I often struggle with the top level U13 boys teams. They're aggressive but they haven't learned how to pull out of some of these challenges and it results in some nasty collisions.
Nah. Just blow the whistle on the first thing that looks even remotely like a foul, and you'll be fine. (Well, assuming you're fully vaccinated against "Let 'em play ref!")
Not entirely bad advice--I love when players give the gift of an early foul at midfield that gives me the chance to call the foul and let that be the message "yes, I'm watching." Especially a shove in the back while jumping or something else a bit sneaky.
As the parent of a U13 boy, I have plenty of experience watching and officiating this age group. I referee a lot of his pre-season friendlies, and I'm usually working U13 and U14 games bracketed around his games. For me, I call things very tight the first 10 minutes. I want everyone to know that I'm watching and will actually blow the whistle. Like @Bubba Atlanta and @socal lurker said, look for a chance to call a foul in a spot that won't cause too much trouble. I like fouls coming out in the defending corners or fouls close to midfield. After they know I'm actually going to call some fouls, I tend to let them play a bit more unless or until I feel like I need to tighten things up a little more. At that age level, pretty much everyone is really happy that someone is out there who can recognize a foul when it happens.
I've found the early easy call often presents itself in boys games, but tomorrow is U13 girls where that easy call can be elusive. The parents are just as nuts though.
Cue the inevitable, "But, but, we had ADVANTAGE!!!" the next time you blow the whistle for a foul. The response is then, "But you said I wasn't calling things fast enough!" Ah, parents.
At 10U? Nah. Those are the parents that are going to scream about not calling the foul when the team scored before you could get the whistle to your mouth. Sorry, no "and-one" in soccer. . . .
Speaking of U12...... I have my first ever State Cup this weekend. 5 games (U12M, U12G, U14M, U13M, U12M). I have 2 whistles (first and last game). I'll let you know how loud the parents get.
CR solo, FK to Green at mid-field, players mulling around and I go ceremonial. Blue coach: "Line up with the ball". I'm thinking he meant in-line with ball & goal, but blue player starts heading up to the ball... Me: No, hold on, you have stay back X yards for their kicks... back here.... <Tweet> and off we go. On Green's next FK 5 mins later, Blue coach: "Billy!!! GO STAND RIGHT AT THE BALL! NOW!!!" Me: NO! Coach, do not instruct them to pull that nonsense. It's X yards every time. Period. I set the defending team for the restart. Blue Coach: "It's not nonsense. That's how it's played." Me: If it continues, cards will follow. <Tweet> and we restart. No further issues during the game. Forgot to mention... this was in U7/8 Rec. (P.S. The "cards will follow" would have been for the Coach, who used to coach Club for older age groups... and known for certain issues.)
another point to calling the fouls early. At U-13, they are not physically fit to last the 70 minutes on a full size field. They all come shot out of a cannon for the first 10 minutes. The constant fouling is while they are highly energized and the coaches had just given them instructions including 'play hard and fast.' A little fatigue and a few calls and it usually settles down naturally.
If you get Auburn's U12B, that coach gets a bit wordy. Not abusive, but very sarcastic and very often.
I did U12 games at State Cup one year. It was fun. Learned a lot. Even learned something I sure didn't like. Reality hits you hard sometimes.
Since U11 and U12 don’t progress to regionals that makes them extra fun as they play to a bracket championship. The coaches there (typically young and trying to impress) are extra special. Several years ago I did a State Cup U12 final and it was between teams from the same parent club. The club officials got special permission from the state admins to sit in a bench between and behind the team technical areas. The losing coach was being extra churlish and at a stoppage I loudly suggested that if he didn’t stop that there were plenty of eligible replacements sitting behind him who could take his place. The gaggle behind him laughed and he started behaving. That was before cards could be given so it counted as his tell.
Years ago, I was one of the founders of a competitive level club. When the A team played the B team, IIRC, U-13 boys, State Cup quarterfinal, I had hired both coaches. The assignor made me the 4th official. There were no problems.
It was great to get back on the pitch tonight. Easy one sided game, first foul 19 minutes in, only 4 fouls the whole game all against the home side. 7-0 home. Full crew, great weather, quiet spectators. It felt like we picked up right where we left off. I should turn back the rest of the season and call it a year .
I don't mind a U12 State Cup. Get kids together one weekend a year and let someone be state champion? Fine by me. The crazier thing to me is the statewide leagues starting at U11. 8-10 or more league games, plus tournaments & friendlies. Then they get a little older and the regional leagues start. I was talking to a fellow ref who has a son playing U13. State league, two different regional leagues, probably some other tournaments too (at least there is some overlap in the teams, so a game might count for two or three different leagues). Driving five hours to meet other teams in the middle. I had a student (U17) who was happy I assigned a school project so she could get out of going to a game three hours away for her regional league. The kid plays on the best team in the state for her age group and said she hates soccer because of the travel.