Throw-ins: You will come across football teams, especially in the younger age groups (7 and under), who just cannot take a throw-in properly. Ignore feet off the ground at this age but remember that by the time they are at under-11s their feet must be on the ground.

Shouters: If you are constantly being shouted at by a parent of either team, then stop the match and walk over to the parent and explain you are trying to referee young children and he/she is spoiling the game.

DIFFUSE THE SITUATION RATHER THAN BE AGGRESSIVE. DON’T SHOUT BACK AT PARENTS… OR CHILDREN!

Free-kicks/penalties: Penalties give most cause for concern. The player that you penalise will probably cry, the player taking the penalty may miss and probably cry, the goalie who doesn’t save the penalty will probably cry. So what do you do? Only give penalties for violent conduct, double-footed challenges or very deliberate handball.

Backpass: The backpass rule applies at under-8 and above. Agree it with the other team’s manager first as to how you referee the situation.

Injuries: Act quickly to stop the game.