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.