Game management

[Emmet Kipengwe]

I've been a ref for a little over a year. I've steadily moved up in age groups thanks to good assignors and am now at the U-16B level.
I had a center with 2 good ARs on Sunday between two competitive teams. Blue was small, fast, and extremely skillled. White was big, and a little slower and less skilled. Blue jumps up 5-0 at the half. Nothing too terrible, 1 YC to a Blue player for FRD, but all is (somewhat) under control.
White starts the 2nd half with the idea that, by playing harder, they will be able to win this game, or at least keep it respectable. The fouls start adding up on White. I speak with first, then caution, #20 White. His behavior changes not a bit, and within 3 minutes, it's another YC for him, and he's gone. Now, Blue wants to retaliate, and they do. Same guy I hit with the YC goes for the ankles from behind, and he's gone. Blue coach gets a YC for DI, but I gave it in a friendly way, if you know what I mean. I assured him quietly that I would do my best to protect his players. Blue starts pulling "special" moves because White is overpursuing which just enrages White more.
Towards the end, Blue went down with cramps a couple times and White was asking me if I'd add time. I looked at them like they were crazy and said "No." They understood. One more YC to White and it was over.

I didn't feel like I let it get out of hand. I think I did my best with two totally different levels of teams, but I had an idea in retrospect.
What if, when I saw the way things were going to go, I called both captains over, away from their teams, but near enough so their coaches could hear, and told them to knock it off? Told Blue to quit the hot-dogging, and White to quit the cheap stuff? Let them go back to their teams and explain what I said and then continue with whatever stoppage I had called?
I've never seen it done, so I'm not sure how it would work.
Have any of you experienced refs ever done this? How did it work? How, exactly did you do/say it?

[Claymore]

Sounds like a fairly typical U16B game to me. :D

I've pulled the captains aside on very rare occasions when its become obvious that one or both teams have decided to throw out the Laws and start going at each other. It can be very effective, but you have to pick your opening. You also have to VERY demonstrative, so that everyone within 100 yards knows exactly what you're saying.

[cdin]

Talking to captains only works when the team is fairly well organized. The team has to respect the captain as a leader and the captain has to respect the referee as the authority. It's not always that effective, but it is worth a shot. I have also on occation brought the entire teams togeather to talk to them.

Generally, if I feel that I am starting to loose control of a game I try to assurt my control by calling the game a little bit tighter. If this doesn't work then talking to the players or captains can't hurt but don't expect miricals. The only other option is to suspend the game. If you have already shown several Red and Yellow cards and the players are still only trying to hurt each other this is probably your best option, but make sure you write a very detailed game report.

Overall, it sounds like you did a good job.

[BC_Ref]

As others mentioned, captains are useful if they are really "captains". At U16, they might be - they might not. I've rarely been able to use non captains if it is obvious they are really "in charge" (some teams have a very strong central defender who runs the D. Use these figures if they aren't hot heads).

Other things to use are really clamping down what might otherwise be no calls (in terms of physicality) until they start playing soccer.
Cards - can be shot across the bows of players. But again, results vary (see World Cup 2006 for proof that multiple cards don't always work if the game spirals out of control).
Really slowing down the game can work, especially with boys. Every throw-in from the exact spot, every free kick, etc... This works very well locally since if you aren't moving for much of the season, you really start cooling off and just want to get moving again.

Again, whatever works to keep or get the game back under control.

[Wahoo]

As others mentioned, captains are useful if they are really "captains". At U16, they might be - they might not. I've rarely been able to use non captains if it is obvious they are really "in charge" (some teams have a very strong central defender who runs the D. Use these figures if they aren't hot heads).

Other things to use are really clamping down what might otherwise be no calls (in terms of physicality) until they start playing soccer.
Cards - can be shot across the bows of players. But again, results vary (see World Cup 2006 for proof that multiple cards don't always work if the game spirals out of control).
Really slowing down the game can work, especially with boys. Every throw-in from the exact spot, every free kick, etc... This works very well locally since if you aren't moving for much of the season, you really start cooling off and just want to get moving again.

Again, whatever works to keep or get the game back under control.

Some good comments here.

Personally I have found that cards are not a good deterrant, but rather tend to make the game more out of control. Think about it...when a game gets hot... and you see a card come out... what happens? Usually it infuriates players even more. I'm not saying don't use them... I'm just saying don't use a card in the hopes it will calm things down. [sidenote: I've noticed a card will work more if the "out of control" tag applies primarily to only 1 team. If both teams.... it won't make things calmer]

If I fear a game has the potential to get out of control, I make sure I move more often and reel it in with a couple methods.
Slowing things down can definitely be effective. Just a second or 2 extra for a restart gives a player a chance to cool his head or defuse a sticky situation.

I will become more active and get as close to the play as I possibly can (this is a fitness issue).

I am also more vocal and will make comments like "ok both of you watch the hands" or "#11 I saw that" etc. Basically make sure they KNOW that you are watching. And when I blow a whistle, I am definitive about it, say what happened and sometimes use the moment to add another "knock it off" comment. Part of being vocal is then also being LOUD when I play advantage so everyone knows I didn't "miss it".

I've also told teams/players ok, you guys obviously don't know whats a foul so you've forced me to call things very tight.

One other thing... don't make threats. Threats don't work.
Also don't say you're going to do something and then not do it.

[NHRef]

Other ideas to slow the game down and get it cooled off:

- no advantage, well within reason as in it better be a great goal chance to give it.

- when you call fouls or other stoppages, talk to players

- no quick restarts on kicks, find a reason to make it ceremonial

- when recording things, goal, card etc, take your time.

You can diffuse an awfull lot by simply talking to players, even during the flow. If you need to call over a hothead, make it a quiet talk on your part, and do not accuse him. I have used lines like "something has you upset, tell me what I am missing so I can make sure to watch for it" Gives him an outlet without accusing him as well as puts you on his "side" at least in his mind. Besides, maybe you are missing something.

[OhRef]

All good points.
One thing I have found that works for me is being complimentary. If there was a good save, great shot, pass, etc., do not be afraid to use this to your advantage either. This can go a long way to show your human side. You can run by a player and have a quiet word compliment as well as a quiet word scolding.I have found this works well with hotheads but you have to pick your spots

[refontherun]

I didn't realize it until all of you started to metion them separately, but I ran into a situation last Sunday where I found myself using nearly all of the techniques you mention here without even realizing it.

I was working some games for a different league not far from here. 90% of the referees were taking the recert that day and I guess they also wanted to get a fresh referee perspective for the teams.

I drew the last game of the day which turned out to be a U16Boys Gold and extremely competitive. I didn't find out until afterwards, the teams had a history of bad blood between them. The first five or ten minutes I called very tight because they started going at each other right from the start. After the players had tested me, having never seen me before, they calmed down and started to play soccer.

Once I adjusted to the style of play, I was able to anticipate where play was going and that improved my postioning alot. In a physical game like this one was, just being on top of things (a la Brian Hall) where they can see you is a great deterent in itself, and if you are vocal and talk to the players at the same time, that is double in your favor. In the second half, I even had players making positive (and sometimes funny) comments to me during the run of play.

From what I saw, the players were used to referees who called the game too tightly for them to play as well as they are able. Once the players understood where the line was between "good physical soccer" and malicious fouling and trash talking (about 15 or 20 minutes in), the game turned into a really good one.

l know I have heard about all of the techniques that were mentioned in this thread, but rarely have the chance to use alot of them at one time as was the case here. Like I said, I didn't even realize I was using these tools during that game until I saw them written down one by one as they were here. Take my word for it, they really work!

And before I get any comments, I wouldn't dream of comparing myself to BH. I'm simply commenting on his ability to anticipate and position himself so effectively (and effortlessly). I do try to emulate and improve this in every game I do.

[Emmet Kipengwe]

Thanks, guys. Excellent suggestions.
I will use some, if not all, in my next U-16B match!
They are a fun bunch, aren't they?