Soccer Referee-AMA

[SoccerRef]

Anonymous wrote:

SoccerRef wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^really??? My travel coach used to get booted from the sidelines by ref on a regular basis. My son's old coach as well and the manager would have to take cover.

Same experience here - I've seen coaches carded many times, is this a new rule?

Once was at a game where a parent was so out of control, and the ref couldn't get him to stop (nor could other parents). The ref told the coach to calm him down. The coach wasn't able to from so far away, so eventually, the ref stopped the game and told the parent to leave the field. The parent threatened the ref as he exited the field, so the ref called the police. We all had to wait for the police to show up and speak to the refs before the game continued. I am fairly sure the ref ended up giving the coach a RC and assistant had to coach remainder of game. The worst part was watching these poor kids stand there and wait for this to all play out...and none of the players had done anything wrong at all.

I can certainly throw a coach out of a game, or a parent off of the field, but under FIFA law you can't card either one. Cards are just for players.
If you see a ref actually card a coach, it's in a league or a tournament that has specific bylaws allowing it...but by default, you can't.
I'm only talking about USSF games though...high school, and college have their own sets of rules.

My understanding is that yellow and red cards came into the game several generations ago when an innovative ref decided he wanted a non-verbal way of communication, and then FIFA (well, IFAB) incorporated them into the Laws. I haven't verified that info, though. (Not sure how I could.)

Given that, is there really any sort of Law AGAINST using yellow and red just to communicate to someone to "watch it" or "get out"?

That's essentially correct...
http://www.fifa.com/development/news/y=2002/m=1/news=ken-aston-the-inventor-yellow-and-red-cards-80623.html

We're taught to communicate verbally to coaches and fans, using an "ask, tell, dismiss" strategy in lieu of cards.
All I can say to your other point is that if I was being assessed/graded during a USSF sanctioned match, and carded a coach, I would fail.

[Anonymous]

SoccerRef wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

SoccerRef wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^really??? My travel coach used to get booted from the sidelines by ref on a regular basis. My son's old coach as well and the manager would have to take cover.

Same experience here - I've seen coaches carded many times, is this a new rule?

Once was at a game where a parent was so out of control, and the ref couldn't get him to stop (nor could other parents). The ref told the coach to calm him down. The coach wasn't able to from so far away, so eventually, the ref stopped the game and told the parent to leave the field. The parent threatened the ref as he exited the field, so the ref called the police. We all had to wait for the police to show up and speak to the refs before the game continued. I am fairly sure the ref ended up giving the coach a RC and assistant had to coach remainder of game. The worst part was watching these poor kids stand there and wait for this to all play out...and none of the players had done anything wrong at all.

I can certainly throw a coach out of a game, or a parent off of the field, but under FIFA law you can't card either one. Cards are just for players.
If you see a ref actually card a coach, it's in a league or a tournament that has specific bylaws allowing it...but by default, you can't.
I'm only talking about USSF games though...high school, and college have their own sets of rules.

My understanding is that yellow and red cards came into the game several generations ago when an innovative ref decided he wanted a non-verbal way of communication, and then FIFA (well, IFAB) incorporated them into the Laws. I haven't verified that info, though. (Not sure how I could.)

Given that, is there really any sort of Law AGAINST using yellow and red just to communicate to someone to "watch it" or "get out"?

That's essentially correct...
http://www.fifa.com/development/news/y=2002/m=1/news=ken-aston-the-inventor-yellow-and-red-cards-80623.html

We're taught to communicate verbally to coaches and fans, using an "ask, tell, dismiss" strategy in lieu of cards.
All I can say to your other point is that if I was being assessed/graded during a USSF sanctioned match, and carded a coach, I would fail.

And that makes sense. They want you to communicate, not just wave a card.

I have a vague memory of a ref in an MLS match showing red and pointing to someone on the bench. Can't remember the circumstances, and for all we know the assessor had a chat with him later.

I do remember an opposing coach being red-carded in one of my youth games when I was ... well, youth. But that was in the early 80s. Much referee guidance since then.

[SoccerRef]

Anonymous wrote:

SoccerRef wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

SoccerRef wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^really??? My travel coach used to get booted from the sidelines by ref on a regular basis. My son's old coach as well and the manager would have to take cover.

Same experience here - I've seen coaches carded many times, is this a new rule?

Once was at a game where a parent was so out of control, and the ref couldn't get him to stop (nor could other parents). The ref told the coach to calm him down. The coach wasn't able to from so far away, so eventually, the ref stopped the game and told the parent to leave the field. The parent threatened the ref as he exited the field, so the ref called the police. We all had to wait for the police to show up and speak to the refs before the game continued. I am fairly sure the ref ended up giving the coach a RC and assistant had to coach remainder of game. The worst part was watching these poor kids stand there and wait for this to all play out...and none of the players had done anything wrong at all.

I can certainly throw a coach out of a game, or a parent off of the field, but under FIFA law you can't card either one. Cards are just for players.
If you see a ref actually card a coach, it's in a league or a tournament that has specific bylaws allowing it...but by default, you can't.
I'm only talking about USSF games though...high school, and college have their own sets of rules.

My understanding is that yellow and red cards came into the game several generations ago when an innovative ref decided he wanted a non-verbal way of communication, and then FIFA (well, IFAB) incorporated them into the Laws. I haven't verified that info, though. (Not sure how I could.)

Given that, is there really any sort of Law AGAINST using yellow and red just to communicate to someone to "watch it" or "get out"?

That's essentially correct...
http://www.fifa.com/development/news/y=2002/m=1/news=ken-aston-the-inventor-yellow-and-red-cards-80623.html

We're taught to communicate verbally to coaches and fans, using an "ask, tell, dismiss" strategy in lieu of cards.
All I can say to your other point is that if I was being assessed/graded during a USSF sanctioned match, and carded a coach, I would fail.

I have a vague memory of a ref in an MLS match showing red and pointing to someone on the bench. Can't remember the circumstances, and for all we know the assessor had a chat with him later.
/quote]

Yes, that's entirely possible.
I left out a key word earlier...a ref can card a player or a sub, so that might have been what he was doing.

[Anonymous]

I'm not much of a sports fan in general so I'm a quiet and sometimes reluctant spectator at my son's games. I think having a better understanding of play would help me enjoy the game more; I would love to learn the rules and better understand what is happening during play. Are there any basic books or other resources that you could recommend to a non-player/non-fan like me that will help me to grasp the rules without boring me to death?

[SoccerRef]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not much of a sports fan in general so I'm a quiet and sometimes reluctant spectator at my son's games. I think having a better understanding of play would help me enjoy the game more; I would love to learn the rules and better understand what is happening during play. Are there any basic books or other resources that you could recommend to a non-player/non-fan like me that will help me to grasp the rules without boring me to death?

I kinda like this web site to start:

http://www.soccer-for-parents.com/soccer-rules.html

And thank you for asking...I wish more parents did.