SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Boys Varsity Soccer Physical Play

I hear alot of complaining from parents about the lack of calls by area referees. What I want to know is what the players think. Is the level of physical play too much and should the referees call a much tighter game? Or do you like to play a very physical match and the referees are doing a good job letting the play go? Please remember, if you are able, this is not about referee bashing but about physical play during the game.

Thanks.

I think that refs do a good job. They're human like everyone else, and can't see every foul and make EVERY call. Of course, not every time someone falls or something a whistle will be blown...where's the fun in that? I think soccer should be physical and that refs do the best they can every game.

Soccer is a CONTACT SPORT, some refs allow more contact than others, its the same the whole world over...just part of the game, all a ref can do is call it as THEY see it - parents, coaches, players can rant, scream and shout all they want and it makes no difference, the level of physical play in any given game is determined by the referee who is acting according to the rules and guidelines set down by FIFA. Anyone who doesn't like it can take issue with FIFA HQ in Zurich Germany. Bad calls, good calls, penalties etc. all balance themselves out at the end of the season.

Sine le meas

Af

i think the game should dictate the actions of the ref...if there are 2 really talented teams playing then i dont think there should be a lot of calls and stopping play because it kills the game, BUT if there is a talented team playing a not so talented team then the not so talented team might be out there to hurt someone so the ref should keep an eye out for that....thats my opinion

no no no no - referees can't "protect" certain players - if the ball is there to be won then both players are entitled to go for it. A certain Roy Keane made his name when he was a "not so talented" player - he flattened Manchester Utd legend Brian Robson in Old Trafford when he was with Nottingham Forest - Alex Ferguson signed him within weeks - some players are talented at doing the ugly things in the game that doesn't mean that refs should discriminate against them. If a "talented" player is getting knocked around a bit its up to his coach to take him off or tell him to suck it up - ALWAYS give as good as you get!!

Af

oh cry me a frickin river

dude...get a life..im not talking about protecting....im talking about kids that go strait for your ankles and dont give a crap if they hurt you or not.THATS NOT SOCCER

The problem with soccer not getting the respect it deserves is when we have little baby's crying about how physical some refs let a game get. Good soccer has to have contact. The soccer mom's need to quit worrying about their little club team, private school, pampered children and shut up. Soccer is a physical sport and if you can't get over it take up golf or tennis.

HEY FOLEY!!!!!!!
Are you in the U.S. yet? Have you seen SC refs in action? If not than shut up!!!!! Over 75% of the refs in SC are a freaking joke! They are out of shape and do not know or understand the game!!!! Often they are out of postion and lack the backbone to make or not make a crucial call!!!!!! Over half the calls they make are wrong just for the simple fact that they don't know where to be on the field in certain situations!!!!!! American refs grew up with American Football and baseball so I understand their lack of understanding the game!!! What I don't understand is the need for certain refs to become asses the moment the game begins?

And before any soccerdad ref gets on here to rip me and ask if I am certified the answer is yes!!!!!! I have been a ref since I was 16. So instead of wasting time please please go watch some soccer and get in SHAPE!!!!!!!!!

And as I conclude this epic rip I remind you that there are some GREAT refs in SC it is just a shame that they are overshadowed by the bad ones!!!1 For every one good ref you get it seems you get 2 or 3 bad ones in return!!!! ANd isn't funny in Columbia that Irmo always gets the better ones!!!

Just my humble thoughts !!!!!!!

Shearer

ps Does anyone else agree with this? I would like to hear the Hammer's opinion as well

Shearer....I'm not there yet - Tuesday is the day!! Anyway, I think refs are bad the world over - everyone gives refs stick from U-10s games to World Cup finals. Just part of the game, although I do take your point about them growing up with other "sports" (I use the term loosely) basketball and American Football.

Sine

Af

PS - Shearer....A REF AT 16??? YOU MUSTA BEEN ONE CR*PPY PLAYER!!! (only kidding!!!)

You guys who have not received your ref training and certification should give it a try. It is fun and challenging, even with all the excessive behavior of coaches and parents. The majority of the players are respectful of calls and just want to play soccer. As far as physical play goes......you can tell a big difference in the physical play of players who play club ball and those that play football, rec ball or other sports in the fall. Those that don't play a higher level of ball in the fall lack the skills and abilities to avoid a stupid foul or dangerous play. They lack the coordination that comes from year round soccer. Those players become frustrated and resort to wild, physical play. Refs should always allow good physical play as long as the players' safety and protection is the major consideration. Coaches and parents are the problem! They want to see very physical play at all times. Just listen to the way they yell and scream at their kids! It then becomes the Ref's responsibility to watch out for the safety of the kids. Just let the game be played as it was always intended to be played....with emphasis on exceptional skills, tactics and strategy. And let the Refs call the game as best as he/she can.

HEY FOLEY!!!!!!!

Not that bad just incredibly SLOW!!!!! Plus an easy wasy to make money for the weekend and for a car!!!! Let us know when you arrive!!!! Good luck w/ palmetto hs you are sure going to need it!!!! HA HA

PS Nicky Butt raped that guy in the box!!!! My Magpies just couldn't grab the points to keep up with scumchester!!!!1

Shearer - your team ever played any games in the Beaufort/Hilton Head area? If so you have probably had one ref. Wanna talk slow? The man has an artificial leg! There is no way this man should be calling high school ball. (Gaucho - you'll probably see him for all three of your trips down there - BA, HHP, HHC)

Oh yeah...any of you that may have him for a match, watch what you say, he's REAL sensitive about it. Didn't appreciate one bit me pointing it out to him. *grin*

thats one thing alright, I haven't ever seen pushy parents screaming at their kids yet!! As for palmetto, they are doing VERY well this year and just need a bit of tightening up here and there.

Sine
Af

PS - Nicky Butt kicking Viduka in his jolly ranchers is one thing, United do FAR worse every year...and as long as its in Old Trafford they get away with it.....but it keeps the pressure on those French muppets Arsenal so I don't care!!

So far the refs this year have been horrible. At the airport tournament the refs were the worst ever. Especially in the white knoll and airport game. The refs were crap

For the information of a.foley#8 Zurich is in....
SWITZERLAND not Germany. Just in case anyone is trying to find FIFA HQ.

Bazza you beat me to it- i read that and was like woops, thats totally worng- I doubt it was on purpose, foley is smart- as for physical soccer, im all for it- I led the team in fouls, yet never got thrown out a game- 4 years and onyl 5 yellows- the game is physical- you assert physical dominance, you give yourself a huge boost!

I totally agree with you shearer the refs in South Carolina are awful! If the ball was on one side and goes to the other side of the half they will just stand there and make calls that are virtually impossible to see from 45 yards away. Also I don't think any of them know what offsides is. And for the physical play I don't mind that but when my school tends to play better ones and if I score they will follow me until they get a good piece of my ankle or leg. I think the most important thing though that does not need to slide is bad sportsmanship. I know my team isn't the greatest and when your already beating us 10-0 and you still try to see how high you can go is wrong. The worst ever though is the Hartsville game we were getting beat pretty badly which isn't unusual but the fact that they had a fan with an electronic megaphone yelling things at us ridiculing, and embarrasing us at least call or send this person of for something it was ridiculus and personally if that kid is still screaming things from it I will turn around and bury a soccer ball in his face.

ok, you got me...Zurich is obviously in Switzerland, I had started writing Frankfurt Germany as FIFA then I remembered it was Zurich, but the fact that Zurich is in Switzerland appears to have escaped me!!!

Af

As a player AND a referee I see a lot of problems in officiating, and I'm not excluding myself. Referees are to caught up on stopping disent. A ref would rather give a yellow for someone saying "thats a terrible call" than for someone wacking a player from behind. Refs need to start worrying about tactical and intentional fouls and not what the players think and say about them.
Just some frienly advice for officials because SC high school games seem to be more about who can beat the other team around than skill.

Sokker

I can't believe I am about to say this: I couldn't agree with you more!!! These jackasses would rather card a kid who questioned their authority than a kid who is out hacking other players!!! That was my point earlier with getting a backbone!! I can't believe that a grown man would let a 14-16 year old kid get the better of him because a call is wrong!!!!1

Soker/Shearer: Boy, you both have finally hit on it. Your both exactly right. I can't tell you how many times I have watched refs give the players yellow or red cards for "saying" something on the field, and then turn around and not call anything when a player is intentionally hacked or fouled. It seems that most, not all, but most of them are more concerned with being talked back to by the players than trying to call a good "clean" physical game. I guess they have to find some way to prove to the 15,16,17 year old kids who's really in charge Unfortunatly this applies to the majority of the refs not the minority.