Are you seeing more scuffles on the pitch?

[Anonymous]

In premier league, violent conduct results in a minimum of 3 games suspension, which can be longer. Cantona was banned for 9 months for his kung fu kick on Mathew Simmons in 1995. So, unlike in ice hockey, fights are rare in professional soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my experience at the youth levels, it’s usually due to the ref allowing dangerous play (elbow, horsecollar, grappling, hacking down, etc) and being too skittish of confrontation to properly diffuse the tensions (via a card, a talking to, whatever.) After this things can turn into a war of escalation, and the official usually loses control of the game. Also falls on the coaches to discourage dirty/dangerous play. However, if the ref fails to protect you and you’re getting hacked by lumberjacks, it’s not a surprise that players will dole out their own justice and games will turn into the Lord if the Flies.

+1

It has always been a game where the refs didn't get a handle on it early enough in the game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience at the youth levels, it’s usually due to the ref allowing dangerous play (elbow, horsecollar, grappling, hacking down, etc) and being too skittish of confrontation to properly diffuse the tensions (via a card, a talking to, whatever.) After this things can turn into a war of escalation, and the official usually loses control of the game. Also falls on the coaches to discourage dirty/dangerous play. However, if the ref fails to protect you and you’re getting hacked by lumberjacks, it’s not a surprise that players will dole out their own justice and games will turn into the Lord if the Flies.

+1

It has always been a game where the refs didn't get a handle on it early enough in the game.

Agree also, some refs are maybe young and intimidated for whatever reason and just don't make the calls. Last tourney ref pulled out a yellow card and then realized it was almost half time and just put it back in her pocket and didn't say anything. It should have been a yellow for sure. This was U11 girls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience at the youth levels, it’s usually due to the ref allowing dangerous play (elbow, horsecollar, grappling, hacking down, etc) and being too skittish of confrontation to properly diffuse the tensions (via a card, a talking to, whatever.) After this things can turn into a war of escalation, and the official usually loses control of the game. Also falls on the coaches to discourage dirty/dangerous play. However, if the ref fails to protect you and you’re getting hacked by lumberjacks, it’s not a surprise that players will dole out their own justice and games will turn into the Lord if the Flies.

+1

It has always been a game where the refs didn't get a handle on it early enough in the game.

Agree also, some refs are maybe young and intimidated for whatever reason and just don't make the calls. Last tourney ref pulled out a yellow card and then realized it was almost half time and just put it back in her pocket and didn't say anything. It should have been a yellow for sure. This was U11 girls.

That’s a good point, and constant heckling from people who “expect calls” doesn’t help. Often though, it’s an adult who simply will just not be bothered. It’s just one of those things where if you are coming off the field constantly holding your ribs or they’ve yanked you down by your neck several times, and the ref isn’t doing anything about it, you have to plead with them to do their job, or you start retaliating in your own way if you feel you’re not being protected. I’m not saying it’s right or I agree with it, it’s just what usually happens that ends up leading up to those ugly end-of-game scuffles.

[Anonymous]

Refs are only part of the problem, although an important part.
Some coaches/parents teach their players how to hurt/intimidate the opposition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Refs are only part of the problem, although an important part.
Some coaches/parents teach their players how to hurt/intimidate the opposition.

Absolutely. People like that are a cancer to the sport.

[Anonymous]

I've only seen it once. I think I remember the team but don't want to call them out in case I'm misremembering. It was our midlevel U9 girls game and one girl on the other team was pushing (arms out), ramming into our girls to the point where they'd go flying. The ref warned her at least 3 times that I saw and finally pulled a yellow card on her. He was close to the sideline and I heard him say "I can't even believe that I have to do this." It was crazy - these were 8 year old girls!

[Anonymous]

I've never seen it in travel, with the exception of maybe a tiny bit of shoving, but not much. Some clubs tend to be more physical than others, but very rarely would I say it crosses a line or gets to a scuffle. In boys high school soccer, however, I've seen it more often. I saw a really horrible incident just last week. Definitely the worst thing I've seen in any match. I also saw an incident in high school soccer a few years ago, as well, but nothing like the one I saw last week. That kid got a red card, immediately, though, as he deserved.