Question Number: 20202

Law 18 - Common Sense 10/9/2008

RE: Rec Under 9

Sheree of modesto, Ca United States asks...

We had a player injured at a game last week this is her 1st year playing. The ref just stood there and didn't blow the whistle while she was holding her mouth from bleeding. These girls don't know to sit down when they are hurt. Is that an actual rule or was the ref in the wrong?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The girls shouldn't have to sit down. Whenever there is blood, the referee should stop play. As he should at any other time there appears to be a serious injury. The definition of 'serious' varies with the age of the players.

At U9, the refs are just as green as the players, maybe even moreso since some U9 players have been playing for 3 or 4 years. Report the ref to the league coordinators so he can learn the proper procedure.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Maybe the referee wasn't aware that she was bleeding and was focusing on the game at some other place on the field. While the game should stop for a bleeding player immediately (at U9 especially) perhaps it would be good to teach the girls to let the ref know they are hurt... either by doing so verbally or... sitting/laying down.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Where is the rest of her team? They can let the referee know there is a problem as well. And at even that age, I hate to advocate for coach involvement, but this is a time where the coach can reasonably say 'Hey, ref! #10 is bleeding. Help, please?!.' That should do it. It's respectful, to the point and helps the referee out.

Notice I didn't say shout at the referee, berate the referee or otherwise be obnoxious. We don't have enough of them as it is, and we can't afford to run them off, when all they generally need, besides some seasoning, is a little corrective coaching from others in the referee community.

Which brings me back to Ref Voshol's comment - please communicate this situation to the referee assignor or league coordinator so they can refer the referee to the appropriate help.