Yellow card for taking your shirt off, wtf?

[Orgoner]

I only cover meaningless games these days (there's a case to say that pretty much all games are meaningless!) but, especially with younger players who might have some sort of future playing career, I make a point of making sure that they know the sort of stupid things that could get them into trouble in higher level games where referee flexibility is more frowned upon.

Totty's point about goalkeepers actively making scuff marks within their six yard box and goal areas to aid with their positioning is definitely one of those I try to ram home. If nothing else, it encourages them to be more subtle, if you get my drift.

I've never been card happy, but like to think active player management (talking to them during the game) goes a long way in keeping tempers down and players remaining on the pitch.

[spaldy]

I only cover meaningless games these days (there's a case to say that pretty much all games are meaningless!) but, especially with younger players who might have some sort of future playing career, I make a point of making sure that they know the sort of stupid things that could get them into trouble in higher level games where referee flexibility is more frowned upon.

Totty's point about goalkeepers actively making scuff marks within their six yard box and goal areas to aid with their positioning is definitely one of those I try to ram home. If nothing else, it encourages them to be more subtle, if you get my drift.

I've never been card happy, but like to think active player management (talking to them during the game) goes a long way in keeping tempers down and players remaining on the pitch.

Many moons ago (early 80's) I used to referee in the deep south before Soccer became a true national sport. Ended up doing some SEC games along with some rather nasty long term rivalries. My style was just like yours Orgs. Used to take the time to explain to each of the teams "no no's". One of my big ones involved hitting or interfering with keepers as well as bad sliding tackles from behind. Nothing ratchets up a game faster than those in my experience. I also interacted with players quite a bit in the flow of the game. This was rather important in these games since se many of the players had not grown up playing football (soccer). Even at that level some really did not fully understand the nuances of the game.

The worst was the rabid parents and fans screaming at "fouls and penalties" on well executed tackles or defense. No clue on the rules and many assumed that football was a prissy non contact sport. They'd have freaked out if theyu ever saw one of the old prem league games in the 60's and 70's. I was not big on cards and definitely not big on penalties. I think us Yanks are rather fond of yelling that everything is a penalty.

Had more than a few coaches that had obviously advised their team to "take the body" every chance they got. Since some of them had obviously not played much football their "taking the body" sometimes looked like rugby tackles. A lot of communication involved on those games and more than a few discussions with the coach.

A challenging period but definitely very rewarding. several of the teams i officiated multiple times and you could see some steady progress. One of the problems in officiating in the states is the travel. some long drives involved and not much money. I'm sure it's much better across the pond where distances are much shorter.

after all that long rambling babble I would say "take your shirt off" and it's a card. Let one go and you ramp up the tension level way more than needed. Just a bufoon things to do.