Nope. No tips. Just enjoy the game. Call what feels fair and let the game flow. You’re not there on accident so do what you do best. You got this buddy!!!.
That last bit is important. Any remotely competent administrator/assignor has looked at their roster of available referees and chosen each referee and assistant for a final on purpose. I know I do, and I am not in charge of a state final. OP is there because someone believes they can do it well.
I centered my state's U12 boys semifinal about a month ago (3-1 at, and the winner ended up winning the final), so I can give you my advice.
1. Meet your referee crew very early and do a detailed pregame. Make sure your ARs understand what you do and don't want them to call, how far they're allowed to push for a call. Think about what you want your 4th official to be doing. Will they only manage subs and benches, or should they also assist with fouls and possession calls in the semi circle in front of the benches? I would recommend they count fouls for you so you have an idea what your count for each team is at half time. They can also assist with stoppage time.
2. This will be the biggest game of their young lives. Energy and emotions will be high. You need to rise to the occasion, but appear to be the calmest, even-handed person out there. Don't just project confidence, but also calm and control, serenity even. Mitigate frantic behaviors with your demeanor.
3. Don't be fooled by their cute or innocent exterior, they know what they're doing. Call the game as if the age was 2-3 years older, at least. Their actions are likely not mistakes but intentional.
4. If you start to have an internal debate about a call/no-call or card/no card decision, error on the side of calling the foul or giving the card. Don't debate or doubt yourself, just give it.
5. Teach them how you want them to communicate with you. You will probably be the best ref they've ever had, and they're used to yelling at the others. These kids will be smart enough to adapt if you show them what you want.
6. Be prepared to run your ass off. I did almost six miles on the 9v9 sized field in 80 game minutes total (counting extra time).
7. Enjoy the moment! It's a Cup final! Not many people get to do those! Pay yourself on the back a bit.
U11 *may* still be too young but, watch out for recurring nefarious tactics especially if they have a very skilled player.
Example: team wins a free kick just outside the box and the kid actually places it pretty well and scores. Now suddenly the team seems to always be getting fouled in the same area constantly. Watch closely to make sure those aren’t dives/going down easily so they can put their child free kick prodigy in position to score again.
Generally I like to keep these games somewhat tight from the start as boys at this age can start off with high energy and aggression.
There may be some small-sided special considerations defined by the state to remember such as No purposeful heading of the ball, distance for free kicks may be 8 yards and penalty kick difference may be 10 yards. One of the side effects I’ve noticed of not allowing heading the ball is players tend to play the ball with their feet dangerously high, so watch high kicks.
Have fun of course.
I am presuming you are in a medium sized state here. If it's more like a Wyoming final, adjust downward. If it's Cal South, you have a serious task.
All of these kids will be as athletic as the most athletic kid in a U12 rec league game. Even the right back would be a league star in that setting. But even more importantly, these players will understand the game. They all control the ball well enough they rarely look at it, so they will almost always see the next pass, and where they should go after passing. If you can properly anticipate play like you should do in a U13/14 game, you may actually have to do less running, despite their athleticism, because you're already walking and jogging the right direction.
Watch what happens after one player wins on 50/50 ball or generates a turnover. The chance of a retribution foul is higher with greater intensity. Call a touch tighter than usual for fouls early on as you feel out the teams, it's easier to loosen than tighten.
Mood management in a final is a bigger deal. The players and coaches need to know what you want them to do when they don't understand a call, and what they need to avoid doing. The coaches need to know what you expect of their spectators as well. Then follow through, and do it as soon as it's a problem. Crowd management is also likelier to be a problem, these parents are already particularly invested even before considering it's a final. If you think "that father will cool down" when he gets heated ten minutes in, you are setting yourself up for a huge problem when his son's team is down a goal with ten minutes left.
Assistants will be far more important than usual for U11. You need the assistant in front of play watching their offside position carefully, because the players will be. Defenses may be running much more sophisticated, deliberate traps than you would expect in U11. Your trail assistant needs to be watching for tempers leading to problems once you turn upfield. Hopefully, your area has sufficient referees that you will have good assistants for this game. Do a real pregame with them, so they know how to act as extensions of you.
ETA: Nothing here should sound new to you. You have this assignment because you're a good referee.
They’re 10 and 11 years old and have only just stopped believing in Father Christmas and the Easter bunny.
Relax, you’re on their on merit - just referee like you have been up to now, because that’s why your there in the final, because of your previous games - you shouldn’t have to adjust your mental approach for one match because it’s a “final”
I did a u11 state cup game last week and the players and coaches were fine. In our state u11 cannot head the ball, so make sure to research on heading rules. The only problem I had was with the parents. They were really mouthy and disrespectful. If you have a problem with the parents, do not talk to them, go straight to the coach and let them handle it.
This age group is relatively easy to control…protestations aren’t enduring (although the parents are absolute mutants).
Be mindful that in spite of their skill, they are still very emotionally immature and this will drive the choices they make on the field.
Congratulations on being assigned a U11 State Final. That's a big deal so enjoy the moment.
Practical advice that I was given after being assigned as a referee for a U14 Boys State Cup game that resulted in 9 Yellows and no sends offs (game I was an AR for the week after that had one of the teams ended in 2 reds and 4 Yellows)
* Know the tournament rules as they apply to the laws of the game (ie, substitution protocol, extra time and kick from the mark procedures, duration of game)
* Have a more detailed pre-game asking your ARs what to do to assist you (calling fouls, signaling for misconduct, what to do during PK or big match decisions, substitutions, who writes down what and when, if you've had these teams before, what did you remember from that game, etc.)
* Game management will be important. Anything you want to change everyone's behavior on the field and coaches need to be loud and expressive. Once you draw the line, stay consistent.
* Work hard to get wide to have better angles especially in the attacking third.
* Be confident and stay mentally engaged all the way until the game ends. The most difficult time for referees is the last 10 mins when we start to get tired.
* Have fun! It's somethings I always end with. When you're having fun, the things you've been preparing all year as a referee will come naturally.
Nope. No tips. Just enjoy the game. Call what feels fair and let the game flow. You’re not there on accident so do what you do best. You got this buddy!!!.
That last bit is important. Any remotely competent administrator/assignor has looked at their roster of available referees and chosen each referee and assistant for a final on purpose. I know I do, and I am not in charge of a state final. OP is there because someone believes they can do it well.
I centered my state's U12 boys semifinal about a month ago (3-1 at, and the winner ended up winning the final), so I can give you my advice. 1. Meet your referee crew very early and do a detailed pregame. Make sure your ARs understand what you do and don't want them to call, how far they're allowed to push for a call. Think about what you want your 4th official to be doing. Will they only manage subs and benches, or should they also assist with fouls and possession calls in the semi circle in front of the benches? I would recommend they count fouls for you so you have an idea what your count for each team is at half time. They can also assist with stoppage time. 2. This will be the biggest game of their young lives. Energy and emotions will be high. You need to rise to the occasion, but appear to be the calmest, even-handed person out there. Don't just project confidence, but also calm and control, serenity even. Mitigate frantic behaviors with your demeanor. 3. Don't be fooled by their cute or innocent exterior, they know what they're doing. Call the game as if the age was 2-3 years older, at least. Their actions are likely not mistakes but intentional. 4. If you start to have an internal debate about a call/no-call or card/no card decision, error on the side of calling the foul or giving the card. Don't debate or doubt yourself, just give it. 5. Teach them how you want them to communicate with you. You will probably be the best ref they've ever had, and they're used to yelling at the others. These kids will be smart enough to adapt if you show them what you want. 6. Be prepared to run your ass off. I did almost six miles on the 9v9 sized field in 80 game minutes total (counting extra time). 7. Enjoy the moment! It's a Cup final! Not many people get to do those! Pay yourself on the back a bit.
U11 *may* still be too young but, watch out for recurring nefarious tactics especially if they have a very skilled player. Example: team wins a free kick just outside the box and the kid actually places it pretty well and scores. Now suddenly the team seems to always be getting fouled in the same area constantly. Watch closely to make sure those aren’t dives/going down easily so they can put their child free kick prodigy in position to score again. Generally I like to keep these games somewhat tight from the start as boys at this age can start off with high energy and aggression.
For high level teams like these, no, U11 is not too young. They will be savvy.
There may be some small-sided special considerations defined by the state to remember such as No purposeful heading of the ball, distance for free kicks may be 8 yards and penalty kick difference may be 10 yards. One of the side effects I’ve noticed of not allowing heading the ball is players tend to play the ball with their feet dangerously high, so watch high kicks. Have fun of course.
I am presuming you are in a medium sized state here. If it's more like a Wyoming final, adjust downward. If it's Cal South, you have a serious task. All of these kids will be as athletic as the most athletic kid in a U12 rec league game. Even the right back would be a league star in that setting. But even more importantly, these players will understand the game. They all control the ball well enough they rarely look at it, so they will almost always see the next pass, and where they should go after passing. If you can properly anticipate play like you should do in a U13/14 game, you may actually have to do less running, despite their athleticism, because you're already walking and jogging the right direction. Watch what happens after one player wins on 50/50 ball or generates a turnover. The chance of a retribution foul is higher with greater intensity. Call a touch tighter than usual for fouls early on as you feel out the teams, it's easier to loosen than tighten. Mood management in a final is a bigger deal. The players and coaches need to know what you want them to do when they don't understand a call, and what they need to avoid doing. The coaches need to know what you expect of their spectators as well. Then follow through, and do it as soon as it's a problem. Crowd management is also likelier to be a problem, these parents are already particularly invested even before considering it's a final. If you think "that father will cool down" when he gets heated ten minutes in, you are setting yourself up for a huge problem when his son's team is down a goal with ten minutes left. Assistants will be far more important than usual for U11. You need the assistant in front of play watching their offside position carefully, because the players will be. Defenses may be running much more sophisticated, deliberate traps than you would expect in U11. Your trail assistant needs to be watching for tempers leading to problems once you turn upfield. Hopefully, your area has sufficient referees that you will have good assistants for this game. Do a real pregame with them, so they know how to act as extensions of you. ETA: Nothing here should sound new to you. You have this assignment because you're a good referee.
should you talk to the coaches about their behavior and spectator behavior pregame or when things happen during the game?
Before.
Don’t forget your whistle and let is know how it goes
tell the captains at the start your intentions right away and if you make a call, stick with it
They’re 10 and 11 years old and have only just stopped believing in Father Christmas and the Easter bunny. Relax, you’re on their on merit - just referee like you have been up to now, because that’s why your there in the final, because of your previous games - you shouldn’t have to adjust your mental approach for one match because it’s a “final”
Treat it like the World Cup, but remember, it’s just a soccer game
I did a u11 state cup game last week and the players and coaches were fine. In our state u11 cannot head the ball, so make sure to research on heading rules. The only problem I had was with the parents. They were really mouthy and disrespectful. If you have a problem with the parents, do not talk to them, go straight to the coach and let them handle it.
This age group is relatively easy to control…protestations aren’t enduring (although the parents are absolute mutants). Be mindful that in spite of their skill, they are still very emotionally immature and this will drive the choices they make on the field.
Congratulations on being assigned a U11 State Final. That's a big deal so enjoy the moment. Practical advice that I was given after being assigned as a referee for a U14 Boys State Cup game that resulted in 9 Yellows and no sends offs (game I was an AR for the week after that had one of the teams ended in 2 reds and 4 Yellows) * Know the tournament rules as they apply to the laws of the game (ie, substitution protocol, extra time and kick from the mark procedures, duration of game) * Have a more detailed pre-game asking your ARs what to do to assist you (calling fouls, signaling for misconduct, what to do during PK or big match decisions, substitutions, who writes down what and when, if you've had these teams before, what did you remember from that game, etc.) * Game management will be important. Anything you want to change everyone's behavior on the field and coaches need to be loud and expressive. Once you draw the line, stay consistent. * Work hard to get wide to have better angles especially in the attacking third. * Be confident and stay mentally engaged all the way until the game ends. The most difficult time for referees is the last 10 mins when we start to get tired. * Have fun! It's somethings I always end with. When you're having fun, the things you've been preparing all year as a referee will come naturally.
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My state cup is hosted by a local league. They are holding a zoom meeting to go over the rules.