Soccer Referee

Miscellaneous thoughts & experiences officiating youth soccer. Sometimes humorous. Sometimes not.

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

Bicycle kick in PA toward goal & face of nearby defender who puts hands up to protect face. Offense wants handling; I see it as PIADM.

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

@RAntonette Yes, and perpetuating the myth that getting the ball (sometimes "first") means no foul could have occurred.

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

In pregame ref told ARs "I like to let them play." Only issue I had was he'd say "got ball, keep going" as reason why foul wasn't called.

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

I don't see reffing soccer as a way to get in shape. I get in shape first...or at least I try. OTOH, I use it as a way to stay in shape!

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

Dismissed a coach. After I asked him to sit down & stop yelling at AR, he came right up to me & screamed at me. An EZ decision.

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

Straight red for DOGSO-F. Only coach complained. Player knew he'd done wrong (he apologized) until coach convinced him ref was wrong.

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

Clear foul, coach screams 4 whistle but I had said "play on." Goal scored! "Should I call it back coach?" Didn't say it, just thought it.

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

AR for game in which neither coach complained or said anything at all to referee. Seriously. It was great.

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

Two games y'day. In one, neither coach said anything. In other, both coaches bitched & moaned frequently. Guess which was less stressful!

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

@dutchreferee Congratulations!

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

Ref didn't respond 2 kids reactions 2 what he deemed trifling fouls. End result: kids got into fight. Avoidable if he used whistle few times

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

Parents going nuts b/c ref didn't call handling. Alleged foul occurred right in front of opposing team bench yet bench was silent!

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

An adult w/a tan on his legs that starts about 3 inches above his knees & ends about an inch below is likely a soccer ref...or a UPS guy.

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

Interesting weekend. Four games and coaches all stayed calm. No yelling (except 1x at a parent who was complaining about a call).

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

Deliberate handling seldom occurs in games I ref, but the other day saw it (and called it) three times in one game.

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

TI about 5 yds off the line (on the wrong side). As kid gets ball back for re-throw, I teased "the field is in this direction."

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

Fwd jumps between 2 shoulder-2-shoulder defenders. He falls & loses ball. Coach claims foul. No. Not rewarding bad offense choice.

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

One of the challenges w/little kids' games is recognizing when kid trips over ball vs significant contact.

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

It seems to me that younger refs (in their teens & 20s) tire out before us older guys when working multiple games in a row.

[Soccer Referee @youthsoccerref]

Saw U15 team that would have crushed U18 team I previously reffed. Not criticizing the U18s...the U15s ball handling & hustle were terrific!