Cards as a Man Management Tool

[ur_land]

So I reffed (in a dual system) a lopsided yet still heated High School JV game yesterday. Blue was down 7-0 to Red with about 15 minutes left in the game. Blue had received 2 yellows (both from me, both for USB) in the second half, and although foul counts were roughly equal for each team, it seemed to me that Blue was getting frustrated and were becoming quite b****y about calls and getting that look in their eye that made me think that trouble was ahead for the other team.

So, at the next Red foul (a hard tackle trip that would not have normally drawn a card from me), I showed a Red player a yellow card. Things calmed down for the rest of the match, no one got hurt, Blue seemed satisfied with the "judicial process," and the game ended with no further incidents. And since yellow cards aren't tracked in CO HS soccer, no harm came to the player either (except having to sub out, and since he'd already earned a hattrick, his coach never subbed him back in).

So what do y'all think of this decision? To be honest, i'm a little conflicted. The card seemed to serve the needs of the game, and it didn't meaningfully affect the scoreline, but in all reality, it really wasn't warranted. I'm damn sure that I would never use this in a close game, but in this blowout, it did seem to help keep the lid on any acting out of frustrations by Blue.

Do the ends justify the means? And what other good man management techniques have people used in similar situations?

[MassachusettsRef]

As long as you know what you're doing, and you know it will achieve the desired result, it's a fine tactic to employ.

In some amateur leagues, when Team A is winning a lopsided game and Team B is getting chippy/frustrated, I've actually used the lines of "you know why I'm giving you this, right?" or "just take this card and let's get through the last X minutes" to a Team A player that I've given a marginal caution to. If you have a decent relationship with the player, and card points don't carry over, it can be a wonderful tool.

You're essentially giving a card to Team A in order to better control Team B. That in itself may not sound fair, but the bigger issue is that you're helping to protect Team A. Especially in amateur level matches, Team A would rather take a phantom caution, than take several injuries (even if you issue several cautions to Team B).

All that being said, tread carefully with this tactic. You MUST know that you're going to be successful when you attempt this, otherwise it will completely backfire in your face. Don't use it with volatile players or players that you haven't established a decent relationship with (either over the course of multiple matches or in that particular game).

Also, you can't, of course, do this at the professional level. Just one of the many instances where--despite universal rules--we have to approach the amateur and professional games slightly differently.

[Ref Flunkie]

As long as you know what you're doing, and you know it will achieve the desired result, it's a fine tactic to employ.......

Any other suggestions on how to deal with a team getting chippy in a game they are losing by a big score? I don't think at that point they are interested in listening to you "reason" with them verbally. Just curious.

[MassachusettsRef]

Any other suggestions on how to deal with a team getting chippy in a game they are losing by a big score? I don't think at that point they are interested in listening to you "reason" with them verbally. Just curious.That's why you reason with the winning team. Make sure they know you're protecting them and that you're approachable. If a team is down by a lot of goals AND they are being chippy/cheap, there's not much recourse left for you. Your best hope is, if you were able to establish a good relationship with a couple of key players, to go through them and try to use them to help control their team. Otherwise, you've got to deliver the cards when necessary, otherwise the winning team will lose confidence in you and the losing team will walk all over you.

The biggest nightmare scenario is when you have a team winning by several goals that is still playing physically/dirty against a team that's already frustrated. Those are the types of matches that really test man management skills, because you're really in no place to tell anyone--despite the score--to take their foot off the gas.

[Gary V]

That's why you reason with the winning team. Make sure they know you're protecting them and that you're approachable.I had success in a U14B game once. The team that was ahead fouled the other. Not especially hard foul, but I could see where things might be headed. I just privately said, "Hey Red (his nickname, for his hair) you're already beating them, you don't have to kill them." A couple seconds later I saw the light turn on and he grinned.

[BC_Ref]

Any other suggestions on how to deal with a team getting chippy in a game they are losing by a big score? I don't think at that point they are interested in listening to you "reason" with them verbally. Just curious.

One way to handle games that are spinning out of control (for whatever reason) is being an ass**** for technicalities. Throw-ins at the exact spot, free kicks from an exact point, whistling even the small fouls. Basically killing the flow of the game and redirecting some/all the anger from the other team to you.

You shouldn't do this lightly (since you are basically converting the game of soccer into a whistling exercise), but can work to slow down the game and remove some of the team vs team anger.

Another suggestion is enlisting one of the calmer members of the losing team to help you - hopefully they are the captain, but can work even if they aren't. Start killing the game with whistles and point out to the sane player that the team can either play soccer or play let's whistle the game to death. Their choice. Might work (might not - some teams have no sane players) and worth a try.

[Ref Flunkie]

Cool, good advice. I've heard the "whistle to death" theory, but usually by the time I realize I need to use it, it has gotten to be too late. I'm definitely working on the "get to know the players quick" idea. As always, I'm learning as I go :).

[refontherun]

In a lopsided U-19 the other day, I had a chap on the field from the losing team that earned a yellow for hacking a player in the back of the ankles.

In the second half, he was keeper. Every time an opponent came near the PA, he had something to say. Nothing vile, just talking "smack", and the winning team was starting to react to it.

At about the 70th minute, same player took possession in the PA and rolled it out. He dribbled all the way to the other team's PA when a defender got between him and the ball. The player in question shoved the defender in the back with a forearm. Normally, I would give a warning for the same behavior, but this guy needed to be off the pitch. Second yellow, red card. He started toward the bench before I even got there.

[macheath]

Any other suggestions on how to deal with a team getting chippy in a game they are losing by a big score? I don't think at that point they are interested in listening to you "reason" with them verbally. Just curious.

I agree with tightening up the calls as a way to manage things. Generally, the team with a big lead who is dominating the match is also playing more aggressively--challenging for the ball harder, etc. You can tilt the 50/50 calls slightly away from them, verbally warn them about fouls, be tougher on pushes in the back, arms up on a challenge, etc. Also keep a sharp eye on them for dissent if they complain or mutter too much, or question your calls (another sometime characteristic of aggressive teams, in my experience). Celebrations after goals are another likely target. ANY taunting or addressing the losing team should be hit immediately.

It's a rare game when a team is running up the score, but also consistently playing in a fully sporting manner. There will be opportunities for you to give verbal warnings and cautions, and you should consider using them, and being sure the losing team hears you doing it. You can do this without violating LOTG.

[Spaceball]

This topic of match control reminds me of 2 funny stories...kind of on topic.

1) I was the center of an ethnic battle in a top Cal North league that has promotion relegation. These were the top 2 teams tied in points with only a couple of easy matches left so this was likely the deciding match for promotion to the top division. Needless to say it was very physical from the start...but one team was just dirty (the white team). I had my first red (to the white team) like 20 minutes in. With about 15 minutes to go one of the blue players looks at me and says "aren't you going to protect us?" I looked back and said "I have give them 3 red cards and 8 cautions...what more can I do?" He just said good point and agreed I had given all the cards I could. I was surprised we finished, but I only managed 4 send offs to leave them with 11 players.

2) A very recent amateur match in Chicago involving an Eastern European team (white) and a Central American team (blue). I have given 3 cautions to white and nothing to blue in about the 83rd minute when the blue player commits a foul I that I think is cautionable. As I am running in the blue player spits on the white player...needless to say I immediately show red (he then bumps me and spits on me but that is for another thread). The blue team is yelling for a caution to white as well (no argument about their player and they are in fact trying to get him off the field). I get the white player separated (the guy who was fouled hard from behind and hten spit on) and ask him what happened...a tactic I have found works for some reason. Meanwhile with blue yelling he says "I don't know but give me a yellow if it will shut them up." That was a first for me! So I did and things were fine. Later I asked a couple of blue guys what happened that they wanted a yellow...they didn't know but thought he had to have done something to provoke their guy. Interestingly enough, this was a very easy match for a top level amateur other than that one guy losing complete control.