Gamespoiler
Well-Known Member
This season has been my first season at open age, covering both Saturday fixtures and a Sunday league. Previously I have only officiated junior football (still do).
I find it very easy to identify and deal with almost all dissent in junior football including U17/U18 matches. The difference at open age though appears to be huge with players constantly appealing and querying decisions and sarcastically voicing their opinions for all to hear if I haven't blown for what they perceive to be an offence. I know an appeal is not dissent but it borders dissent when the appeal carries on I feel.
If I addressed every single instance, the game would end up being abandoned as a team would soon have less than 7 players. I do at least 1 sin bin per open age game, sometimes 2, the most I've done in 1 game is 4.
I know sinbins are new, but dissent isn't.
So my question is to the seasoned ref's particularly at open age on how you identify this and if you have strategies to handle it as effectively as possible. I don't think I am if I'm honest and after reflecting after a game I can think of many times I could've (should've?) sinbinned someone. Maybe I just need to be a bit more ruthless and if it gets to the stage of less than 7 players then so be it. But I don't want to make the game about me which I feel I will do if I have a zero tolerance.
Any helpful advice greatly received.
I find it very easy to identify and deal with almost all dissent in junior football including U17/U18 matches. The difference at open age though appears to be huge with players constantly appealing and querying decisions and sarcastically voicing their opinions for all to hear if I haven't blown for what they perceive to be an offence. I know an appeal is not dissent but it borders dissent when the appeal carries on I feel.
If I addressed every single instance, the game would end up being abandoned as a team would soon have less than 7 players. I do at least 1 sin bin per open age game, sometimes 2, the most I've done in 1 game is 4.
I know sinbins are new, but dissent isn't.
So my question is to the seasoned ref's particularly at open age on how you identify this and if you have strategies to handle it as effectively as possible. I don't think I am if I'm honest and after reflecting after a game I can think of many times I could've (should've?) sinbinned someone. Maybe I just need to be a bit more ruthless and if it gets to the stage of less than 7 players then so be it. But I don't want to make the game about me which I feel I will do if I have a zero tolerance.
Any helpful advice greatly received.