USSF tournament - U-16 girls Since it's a tournament, we were told that we didn't need to check equipment except for the first game. I had a center in the middle of the day. I notice that the central defender is wearing hoop earrings. I direct her to take them off, which she does. That's when her goalkeeper says, "You don't have to worry about me. I taped my earrings down."
Coach complaining about a penalty I give "Coach, if you continue, you'll get a yellow" Sarcastically "What yellow are you talking about ref, I don't see any yellow" Pull yellow out of pocket and put in the air to him "this yellow coach, do you see it"?
My son (32-yo former DI player) has started reffing weekend youth tournaments this year so I usually ask him for his best stories. Yesterday he said he did 4 games, and near the end of the last one he called a foul and the fouled player complained that it should be a yellow. "You're complaining after I called a foul in your favor?" The player continued arguing about it, so he showed him the only yellow card he issued all day.
Had to throw out a coach last week on a U13G for not giving an advantage 5 yards into his half. I calmly explained that they were 5 yards into their own half with no options in my eyes. He yelled at me "They can play that. That's advantage! I've been doing this longer than you've been alive, kid!" I looked back at him with the most deadpan face: "I'm 31 with a mortgage." He did not have a come-back for that and short-circuited. I gave him his first red in his long 30-year tenure all on a non-advantage call on a U13 game...
These coaches who don't understand "possession ≠ advantage" fouls would probably short circuit if they see one of their players receive a SPA YC for stopping a developing counter attack in the defensive third.
I will say it was #1 vs #2 in standings so I see where his "those kids can play" is stemming from because they're the top teams in the bracket. But, buddy, your players literally just whiffed twice trying to clear the ball, in your own penalty area, 20 seconds before that no-advantage and foul.... on a U13G game in Division B/C. Not to mention.... it's a FOUL for your team! I'd sorta get the anger (referee abuse obv. never okay) if it was an egregious missed red card or a penalty kick, I suppose, but on an advantage not given in your own half? I will say, I suppose he kind of expected it because once I warned him "Hey coach, you're on a yellow. I don't want to have to terminate the match." he countered back with "That's fine. I'll take the red! I have someone who can take over! Throw me out, I don't care!" and then I got the greatest gift bestowed upon by any coach... I was indeed the "worst officiating he's ever seen." Wednesdays....
First time I've taken one of the kiddos to a tournament and it was definitely an interesting experience. Some of my newfound parent/spectator observations - please take or disregard as you'd like - When a spectator/parent calls a referee a f****** dumb b**** please don't ignore it. This person needs to be removed. What makes it really unfortunate is that this is a parent of one of the kids on our team and although other members of the club have filed complaints to the club administration regarding him, the response has been that there has never been a referee or tournament administrative report filed so they have a harder time getting involved. We've asked club leadership to be present at a game in the future to observe this in person - hopefully they will do so and take action. - when removing a spectator/parent, please make sure it's the correct one. Some poor guy a few seats down from this loudmouth was removed even though he hadn't said anything. He took it well but was more than a little irritated - we've all done the tournament thing (far too many games with too little time to rest - I certainly have) but please try. The kids are really working hard here and deserve effort. - I think the federation's blanket ban on coms for those below regional is foolish but they are not a tool for discussing where to go for drinks later. Ditto for earbuds I hate that it sounds like I'm whining about the refs this tournament - whatever mistakes were made had no effect on the results but my goodness, it left a bad impression.
I just want to echo this. First, I literally think that more than half the time I’ve tossed a parent*, I have been thanked by parents of the same team. It’s really food for thought—that knucklehead is ruining the experience for his own team, too. Get rid of him or her. Second, those of us with tough skin can’t take because we can. Instead, we need to be stewards of the game by tossing these knuckleheads so that we set the tone for what is acceptable so the newbie teenager doesn’t have to deal with it next week. We’re not thin skinned when we toss these people; we’re doing a public service for the kids. ————— *yeah, yeah, I know we don’t actually toss them, we ask the coach or field authority to have them removed . . .
This is an awkward position for you to be in since you don't want to confront your own kid's parent. I went to throw out a parent for directing Spanish profanity at my AR. The fans refused to give him up, pretended they heard nothing. I threatened that I was walking to the coach to throw out the entire sideline. An Indian dad took responsibility. Obviously it wasn't him, but what could I do? Waited until he left the premises. I'm dealing with this in the other sport I referee but it's the same issue as soccer. Guy is more experienced than me, older than me, but he is a coward when it comes to dealing with dissent. Last weekend a parent on his side was yelling at him about a no-call that continued after a goal was scored, no response. I went to the coach and made him deal with the guy. Then I ask my fellow ref what the hell he's doing letting this parent yell at him, he said he didn't even hear him, he just tunes it out. And I had a similar situation with him last year in dealing with disruptive coaches. His complete lack of action led me to telling him I'm taking over and giving cards. Guys doing their "I'm thick skinned, I just tune out complaining" schtick makes things worse for everyone
The way I read it, is you don't want to confront the parents of other kids on your team. I've got to agree. You never know how things will be taken and what favors you might need from someone later. I was on another message board where people (mostly refs) were adamant that parents should "police themselves". It's not that easy. Coming from a parent has no "power" behind it. While I definitely agree refs don't deserve the abuse they get, I do think not ejecting parents when they "cross the line" has emboldened them (and others). As SouthRef said, it also actually helps clubs deal with continued problems because they have a paper trail.
I think that many jurisdictions require a permit to use amplified sound outdoors. For a youth game, I would not start/restart the game until they agreed not to use it. There isn't anything in the Laws of the Game that prohibits it, but I can't think of any place where even pro games allow spectators to use bull horns. So don't allow it 'for the good of the game.'
The situation was in an adult coed league and it was a Hispanic team who was doing it. The reason I specify Hispanic team is because those of you who do their games you know they like to be noisy on the sidelines. I asked them to stop but they weren’t happy, then at halftime I called out league manager and she said as long as it’s respectful it should be ok. I didn’t want to be a jerk ruining their fun, especially since it was cinco de mayo, but I just didn’t like that they were yelling through a bullhorn as play was passing right along their sideline quadrant.
If they are distracting their own players, no problem. Distracting the other team, have them stop doing that. But it doesn't have to be a blanket ban on the bullhorn.
I was doing a high-school playoff match recently between two hispanic-majority teams where both sections had vuvuzelas, ratchets, drums, etc. Some of the stuff surely did fall into prohibited into the "artificial noise makers." Nice crowd. I took a look at my ARs, "Yeah, we're not doing a thing about... all of that." Not distracting yet loud. Lively atmosphere, very vibrant and jubilant. It was a nice. Until there was 2 reds for the away team (in a span of 1 minute) right near their own bench. (1 player [SFP], 1 coach [DT 2CT]) Good times...
Must be that time of year. Three game days last week. Three instances where I had to summon the site admin to deal with fans. On Saturday, the issue was after the game. When I asked the admin to deal with the fans attacking my AR1 over his fitness, the AD looked at me like I had three heads. It was clearly an ejection-worthy offense had it occurred during the game. I wrote the state asking for a discussion with the AD that when the officiating crew asks to deal with the crowd, deal with the crowd.
Our state high school association prohibits all use of 'artificial noise makers' by spectators. School staff is responsible for enforcement of the rule. The school, however, ....... Well, I was once asked about a particular school that fired a canon after every goal. Done by the school, so no problem! The same goes for big bells.
U12 boys rec. I'm AR2. The center is a young kid on his first day as the center. First game is uneventful. Second game -- Red defender tumbles with Black attacker in the PA. The center has a better view than I do, and he calls a PK. Red coach hits the roof. AFTER he calms down, he asks what the call was. I don't hear the center's explanation because I'm across the field and he's facing away from me. Red coach: "Yeah, he was knocked down, but then he got back up!" I'm not proud of myself for this, but I bent over double laughing. Might have cost me some credibility when that coach started questioning my offside non-calls against Black. He eased up a bit in the second half, when I let a close one go with Red on the attack, and they scored the tying goal. This guy still went after the AR1, another young ref but someone I've worked with before who has a couple of seasons under her belt. Multiple times, I hear, "the WHOLE ball has to cross the line." After one such outburst, the Black coach yells back, "She knows what she's doing!" Words follow, but it comes to naught. A ref mentor was at the game. He agreed with me that the coach should've seen yellow for questioning the AR1's basic knowledge of the sport. I hope he got a good laugh out of all the other stuff. The center is going to be a great ref if he sticks with it. Good demeanor, good at working with his ARs. I made sure to compliment him afterwards.