LAST week I mentioned the use of temporary dismissals, or as we all know them, sin-bins, in small-a-side football.

Perhaps not widely known is they can now be used in 11-a-side competitions for youth, veterans, disability and what is called grass-roots football, in other words, the lower end of the game, providing FA approval is gained.

The International FA Board allows sin-bins for any cautionable offence, but the FA has decreed that in England they can only be used for dissent.

The suspension lasts 10 minutes except for youth football if they play less than 90 minutes, when it is reduced to eight minutes.

To signify a player is being sin-binned, the referee shows a yellow card and then points with both hands to show the player must leave the field for the suspension. Wouldn’t the blue card, as used in small a-side games be simpler?

Ironically, sin-bins are only allowed in games least equipped to cope with them.

By this I mean that in games with a fourth official, he will keep check of time in the sin-bin.

If there’s no fourth official but neutral assistant referees, the one nearest the technical area will add this to his duties.

Of course in local park football, there is seldom a technical area, fourth official or neutral assistant referees, so it is suggested the suspension timing is done by club officials.

At the end of the suspension period, the player returns to play on the referee’s signal.

Should he be sin-binned a second time, however, he will not be able to return, but at the end of his second suspension period, can be replaced by a substitute.

If, however, he has also previously been yellow carded for a non-sin bin offence, he can’t be replaced. If a player has served one sin-bin suspension and then commits a non-sin bin yellow card offence, he will be allowed to stay on the field of play.

Just a little more for your local referee to remember.