Ive been a referee for almost 3 years now really enjoying myself and want to get promoted to a new level. I've applied to an adults league and wondered if anyone had some advice for me as a 16 year old in his first year at adults level.
Advice
- Thread starter michaelfletcher
- Start date
I don't have any adults level experience, but some general advice:
- Be confident! You are qualified to ref, you know what your doing
- Enjoy it! No point doing something you don't want to be doing
- Focus! Football is fast-paced - you won't want to miss anything
I started doing Open Age this season - albeit I'm a year or two older than you are right now.
The main difference between adults and youth is obviously the level of tolerance for dissent.
Expect to get a lot more comments about your ability (not that they're in any way founded) and I've noticed my age is always fascinating to managers when I turn up to a game.
You'll get a lot more players who think they know the laws (I'd be surprised if they actually did) better than you, and they'll be very generous with their advice - best bet is to ignore them.
I agree with everything @Gabriel said above - at the end of the day it's still park football and ultimately it's about enjoyment.
Expect a more challenging environment, but personally I've found having to manage players with a personality more enjoyable and it's actually made youth football feel a little bit dull in comparison!
If you can, get someone to come along to mentor/match day coach you, and definitely find out if you can get work as an AR on a higher league as that is the best way to learn.
Enjoy and good luck!!
The main difference between adults and youth is obviously the level of tolerance for dissent.
Expect to get a lot more comments about your ability (not that they're in any way founded) and I've noticed my age is always fascinating to managers when I turn up to a game.
You'll get a lot more players who think they know the laws (I'd be surprised if they actually did) better than you, and they'll be very generous with their advice - best bet is to ignore them.
I agree with everything @Gabriel said above - at the end of the day it's still park football and ultimately it's about enjoyment.
Expect a more challenging environment, but personally I've found having to manage players with a personality more enjoyable and it's actually made youth football feel a little bit dull in comparison!
If you can, get someone to come along to mentor/match day coach you, and definitely find out if you can get work as an AR on a higher league as that is the best way to learn.
Enjoy and good luck!!
Great news - you'll have far less trouble with problematic parents than you may or may not have had at youth level. The caveat to that is that you'll get a little more from the people on the field. Some will see you're young and perhaps give you a bit of leeway. Some will see it as their opportunity to push their luck. Be confident in awarding what you've awarded, don't deem a player asking a question as dissent, some players will love it when you talk to them and explain things, but don't be drawn in to over explaining it or explaining it and then letting them continue to debate with you. 'Not enough for a foul for me, but I hear what you're saying', etc.
Ultimately though, don't let them run the show just because they're adults. You're the boss, so don't let them undermine you.
As said above, enjoy it! Go and watch other local football and see how other refs do it, and definitely, as said above, run the line on step 5/6 leagues if you can and learn from the referee there. You'll see good ones and bad ones, so remember the bits you like.
Honestly congrats for having the confidence for qualifying and now pushing on for promotion! I and many on here lacked the confidence until our 20s!
I echo the above, see if any local leagues take Level 7s as ARs, my local county senior league does. You learn a huge amount from the referees on those leagues and gain confidence through the tools they share.
Confidence in your decisions and dealing with dissent is key, this comes with time in my experience so don't dwell on the **** games. You're a level 7 and they will happen, we see the professionals have them! Learn from them and then forget the crappy feelings. Every game is a new game, and every mistake is probably one you won't make again.
My first adult game I gave a goal for a penalty rebound off the post and scored by the taker with no other players touching it. Howler! Never made that mistake again...
Kes
I'll Decide ...
The "physicality" will be different. Challenges performed faster and with likely more "robustness" to them than youth football.
Have a clear idea in your head what you think constitutes careless, reckless, excessive at that level and go with your gut.
Dissent and verbals have already been mentioned so as a result, your "people skills" on field will probably take a steep learning curve. Just don't get embroiled in drawn out dialogue or feeling like you have to verbally justify every decision is the best advice to give here.
Enjoy it.
And don't let any moron put you off it.
Have a clear idea in your head what you think constitutes careless, reckless, excessive at that level and go with your gut.
Dissent and verbals have already been mentioned so as a result, your "people skills" on field will probably take a steep learning curve. Just don't get embroiled in drawn out dialogue or feeling like you have to verbally justify every decision is the best advice to give here.
Enjoy it.
And don't let any moron put you off it.
