Misconduct among Spanish grassroots soccer players: evidence for their management

Identifying antisocial behaviour among child and youth players is crucial for managing and fostering a safe, supportive, and enjoyable sport. This study aimed to describe and analyse the disciplinary sanctions received by players in Spanish grassroots soccer competitions (6-18 years old). Referee records from 275,844 games across 1,401 league competitions during five subsequent seasons were examined using ANOVA and Tukey's HSD post hoc test. A total of 53,031 sanctions were documented, primarily mild (93.33%). The most common mild sanctions resulted from card accumulation (41.8%), double warning (24.5%), violent or dangerous play (6.5%), and contemptuous and inconsiderate attitudes towards referees (5.5%). Assaults (3.3%) and insults and serious offences (2.7%) received serious sanctions from referees. Severe sanctions (0.004%) were anecdotal. Furthermore, we found significantly (p < .05) more sanctions in 11-a-side soccer than in 8-a-side, in boys versus girls’ categories, and U18 and U15 boys’ groups compared to younger age categories.The strategies adopted for improving sportsmanship should especially target players in the U18 and U15 male categories and those who are repeat offenders. Our findings can be used to guide the prevention and intervention efforts of all institutions and agents with responsibilities in children’s sports education.