[MCBear]

Bob, the key in the situation from the 7th grade match that you describe is whether the player made two attempts to play the ball or if the contacts could be ruled as two attempts to play the ball. In all liklihood, this was not two attempts to play the ball since I am sure that the CB was not intending to play the ball with her head (unless she also happens to be a soccer player)! I would consider it as legal mutiple contacts on the first ball over.

As far as the coaches not liking you calling 3 illegal hits, ignore them! Your job is to call the match fairly and impartially so that the players have the opportunity to play to the best of their ability. If you do not call the blatant illegal contacts, those players are going to go into high school next year thinking that they can do the exact same thing and, then, they are going to get a very rude awakening.

Of course, no one came to watch you blow your whistle, they came to see the kids play the match. So, in this instance, you set your standard by the team with the better execution and let the chips fall where they may. I have had a couple of freshman matches this fall where the coach was appreciative that I was calling them for illegal contacts as well as being out of alignment - it is the only way that they will learn what is legal and what is not.