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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Two things that I struggle with.

There are obvious instances of players flopping for a call, especially a penalty or trying to draw a card. Do you not anticipate this and why not hand out more simulations?

How do you handle a missed call, especially one a major one that you've made and can't reverse?

I have seen referees get into more trouble doubling down on a bad call and letting the game get out of hand. I realize that you can't go back and fix the call. But they don't seem to realize the bad call has heightened the temperature of the game, especially with the team impacted.

Saw the worst example of this last week. Ref called a pass back to goalie that was not a pass back. Other team grabs the ball from the goalie and plays in into the net (I don't blame them) in the ensuing chaos. He runs over to the AR and then gives the goal.

Immediately, the game devolves. Instead of trying to calm the game, he just starts carding everyone on every sign of contact. Then sends off a kid for asking him a question and threatens to send off anyone else. Told everyone "you can't play the game without me." Finally he calls the game with 15 minutes and hightails it out to his car.

[/quote]

I don't want to dress the game you describe at the bottom - it sounds insane.  But to your top two questions:

1.  Flopping.  The reality is, simulation isn't as common as you think, and very few kids can really pull it off.  You may feel something was simulation because there was no contact or it wasn't (in your option) enough, or the defender "got the ball".  By the laws of the game, the fact that a defender gets the ball, or that there was no contact doesn't mean there wasn't a foul.  If a defender goes for the leg and the attacking player jumps over but then stumbles and falls, that's not simulation, that's a foul. Note that Law 12 very explicitly says "trips or attempts to trip".  And yes, I recognize that there are times that a kid will simulate, but if it's a close call, you may see a ref call it based on  the fact that the player has been committing multiple similar infractions.  Remember, we can give a caution for "persistent offences", and there is no specific number of offenses to trigger that.

2. Bad/Missed calls.  I've made them, every ref I know has made them.  In general you try to just move on.  I think trying to do a tit-for-tat always backfires.  All you can do is try and not make any more mistakes.  That said, we are human, and if we realize we blew a big call, and there's something that doesn't impact the safety of the players I am sure that refs might allow the team who was harmed by a bad call a smidge of leeway.  I am not condoning it, nor should we as refs ever do it, but it probably happens subconciously.

[/quote]

I get not everything is simulation, but there are obvious instances where player seeks the slightest contact, especially in the box, and then goes flying as shoved by an offensive lineman. I've never seen that carded for simulation. The issue is also when similar contact happens on the opposite side and the kid doesn't dive and the call isn't given. Yeah, I know this sounds like sour grapes, but it is more just not being a fan of diving, especially when kids get older and learn how to bait referees. You can see it before it happens. I don't know why refs get so fooled.

Wasn't suggesting you make another bad call to help the other team. But if you've given a questionable penalty or a red card, how do you handle managing the game in the aftermath? This when i have seen so many games get out of hand because everyone is now emotionally charged. it's a very tough spot, especially for older games.[/quote]

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