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This is a really good point. I no longer officiate in a certain league because I found it so unenjoyable I started to question why I was refereeing at all. That's not an uncommon experience, I'm sure.

I suppose this is the place to say that at a U10 game where I was mentoring a young referee, the coach complained long and loud about him stopping the game to get treatment for a player crying on the floor as his side were on the attack...

Not sure why the old Arsenal goalie's opinion matters so much... 😄 ;)

The CFA may not be able to do anything either. People will always find ways of circumventing rules. If enough cases are raised, the reality ultimately will be in the league taking a dim view of the club and perhaps taking stronger action, but it just might never be resolved. The bottom line...

And it's not discriminatory presumably, as it applies equally to everyone.

First time it happens, I move towards the keeper and tell them to get up and get on with it. After that I become more public, along the lines you describe.

I think you're doing the right thing by reflecting, but make sure you keep an eye on the big picture too as well as dwelling on the details. You are only a few games in and we're all still learning game by game! You've also had some really good advice in this thread (IMHO!). On this one...

Yes, I do it partly because it helps show everyone that they are playing a key part in the game, and partly so that (and I say this to them all) the captains know what I've said to them - both about a late/correct flag rather than a hasty wrong one, and that I can't take fouls from them...

When I first started out in the world of refereeing I felt exactly the same. Now though, I don't think it's unusual - in fact I'd even say it's essential - to have a slightly different tolerance for potential match-changing decisions.

Ironically one of the reasons I enjoy officiating in the WNL is because the facilities, comms and general respect is much, much higher than in the men's regional leagues I've worked in.

I openly admit I am guessing here, but KFTPM don't count as being part of the game, so sanctions don't apply?

There's a saying that you don't make good law (legislation) based on hard cases. This is a perfect example, it only becomes controversial when someone gets into a highly unusual tricky situation.

Completely agree (and as a long-standing Liverpool fan too). To cover an earlier point, I imagine he's standing offside because that gives him space away from other players (from both teams) to carry out the move he's trying to do or, if it concerns the defenders enough, it encourages them to...

It isn't using laws that are particular to you as a person - it is applying the laws in the way that is expected in the modern game. Football expects the bar for penalties to be higher and, in terms of key match incidents, it is vital that you and virtually everyone else is 100% sure about...

Just on this one alone, your more likely issue is that the team who scored will be howling for the defender to be sent off! They won't be as familiar with the laws as you, and will see this as an attempted DOGSO. Even if they do understand the laws they may still do this, as the goal doesn't...

It's only restating the same thing, but I just remind myself that the keeper can't ever be DOGSO-H in the penalty area. That way, I identify the right offence and have something to say to all the other players/managers when they inevitably argue!

This is a really important thing to raise I think. I may be a similarly lenient ref, but for me it isn't so much the word(s) used, it is the manner, tone and volume. Someone making a sly/stupid remark like that in passing is very different to someone else running 30 yards, screaming in your...

You made me go and look (for the first time ever). I joined March 2011, so looks like I discovered it shortly after launch! Like others, I've learned a lot from here over the years, and even where I might not have, it's at least made me think. Onwards and upwards!

I agree, but only to the extent that it depends broadly on the skill level of the players. In the PL that fluffed opportunity definitely has to be considered, Dog & Duck v Kings Head I'm almost certainly giving offside.

I confess that I use 'I've seen it' all the time, precisely because it means whatever the players want it to mean. Normally what I'm actually thinking is 'I've seen what happened but it was trivial, so let's carry on', or 'I've seen what you think happened, but it was nothing' but if the player...