How to handle VERY friendly matches

[USSF REF]

Here is the scenario:

Yesterday the US MNT U-15's brought their entire development pool to central NJ to play against several local U-17B teams. These games were of a highly friendly nature. The US brought about 50 players to the match and used a different "team" each half. They also played 2 games a day, against 2 different teams.

I was working the line. A= Attackers, D=Defenders.

A1 is dribbling up the right touchline (i.e. directly in front of my face). A1 touches the ball a bit too far and D1 who has now caught up gets a few steps ahead and slides in and kicks the ball in to touch. A1 now has seen the ball clearly go out and has about 4 steps before he will encounter the body of the defender who is prone on the ground after having fairly slid the ball away. Even though he is going at close to full speed, he takes 2 steps and then apears to jump over D1, except as he is going over the player he seems to stomp on D1 and then jump off the players leg. I call the referee over and inform him of what I saw, based on that evidence he chose to issue a y/c.

Had this been in a real competitive match, I would have probably been tapping my back pocket, but given the circumstanes of this match I wanted to let him decide. He chose the caution. But considering neither of the teams had numbers, it was more of a public gesture.

I have refereed in college scrimages before cut downs in similar circumstances, very low competitve nature, freindly. I have tried to not use the book in these cases.

Wondering, what would some of the other refs here do in a circumstance like this?

I think if I was the referee I would have had the player come with me to his bench and asked the coach to sub him out and tell him what happened. BUT that could backfire- however in this match I doubt the coach would give any grief because no one, not even the fans were arguing any calls and everyone was supportive of both sides.

It's an interesting problem to be sure.

[Doug the Ref]

"FRIENDLY socer matches are like a box of chocholates, you never know what you're gonna get."

I do them, but am always on the lookout. I will always wear my full uniform.

Either it is truly a friendly and EVERYONE plays that way, or you have somone who is trying to prove something. College Alumni games, can have this dilema.

Before State Cup, I did a single middle for a PDL Reserve and a local U-19 team. They have played each other in friendly before and just wanted one ref to help out. Thought is would be a nice run prior to cup. Both teams were expected to be Friendly, and for the most part, they were. EXCEPT, there were a couple of U-19's trying to take the game to a different level. They were trash talking and getting a little chippy. I still used my cards, (with the complete understanding that they were of no use beyond that game's control) and both coaches were fully supportive and removed the questionible characters. Without knowing the coaches and the fact that they would have been supportive, wouldn't have done the "Friendly".

[Statesman]

The biggest problems I've faced came from matches between a high level team and a lower level team for practice purposes, much as you both describe. Professional teams playing a college or amateur team, national teams playing local clubs, things of the like.

As mentioned, everybody "sees" the game as a friendly, but often not all the players play the game that way. The professionals sometimes like to show off a bit against their opponent, and conversely there's nothing better than giving a professional player a good whack when you're the amateur. So even though everybody there is in good spirit, they still like to show each other up a bit and that can lead to some nasty incidents (Stoichkov anyone?)

The best advice is to simply stay vigilant and mentally prepare for these kinds of "friendly shennanigans." Be proactive and vocal about it, warning players you're on to them and that you won't let misconduct slide simply because its a friendly. When the situation demands, be authoritative with the cards to issue that bottom-line kind of statement that lets everyone know you're not messing around.

At the same time, still try to smile and be friendly, just don't let your guard down!

[Footer Phooter]

Even in "Friendly" matches, things can certainly happen. Think back to DC United vs. American University, when Hristo Stoichkov broke that kid's leg.

[gosellit]

The term "friendly soccer match" is an oximoron.

Seriously. Violent Conduct is Violent Conduct no matter how "friendly" the match is.



Had this been in a real competitive match, I would have probably been tapping my back pocket, but given the circumstanes of this match I wanted to let him decide.

Wearing my assessor hat:

If you felt is was VC, then that should have been the info the you gave the referree. IMO, there is little or no discretion when it comes to VC. It is still ultimately his call and he can take or not take your advise at his own peril.

[USSF REF]

The term "friendly soccer match" is an oximoron.

Seriously. Violent Conduct is Violent Conduct no matter how "friendly" the match is.



Wearing my assessor hat:

If you felt is was VC, then that should have been the info the you gave the referree. IMO, there is little or no discretion when it comes to VC. It is still ultimately his call and he can take or not take your advise at his own peril.

Fair enough. When the referee came over I simply told him the facts: "After the ball was out of play A1 stomped on D1's leg." I hope my saying stomped gave the referee a hint that it wasn't just an accident. I could have been more emphatic, but once the referee made his decision, everyone seemed to accept it. With the possible exception of the poor defender had to leave the game and was walked around the field by a trainer. So I think pressing the issue at this point wouldn't be in the best interest of the contest.

[bluedevils]

This is one of the big quandaries I have as a referee. How to handle these sorts of games? Obviously, you remain vigilant and on your toes for any unexpected garbage. But the fundamental question is, how do I approach this game -- do I treat it as a 'real' game or do I treat it as a friendly scrimmage? Generally I treat these games as seriously as I can but try to maintain order without going to the book.

It can be difficult, though. About 3 years ago I did an exhibition between an amateur men's league all-star team and a local PDL team. The PDL coach was concerned about his players' safety and mentioned it repeatedly pre-match. The all-stars clearly were looking at this game as an opportunity to show the PDL team what they were made of, and the match actually had a very competitive feel to it. I was able to manage things without any cards, but there were a couple tackles that clearly were yellow-card worthy.

This thread brings to mind that USA/Mexico 're-match' from May. I don't think Brian Hall showed any cards, but early on there was a sliding tackle basically from behind with lots of contact in the opponent's legs. It was an easy yellow card, arguably red. Brian Hall clearly didn't look happy that the Mexican player did what he did. In a 'real' match I'm sure it would have been yellow, but in this game no card was shown. Hall probably hoped there wouldn't be any more tackles like this in the game, and I didn't notice any. But on a different day, his approach -- NOT to punish as he would have in a real match -- might have been ineffective.

[david58]

I don't really get it on this one - if a tackle would have been arguably red in a competitive match, why would it be let go in a "friendly"?

It hurts just the same, and the victim will be wronged just as much.

Or is a friendly broken ankle better than an unfriendly one?:confused:

Can we smile when we give the card, making it friendly, too?:D

[Wreave]

I was CR for a BU19 game at an AYSO tournament where on the first day, they mixed up all the players into different teams for some fun and friendly games called SoccerFest. During the game, I awarded an IFK inside the PA. Twice while the attacking team was setting up, a defender approaching from behind came and stood over the ball.

In a real game, that is an immediate caution from me. I address it in pregame and FRD is one of my pet peeves as I think it's cheating the game. However, cards issued to players during these games would carry over to the real games (player sits out a game for second yellow), and I had already made up my mind to avoid them if at all possible. When pushing back the players for the second time, I said: /sternvoice "Do you guys want to have to go back to your coach tomorrow and tell him you got a yellow card in Soccerfest???" It worked and we had no more issues.

I would still use cards in a friendly, but I would really focus on game management rather than strict application of the ATR/etc. That was probably the CR's call in your game as well.

[Caesar]

I thought this thread was going to be about Mixed matches when the guys are hitting on the girls, and what to do about it. :p

[Bill Archer]

Depends on whether the girl is smiling, I suppose.

I've done a lot of these, and I enjoy them. Everyone is usually very cooperative and nobdy gets too exercized if they think you're wrong.

And on the rare occasion when a card, particularly a red, is required, I don't hesitate. Normally what happens is the player's teammates and/or coach don't get mad at me, they get mad at the player: "What the hell did you do that for? It's a freindly for Pete's sake" is the normal reaction.

And it's a lot easier to get the coach's cooperation too. If someone seems like they're getting steamed or maybe starting to mouth off, I'll trot past the bench and say "Hey coach, remind 16 that this isn't the wordl cup, will you?" That alone will often get a guy subbed out, or at the least a "Hey Chuck, chill the hell out" directed at the player in question.

But all the pallsy-wallsy stuff aside, the one thing they HAVE to have, as in any other match, is the assurance that the guy in the middle will protect them and keep the game fair and straight up.

[Law5]

I did a friendly between two professional teams last year, USL1 v EPL. The FIFA referee asked us before the game "What's the most important thing we need to do in a friendly?" I replied, "Keep them friendly." He said, "Exactly."
Sooner or later, there will be a foul that threatens to take the game out of the friendly category. The referee can not be lulled into thinking that he doesn't need to take fouls seriously, since this is "just a friendly." Don't assume that the first one wasn't really intentionally hard. Stomp on it! It sends an absolutely required message that the rest of the players want to hear. Even if a card doesn't mean anything beyond this game, it still means something in this game. And you absolutely need to talk with the players a lot, to adjust their attitude. But then you are doing that in your regular games anyway, aren't you?:cool:

[Statesman]

But all the pallsy-wallsy stuff aside, the one thing they HAVE to have, as in any other match, is the assurance that the guy in the middle will protect them and keep the game fair and straight up.Best comment of the thread. Do what you have to do to keep the game in control, just don't do more than you have to.

[Wreave]

Even if a card doesn't mean anything beyond this game, it still means something in this game. And you absolutely need to talk with the players a lot, to adjust their attitude. But then you are doing that in your regular games anyway, aren't you?:cool:

Exactly (and echoing Statesman). In a friendly, cards are a game management tool. When needed to manage the game, use them. When you can manage the game with less than a card, or a lesser card, or with other game management tools... do it!

[refmike]

The games I work are all local and most friendlys are because a team was short or did not show up on time. If they still want a game, I tell them that all cards will still be reported so if there is something they don't like, such as any of my calls or what the opponents are doing, just tell me and leave the game. Since I started this, there has never been a problem.

[2wheels]

I don't really get it on this one - if a tackle would have been arguably red in a competitive match, why would it be let go in a "friendly"?

Rightly so, to be fair to everyone concerned, a game with the ref in the middle must maintain the professional standards. There should be no difference in officiating, and the result (of a friendly, or regulation match) is of no concern to the ref anyway.

Recall Mr Rooney's sent off (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=375058&cc=5901) recently playing another Porto team - elbow in face and ref made him see red.

[USSF REF]

Let us be clear. My initial post was in reference to games that are not tied to any sort of league or disciplinary structure. The kind of match arranged by two clubs, in most cases to preapre for a season or evaluate player abilities.

The match in which Rooney was sent-off was a "friendly" match, however it is played by 2 teams both of which have kits with numbers. Furthermore, it is played under the direct auspices of national associations.

There are some matches that showing a card may have no effect. Case in point, (I have heard the following story many times, I don't know it is fact but this seems to be backed up) there was a friendly match played once in which the referee sent off Pele. After the half, Pele was returned to the match and there was a new referee in the middle. Little good the card did him.

Certainly in the Rooney case, that match is refereed as any other. But what if you're refereeing an game between say one team who is holding try outs and they hire you through your assessor to come and manage the match. When you get there neither of the sides have numbers and the "should" all be friends. How do you handle that? And that is what this thread was about, not something like MLS v. Chelsea or anything like that.