playing this game for 35 years, I know what fouls are. Are there other players/coaches/parents out there that have experienced this bias? If so, what have you done if anything?
Are there any ref's out there that can explain this?
We have come to the realization that he is not priviledged to the calls that most other players get and I tell him that he has to try and stay up and keep going.
This actually bothers him too. He feels as if he is discriminated against because of his build.

[European16]

iam not even sure what to say but you can ask the refs in ref forums maybe?

[USvsIRELAND]

You're right. And players notice and use it.

[cristianoronaldo17]

Teach him how to dive, Adriano does it ;) check out all he money he is making? ;) :D

[helmzgk]

I was 6'7" 210lbs when I graduated high school, and was always the tallest player on the field, though I was a keeper. I never got "fouled" on corner kicks or anything of the sort unless it was absolutley obvious. I would get tripped, elbowed, kicked, the sort, and not get calls for me. It actually really bothered me when I was younger. I got older, and so did the other boys, and that really helped me. My junior and senior years in high school, and my one year in D2 soccer were much more balanced. You and your son will realize the same thing. As his teammates and competition all catch up, the refs will stop being so biased. Just encourage your son to stick with it and play the game that you and his coaches have taught him. Don't buckle to the pressure of playing at a lower level, and try to keep him from complaining all the time to the refs. His strength will come into play when he's on club teams or entering high school.

[joto 3]

if i were 5'1 and 100 as and 11 year old, i would be freddy adu...


but dont let him be less physical... because in 2-3 years he'll need to be strong and able too push his way around...

[cristianoronaldo17]

freddy adu is trash i am gonna be the real deal

[joto 3]

you seem to be quite over-confident this afternoon son

hah

[cristianoronaldo17]

freddy adu is garbage, i dont think he will be as good as like.......Messi in 2 yrs! freddy is trash ;) he's good but very overated

[prymetyme]

well number one its not that big of a deal if he's only 11, but hes big and thats they way it goes if he wants penaltys he can take falls. Im 5'5 and im 15 and I rarley get penaltys called against me when im playing more physical then i should and I fall on plays that I shouldnt its because of size and how bad it looks most of the time not rather if its technicaly a penalty

[goyoureddevils]

My good friend in college was 5'10 and 210 lbs and got fouled all the time with no result or sympathy from the referees. he is playing pro ball in africa now and says it is no different for him there either and is often told that he is "big and strong and should be able to handle it."

He used to get so angry about it he would get in trouble with the officials for complaining, but eventually he realized there just isn't anything he can do about it but respectfully ask the ref to keep an eye out for the worst of the abuse, and laugh the rest off.

As I always tell him, with a body like that, he can dish out a HELL of a lot more punishment and disguise it as "going for the ball" than anyone can heap on him. I'm not saying your son should look to wallop people, but levleing an over anxious opponent, or "sending a message early" and then not complaining to the referee about it is sure as heck gonna make him feel a lot better about his role in the game.

[Wasted]

Don't tell him to dive. I for one would rather have Americans play tough, and not fall down at the slightest kick. So many times I've seen players fall trying to get a call, when if they kept on their feet they would have had a much better chance at a goal.

[annoying04]

in m high school season, there is a girl who looks fragile. shes short, and skinny. if she falls for no reason, she gets the call.

[prymetyme]

yeah its just the way it goes, because most referees dont call penaltys that dont look bad but are technicly correct. Its what looks bad and what looks good unfortunitly. The trick is using that to your advantage weather your small or big.

[cristianoronaldo17]

Don't tell him to dive. I for one would rather have Americans play tough, and not fall down at the slightest kick. So many times I've seen players fall trying to get a call, when if they kept on their feet they would have had a much better chance at a goal.
that's why you got no where ;) :D

[The Lion Keeper]

yeah its just the way it goes, because most referees dont call penaltys that dont look bad but are technicly correct. Its what looks bad and what looks good unfortunitly. The trick is using that to your advantage weather your small or big.

I think you're right on the money here. My son doesn't put any extra drama into his fall. When he does go down, it was a pretty bad foul but it just doesn't look as bad as when a smaller kid gets knocked down, they seem to fly a little more.
I teach him not to dive and to try and keep his balance even if fouled.
I tend to think that one day dives are going to be removed from the pro game
by hefty fines and red cards imposed by a video review board. At least I hope so.

[nvan_football]

May be it's a bit offtopic but I thought you should see this (http://www.wimp.com/italian/). Definitely the funniest commercial I've seen.

[goyoureddevils]

That is definately the best commercial I have ever seen. Brilliant!

[shaggycat]

Let him play up a year or two. It will help him develop faster, and his body can certainly take it.

[servotron]

I'm a big strong relatively tough-looking guy (6'2" 235lbs, shaved head), and even though I personally know and am friends with a lot of the refs in my league and they know full well that I'm a nice guy and completely clean player (never intentionally foul, even to save a goal, etc...I find it highly unsportsmanlike and disrespectful) I get called on stuff all the time, mostly because of my imposing presence I suspect. Especially in co-ed leagues, basically if someone goes to ground, I tend to get the call against me because people have a way of looking like the victim around me :)

It just happens, and frankly, I don't know that there's anything that can be done about it, save for "being the bigger man". Point out to the ref respectfully that you did nothing wrong, etc... but no reason to yell, you're just going to cause the ref to make more calls against you if he thinks you're angry.