No Napkins Needed
We have all been there. As a Referee, we pull out the caution and then realize it’s that player’s second and we have to “wipe the egg off our face”. The Soccer Community realizes that issuing a Second Caution is a significant decision due to the ramifications of a team having to play down a player, in addition to the player being required to sit out an additional match. With the limited number of games in a compact schedule, the magnitude of a second caution may be greater in the collegiate game than in other bodies of soccer.
A technique you may have in your arsenal is to show the caution and then check your book to verify whether it’s the player’s second. I would strongly advise against this. A good referee is always thinking a step ahead. Good practice is to know who is playing on the field with a caution. This way, if the player enters a challenge, you can use your presence to potentially influence their actions. If the player’s actions warrant a second caution, you are there to lend credibility to a big decision.
The Collegiate game is unique in that we stop the clock when issuing misconduct. As a referee, use this to your advantage. Use the time bringing your wrists together to process what you just witnessed. If you are deciding to send the player off, get your yellow and red cards out if the player involved is being sent off for a second caution. The Referee in the FIU vs. Memphis game shows compassion to the player who was fouled. He then makes a credible decision by showing the yellow card for a Reckless Tackle followed immediately by the raising of the red card in a calm manner. Notice how there was no threat of retaliation by the players.
Sometimes, we need to take out the card quickly to diffuse the situation. In the SLU vs. Missouri State clip, the Referee is aware that the player in white, who is fouling the keeper, has previously received a caution and is quick to display the yellow card, followed by the subsequent red card. The Referee community knows that a hard challenge on a goalkeeper usually creates an emotional reaction. This Referee was wise to get the card out quickly to prevent further conflict.
AR’s and 4th Officials can assist
With so many schools providing communication devices, Assistant Referees can play a role in making second cautions credible decisions. Similar to the Referee, AR’s should have a mental inventory of who is on the pitch playing with a caution. When a player commits a foul, the AR closer to the Referee can remind him/her that player has previously been cautioned. The AR1 and/or 4th Official can also be of assistance during substitutions. They can remind the Referee if a player who was previously cautioned was subbed off and how many other players are still on the field playing on a caution. For example, “#14 is off so there is one less player on the field with a caution but #3 and #9 for Sibiga State are still on the field playing on a caution”. The more we are reminded of who is playing with a caution, the less we are caught by surprise should the Referee need to send a player off.
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As the Regional Advisor for the Mid-Atlantic Region, I have the pleasure of watching many games throughout the season as we prepare for the postseason. It is my hope with this article that we reduce the number of “shucks, that’s that player’s second caution” with some of the advice offered. If a player needs to be sent off, ensure you are aware as you bring your wrists together. Therefore, we won’t have “egg on our face” as a Match Official and NO NAPKINS ARE NEEDED!