Members Blogs

And then there were four (sort of) ... It's not been a good day as I received an email confirming I'd been unsuccessful in applying for a job I really wanted and the promised feedback wasn't delivered either, so I'm no wiser as to where I went wrong. I'm hoping that it was just a badly constructed application rather than my skills and experience falling short of the required standard. My second dose of rejection came as I followed up on a letter advising me I'd been identified as a match for someone needing a bone marrow donation. Now for some the thought of needles being inserted in their back to drain some fluid out of their spine and the after effects in terms of the pain supposedly associated with the procedure put people off...

Three's company and 25 is a football training session. Just as I was about to leave work the heavens opened and it rained heavily for at least 30 minutes. The drive home saw me passing through a large number of deep puddles and I thought the field we use might be under water. Well it wasn't quite, but it was a lot softer than it has been so I switched from trainers to boots. Steve and Eddie had already started training and were doing fartleks around the field, running one side, walking three, running two, walking two, running three, walking one and finishing by running all four sides. I'd considered that as well but with a local football team setting up a training session in the top half of the field, we (Neil, Paul and I) would have...

Did someone mention drought? Since it was announced that much of eastern England was facing drought like conditions it's hardly stopped raining. So tonight it was a case of beat the rain. We started with our usual 5 minute run followed by shuttles for the warm up. Our shuttles involve jogging from the goal line to the edge of the penalty area and back (distance 33m in total), then on the way out to the edge we do a series of exercises ... side to side left foot leading, side to side right foot leading, high knees, bum kicks, two steps to the left then two steps to the right, finishing up with the hamstring walk. Each time the exercises are done on the way out to the edge of the penalty area and then we jog back to the start point on...

Isn't he on the telly? After a long afternoon cooking, eating and drinking to celebrate Father's Day I wasn't feeling very chipper today at work and even went as far as breaking my new rule ... I drank coffee on a training day. The snack machine also pinched my cash as I tried to buy a Twix (other chocolate bars are available) but I ignored the omen and went for a Double Decker instead ... and regretted it later when I felt queasy during training. I arrived right on time to find Mr H (Football League ref who makes occasional appearances on the Football League Show) and Ricky had joined Steve and they were doing a high intensity session. James P had also turned up very early and was part way through his exercise. This left Paul, Neil...

I should be in a muddy field ... All the people who turned up on Monday disappeared, apart from Paul and he'd been to the physio for a back problem and arrived with strict instructions not to do any exercise. Meanwhile I was regretting my decision to allow my Glastonbury ticket to lapse (that was until I saw the weather there) and needed a decent run out. Life was made more difficult with a local football team in the top half of the field, a ladies football team training in the bottom quadrant and a youth team occupying the top field and much of the rugby field alongside the field we usually use. So in a tight space it was time to run in straight lines and I decided to repeat the exercise from Training 4.3. Now I have been feeling...

After this Saturday when England no doubt struggle to draw against Switzerland, there really is a lack of football this summer. Well not really. As during June we have the Uefa U21 Championship in Denmark. Plus in July the Copa America. Just seen this video via Soccerblog that has been put together to help promote it. Continue reading...

School boy football lesson 1, DO NOT TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE BALL! Seen via the Offside.com Continue reading...

The referee of the first ever World Cup final, in 1930, happened to be a Belgian: John Langenus. As fortune has it, he spoke Dutch. In fact, he even wrote in Dutch: memoirs of his refereeing career and the travels he made. Good for me, as I'm Dutch. And good for you, as I can tell you about it :) More about his life here: John Langenus. Enjoy!

About 10 years ago, just after quitting refereeing, Jeff Winter published his memoirs. Hate him or like him, he does have something to say. Read more here. Don't be shy to comment ;)

Mike Dean and Stuart Attwell find themselves in the Championship this weekend - out of respect to the competition. Dean is in The post Big game referees in Championship appeared first on You Are The Ref. Continue reading...

The weekend games once again threw up glaring errors made by our top referees. The second tier of professional referees who operate The post Hackett’s Verdict: Is decision making at an all time low? appeared first on You Are The Ref. Continue reading...

I await with some anticipation the detail with regard to how the introduction of sin bins at grassroots level will operate. Many of The post HACKETT’S VERDICT: Is this sin bin trial workable? appeared first on You Are The Ref. Continue reading...

Aberdeen FC recently won their appeal to have a yellow card shown to James Maddison for simulation rescinded. It highlights the lack The post Hackett’s Verdict: Time for the FA to follow Scotland’s lead appeared first on You Are The Ref. Continue reading...

You Are The Ref's Keith Hackett is calling for an extended stadium ban for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. This follows Wenger pushing The post Hammer Wenger for sake of all referees appeared first on You Are The Ref. Continue reading...

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says he is being treated to different rules than his fellow Premier League counterparts. The Portuguese appeared The post Jose Mourinho is right – he is being treated unfairly appeared first on You Are The Ref. Continue reading...

10-man Bournemouth earned a draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford at the weekend, in a match that had two unpleasant incidents The post Kevin Friend’s Old Trafford nightmare was the worst Premier League refereeing display this season appeared first on You Are The Ref. Continue reading...

It's been a torrid time this term for the son of current Cheltenham Town boss Gary. Having played for Watford and Arsenal The post Lee Johnson: ‘Let’s find the funds to turn more refs pro’ appeared first on You Are The Ref. Continue reading...

Juan Mata's 49th-minute strike gave Manchester United a much-needed victory at Leicester, but questions remain as to whether he should have even The post Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata lucky to get away with yellow for tackle on Leicester City forward Jamie Vardy appeared first on You Are The Ref. Continue reading...

Thank god it’s another 156 days to the next international break! With the tedium now over, we can concentrate on domestic matters The post Runners and Riders: Premier League officials in Week 30 appeared first on You Are The Ref. Continue reading...

A delegation from www.you-are-the-ref.com had the pleasure of teaming up with our friends at CALSOUTH, California recently. We were able to look at The post Top team visit Top Gun appeared first on You Are The Ref. Continue reading...