Post by teddyandtimmysdad on Feb 27, 2013 1:02:29 GMT 8
I have been watching my boys play youth football now for 10 years. One of the most disturbing elements in youth football is the lack of on-field discipline commanded by the referees. Within the last 12 months, we had a boy on our team hospitalized with a lacerated liver due to a foul from a particular individual already known throughout the parents of RIFA teams, for his dirty tactics. There has been an incident reported by parents of another RIFA team that an ENTIRE TEAM PLUS THE COACH has been issued a red card. The second incident was not confirmed by me, but if true is really regrettable. These incidents are examples of thuggery in football already arising at an early age. Unfortunately, the lax approach of officials in punishing these fouls appropriately has caused an escalation. Where will it all lead? Consider the recent, astounding story from Hong Kong of an U12 youth kicking another boy in the head. The video of this incident is graphic and amazing, and has created an uproar in the internet (see my blog www.pff-g.com for more details and a link to the video).
Ultimately, these incidents are a result of poor officiating. Yellow cards should be issued more often, and referees should NOT be afraid to do so to ensure the play is fair and sportsmanlike without undue physical danger to the boys.
Ultimately, these incidents are a result of poor officiating. Yellow cards should be issued more often, and referees should NOT be afraid to do so to ensure the play is fair and sportsmanlike without undue physical danger to the boys.
) "friendly" match today between Ridely School, and the Global Azkals Academy youth team. It was an informal match between the two sides, and the match was generally fast and smooth flowing. However, there was one bad behaved thug on the Ridely defense who was continually fouling the Azkal players. Finally, towards the end of the first half, as one of the azkal players was passing him by, and the defenseman thumped him on the chest with his fist so hard I could hear the slam from thirty yards away. Needless to say, the player was left on the ground clutching his chest in pain. This was no joke and no play acting on the part of the guy on the ground, as the sound of the impact was truly astonishing. To the credit of the ref, he immediately sent the offending defenseman off the field/ Ridely should be embarresed not only by this player's thuggery, but also by his unsportsmanlike behaviour, yelling "faggot" and other atrocities as he left the field. This kid was a real embarressment for Ridely, and they should really take immediate action to get this kid in line or send him off the team. There is no place for this nonsense in football, and all credit to the ref for getting him off the field before frustrations and tempers erupt into much worse.
