Leap in number of red cards given to junior footy players this season

There have been three times as many red cards issued to junior footy players this years, compared with last year. Here’s why – and the main offence they’ve been pinged for.

Adelaide’s junior footballers have earned themselves three times as many red cards this season, compared with the same time in 2022.

Most of the red cards – leading to match-day suspensions – handed out by umpires to young players in the SANFL Juniors competition in 2023 have been for “striking” offences, followed by “dangerous tackle” and “rough conduct”. One has been issued for “spitting”.

Overall, 142 cards – red, yellow and blue – have been issued this season with 30 per cent of offences, or 42, happening in the under-17.5 boys’ competition.

The under-15 boys have received the second most number of cards, with 28.

Red is the highest offence, meaning a player has to immediately leave the ground and can’t be replaced, earning themselves at minimum a one-game suspension.

A yellow card means a player is sent off for 10 minutes to “cool down”; so far across all age groups 49 yellow cards have been issued for “rough conduct”, 18 for “wrestling” and nine each for “umpire abuse” and “dangerous tackle”.

SANFL Juniors manager Oliver Graham says the high incidence of cards reflected an increase in umpire education and training, resulting in a “greater awareness of dangerous tackles and umpire dissent/abuse from players”.

“Fifteen per cent of total cards have been awarded through dangerous tackles or umpire dissent/abuse (while) striking/wrestling offences have increased – particularly in our older grades – with 15 per cent of total cards being awarded due to these acts,” Mr Graham said.

“Fifty per cent of our yellow cards have been awarded on a rough conduct charge … these are unnecessary actions off-the-ball, or after the whistle has blown, which indicates that the player needs to cool off and have a break.

“By acting with the yellow card, the umpire is keeping the game under control and avoiding any escalation of further incidents.”

Mr Graham said there was a zero-tolerance approach to umpire abuse.

“SANFL Juniors provided a directive to umpires and clubs that any swearing directed at an umpire will result in a minimum of a yellow card … the majority of umpires in SANFL Juniors are under-18,” he said.

In positive news, there have been less than half the number of blue cards – for bad sideline behaviour – so far this season.

“The significant education and introduction of a number of initiatives over the past few years is having a positive impact on behaviour, both on and off the field,” Mr Graham said.

“This includes ‘sit down to coach’ rounds and the implementation of the five-metre exclusion zones around coaching areas to curb poor sideline behaviour … we congratulate all of our SANFL Juniors clubs who have taken a really positive approach to managing behaviour.”

There are more than 12,000 junior players in 2023.