OP here, I knew I would get opposing opinions on this question because clearly someone is telling these kids to play this way, win at all costs, etc. But if DD doesn't want to engage in shirt pulling, wrist grabbing, etc. and really just want to play clean, beat her opponent purely based on skill and athleticism, what would be your advise to her?

Anonymous wrote:Puling shirts, pushing from behind, cleating, body checking ALL dirty. Dirty players=unskilled players=bad coaching.

The PP who said go back to ballet class clearly doesn't understand the beautiful game. Yes you need to be tough to play soccer but you don't need to be dirty.

Anyone that has played any sports at a competitive level knows there are things done on the court/field that is technically illegal, but seasoned players knows how to walk the line. If you are looking to a sport where everyone is going to follow the rules to the fullest, you may as well quit now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shirt pulling, shoving, hard contact, and just physical play should be considered gamesmanship. Trying to intentionally injure someone or cleating someone would be considered dirty in my book.

Absolutely ALL those examples are NOT soccer.

What are you American folks doing to the sport?

Shirt pulling and shoving are against the laws of the game and are therefore “dirty.” Hard contact and physical play are not dirty. Have you ever played soccer or watched a professional or international match? You must be kidding. Soccer is a physical, athletic, competitve sport. Thinking it is all about fancy foot skills and passing and movement off the ball is naive. Those are all very important, but so is the physicality of the game. Seriously, please watch a UEFA or South American game. Please.

Puling shirts, pushing from behind, cleating, body checking ALL dirty. Dirty players=unskilled players=bad coaching.

The PP who said go back to ballet class clearly doesn't understand the beautiful game. Yes you need to be tough to play soccer but you don't need to be dirty.

Shirt pulling, shoving, hard contact, and just physical play should be considered gamesmanship. Trying to intentionally injure someone or cleating someone would be considered dirty in my book.

I agree with this. But I had a really hard time with it this weekend. My son was defending a kid who was almost six inches taller than him and much bulkier, and DS really did get knocked around badly - he was knocked to the ground a bunch, has bruises on his torso, and his tooth cutinto his lip . But the other kid didn't do anything wrong or dirty - he was just so much bigger than DS.

Anonymous wrote:Shirt pulling, shoving, hard contact, and just physical play should be considered gamesmanship. Trying to intentionally injure someone or cleating someone would be considered dirty in my book.

Absolutely ALL those examples are NOT soccer.

What are you American folks doing to the sport?

Shirt pulling, shoving, hard contact, and just physical play should be considered gamesmanship. Trying to intentionally injure someone or cleating someone would be considered dirty in my book.

blatant pushing and shoving when frustrated

Not showering or washing the uniform is “playing dirty.” Ha.

Seriously, trying to hurt someone intentionally is playing dirty. Faking a foul or injury is playing dirty. “Hand of God” goal was dirty. Biting someone Suarez style is dirty. Other than that, all is fair and the ref needs to be in position to see and call violations.

stepping on feet, kicking at the ball and missing it completely

Hair pulling = dirty. Pushing,tugging a shirt, bodying up, part of the game. Most youth refs won’t call it so the more physical teams have a major edge.

Soccer is a contact sport. If you can’t handle contact, go back to ballet class.

Anonymous wrote:Wondering what’s considered “dirty” play in girls youth soccer. I see anywhere from the common shoving and shirt pulling, to the more subtle shin kicking and even hair pulling that can’t always be caught by a ref but are obvious when you go back and watch the film. I cringe when I see this because I’m worried that DD will get seriously injured. Would you consider this playing dirty and how does a player who doesn’t want to play like that deal with it?

Have you ever watched girls playing basket?

Soccer is like a vals in comparison.

Anything short of this is just a normal part of the game.

It's a physical game.

This is definitely dirty though.

https://youtu.be/ql_HoR6Czt0

Wondering what’s considered “dirty” play in girls youth soccer. I see anywhere from the common shoving and shirt pulling, to the more subtle shin kicking and even hair pulling that can’t always be caught by a ref but are obvious when you go back and watch the film. I cringe when I see this because I’m worried that DD will get seriously injured. Would you consider this playing dirty and how does a player who doesn’t want to play like that deal with it?