Question Number: 16174

Mechanics 7/31/2007

RE: REC Under 11

MARV of BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO CANADA asks...

UNDER 10 BOYS HOUSE LEAUGE

In a recent game the youth referee felt that a player was persistently simulating being fouled and also feigning injury. After brief treatment he would be back up at full speed only to(appear to) be fouled and go the ground (apparently) injured once again. The referee simply ignored what he felt was simulation, allowed play to continue, and then eventually whistled play due to the injury. The non-calls upset some of the participants and some of the spectators. Issuing a caution for USB due to simulation in this age group is quite rare. What is the best way for a referee to deal with what he rightly feels is persistent simulation by a 10 year old?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

It is impressive that a youth referee is aware of the need to punish persistent infringement and is also aware of the existence of feigning injury practiced by so many professional players - to the ultimate degradation of the beautiful game. This young referee sounds very mature for his age, and I applaud his management the situation overall because I assume from your note he did not give any cautions. Unless I misread your question, this is U11, or ten year olds in a recreational game. Most of them have no idea what persistent infringement is or that faking an injury is not a good plan and you are correct that cautions in this age group are rare and especially rare for these kinds of misconduct. It sounds like this youngster was just a loose cannon with very little training or control but a lot of exuberance. There are many ways to deal with such issues. In a game with such young players, a referee needs to be aware of the "mother bear" who does not take kindly to watching her cub fall and cry and the referee apparently does nothing to help. We often advise the young refs to call apparent injury quickly and to just add time to make up for the loss if necessary, keeping in mind their inability to play much more than 25 minutes a half. The referee should always go over and check just to make sure that this time the child didn't do something to really hurt himself. It wouldn't hurt to suggest to the coach that the child needs a break, and that you'll allow the sub immediately. The referee can talk to the player, and tell him he has your permission to leave the field to get a booboo attended to without stopping play - and of course telling him he can't come back until you wave him on. But I would be loathe to caution a child under these circumstances. It just makes it no fun for anyone and is unnecessary except under the most unusual of circumstances.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Marv players of this age are easily influenced by what they see on the television. Every time they watch a match on the light box they see some player lay down on the field and hold something. They also see the referee do nothing!

That is the key, isn't it? Nothing is done to convince that particular player, and those watching him, simulating an injury to draw a whistle is unsporting behaviour. And that, sir, is a cautionable offence. The youth referee was not really tending to things, was he? [even though he finally did] Let's see... on the first happening of little Johnnie falling to the floor for no reason and holding onto some hurt part. TWEEeeettt. LJ, LJ are you hurt, do you need assistance, coach in you get...

The instant our coach enters the field LJ is going to leave the field for treatment. Now comes the fun things a referee can do to LJ, you know the guy that thinks he is on the swimming team. First and foremost, he needs time on the touchline to collect himself, to make sure there are no leaks, make sure the band-aids are tight, his uniform is squared away, you know -- things that take time to do. The referee is just looking to his welfare, wants to be absolutely sure he has recovered from his hurt. If the coach wants to substitute him he better go through the correct procedure, too! Notify the nearest match official before the stoppage in play.

Right LJ is allowed to rejoin his mates, and when the referee allows this he is going to run along side LJ and say "No More Diving, Young Sir". Next time he hits the floor, the original hurt must not have been tended to properly, call the coach on straightaway. One coach's toe in and LJ gets to leave again only this time our learned referee mentions to the coach he didn't see anything that caused LJ to fall and get hurt again. SO... he needs more time to heal from the original Boo Boo.

Give him more time. When he comes back in, and he will want to, mention the diving thing again. When he hits the floor, again for no reason, out comes the referee's notebook.

This time you don't call the coach on, give him the hold signal!! Ask LJ if he's hurt in the same place again or is it something new! Either way he answers, especially if you didn't see the bump, ask if he can get up and continue playing or does he need the coach to come on, again. He will think long and hard, if he gets up ask for his name and note that, the time, the offence [USB] and his number in your the book. Tell him he is cautioned for simulating an injury and if he does it again he will be sent off. Ask if he understands, then show the card so everyone will know he's been found out [at last].

A lesson is there to learn! If he learns, all's well. If he hits the floor again, for no reason, send him off for a second caution in the same match. There is a lesson to be learned in that as well, this time he'll have adequate time to digest what happened and what he can do to prevent it in future.

You'll note this was written by a referee who has seen this before, has a lifetime's experience on the field and has the courage to deal with it. Many of these things a youth referee has not learned yet so LJ will get away with doing the same thing match day after next...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Perhaps this youth referee recognizes simulating an injury because he is also a player who attempts it from time to time!

I suspect the uproar at not getting calls is that at this level of play the players and spectators are used to the game stopping immediately whenever anyone appears to be injured in the slightest. The referee recognized there wasn't really any serious injury, and was content to let the diver flop around a bit while his team attempts to play without him.

At this age we do all we can to avoid using cards. Whether that is good (because it preserves their fragile self-esteem) or bad (because it teaches them the wrong thing that they will have to unlearn later) is continuously debated. The fact remains that cards are seldom seen at the young ages.

The first time this happens, we allow the coach to come on and help him, because after all we don't yet know that he's a simulator. When he pops right up ready to play again we realize that we've been had! So next time either we are as reluctant as this ref to stop play, or we resort to firmer measures. We make sure the player goes off the field with his coach to be attended.

If the coach chooses not to make a substitution, we give the player ample time to recover from his injury before allowing him back in. I would note that at U10 or U11 the ref is often working alone without assigned assistant referees, and he just may not have time to check that the player is recovered until the ball goes out of play - he's too busy watching the uninjured players. The team may be playing short-handed for a while.

Usually youth leagues have unlimited substitutions, so the coach will send another player in, and then get the diver back into the game at the next stoppage. Now we are faced with a dilemma - if we don't do something more, this little simulator will repeat the scenario whenever he wants a rest. If the kid, with the full compliance of his coach, will not change his behavior, we are left with little alternative than to get out the yellow card.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

I am going to be blunt. Caution and show him the yellow card. This is mandated by USSF AND FIFA. Unless your league has another policy its a madatory caution. He can show the card at the next stoppage if need be.