Question Number: 28811

League Specific 10/2/2014

RE: rec Under 10

pete of floral park, ny usa asks...

hi guys,
my sons team were getting a good hiding during a game 6-0 my sons teamate passed the ball back to his goalkeeper during the few seconds it took for the ball to get to him two players from the other team shouted for him to pick it up taunting him which i think would fall under ub the ref clearly heard them but didnt do or say anything, do you think he should have, maybe because the score was so lobsided i figure he just let it go, thanks again.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Pete
Disappointed that such behaviour should happen in an U10 game. Matters like this could be easily dealt with by the coach who should sub out the offenders for a period and explain to them the concept of Fair Play. The referee could also speak with the players and restart with a dropped ball which the GK could then legally pick up. It certainly should have been addressed as there is no place for taunting in the game at any level. At this level the game is about educating the players which includes good sportsmanship.
In this part of the world the referee is also given the power to sin bin players in small sided games for a period of two minutes. That though is only used for offences that traditionally regarded as cautionable offences and need censure. Minor matters can and should be handled by the coaches.
In this situation I suspect that the referee just let it slide. My experience is that in one sided games player behaviour can become poor and the referee needs to manage behaviour very carefully in those games. At older ages player can and do become irate taking matters into their own hands when the referee fails to address it.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Pete,

Providing a clearly incorrect or deceptive instruction to an opponent could be considered Unsporting Behaviour. But, realistically, I wouldn't want to see a card for this one.

Given it's unsporting, I'd say the referee could have had a word with the players - either a quick 'that's enough!' while play is still going, or wait until the next stoppage and have a talk to the players. Personally, I have no tolerance for unsporting acts at a young age, so I'll pull players up on it.

At least it sounds like there was no impact on play, so some referees may have a higher tolerance level. At this young age, the referee may simply have been caught out by unexpected behaviour by young players.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Pete,

getting torn asunder on the playing pitch is often a test along the road of hard knocks and humility ! It allows one to get better later as part of the conditioning of the human spirit to rise up and continue in the face of defeat!
Cannot fault a team for wanting to score!

However, as to the attitude, while I too might possibly be ok with just a word since the phrase 'pick it up!' alone might not crank my bully radar, the inflection and tone of the comment would be very much in play. I am likely way less lenient than my counterparts in these situations! Taunting to me, even at a young age, is a form of bullying! You can bet that if there are young players whose behaviour is flaunting fair play I have no difficulty pulling them up for it and showing a yellow card cautioning for USB! This is a prime TEACHING moment! Even at this tender age right and wrong are definite substance issues! There are consequences for acting this way! In my opinion, a referee should not hesitate to set the bar high and hard here. I can understand the reluctance to use cards at young ages to learn or teach certain things but disrespect is an attitude and a, do not do that finger wag, rarely corrects such things. The coach and referee are hopefully both on board with correcting such behaviour, I could also expect the coach to sub them out and chastise such behaviour. This is where set policies within a league could have set consequences for those who act inappropriately. Like the sin bin or exclusion of playing time if apologies are insincere and attitudes remain unchanged.
Cheers