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Just to provide a frame of reference: at the Fort Mill vs Mauldin playoff (boys) game two years ago Ft Mill was up by two with about 5 min to go Mauldin (who had been aggressive all game long) was getting very physical and a player made a bad, you can call it dirty but I will simply call it what it was a bad foul that got him a yellow card. Problem was it was his second card, out he goes. FT Mill scores again right way now it is 3-0 game over right? Well the Mauldin players, mostly seniors decided to go out with a bang two more red cards in next two minutes. One included a Mauldin player sitting on a FT Mill player banging the Ft Mill players head into the ground. Ref called the game after third card with 3 min to go, down 3 with only 8 players and they were clearly intent on hurting/ getting FT Mill players red cards, game over.
Next time FT Mill played Mauldin, next season a FT Mill player got his collar bone broken, just a fluke or a dirty play? Those at the game called it dirty but since I was not there I will not judge it. From what I understand FT Mill will no longer schedule Mauldin for regular season games.
So, yes the players sometimes go after players to hurt them no doubt, and refs have/need to see it and control it or it will get out of hand.

I have known players (my own children) to be encouraged, by coaches, to play rough/physical till the whistle. Once the ref shows the players what they can and can't do they pull back. Problem is some players do not how to play physical without playing dirty.
Anyone who thinks refs do not impact the play is dreaming. The job of a ref is to impact the play, they are there to administer the game and make judgments. Failure to make call is much an impact as making them.

Good refs find a balance where they establish to the players how close they will call it while still letting the players play the game.

Uncle Buck, not to beat a dead horse or to argue with you. I do want to say, I have seen kids try to hurt each other, the keeper I mentioned a few posts ago, went for a knee - just one example. I have seen punches thrown. The chief described a head being banged off the ground. We all watch the games, so we see what is actually happening.

The true measure of a ref to me is, if they seem like they are not there, and they control the game - control meaning the rough stuff. If they do not it will escualte, up, and up, and up... The ball can be won with force. If it is allowed to grow during a match, the force has to grow,to continue to win the ball. The more force that is allow to be used, the higher the likelyhood of injuries.

The young lady who got into so much trouble last year during the college season. That was a simple build up between two players. Player 1 threw an elbow, to her chest... she returned the favor with a punch to the back.(to me same relative level of violance - two yellows should have been shown, but because they were not) Player one grabs her private parts, for some reason, then player 2 grabs her hair and throws her to the ground. One college career down the tubes because of the lack of calls. How this was edited varied across the media. Opinions were determined by the version you saw.

In a game the other night I saw my youngest holding her elbow as if she was hurt and trying to look at the skin on the inside part. Come to find out a girl on the other team was scratching the fool out of the girls, no less than 4 showed me claw marks, left by #10.

I do not know how fights go where you come from Uncle Buck. But heads beat on the ground, punches thrown, hair pulled, scratching... Sounds like a fight to me. Big John McCarthy might be needed after all.

There seems to be several postings on broken tibias, torn acls, and other injuries this high school season. What is everyone's opinion. Is the rate of serious injuries in high school soccer growing? Serious injuries being defined as causing players to be out for at least 3 weeks. Are there more serious injuries in high school soccer vs. club soccer? If there is a difference? Why do you think that is? Does anyone track # of injuries by team/opponent/coach and ref. It would be an interesting study to see if there is any correlation.

My daughter plays keeper and took a hit last year that caused a partial dislocation of her shoulder. She took another bad shot in a club tournament about 4 months after that, had 5 more dislocations, and ended up having to have surgery to repair a torn labrum. She has missed the entire Varsity season and is set to be released for Club in September. So this was a 9 MONTH recoup period after surgery!!..As a player, it has been hard on her not playing..as a parent, I am a little apprehensive about how much contact some refs are letting go.

We have never had a season like this for injuries...right now I have one starter recovering from ACL surgery, two in boots from high ankle sprains, and one keeper with a possible concussion from last night, along with a scattering of other twisted knees, turned ankles, and assorted bumps and bangs. Most banged-up crew I've ever coached...trying to keep enough on the field to finish the season!