Members Blogs

Gazprom is looking for 3 kids who want to be Referee Escort during the Uefa Super Cup in Cardiff. You can win 2 tickets: one for the kid, one for you. The message that Gazprom has sent out: “If your … Continue reading → Continue reading...

Referee development is crucial to become a better referee. But it might be difficult for you to find the best ways to progress. In this blog Carol Anne Chenard shares a few techniques and will give you tips that get in the right mindset to develop and improve. I’ve spoken with the former Canadian top […] Continue reading...

Referee Damir Skomina announced his retirement. The Slovenian top referee had to undergo another medical operation and decided to quit, despite “his will, desire and effort” to continue. That’s what he wrote on his Instagram @damir.skomina. He has some great tips for you too when you struggle with an injury. Career of the Slovenian match official […] Continue reading...

A question in a tweet from the Aldershot RA got me thinking. It says: “What do we thinkg gives us credibility as a referee?” They asked referees during a meeting, and I think it’s a very good thing referees should … Continue reading → The post Referee credibility: 3 factors that will help appeared first on Football: Dutch Referee Blog for match officials. Continue reading...

The Referee Conference in Dublin is where you should be on the 10th of January 2015. You’ll learn from top class international football and rugby referees plus a psychologist who helped the Irish Olympic team. So, top class professionals who … Continue reading → Continue reading...

Referee Clément Turpin officiates the Europa League final in 2021 and will go to the next European Championships. In this blog post you’ll get a look into his career, plus some great insights in his fitness routines and match preparation. The quotes in this story come from the wonderful Uefa documentary Man in the Middle. You […] Continue reading...

Referee Claudia Umpierrez from Uruguay will officiate the opening match at the Women’s World Cup 2019. She can’t wait to get involved in a this big tournament in France. “The 90 minutes of every match is what it all comes down to. You have all this preparation but that is the important part.” But how […] Continue reading...

Can a referee cheer during a game? I once officated a youth game in my home town. I gave a free kick. The team took it fast to a player who was not in offside position, but the ball was still moving at the moment it was taken. I whistle and ordered a re-take. Many […] Continue reading...

The referee cam was introduced in a MLS Soccer game last weekend. Rugby also experienced with this new technology. Would it only bring action closer to the tv viewers or are there benefits for the referees as well? Read the … Continue reading → The post Referee cam: would this help referees? appeared first on Football: Dutch Referee Blog for match officials. Continue reading...

A new badge for my referee badge collection: the Uefa Fair Play badge. Check out my full referee badge collection. Want to swap? Send me an e-mail on dutchreferee@gmail.com. Also interested in this Uefa Fair Play badge? Someone’s even selling … Continue reading → Continue reading...

I’m always surprised by the ball control of the blind football players – what a technique. Look how this man holds the ball to his feet and scores. Funny too: he can’t see his teammates, so tries to hug the referee. I bet none of you got a hug from a player in your match. Continue reading...

Dutch FA announces the Referee assessor now in advance for all amateur referees. That led to some curiosity online. I also heared about the first referee who called off his game because he saw in the online portal that a stern assessor would visit him. That latter is a bad thing. My solution would be […] Continue reading...

When can we expect it: a referee as Athlete of the Year in The Netherlands? Dutch sports organisation NOC*NSF will announces the male and female athletes of 2014 on December 12. All World, European and Olympic Champions are automatically nominated … Continue reading → Continue reading...

The referee age limit will be abolished soon, announced the Fifa Executive Committee. Now international referees have to stop at the age of 45. Fifa regulations say that a referee “shall not have reached the age of 45 [born in … Continue reading → Continue reading...

Referees can leave their pencil and notebook at home. All they need is a smartphone. That seems like something for future referees, but according to The Next Web a Mexican referee has officiated a match with Referee Pro, “a smartphone app that will see the first ever football match kick off today with a professional match official using his mobile phone to record events, as well as dishing out yellow and red cards”. The referee appointed for last Thursday’s match between América and Tecos was Miguel Pensamiento. The use of a the digital notebook in an official match is the ultimate test for producer Siine. They wrote on their website that “this will road-test the new tool in a live environment. Referee decisions will even be directly...

Ross McMenemy is the initiator of RefChat The Refereeing Forum. It’s an online support network where referees can share their experiences and learn from each other. In this story Ross tells why you should register too, plus he adds some great tips for you to punt into practice. Go directly to the Refchat forum. How […] Continue reading...

Ref, you suck is a new TSN documentary about refereeing. It’s about different sports, but we’ll also see soccer/football. One of the people they speak with is Howard Webb, general manager at PRO. “Our self-belief is challenged all the time by the players”, says Webb in the video. “You are dealing with players who are […] Continue reading...

Barry Cook has been a talented goalie, even got 27 caps as youth international. This season, ten years after he stopped with goalkeeping, he has been promoted to Scottish top refereeing category. Barry Cook in the SFL Division 3 match between Berwick Rangers FC and Queens Park FC. Photo privided by referee. “My first season refereeing at the top category in Scotland has gone well so far”, says Barry Cook to Dutch Referee Blog. “I have been refereeing since the age of 17 – I am now 32 years old – but combined my playing and refereeing until the age of 22. At this point I made the decision to concentrate on trying to get to the top level of refereeing.” Name: Barry Cook Date of Birth: 6th June 1979 Referee since: 1998 Admitted to SFA...

An Argentine player creates riot on football pitch after picking up a dog from the pitch and throwing it over the fence. The player Enzo Jimenez saw the dog on the field of play in the match between San Juan … Continue reading → The post Red card for throwing dog over the fence appeared first on Football: Dutch Referee Blog for match officials. Continue reading...

Goalscorer gets a red card from the referee for headbutting dugout in football match on Italian amateur level between Ponticelli – Riolo Terme. Result: Ponticelli – Riolo Terme 1-3 SINTESI Competition: Campionato 2°Categoria Girone P 2013-2014 Match date: 09-02-2014 Location: … Continue reading → Continue reading...