Question Number: 21881

Mechanics 9/4/2009

RE: Varsity High School

Jon of WICHITA, KS USA asks...

Explain to me the concept of showing the player a card. My question comes from an official running up to a player and raising up the yellow card. The player turns and starts to run off the field. The referee calls the player back by saying 'you will get a red card if you don't come back'. The player had seen the yellow card, knew what the yellow card was for, and was getting off the pitch. I see this same type of thing in about every level of soccer. Is there a procedure that the official must speak with the player or something else that I don't know about? Seems to me that the official is trying to get a response from the players each time they show them a card.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

For games played under USSF, following the Laws of the Game, there is a procedure to be followed:
1) Talk to the player, informing her why she is being cautioned
2) Show the yellow card.

The card is only shown first if the referee feels it will help with game control, such as warding off any retaliation that might happen.

NFHS adds more requirements - the player must go off for a 'cooling off' period (he may be substituted), the coaches must be informed why the player was cautioned. I don't know if they reverse the sequence of talking to the player and showing the card.

It sounds like this player knew about the requirement to go off the field and was complying. And the ref thought that their conversation wasn't over yet, and the player was disrespecting him. Not being there, it's hard to determine which way it really went.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

A card is a referee tool!
A card is a communication devise!
Showing the card creates a standard of excellence!
It sets the bar of acceptable behavior by this referee in this match!.
It can be set too high or too low.
It has a very definite impact and can be your best friend or your worst nightmare when it comes to match control.

There are 7 reasons to stop play and show a player a yellow card.
There are 7 reasons to stop play and show the red card.

I find my colleague's conclusions to mirror my own . The card was shown so quickly the player probably felt he knew why it was and was off to be substituted to cool down per the high school policy perhaps unaware the referee wanted to talk!

The booking procedure is to stop play, be where you need to be to PREVENT retaliation, isolate the culprit, explain to the player what the cardable misconduct is as you record his name, number, time and reason for the card in your book , show the card in a resolute but non threatening manner, get play restarted as quickly as possible once you have dealt with the situation adequately!

Players who are going to be shown a card are likely agitated and in passion mode, not too receptive to being harangued by the referee without wanting to blow their stack. A referee must diffuse tensions and think a bit about the way to approach volatile situations to douse the flame not throw gas on the fire!

Use a polite yet firm voice. Get eye contact and use body language, ensure a response appropriate to what is being explained. Do not flip cards into the face of the player or run around trying to show him one to his backside. Respect is a two edged sword and it must be shown to be received!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

In earlier years, players in international matches (who sometimes spoke different languages than d the referee) sometimes left play without realizing they had been cautioned or sent off. One of the members of FIFA's referee committee was mulling a solution to this problem when he stopped at a traffic light. Seeing the light's progression, he 'invented' yellow (for caution) and red (for sendoff) cards.

While the purpose of the card is to let everyone (including something considering retaliatino) that the referee has dealt with the issue, the purpose of the caution is to influence future behavior by the player. The value of the caution is the opportunity to talk to the player, explain the player WHY she is being cautioned, and remind the player that repetition will lead to a sendoff. Good referees begin trying to keep a cautioned player in the match beginning with the first card.

Sometimes a quick card is needed to prevent retaliation, but the discussion is usually needed to prevent repetition.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I can only guess the referee felt the cautioned player was either showing dissent or being disrespectful. NFHS does not outline any specific procedure for showing a card. They do require the cautioned player to leave the field of play and may not re-enter until the next substitution