Question Number: 24198

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/19/2010

RE: Rec/Select/Competitive

Todd Wendorf of Marysville, PA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24169

Ahhh, yes! The age-old debate over giving cards to younger players.

I asked this same question when I was asked to referee recreational games (non-competitive) for ages u15 and below. My concerns were exactly what the 'poster' indicated...completely destroying the kid and demoralizing the entire game.

The debate FOR sending off for DOGSO(H) for younger players was that if you do not, then when they get older, they will not know why they were sent off. I'm not sure if I agree. Sometimes you can use these situations as teaching points and achieve the same effect without crushing a 8 year old. The offended team still gets a PK or Direct Free Kick close to goal and no one is sent home crying.

The debate AGAINST was that they are younger and we don't want to hurt their feelings. Ummm...8 year old goalkeepers often go to tears when they are scored on. Anyone ever call a foul on a wee-little and have them break down in tears like it was end of the world?



My own opinion...you need to consider the level of play, the competition, how close the game is, etc... I recently had to Caution a 10 year old for a reckless foul. He thought he was being sent off until I explained (AGAIN) that it was a CAUTION and that he need to play under control. Why did I card this young man for a foul (other than the fact that it was RECKLESS)?
a) It was a championship game of a tournament
b) Both teams were getting more physical EARLY in the game and it was necessary to put a stop to it

So...esteemed panel...where do we draw the line? What age? What level of competition?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The question becomes, Do you need to resort to cards to control the behavior of little kids? In most cases, an experienced referee does not. But most of the U-little games get the least experienced referees. They don't have the presence of mind gained in doing many games to know how to get the players' behavior back under control. They may be reduced to using cards. Myself, I'd go talk to the coach and say something like, 'We can either do this the easy way or the hard way. The easy way is you sub out the player. The hard way is I send him off, you play down a man, and he doesn't get to play next week. Either way, he's done for the day. What will it be, easy or hard?' But a 15-year-old in his first year of reffing isn't going to know how to do this.

Another question arises though: Is a caution or send off needed because of the severity of the offense? I sent off a U10 player for stomping on his opponent. I sent off a U12 rec player for a tackle from behind that also denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity; the foul alone was worthy of a caution (rare enough in a U12 rec game; I think I've used a yellow card less than 5 times in 13 years). I felt I had to do something about the DOGSO as well.

The level of competition has something to do with it as well. If these leagues want to pretend that they are competitive games, keeping stats and standings, using tryouts, the whole nine yards, then the kids also have to take responsibility for their actions. It is their responsibility to make sure their equipment is proper, so I don't wait for them to tie their shoes; play goes on. Similarly, it is their responsibility to see that they play the game fairly and safely. If they're hiring a coach and/or trainer to make these kids 'competitive', that paid professional can also teach them the Laws and their consequences. That sounds hard-line for little kids, but these are little kids who, let's face it, have been put into that situation by their [need I say, over-competitive] parents.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The laws are clear. There is no exception to law 12 for little kids.

IMO, the spirit also is clear. There is no need to show cards to little kids; we have enough tools to manage the game and protect the players without either ignoring misconduct or showing cards.

The difference is philosophy. YMMV.

For me, "little kids" means under ten years old.