Soccer referee advice on managing upper level soccer games. Have content to share for the soccer foul video library? Please let me know. My email list can be joined here: eepurl.com/hsqTRv
I use this “Not Today!” technique the very first time it happens in a match. I always blow my whistle and say, “We are NOT doing this today!” So that the whole stadium can hear. I like the idea of putting this on the captains! Well done.
A quick word. Make sure everyone hears it. Threaten the YC for next time. I'd leave the chat with the captain for when you issue it 😂. It reminds them to do their job!
I never utter the words "next time", "last chance", or anything of that nature, because that paints you into a corner where you're locked into doing it, rather than being able to use your judgement in the moment. It's also confrontational, which I never find helpful for game management. I never want the players or coaches to think of me as the enemy, because I'm not. My rule of thumb is that if I ever have the urge to threaten a card if they do something again, it probably means I should be carding them right now. That said, I do agree with your first statement. Communicating what you do and don't expect should be a message that goes out to everyone, both so the captain can police their own players, but also so that it feels less like personally singling a player out, and more like you're simply stressing the rules as you apply them. That's all part of remaining the impression of impartiality and authority that's so important on the field.
