Sin bins were introduced to the MGBSFL last season in a bid to clamp down on dissent. Here are the experiences of some players and officials for a scheme which helps referees micro-manage players and will now also be used in junior football
September 2, 2019 08:25
"The one unintended consequence of the sin bin has, I feel, been an increase in the ‘them and us’ feeling amongst some players and the assumption of a wider gap between players and refs. For example I had a player run past me, shortly after I’d given his team a penalty (from which they scored) but not then a free-kick on the halfway line and he say to me: “Ref, you’re a ****** disgrace” as a cheap shot that he expected to get away with. I sent him to the sin bin as a result. His team conceded the winner while he was off and at full-time he marched on to the pitch to abuse me further and blame me as the sole reason his team had lost the game.
“I was accused of it being all about me too. But I’m not clear why I should have even thought about tolerating that. i was left feeling pretty hurt as a result and wondering what I could (or should) have done differently.
“I was also made aware of an incident later in the season, when I was told a player was called over to the ref for a word and before the official could speak, the player cleared his nose in front of him. Is that the way one person really feels is acceptable to treat another person? It seems quite clear the ref only wanted a word and the player could have just stood there and listened for a few seconds, even if he disagreed with what was being said. Then he could have walked off and done what he needed to do without doing something that’s pretty disgusting in someone’s face. It strikes me that the players who think it’s all about them are using it as the world’s most ironic stick with which to beat the referees and that’s simply unfair.”
Andy Myerson (Former MGBSFL referee’s secretary)
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“There needs to be a clear understanding of what is and isn’t a sin bin offence. It needs to be black and white. The biggest frustration from most teams is the inconsistency of it.”
Sammy Kingston (HMH & Team Maccabi GB)
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“There’s a total lack of consistency. But of course, it’s the players’ fault...”
Jonny Blain (Former NL Raiders)
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"At Masters’ level, the sin bin, the idea of a ten-minute cooling off period, is well received. Most offences at this level are caused by the brain being quicker than the body! Frustration sets in, so a chance to cool off and reflect isn’t a bad idea.”
Paul Lenchner (ML Lions Vets)
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"The sin bin is an area in ice hockey, roller derby, rugby league and rugby union where a player sits to serve the time of a given penalty for an offence not severe enough to merit outright expulsion. It should not be used in football.”
TONY GOLD (Former head of Junior Football at Maccabi London Lions)
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SIN BINS EXPLAINED
- Temporary dismissals are only for cautions for (C2) - dissent.
- Temporary dismissals only apply to players who are on the field of play at the time they commit their offence - they are not used for substitutes, substituted players or team officials.
- All temporary dismissals must be reported after the match. They will also form part of the continual misconduct charge for cautions and for club charges in relation to RESPECT sanctioning.
- The referee signals a temporary dismissal by showing the yellow card and then clearly pointing with both arms to the temporary dismissal area (usually the player’s technical area if one exists).
- The temporary dismissal period is ten minutes in a standard 90-minute game. The referee remains the sole judge of the time.
- A temporary dismissed player who commits any cautionable offence (including dissent and any yellow card or red card offence) during their temporary dismissal period is not allowed to play again in the match and may not be replaced or substituted.