Continuous Horrific Level of Officiating

If anyone in a position of authority that actually cares about this game and the safety of these kids sees this, can you please consider sending the referees in the area a reminder that application of the rules and safety of these girls is actually important?  Most of these guys are just there to collect a paycheck.  The state of the officiating is generally pretty horrible and has been for a while.  Today:

1) Our defender zips through a bunch of players, carries the ball 60 yards, gets around a player and is about to enter the box when she gets tripped from behind and hits the ground hard.  Nice call on the obvious foul, but not even a yellow?  
2) later in the game our midfielder wins the ball back in our own third of the field, moves it forward and sends a pass to midfield.  She gets tackled from behind by the same player...no foul called, but a drop ball?!?!?  Our player landed hard and had to leave the game for 10 minutes.
3) There ware various violations of the game to the point that the same player

Oh, yes so since our midfielder was out and we had no subs we were down a player and that's when the opposing team, FCD 04G North Red scored the only goal of the game.

Congrats to FCD North Red.  I don't blame the players, coaching or parents and the team is a really good team,  but I do pin the blame on the horrific officiating.  They don't care.  It's not that hard to book a player and it's actually pretty easy when the play calls for it if it's a dangerous play.  I wish that those referees who are afraid to reach for their cards would stop being such cowards, grow a pair and actually call the game how it should be called.  Judgement calls like awarding free kicks, or calling corners when they should be goal kicks are no big deal.  Allowing dirty play and letting it continue unchallenged is totally inexcusable.  I'm teaching my kid how to defend herself because she (along with several of her teammates) were getting mugged today simply because the police took a day off.

Stay in your lane Ryan.  That was our team at Rusell today and we didn't appreciate your parents yelling so much at the officials.  Our team isn't dirty, though the girl you mentioned has been warned by our coach to tone down her She's just got a hot temper and when she gets burned she chooses to foul the opposing player.  For that, you guys have a legitimate gripe.  We were pretty surprised at the 2 plays you mentioned as they were clearly bookable plays.  That girls with the white headband was going to be free and clear toward the goal until our girl nailed her from behind and tripped her.  We were shocked that the official simply called a simple foul.  I've seen that guy before and he is a horrible referee. That other play where your player cleared the ball then gets clocked from the back was inexcusable.  But it worked out for us because instead of you guys getting a free kick, the referee called a drop ball and we scored while your player was out.  Tough luck for you guys, but I can see why your team is frustrated.

Nolan honey...you should know by now that’s how fcd coaches. To top it off you’re playing in their official league. Cmon man!

That video is unreal. I'm fine with how a team coaches. But if a defender doesn't have the skill to stop the other team's defender from getting around her as she enters the box, then I'd prefer a shirt or short pull as opposed to a trip and strike to the back of the head (with no card). So my DD now has a concussion and I get that's part of the sport but the fact that it kept happening is unreal. Now maybe she will listen to me when I tell her she needs to take care of business on the field when the referees don't protect these kids. I've seen too many instances with my 01 where things just get out of hand. Hopefully my 05 will at least be smart and defend herself.

I’ve seen 4 red cards over the course of my 2 duahter’s soccer careers. My oldest is done with soccer, played from 5 years old through her Jr year in HS. Her last game was HS 6A State Semi-Final. Played in Plano, LH D3, LH D1. During her entire career I saw one red card, it was because the opposing Coach asked for it. The girl they carded off was 30 yds from the play, but was already playing on a yellow. There was a lot of yammering going on after the play in question, the girl that actually committed the foul (yes, I’d have given it a yellow card) 5 feet from our opponents bench was a sub. So all the players and refs congregate in front of our opponents bench and the Coach points at our starting holding Mid and they gave her her 2nd yellow, out she goes. Big name Coach, everyone knows him. Didn’t matter, we still won.
The other 3 red cards were with the younger daughter’s teams. The first was handling on a clear goal scoring opportunity. Our defender stuck her hand straight up (like a keeper) and knocked down a shot that was clearly going in the goal. That’s a straight red. Happened about 90 seconds into the game. We won that game 4-2. The last 2 reds occurred on one play. We had this big defender, she was on the ball, (literally her foot was on the ball) and shielding our opponents forward. The forward tried about 5 times to get around her, but each time our defender just turned her back, pivoting on the ball. The forward got frustrated and jumped on her back, piggyback style, and wrapped her legs around her. Our defender immediately started spinning in circles and that threw the forward off her back. Forward jumps up and takes a big’ol round house swing at our defender (didn’t connect)........and now the whistle blows. Both players red carded. Single worst call I’ve ever seen.
The point is, you can watch 20 years of soccer around here and you will never, ever, ever, ever see a team actually be penalized for being too rough. Regardless of what the LOTG say, it does not exist in TX.

and don’t forget.....it’s the parents fault.

OLJW wrote:I’ve seen 4 red cards over the course of my 2 duahter’s soccer careers. My oldest is done with soccer, played from 5 years old through her Jr year in HS. Her last game was HS 6A State Semi-Final. Played in Plano, LH D3, LH D1. During her entire career I saw one red card, it was because the opposing Coach asked for it. The girl they carded off was 30 yds from the play, but was already playing on a yellow. There was a lot of yammering going on after the play in question, the girl that actually committed the foul (yes, I’d have given it a yellow card) 5 feet from our opponents bench was a sub. So all the players and refs congregate in front of our opponents bench and the Coach points at our starting holding Mid and they gave her her 2nd yellow, out she goes. Big name Coach, everyone knows him. Didn’t matter, we still won.
The other 3 red cards were with the younger daughter’s teams. The first was handling on a clear goal scoring opportunity. Our defender stuck her hand straight up (like a keeper) and knocked down a shot that was clearly going in the goal. That’s a straight red. Happened about 90 seconds into the game. We won that game 4-2. The last 2 reds occurred on one play. We had this big defender, she was on the ball, (literally her foot was on the ball) and shielding our opponents forward. The forward tried about 5 times to get around her, but each time our defender just turned her back, pivoting on the ball. The forward got frustrated and jumped on her back, piggyback style, and wrapped her legs around her. Our defender immediately started spinning in circles and that threw the forward off her back. Forward jumps up and takes a big’ol round house swing at our defender (didn’t connect)........and now the whistle blows. Both players red carded. Single worst call I’ve ever seen.
The point is, you can watch 20 years of soccer around here and you will never, ever, ever, ever see a team actually be penalized for being too rough. Regardless of what the LOTG say, it does not exist in TX.

and don’t forget.....it’s the parents fault.

LOL on the last play with the defender.  I'm visualizing that one and it made me laugh.  I know you have been on these boards for a while and always have had a good perspective and your stories pretty much prove my point.  It's insane.  I have an 01 (she's done, club is 00, LH killed the season due to weather but she plays Varsity then will hang'em up), an 05 who plays on an 04 PPL team and an 09.  Last week, my 09, who is just at the start of her journey, put her hands up in front of her face to shield herself as a ball was kicked toward her head.  Handball...YELLOW CARD!  To a 3rd grader.  My wife took care of undressing the referee.  At that level that should be a teaching moment for the referee.  But then fast forward to this past Saturday where my 05, a defender got around everyone and was about to enter the box when she got pummeled.  yes foul, no card.  Unreal.  Same player then decked another girl later in the game after she already cleared the ball from the box.  We didn't even see it because it was uncontested and us parents followed the ball.  We just saw the video.  1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi "POW"!.  No call at all....drop ball.  Unfortunately, our injured player had to leave the field for 10 minutes and we had no subs so guess what, FC Dallas (them) scored and won 1-0. Thanks officials. These guys have no clue regarding the rules of the game.  

Don't even get me started on when my 01 was in 7th grade against a Forney team.  One of their players, frustrated at getting beat, did a throw-in and put it right at the feet of her nemesis (our player) and goes at her arms up and annihilates her, knocking her unconscious.  Not only no call, or card, but the referee walked over to our player, who was knocked out, told her "that's what you get for pushing" and asked that she be moved off the field...unconscious.  Needless to say, that Forney player took out our goalie later in the game on a corner kick.  She got to our goalie before the ball arrived.  2 concussions for the price of 1 game.  We still won that game 1-0. But that 5 years ago was the worst I've ever seen because of the intent which was obvious and it went unpunished. Again, when they have no skill, they roughhouse.

NTX officiating at it's finest.

nolanryan wrote:

Last week, my 09, who is just at the start of her journey, put her hands up in front of her face to shield herself as a ball was kicked toward her head.  Handball...YELLOW CARD!  To a 3rd grader.  My wife took care of undressing the referee.  At that level that should be a teaching moment for the referee.  But then fast forward to this past Saturday where my 05, a defender got around everyone and was about to enter the box when she got pummeled.  yes foul, no card.  Unreal.  Same player then decked another girl later in the game after she already cleared the ball from the box.  We didn't even see it because it was uncontested and us parents followed the ball.  We just saw the video.  1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi "POW"!.  No call at all....drop ball.  Unfortunately, our injured player had to leave the field for 10 minutes and we had no subs so guess what, FC Dallas (them) scored and won 1-0.  Thanks officials.  These guys have no clue regarding the rules of the game.  

Don't even get me started on when my 01 was in 7th grade against a Forney team.  One of their players, frustrated at getting beat, did a throw-in and put it right at the feet of her nemesis (our player) and goes at her arms up and annihilates her, knocking her unconscious.  Not only no call, or card, but the referee walked over to our player, who was knocked out, told her "that's what you get for pushing" and asked that she be moved off the field...unconscious.  

NTX officiating at it's finest.

Reading this I just had to weigh in.  (DISCLAIMER: Yes... I'm a referee but did not referee this game.  At U09 they were most likely young referees)  Your "Handball" call needs context.  The fact that she is in 3rd grade is irrelevant.  If she moved in the path of the ball or her hands moved toward the ball away from the body then it is handling.  If the opponent blasted it at her face and she covered her face defending herself and did not move in front of the ball it is defensive and no call.  The part of the "yellow card" says there is more to it because more often than not a handling call is just a DFK.  The part about your wife "undressing the referee" is one reason that so many refs drop out.  If they were a young ref then I'm sure you are all very proud that you taught that 14 or 15 year old a very public lesson.  It is also a reason that the young ladies on that pitch will start yelling at refs as they get older since mommy demonstrated that it is ok and what respect and sportsmanship should look like in their eyes.  That doesn't end well for players normally.  Was that your idea of a teachable moment?  When your DD gets something wrong at school I assume you are OK with the teacher screaming at her since that is a teachable moment?  If she doesn't do her chores I assume you scream at her to teach her that lesson.  Rough household.  If your 05 defender got pummeled does that mean she hit the ground?  If it was shoulder to shoulder while playing for the ball there is no foul even if princess hits the ground.  If through the back... yes... foul and/or caution or dismiss depending on if your player unopposed to goal.  Since the ref called the foul then that must have been all it was.  As for the player decking the other player... well... that is just poor parenting and poor coaching.  You said it yourself that the parents didn't see it (first time I've heard that) until you watched the video.  Youth leagues do not have the advantage of VAR like you took advantage of to see the foul.  Yes... the trailing AR should have possibly seen it but if the 50+ parents on the sideline didn't... how do you fault 1 person for not seeing it?  Your "Thanks officials" is just petty.  Did your team play for 1 minute or 70 minutes?  You say you played down for only 10 minutes so why didn't you score the other 60?  Why aren't your players committed enough to show up?  Too busy be getting screamed at for chores or school work?  How is that the refs fault?  The refs did not lose this game.  The opponents won it so don't diminish their victory with your petty attitude.

If 5 years ago a ref really scolded an unconscious player and even said she deserved a foul... that ref does not deserve to work with kids.  That... I agree with you on.

Referees will make good calls, calls PARENTS don't agree with, and they will miss calls.  No referee is perfect and none want injuries to happen despite what you think.  Some referees do this for the money but a large majority do it for the love of the game.  Just remember that without referees... there is no game.  Keep that in mind that next time you or your wife decides to "undress" a referee.  Try yelling encouragement to your team instead of anger at the youth referee.  Instead of screaming "Push her back" trying yelling "keep playing... you're better than that".  Comments like that get the attention of refs faster than a terrible parent encouraging a mini fight club on the pitch.

Finally let me help you... it is the LAWS of the game... not RULES of the game.

We all heard Rapino in the after game interview scold her defenders saying they need to take out players if they get burnt. Do we blame the refs or the teaching of our kids to play to win at all costs.

BENDMEOVER wrote:We all heard Rapino in the after game interview scold her defenders saying they need to take out players if they get burnt. Do we blame the refs or the teaching of our kids to play to win at all costs.

YES! Where is the like button?

When parents scream to "Protect the players"... that is stupid. The refs can not see the future and know if a player is going to slide studs up or crash into a keeper intentionally. If we could see the future there would be a lot or referees winning the lottery. Players usually know that what they are doing is either dangerous or a foul. They just hope to get away with it. That or they are listening to mommy and daddy when they say "Push her back"! Good parenting and good coaching goes a long way.

I was shocked to see Heath she either cycling or taking something I have never seen her w man biceps. She immediately stood out to me in her ripped muscles and aggressive play. I thought she was unlike her more finesse style. She stood out in my eyes she was difference maker.

Dear Nolan,

I too have been frustrated with the low paid referees that spend their Saturdays and Sundays helping us enjoy our kids playing soccer. And I too have yelled that their number one job is to protect the players, but I stopped some years ago. I’ve come to understand they are human and generally trying to do their best; that they are becoming fewer and fewer because of parents and coaches that are "rules experts" and want to let them know of every little thing they are doing wrong in a very loud and angry manner. These sideline experts who don’t want to volunteer or even get paid to do the job that they are complaining about as if they absolutely know they can do it better. Now the amount of and volume of yelling coming from both sides of your teams sideline is more than just about any other time I’ve ever witnessed. It was an amazing spectacle but not in a good way. Really made the game unenjoyable and Im surprised your players can ever actually think out there with all the yelling.

Now to the game in question it’s always a tell when one calls out a team by name for its play then tries to backtrack saying it’s not their fault and they are a good team. Blah blah blah. It’s kinda like the Seinfeld un-invite. Or what’s called a backhanded compliment. Thanks for that!

I also note how you make no complaints about the ugly plays your own team made, as if they were perfect lil angels out there. Like the elbow to the jaw that sent one of our players to the bench for 10min. Was the elbow thrower one of the ones you taught to protect themselves? Yes a dangerous elbow to the head one of the most egregious dangerous plays-and there was no cards, no yells from your side how horrible the refs were then...Or how ‘bout the shoulder into the chest from a rather sizable player on your team to a defenseless player that launched her violently to the ground coming up with bloody elbows? What was your sides reaction to this? Yelling at the ref that it wasn’t a foul and that she tripped over herself! Did you rewind the tape to watch any of that?! Now you state that the girl who was taken down from behind has a concussion, why the world l was she put back on the field, immediately after the other team scored?! Why was the trainer not called over and have her evaluated for a hit to the head?! That is a serious concern that should be addressed with your coach!

Here’s the deal, and being that you have several kids that play you should know this, soccer is actually a rough sport. Always has been. And when you get girls playing and working on being aggressive sometimes clumsy stuff happens for the sake of aggressiveness but it doesn’t mean the girl intentionally tried to foul or maim the other player it was just unfortunately clumsy and late. At that point, if the ref even sees it, it’s up to the ref to determine what is legitimate intent to harm/foul and just a clumsy foul. It’s not perfect but until you put on the ref uniform, all you are is a non-expert with a loud biased opinion, making the game less enjoyable for the rest of us.

ExpertIam wrote:
Here’s the deal, and being that you have several kids that play you should know this, soccer is actually a rough sport. Always has been. And when you get girls playing and working on being aggressive sometimes clumsy stuff happens for the sake of aggressiveness but it doesn’t mean the girl intentionally tried to foul or maim the other player it was just unfortunately clumsy and late. At that point, if the ref even sees it, it’s up to the ref to determine what is legitimate intent to harm/foul and just a clumsy foul. It’s not perfect but until you put on the ref uniform, all you are is a non-expert with a loud biased opinion, making the game less enjoyable for the rest of us.

Oh gawd.

Not this argument again

If the kid plays recklessly, maybe she is just "clumsy" and uncoordinated.

Nolan has no clue about the "Rules" of the game and sadly if he has been around the game as long as he claims he should.  He wants to be the problem and not the solution by stepping up to ref.  It could be a fitness issues... or health issue... an intelligence issue... or the fact that he hears what the sideline sounds like and is too much of a coward to step up.  That's fine... there are plenty of 14 y/o girls that will happily ref in his place and do a fantastic job.  Go ahead and pull up your chair and scream at them while they make sure your daughter has the opportunity to play according to the Laws of the Game.

If your DD actually had a concussion it is pretty obvious within moments of the impact.  What kind of an over zealous dad living vicariously through their daughter allows her to continue playing?  IT IS JUST A GAME!  It is not worth her long term health.

I don't have a dog in the fight but just hate when refs are dragged down by idiots who can't even recognize the difference between "Dressing Down a ref" and "undressing a ref".  Neither are appropriate but one will land you in jail for sexual assault.  I'm assuming that your team is FCUSA since you graciously listed your opponent, age, field, and score.  I'm sure that the coach is proud of the attention you are bringing to his team.  Good luck during the rest of the PPL season.

To the point of the Clumsy issue above... refs need to make very quick decisions on if contact is careless, reckless, or excessive.  We then need to quickly know if there is a card or if it was just a foul and then what the restart is.  All the while the parents are making sure we know what their version of the correct call is.  Sadly we can't review the video and make a call.

NTX Parenting at its finest...

Oh gawd. Not this argument again Rolling Eyes If the kid plays recklessly, maybe she is just "clumsy" and uncoordinated. wrote:

not an actual argument I make but ok. Not all fouls are red/yellow infractions. Not all fouls are seen by the refs to make a judgement one way or the other. Yes, all though, some fouls (not all) are “reckless” they can in fact still be due to clumsy, uncoordinated, and late play.

Yes the team sounds just like FCUSA. That coach couldn't spell concussion if he tried. He can be really entertaining to listen to. He says things like, "Do an athletic move!" "Be the ball" and various other really inspiring statements. We played them once, we had a corner and he actually told them to get out of the box. Easiest goal we have ever scored. And yes the parents are their own breed. Everything that is called is wrong and they are the ultimate victims. Refs will never be perfect. Never have been and never will be. You can't blame them if you score enough goals.

Fine.  I post a rant looking for some hope that the officiating would improve and I get blasted by some.  Like I said, I have no issue with the team we played.  We played them 2 weeks ago and they played well and I also had good conversations with some of the parents.  My kid, who went down several times during the game, was clipped from behind entering the box after getting around a player.  I'm no expert , but that is usually a card.  It didn't happen and then same opposing player went on to commit several fouls as the game continued.  That is my point.  Nothing more.  If the referee uses a card early, it probably helps control the rest of the game.  As for the elbows to the face, etc, that we committed, I didn't see those specific plays, but if they happened then that is regrettable and those should have been booked.  2 wrongs don't make a right.  My daughter had her headband knocked off early in the game in a collision in one of the encounters and an opposing player was kind enough to bring it back to her.  My daughter wound up knocking her down on a play later in the half (not intentionally, she doesn't know how to do that yet) and I counseled her about the fact that player was being friendly and that she should apologize to her but didn't get the chance.  

Regarding that fact that I allowed her too play, that isn't accurate.  She was called off the field and we played short for a few minutes.  I saw the trainer's carts nearby and starting heading to them to ask them for a concussion test, but as I was getting there, she re-entered the game.  I did communicate with her to see if she was ok and she was and played like she was ok.  Over the next couple of days headaches continued and she did complain of symptoms including sensitivity to loud noises and light so I took her yesterday to confirm it was indeed a concussion and she will miss 2-4 weeks (which is essentially the rest of the Plano season and will eat into the middle school season).  I don't have all the answers, but I believe I handled that the way most parents would (and asked fellow parents for their thoughts on it) so I disagree about me living vicariously through her, though I recognize that is an opinion.  

I would simply like to see more accountability.  And no, I'm not one of those parents who makes life hard for the referees.  They can't see everything.  I have an 01 and have learned from that and now try to control the parents on the current team's sidelines.  If they get a call wrong, or call a throw-in for the wrong team, it's not the end of the world.  If they allow clear dangerous plays, dirty plays or fouls which appear intentional to go on, that is a problem and one that everyone should be concerned with.   But now my kid (and this is only Plano) is missing the rest of Plano, the rest of her track meets and possibly some middle school time on something that could have been avoided that's unfortunate.  Soccer is a dangerous sport, I know it because I have paid for 2 surgeries for my 01 that she brought on herself.  I have just seen too much poor officiating.  Is it too much to ask people to call what they see?

Some guidelines on how to post or at least not piss numerous ppl off and get “blasted”

Don’t post an emotional rant

Make an actual formal complaint about the ref for that game rather than take it to public blog looking for “atta boys”.

Don’t title your post something that encompasses an entire group of professionals in a disparaging way, such as, “Continuous Horrific Level of Officiating “.

If just looking to get thumbs up from like minded folks stick to FB or Instagram.

Don’t mention your opponent by name or in any disparaging way or at the very least don’t make oppositional statements about said opponent which seems duplicitous. Such as dirty play/mugged us the whole game but they’re a good team.

If complaining about the officiating of a game, if that’s your intent and not to throw shame on the team you played, at least be balanced calling out dangerous fouls committed on both sides. (BTW the elbow to the head you missed happened directly in front of your bleachers and the player was holding her jaw right in front of your bleachers. I don’t remember anyone yelling at the refs to “protect the players” then. )

Don’t make one of your main complaints about a referee that missed a foul NO ONE saw happen and then ask “Is it too much to ask people to call what they see?”

Don’t act like an expert then claim you’re not an expert.

Don’t brag about undressing refs

Don’t state your opinion as fact and don’t take specific instances and make them general.

When called out for your inaccuracies and mal-informed opinion apologize rather than double down and bloviate more.

Be accurate in what you state and don’t make it sound worse than it was. here a couple corrections: #1 Your player making 60 yard run that was clipped from behind was actually a situation where the opposing player was on the outside of the player running at full speed and tried to cut directly behind her to get goal side. In cutting behind she in my opinion incidentally clipped the players heals and sent her down. Its unfortunate but it happens, a lot. Careless sure reckless/excessive no. It was a judgment call on the ref to decide if it was callous intent to trip or accidental. It was not in the box and it was not last man. It was a first offense early in the game and the ref appropriately in my humble opinion gave a dfk and not a card. Your #2 point is incorrect in claiming that the same player was responsible for this foul also; it was not the same player that fouled in #1 but a diff blond haired girl.

Don’t foretell the past’s future by assuming if the ref gives a yellow early that that’s going to stop future stupid play. There is a reason they give a yellow card for consistent infraction. And the player you are complaining about received a yellow card for that reason. She then received a 2nd yellow card later after that that could have just been a red card offense in itself. See the one yellow didn’t stop stupid play.

It’s possible you are not one that makes life hard for refs but there was at least one parent pacing the sideline and screaming at the top of his lungs since foul #1 about “protecting the players” and did not stop complaining and yelling the entire game nor did your coach. That same parent also made certain to loudly voice his disagreement with most fouls called our way.

Beyond all this. I am sorry your daughter has a concussion that sucks. I hope she recovers well. If your coach allowed your daughter to go back on the field to play after a head injury and did not call over the trainers to assess her I would be extremely upset with the coach. You wanna talk about who’s job it is to protect the players?

nolanryan wrote:
Regarding that fact that I allowed her too play, that isn't accurate.  She was called off the field and we played short for a few minutes.  I saw the trainer's carts nearby and starting heading to them to ask them for a concussion test, but as I was getting there, she re-entered the game.  I did communicate with her to see if she was ok and she was and played like she was ok.  Over the next couple of days headaches continued and she did complain of symptoms including sensitivity to loud noises and light so I took her yesterday to confirm it was indeed a concussion and she will miss 2-4 weeks (which is essentially the rest of the Plano season and will eat into the middle school season).  I don't have all the answers, but I believe I handled that the way most parents would (and asked fellow parents for their thoughts on it) so I disagree about me living vicariously through her, though I recognize that is an opinion.  

I would simply like to see more accountability.  And no, I'm not one of those parents who makes life hard for the referees.  They can't see everything.  If they get a call wrong, or call a throw-in for the wrong team, it's not the end of the world.  If they allow clear dangerous plays, dirty plays or fouls which appear intentional to go on, that is a problem and one that everyone should be concerned with.   I have just seen too much poor officiating.  Is it too much to ask people to call what they see?

First... sincerely sad to hear about the concussion.  I do disagree that you handled it the way most parents would have.  You started off right by going for the cart but the moment you saw her back on the pitch you should have still sent over the cart.  Tell the trainer about the impact and they will have the coach pull the player for an assessment.  Hopefully the time she returned to the game did not cause further injury but that is a HUGE risk that your coach has no right to make on your players behalf.  This appears to be a coach set on winning at all cost and disregarding the Concussion Training he should have to be a coach.

You say that you want to see more accountability and I could not agree more.  When a player "plays dirty" that coach and parents should be held accountable.  They learned it somewhere.  As I previously mentioned, most of the time a player is fully aware that they are committing a foul and simply hope to get away with it.  It is rare that a player fully intends to hurt another player but it is not unheard of.  That goes to parenting and coaching... not officiating.

How do you know that the refs are not calling what they see?  You say yourself that you understand that they can't see everything.  

Not all officials are equal.  They all get the same training but just like anything they will interpret some things differently and sometimes make calls based on previous experience or playing experience as opposed to what the Laws of the Game state.  For instance... how often do you see a player run up to stand a foot away from the ball on either a direct free kick or indirect free kick?  Most likely at least a few times a game.  How often do you see a player get cautioned (yellow card) for this action the very first time it is done in the game?

Parents need to set the example for their players of how to show respect and sportsmanship.  Screaming at an official or getting in arguments on the sideline with other parents (not directed at you but what I've seen) teaches them that it is acceptable to be out of control.  Team sports are supposed to help players learn how to overcome adversity.  That could be playing a better team, calls that they feel should be made that are not, or working through injuries.

This thread is ridiculous.  Nolan, probably not the smartest idea ever to identify a team.  Even with your attempt at positive comments, it may not (and wasn't) taken sincerely.  You have been on these boards for many years, so you probably should have stepped away before posting.  Just like an email.

But everyone else give this guy a break already.  He isn't attacking the team, or necessarily a player.  It's the officials.  It's a Plano game.  That probably means it's not the most elite level of officiating in NTX.  His kid got her head bashed in and any parent who isn't bothered by that is a hypocrite.  So instead of trolling him, insulting him and then dragging the coach into this for posting his "rant", maybe some commentary about his topic...the officiating.  

No it's not all bad.  I've got 2 DD's including one that has completed her journey and I've seen both good and bad.  It sounds like this referenced officiating crew wasn't the best.  Apparently there were multiple violent plays in this game.  Nolan references the attack from behind that nobody saw.  I'm guessing the player that was fouled sent the ball off and everyone followed the ball.  Either the center referee or AR should have seen that play.  The elbow to the face is also inexcusable.  But I don't see anyone claiming that a yellow card should have been handed out there either.  I believe those examples support Nolan's contention, especially if it was so bad that a player eventually got a red card (after apparently a lot of 2nd chances).  Unfortunately though, unless the referees are either current coaches, current players ,or young referees (who maybe are also players), we are left with those that are fans of the game, got their licenses and are picking up extra money on weekends, with maybe 1/2 of them truly taking pride in their job.  It is what it is and the demand for them is larger than the available quality talent pool.  You can't fire them if you don't have anyone to replace them and that is where we are.

Nolan what you need to do is control the other parents.  You've got an older kid so you have been through this.  If it's true that your fellow parents are yelling at other parents or approaching them during the game, that is simply prohibited.  Teach them the right decorum and get them off the officials backs because you get more with sugar. Your daughters teammates will appreciate that.  Start there.  After that, find your daughter another team.  If there isn't any commitment and the parents are unruly then it's not a good environment for a kid to play in as she gets to high school.  Having to play down when there is an injury means that other players aren't committed to the team.  Go to a team that draws players and has a strong roster and coach and your daughter will be better off for it.  if there are college aspirations, at least get her into Lake Highlands.  

Good luck with your kid.  It's unfortunate that she's sidelined with a concussion.  None of us want that for any of the kids.

This debate is never ending, but could be if referees would follow the laws of the game.  

I agree that it is not the referees job to protect the players, but the laws of the game are designed to protect the players.  

Referees need to be taught and be held accountable for following these laws.  There is no difference between a clumsy challenge that is a yellow card offence in a professional match or a U10 match.  There is no difference in violent conduct in a professional match or a U10 match.  

Until referees begin using the tools they are given (cards), the players, coaches and teams will take it as far as they are allowed.  It is relatively easy to "protect the players" but there is some kind of "I can't send off a 12 year old mentality" that most referees have.  

If a kid goes their entire soccer career without being properly punished for yellow/red card offences - you really can't blame them when they are playing a certain way at 15, 16 or 17.