Holding an opponent - question

Of the various DFK offenses, most fall into the referee judgment category: A direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following offences against an opponent in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force...

But one that is written as a must-call (direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following offences) - is "holds an opponent."

I feel like I see holding, grabbing, pulling-on, etc. happening more and more as my son gets older (05s CSL), yet called less and less, if at all. And so in the AYSO 14s/16s I run, I find myself shouting, "hey, don't hold him," and letting play continue. Are there any directives from the referee associations regarding holding fouls - when to call, when to ignore? Any other good advice on this? Thanks.

jrcaesar said:

Of the various DFK offenses, most fall into the referee judgment category: A direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following offences against an opponent in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force...

But one that is written as a must-call (direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following offences) - is "holds an opponent."

I feel like I see holding, grabbing, pulling-on, etc. happening more and more as my son gets older (05s CSL), yet called less and less, if at all. And so in the AYSO 14s/16s I run, I find myself shouting, "hey, don't hold him," and letting play continue. Are there any directives from the referee associations regarding holding fouls - when to call, when to ignore? Any other good advice on this? Thanks.

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If you feel the holding is preventing the player with the ball from being able to do something, whistle it. If you feel that the defending team got some sort of advantage from the hold, whistle it. If you feel the temperature of the game is such that any holding could become a big problem, whistle it. Otherwise, let it go. If you feel there is a problem with a player holding too much warn then whistle. Works for me.

Don’t tell them to stop holding because if the coaches and players hear it they are going to yell at you to call the foul. If I am not going to call it, usually because the player plays through the foul, then I will briefly talk to the player that was holding. Usually during the first holding foul I call I will make a big deal about it and sometimes publically say the the player, “there is no handle on that jersey so don’t hold it.” This usually does a good job of letting the players know that I will call holding fouls and I usually do not end up have many further holding problems.

The wording is because it is hard to "carelessly" hold. You are either doing it deliberately or not.

As for your question on when to call it. Here is the definition of a trifling foul: "A foul that has little to no impact on the game". Trifling fouls are still actual fouls, the game doesn't need them to be called.

I always ask myself "why did the player hold". If the player got beat and their only chance to recover is to hold, then I call it. If it is a fair battle of strength, I am letting it go, because that is how most olders want to play. Those battles where the line between holding, pulling, and pushing are blurred, you are just there to make sure it is a "fair" contest".
That is why bigger kids get more fouls called against them, because it is harder for them to match the strength of smaller opponents and win the ball fairly. They usually go too far, unless they are really skilled.

So let us take a small hold. An opponent reaches out, put a hand on a shoulder of an opponent and pulls with enough force to throw open a door.
-If this contact occurs in the middle of the field where the attacker has his back to the goal and is just trying to switch the field, No Call
-If this contact occurs in the moment a player is trying to take a shot, Foul
-If this contact happens as a winger is blowing past a standing still defender, Foul
-If this contact occurs to a player who is shielding the ball out of bounds with his body, No Call
-If it happens during a corner kick, then be glad that is only contact you received on a CK, No Call (Unless it occurs during a clear header chance on goal)

Definitelynotanotherref said:

- I always ask myself "why did the player hold". If the player got beat and their only chance to recover is to hold, then I call it.

-If this contact happens as a winger is blowing past a standing still defender, Foul

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In these two instances, you must also consider tactical fouls. (Breaking a promising attack, or as we say in the business, "BAPA")