Amazing weekend, 3 games, 1 in the middle and 2 on the line in cup finals.
On the Saturday I cautioned a 67 year old player, yes a 67 year old who palyed the full 90 minutes. I had to admire him and several others, but sadly I also had to caution him. Then you get the usual I ahve played (in this case 45 years) and never had a caution. If only players realise refs hear that every week. Its nothing new. So any young refs out there who are reading this, if you caution someone you send it in no matter, sob stories off age, retiring or can't afford the fine. You will hear it from week to week, the caution gets sent in.
The two AR games I had were brilliant cup finals, junior games, and the banter from the crowd to officials and players was amazing, the spirit was entered into by both teams and we all enjoyed the game. Even at the final whistle mutual respect was shown.
Young Referee Advice
All young refs need advice, they are setting out into a world where they are in charge of a big game and everyone has opinions.
A few things to do before your first game, the first I would speak to your local
I would then advise joining a couple of referee forums,
Forum 1 Forum 2
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You will get advice for your first few games similar to the following section:
- Make sure you know who's going to meet you at the game - mentor/coach for support and also the secretary for the home team
- Plan your route to the game making sure you arrive at least 45 minutes before kick off
- Make sure all your kit (especially boots) is clean and your shirt/shorts match each other
- When you meet the secretary greet him/her with a firm handshake
- Try to get your match fee and expenses before the game - don't accept any bluster about you're costing too much - this is a smokescreen, but be ready for it by asking the person who gave you the game to give you details of the expenses you can claim
- Be confident throughout your match preparation - go out for a warm up, do a lap or two of the field of play and then some shuttles to get your muscles warm. It also shows the players that you're taking the game seriously. You can stop off to check the goal nets are pegged adequately and have no gaps or holes.
- Make sure you get two teamsheets at least 15 minutes before kick off, check the colours to ensure they are different from each other and you, especially the goalkeepers
- Ask for the match balls and check them for pressure
- You also need to know from the person who asked you to do the game, whether the clubs have to provide their own flags or you bring your own
- Check you have a coin, two whistles (in case you lose one or it stops working), two watches (same as for whistles), two pencils (see whistles and watches), a notebook and your yellow and red cards. You might want to take the teamsheets as well if your teams have any players with names with which you are not familiar e.g. players from Eastern European countries
- As the teams leave the changing room, try to check their jewellery and footwear. They should not wear any jewellery and footwear should not have anything dangerous to themselves or anyone else - but don't touch the boots as you never know where they have been
- Find two willing volunteers who will act as your assistants and give them their instructions - these will often depend on local practice. In my area, the Club ARs only do ball in/out where other areas ask them to do offside as well
- Enter the field of play confidently and place the ball on the centre mark before blowing a strong blast on your whistle - practice blowing your whistle before you go to the game - it seems a little strange at first, but you'll get used to it
- Call the captains in, note their names and numbers in your book, do the toss (winner chooses direction and kicks off the second half)
- Count the players to make sure you have a maximum of 11 on each side.
- Start your watches (take two in case one breaks down) and blow your whistle
- When the game starts try to stay within 15m of the ball at all times
- When you give your hand signals make sure they are strong but don't rush them - you have all the time in the world
- Use your whistle when you think you need to
- If the game stops for any reason, try to make sure you keep as many players in view as possible - you might need to do some running backwards to achieve that
IMPORTANT - try to smile through your nerves - it might be difficult but it is meant to be fun
- When you end the first half, hang back and let the players come together or go off the field before you leave
- When you come out for the second half, again carry the ball out and place it on the centre mark - call the team who won the toss to the centre to take the kick off
- Before you do kick off, check if any substitutions have been made
- When a substitution is made operate the principle of one off/one on - the sub doesn't come on until the player he is replacing, has gone off
- If you need to caution or dismiss anyone - tell them why you're doing it, get their name, write it down and show the card.jpg)
- At the end of the game blow the whistle firmly, accept congratulations and criticism with the same thing - a handshake and a brief thank you
- Get back in the changing room, take a seat, have a shower, grab a beer (should read a refreshing drink if you are under the age of 18) - you've just become a proper referee!!!
One last thing ...
Make sure you do any post match admin - send in your reports of cautions, complete a match record card for the league and follow the procedure for documenting your game in your own records
Referee Exams and good refereeing
Well thanks to the post strike I finally got my results from my level 6 exam and hooray I passed them. Now all I need is to continue with some great performances.
Last week I reffed an Over 35's and felt I had a good game, the players said so afterwards which I was glad about. A couple of faults with my game, were the fact I should have booked someone for dissent and the other for excessive foul language, it wasn't aimed at anyone but there were a few too many times. That would be my personal critic of myself. The rest I thought was great, positioning talking, a sending off which no one argued with. So I was happy. I then had the pleasure of reffing with 2 assistants on Sunday, if you haven't done it and you are a young ref, its harder than you think. I am normally on my own but not on this one, and you do forget to look for there help. So whilst i give these two young refs the experience they are helping me improve my game. They had both played a game in the morning and were tired and it showed, but they both did great jobs. Doing the line is harder than reffing, You have to watch who is kicking the ball at the same time as looking to see who is on or offside, whilst watching for incidents and looking for throw ins, all without having control of the game. This weekend I was on the line for my first county game in the cup. This was a game I really wanted as you get a very experienced ref in the middle and, like my two assts I got to watch someone more experienced. Steve the chap I was with was great, very laid back, speaking very sternly too the teams when need be, but with the help of his two assistants there were no major things. We were there when needed and you noticed the ref when needed. That is how it should be, also if your a young ref and need advice the biggest thing i have learnt this year is talking, Steve spoke to the players all game yesterday and then today my lads played against Charnock, and its normally a very high tempered game normally revolving around the man in the middle. Todays ref was excellent, good positioning and the other big thing he spoke all the way through to the players. It really does add to the refs game, and like all refs he made a couple of small mistakes, and when one of the lads said it to him in a proper manner he agreed, or explained his decision. One of those lads was one of my young assistants and he learnt a lot from the referee, how to handle and control what was a great game. I can only thank him for how he reffed and how he taught my lads, especially the qualified refs in my team it is invaluable. The difference with this ref and the one I have mentioned in a previous posting, is that this ref wants to help and encourage, which is how it should be.
I learnt this yesterday and then read it in Graham poll's book today, Referees are only human and they make mistakes but as long as they make them honestly, then you cannot ask for more.
I have watched and been involved in some great reffing displays this week and last. It is good to see.
Its Good fun Reffing!
An interesting thing reffing, we stand on the touchline week in week out, and we shout at the ref, and we call for everything. "Handball", "In the back ref" "how many" "he's all over him ref". I am sure they all sound familiar and you have probably said them once or twice especially in junior football, in fact more so in junior football. I witnessed a game recently where I heard everyone of these comments, but by different people. By this I mean these were the parents of my team, the same parents that won a fair play award, as a ref I tend to keep them reasonably quiet. However this game these cries got more and more until you got the sarcastic applause when a decision was given the teams way. You then get the penalty incident, the one where as a ref you quite like because no one is going to argue when you give it. This time it wasn't given, I became a parent and a manager for a few minutes, firstly I checked the player was ok, and then in disbelief the game carried on. This time I didn't stop my parents I became one of those parents, shouting for things. Why did I let myself get sucked in? It was wrong of me, no matter what I was witnessing. Then you have another incident where as a ref I saw the lad have his arm across the player in the box, normally you see how it unfolds, then you see the shirt grab and as the lad goes to cross the ball he is pulled back. 2nd Penalty "No" , the lad that was fouled is also a qualified ref and after being 5 yards from the first appeal he stood in disbelief as this one wasn't given. This is a young lad stepping out into the world of reffing watching someone with years and years of experience ignore the big decisions. The game carried on and the ref remarked directly to me that its "good fun this reffing" actually a good point, as most people that criticise will not do it, however he was talking to someone who has been involved either in the middle or on the line in more than 20 games this season. On my reply he mentioned about not being such a critic. I know like any other ref that you cannot be 100% right, the day before I was far from it and I analysed my own performance, however I got the big decisions right and the team that got the 3 points was the right team. So being a critic was maybe wrong but then again if this ref just looks at his game and listens to what was said then maybe next time they will lift their game. I will not blame the home team, they organised a referee for a home game, and he reffed it. After the game I got an explanation for how he saw one of the penalty incidents and this time I couldn't agree and asked regarding the second one, the answer was he hadn't seen it and didn’t know there was one. This worries me, as naturally the crowd appealed and the players, but more disturbing as a ref you block out the sounds, but the player had the ball he was 2 yards from the goal line so a quick glance for offside wouldn't have been an excuse and there were two players challenging for the ball. You just wouldn't look away.
In one way I was wrong for criticising, as a referee I don't like it however I will always call a game as I see it. What I witnessed in this particular match amazed me.
The learning Curve as a referee.
Each game I do as a ref I analyze what i do what was right what was wrong, what could I have done better. On Saturday I had an interesting game, where I witnessed some great football. I found it hard to ref because of the quality of football. The spreading of play, the distance of passing was a high quality and going from end to end. I like on several occasions to make sure I am bang in line when giving an offside, its impossible to do it all the time without assistants, but each game I aim to do it a few times. This time I couldn't get there, I couldn't get in line, I was so annoyed at myself, I even allowed myself to get distracted by the sideline. How I don't normally why was today any different. However on the whole I had two lots of 5 minutes where I lost focus, once in the first half and once in the second. Lesson learnt a game of this quality do not lose focus, it costs you brownie points. The other focus as a ref I realise you have to keep, is if your decisions are going to the same team, I write this one after the article above for this very reason, at one stage I felt everything I gave was to the one team, now I have never reffed either team, I have never met either one of them, so could this have looked biased, straight after half time, someone from the team getting the decisions said, you are doing a great job don't doubt yourself. Now you can take this as keep giving us the decisions or in the way it was truly meant, keep calling them as you see it. This is exactly what I did, to keep my focus on the decisions and not get side tracked that they are going the same way is a very difficult job. You have no neutral person saying you are doing a good job, you only have your own demons. As a referee you have to ignore the sidelines and be sure of all your decisions. Talk with the teams you are reffing and always be in command. When accessing yourself be honest it will help your next game. I can't wait to put parts of Saturdays game right this Saturday, but the fun part is I guarantee now I will learn something else, thats why reffing is great because each week you learn something new.
Where are all the refs going?
The date is 16th September 2007 and I referee Beighton Falcons U14's Vs Brunsmeer in the cup, I finish the game and the manager of the team waiting to come on after this game comes straight to me and asks can I stay and ref the next game? A compliment in one sense but the conversation that followed was how this u15's team couldn't get a ref or any other team. That morning I had also had a conversation with the Mum of a referee we know, and he is doing numerous games at the moment, my weekend and I have reffed 3 games. So where is it all going wrong or why can't we get referee's? Lets take last week end as an example and I referee an over 35's game and it was a good closely fought game, at the end of the game as ref my hand is shaken with the words good game ref, this from both sets including the losing team. I also felt I had a good game when I assessed myself afterwards. The following day is a different game I referee a junior football match the exact type of game that the team above cannot get a ref for and I have no surprise that Junior football cannot get referee's. Once again in my own assessment I made two mistakes all game were they major mistakes, one of them was sort off. The first mistake was a corner given the wrong way, afterwards I thought of how the ball changed direction and I was wrong. The second was not booking players because of being young lads. You try and give the benefit of the doubt but the players you let off are on the same side you get all the stick from. So your not doing them any favours and I should have booked two of them. The stick I got from the sideline was amazing, if pub teams can not give you any stick apart from the usual stuff of appealing for everything throughout the game then how can you be completly at fault during kids football which is slower? I listened to the stick even tried more communication so they knew why I had given decisions even though I did not anyone, but it still wasn't good enough. The calls were amazing and truthfully as a ref you think I don't need this, it doesn't count towards my promotion, I get less stick from drunks on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning. So why do I? Truthfully you have to learn to laugh at the comments but based on reffing sadly to many refs are leaving and call a ref all you want, remember he doesn't have to do it, but he loves the game so much he turns out for peanuts and to get abused all so you and your kids can get a game of football.
The poor referee : It is one of the hardest jobs and certainly people are not appreciative of people who pull on the black out fit and step into the middle of a field. This season in my match reports i have took the unprecedented view of critisising, it is hard as all people make mistakes. It would be great to have a neutral referee for every game, but "supposedly" they have all left because of the abuse. Lets look at this and ask are the FA doing enough to keep referees in th egame and interested most importantly what do they do for referees at the older end of the scale, the ones with the most experience. As soon as you train one of your youngsters to be a ref, from an older team the Sheffield FA take them from you, so you scrap it out, but then what favours are being done. I referee our u16's and occassionally our adults. However i am a neutral ref who hasn't done another game this year, I am available 6 days a week, why is this? The reason is the Sheffield FA in particular are that busy nurturing the youngsters, they are not spotting the older ones dropping off at the other end, which is creating the short fall. Does someone in the FA ring the refs who are regsitered and see if they are ok. Refs are a dying bread, if you are over 30 you are not about to get a game unless you are in a click, if you are younger you will be fine. Although I witnessed one of these young aspiring refs, who are getting all the academy games and being mentored, he might be great but oday he wasn't impartial missing handballs, foul throws, penalties, shoves in the back. So why do the FA not support older refs, I do wonder.
29th October Six's away match report
This game saw someone about to go on his referee course get every bit os stick there was, not just from Falcons but from his own team. Last year Falcons won fair play because I don't allow any shouting its a hard enough job. Yesterday I ignored the comments instead of telling people to button it. The thing was with many ref's and junior football you automatically presume the not so good ones are biased. I honestly think yesterday was not the case, biased is normally obvious I often do not know how people can be totally biased as you don't have enough time to work it out. Yesterday the ref I hope he goes on his course and if I was to give any advice it would be to ignore the lines and shut them out. When I ref sometimes it can be 5 shouts for a sub before I hear, yesterday it was straight away. The offside I mentioned was clear and could easily be seen and the ref put his whistle to his mouth, until the manager shouted he wasn't and they scored. The fact was two were offside and clearly offside and the ref tuned in to listening to the manager and reacting to this. This happened for a while and then all credit to the ref he gradually switched off from the shouts and reffed as he saw it. Hence Falcons got the penalty and he didn't bow to shouts at the end for the opposing team. The pitch was smaller than our own 3/4 pitch which can be intimidating as you are close but, the ref asked me as a ref at the end of the game would I have given it as he was getting abuse from them. Even my coaching team pointed out the ball was physically sqaushed between keeper body and strikers foot before flicking out, there was no way and it wasn't in question. He was right and naturally the home team were wrong. The other incidents with the throw ins were just his thing that he concentrated on and was picky about, he was right on some and wrong on others it wasn't biased it went both ways. Once he has his exam under his belt and maybe done a few more games he will be Ok, he will learn. I hope he does.
Refs are not right all the time, and after watching Sheff Utd Chelsea, something came to mid a few weeks ago, Falcons were drawing 5-5 with brunsmeer when in the last minute I could have given a penalty to Falcons, it fell to another striker and he missed his chance it fell to someone else and then they missed. Should I have given a penalty? Had I know the next two shots were going to miss yes, although Aiden did step twoards the keeper and thats what I saw. But how long is an advantage in play. Some say 4 seconds, this is what happened with drogba, they lost the ball within 4 seconds and then a free kick and they scored. Personally you had the chance of advantage and you blew it. Was I right was I wrong as a ref "no" I wasn't. As a manager of course I was we could have had 3 points, but this is why I love the Falcons, we do not stoop to anyone elses level.
Recent Refs's
I have noticed a lot of TV arguments about ref's lately the fact that some decisions haven't been the greatest. I then listen to someone who is playing a junior game of football in a friendly (not my own team) where the home team didn't have ref, when a parentr was aksed he sid "i will do it as long as the other team do not abuse me" needless to say he got non stop stick from the team who's parents were to scared to referee. You talk to fans who watch the big teams play and they argue how bad the ref was and then say "but I wouldn't do it" . The game is losing refs because of this and I already know one senior amateur division have no refs for next year as there are no longer enough refs. So the bottom division has suffered, this is sorry to say it because of the fans, the "fans of football" sorry but your killing the game, slowly from the bottom of the game upwards. Junior games do not have refs now if a team get one then they are either very lucky or they get pinched for a so called higher ranking game. As a manger as well as a ref, we see some appalling decision by the man in the middle, this man is normally a parent who has had the guts to stand in the middle where no one else has. A qualified ref won't abuse that person as they know how hard it is, but the people who would much rather slate those that have the guts are the wimps that won't and at junior level you are teaching the kids the worst habits. So shut up or put up if you think you are so good and all your decisions on the sideline are right you would make a great ref as even ref's make mistakes so please go on the ref course.
Then you have the opposite, where the ref sees what you don't, on TV you get that was wrong shocking he missed that, then you role the replay and oh the ref was spot on, and the comment you get is he got that right. It is said once, a bad decision is repeated but a good decision once. Last night 30th Aug I was behind the net and striker Vs defender ball goes out, and the ref gave a goal kick, two of my parents said goal kick, I would have given a corner and the two parents were saying it was definitely goal kick, I saw something they didn't as a ref you do learn to see little niks or listen for sounds. I didn't say it would have been against my team, however had it been at the other end I would have appealed once and took the decision which is what the team is told to do. This is the difference between abusing and appealing to the ref.
Now fairplay as someone honest should I have told the ref regarding what should have been a corner, in a perfect world yes I would, but its not perfect and I work on the balance of things evening themselves up. We had 4, 5 6 offside decisions where the lads ran from there own half we appealed and left it. So throughout the game it was even.
So please if you know better become a ref and make the game don't kill the game.
First Game in a friendly
The Beighton Falcons funday saw me referee for the first time approaching the new season, like footballers referees need to warm up and get back into things. First lesson do ot referee in 28 degree of heat on an empty stomach. I had been so busy I didn't get to eat, and after 20 minutes didn't I know it.
One thing goes to say, it was the same old abuse and this was a friendly, you don't want to be dishing out cards on a friendly but it could have been oh so easy.
I made a couple of noteable mistakes 1 for each team involving corners, and the usual ones you might miss a push or a shove and with Asst Refs you miss things behind your back. Things were not going to bad until the last minute when Falcons were 2-1 down. Falons are attacking and a lad is tood near the edge of the area when a lad runs into the back of the player pouting his chest, knocking him forward, as a ref its a free kick, you don't need to use your hands to push. The lads argument is he was bcaked into, then how did he fly forward suddenly? I ran up to the incident and realised the incident was inside the box (pitches does not have burnt lines yet) so pointed to the spot. The lad argued briefly and left it, the last minute saw an equaliser. The game finished and I got told good game and thanked for turning up in the heat, to be verbally abused by this player. I listened and then he said something which got my back up, h went to far. Then the surprise his manager tells me he doesn't want players like that in his team. This amazed me and after the world cup cheats here we had a bloke not interested in a player he hadn't signed yet because of his attitude. Was it a line, I don't think so the keeper told me he touched a ball when I wasn't sure and it was a corner as his back completely obscured my view. So the team was on the level, and if I do get them in season, and he plays then I learn again, but this time it won't be a friendly and iif incidents warrant cards then they will be given.
Football surprises me all the time, abuse in a friendly and honesty from players, after the current world cup where many stars shamed football and forgot about the kids who idolise them. I haven't mentioned the team but if the lad reads this he know who he is and needs to ask himself one question, Why can't we get ref's anymore or asst ref's? Answer: Because of jerks like you its not worth it sometimes, and sadly you will kill the game.
World Cup opinions on the Referee's and also
Well it is all over for another 4 years, and the big question is where do I begin, now as you may have read I do not slate other referee's. In todays society we have to stick together, but for the first time I will say that at the worlds biggest sporting tournamant I will say it has been poor. However I do not blame the ref's I blame FIFA. Sorry to say but at the moment they are killing the game. The ref's are under enough pressure without FIFA adding to it. I was told once LAW 18 is the best of them all. LAW 18 is common sense but FIFA have lost this, Portugal Vs Holland game, the ref was following the letter of the law. So he was not at fault for what happened afterwards professional players trying to get others sent off (Ronaldo, I will get to you in a bit). This was FIFA being heavy with the ref's. Graham Poll admitted he has had enough of tournaments, this is why the FIFA interference, he didn't say so but he didn't need to. You may sit there and laugh at the three bookings, like evry football critic did, yes he is a world cup referee and a high level, but in that cauldron in the heat the same as the players mistakes happen, and I do not referee anywhere need this level, and feel the pressure of a cup game at amatuer level. Advice for all those who slated Graham, get on the ref course and go and do a few games, imagine a "higher body" FIFA saying you must do this and you must do that, even though its not your natural game and say you won't make a mistake.
So as you have read I don't actually blame the referee's, I blame FIFA, who can't make a straight decision in there life and truthfully are starting to ruin the beautiful game along side those other culprits, the over paid players. I don't expect some top football star to read this but if you do, YOU ARE RUINING THE GAME, the same game you love because everything is about results and not how you actually get them. You could play beautiful attacking footbal and everyone loves you, but will you win a prize, probably not, as Christian Ronaldo will come in and dive or argue and get a fellow "friend" teammate sent off and ruin your chances. (i didn't mean
OK
Rooney was fouled 3 times leading to his dismissal, I am not yet convinced Rooney did anything intentionally, I think he went for balance, the speed it happened, I do not belive it was intentional. Ok something extra on FIFA, Figo headbutted a Dutch player and couldn't be suspended as the player had been booked and you can't try someone for the same offence, they are now looking at Rooney regarding the so called "stamp" how can they he was sent off for it. But this is
Now Ronaldo and "the wink" I am sorry as a Man Utd fan to say the following, Ronaldo should be told by Fergie, you can come and clear your locker out, but only you can clear it. I will let you make your mind up regarding the one other person allowed in the locker room that day. You were disgusting to your team mate, the head butt before the game (FIFA are you looking into this) the wink after the sending off, you are a disgrace to football.
Another thing regrading the rules and the one I do not understand, ok lets put it another way I do understand, but do not understand why it is not carried out correctly. A keeper must stay on the line until the ball is kicked, sorry but the Portugal Keeper was a yard out of gaol then dived diagonally, the diving diagonaly is allowed but not the jumping out of goal before the ball is kicked and then dive. Sorry ref you were picky all game against
Now
You pick a team to go to the world cup, and the main part of the selection is to go with pace, then you don't use it WHY?
I really do not understand this thinking, everyone has said for a long time Lamapard and Gerard cannot play on the same team, in qualifiers Lampard performed and Gerrard different, in fact until this world cup I don't know why he gets the hype in an England shirt, how ever I did think he did well and Lampard did not, a brave manager would have dropped him. (I do know what the hype is for when playing
These are my views as well as Ronaldo to Real Madrid with Carrick and Lennon moving to Man Utd then it really will be move over
World Cup and Referees
I was reading an article today reagrding world cup referees. It was discussing the age of this years world cup ref's and how they are all over 30 and most in the 40's and then there is the line below. If you click it it takes you to the whole article. But it does say what it wrong with todays commentators.
"The reasons are all too clear when you see pictures of players angrily remonstrating with referees, while fans scream abuse from the stands and pundits pore over television pictures looking for the most marginal errors."
A great example for you, Sheffield Utd Vs Crystal Palace last game of the seaon and Crystal palace have a goal ruled out for offside, the commentator quite rightly spots that the player was level when the ball was played.The bit he forgets to mention he has watched it for the fifth or even sixth time in slow motion to come up with that conclusion. Isn't he the clever one, OK for those who have never ran the line at a football match, as a referee I will let you know it is the hardest job, it is harder than being in the middle. In the middle as a referee you have control you decide how you will run this game, your assistants follow you, yes they make decisions but they also have to be amazing. This incident at the sheffield Utd game, the assistant has to be looking at both theback line and the player with the ball at the same time, now add your 20000 fans, the noise and the pressure. Then watch it at full speed and watch it once and tell me you can make that decision. Not in slow motion, not six times but once at full speed. The problem with the modern game is the TV, technology is not needed it doesn't work in football, although I personnaly do support ball over the line technology. The rest "NO" football is full of opininions and that is what makes it great. So a commnetator have your view if you are Andy Gray go and ref a Sunday morning game without Asst Refs and change your views. The abuse you get, the TV has caused that. On Fifa 06 for the PS2 I like how it is said "lets have another look at that offside, of course the ref only gets one look" trying saying this on A sunday on TV or all commentators say these owrds make the public realise that a ref gets one look at full speed.
Remember Referees are leaving the game because of this abuse, soon there won't be enough refs which means no football, so commentatots please realise the damage you are doing to the game.
I am speaking here from both sides, I am next season U13's manager of Beighton Falcons and I am a referee, my team has just won the fair play award for the season, why probably because even after in one game two penalties were given agaiast us in the opening 10 minutes we didn't moan we got on with the game, it is meant to be enjoyed and ranting parents who know best ruin the game. We were fighting for promotion and just missed out we we not the bottom tem and got good marks, we plainly enjoy football and abusing the ref is wrong and he won't change his mind so why bother.
I love to win, I hate to lose and yes would prefer to get promoted than get the award for being nice, but why abuse a ref?
Interesting Question!
I was asked a question today by a couple of parents after refereeing an U16 game. The game had ended very heated and I was asked regarding rugby and football, if rugby is so physical why don't you have the trouble that you have with football? Followed by why is the rugby referee never get crititisised like football referee's? Two fantastic questions, the 2nd one is easier to answer than the 1st. In football everybody is an expert and no the rules the same if not more than the referee and sadly they only have one view which is why argumants happen as there view is the one that bests supports there team. This is why we have referees. The latter question also comes into the category of being slated each and every week on TV.
Archive
I haven't wrote too much lately, however some interesting things over the last month or so, firstly I refereed an adult game which for the first time I could have walked away from being a referee. The game I looked at trying to referee 1 of two ways, the first choice was keep your cards in your pocket and try and let the game flow, the 2nd choice was card for cards sake and hope you are left with enough players on the pitch at the end if they don't learn quickly. I opted for the first choice, big mistake. I was abused that much I considered abandoning the game and walking away, no matter what decision either way no matter how obvious was wrong.
So if you are an adult team and you would like to abuse the ref no matter what, remember this, what will you do when there are not enough ref's and no football can be played? It would be easier on the ref if there were Linesman or asst referee's but the abuse has already got rid of these making it even harder for the ref. When refereeing for an offside , you have to make sure someone is not being kicked or fouled, as well as looking at the line of defenders, and when the ball was played before you give an oddside, if you can understand the speed the adults game is played at and you have to do all this. You hav e4 defenders running at you and an attacker running at you, you give total abuse if you "think" he is wrong. No consideration at all. Yesterday I got to referee a game, where the ball was put through, immediately calls for offside was heard from the players and then a small bit of abuse before turning around and seeing the player who had played the attacker on.
Shout and appeal, even shout and appeal every 70/30 decision but do it once and if you haven't got it walk away.
The game I nearly walked away from because of this you question your own thought no matter how sure you are, you think your wrong but your not, the players are. I once saw this arrogance in a ref, his attitude was I shut them up after 10 minutes, he spoke down about the players, he had years of experience and now I know why.
While the FA go on about bringing referees and players closer together, at amateur level this can't happen, whilst they hear the likes of Andy Gray talking about referees and how much he has got it wrong, this will continue. Just like when Andy Gray goes on about managers and their tactics, all this coming from someone who hasn't done the job. I do beleive Andy Gray should be made to referee a match on his own without linesman and then comment also if he is that good he should be able to manage a team and when every competition as he knows all the correct tactics.
I recently watched my lad on Fifa 06, and unfortunately they have introduced Andy Gray to the commentary which ruins it for every one, however one of the lines he says on it is after an offside, was the referee can't see it again but we can, when has he said this? When has Andy (make life hell for ref's) Gray said this, if he said the ref got that wrong but we have just watched it for the 15th time from a different angle and three of us havedifferent opinions, so it is hard for the ref who sees it once and full speed and has to see everything else going on the pitch. Adult teams maybe a little bit more sypathetic, if a ref gets one small decision wrong.