This is looking like a classic example of when adults get emotional over a child’s game.
It was my daughter that got knocked to the ground and I was the referee.
My 9 year old daughter can usually take the rough and tumble of a game in her stride (having previously played two years in a boys U9 JPL team, and occasionally training with her brothers U12 team). Yes Sunday's knock got her quite upset, I understood her explanation of the incident to be of surprise and shock; she had the ball and was dribbling towards goal concentrating on the next step of shooting, suddenly she felt a thud on her shoulder and was crashing to the ground.
As the parent/referee I found it hard to make a decision, my first emotion was to shout (it was a hard fall) but I quickly stopped that emotion and tried to assess the situation in the fairest manner possible.
I had seen the attack coming and was paying too much attention to the feet and ball, I saw no malice in the attack, however I was a fair distant back so, having no linesman, I asked the closest people to the incident whether it deserved a free and was informed no.
As I said, my daughter was fine; she just needed to have some time to collect her emotions, and so came back on in the second half. The incident did make an impression on some people, but that’s the game. The kids were a bit reserved until my daughter came back on and then everything was back to normal.
The Adelaide City girl came over at half time and apologised, it was clearly evident that she meant no harm.
The other incident mentioned was a free for a tackle from behind which brought down the player with the ball (it was the only free I gave).
I did mention the reason to the players involved, I guess the people on the side line were to busy questioning each other to hear.
My daughter played the next game for the U11’s, as she usually does.
And finally - there is some confusion, I clearly remember going to our first game of the season and not playing because a team did not come, I am also under the impression that it was Adelaide City
http://www.footballnews.com.au/forum/vi ... 5&p=331875
Oh well, it doesn’t matter now as there has been a few confusing moments during the season.
Let the kids play.
EDIT: that first game was the AC under 9 team. I'm guessing that team never eventuated.
End of story!
you're winning 10:2 against an u9 team & answer a question from a parent about a free with "probably gave it because they're losing" 
shame on you and the parents for having no respect for anyone else but themselves 
and that foul on the little girl (the first one) an official ref would have given a red - last defender & all that. The player had the ball, running towards goal and your player took her out to stop her scoring & got away with it 
the free for the second foul was a clear as daylight - play the ball not the player.
