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Referee didn’t turn up for my son’s U13 game this morning so the home side had the guy from the cafe stand-in. I was CAR and as he gave me his pre-match talk I got the impression he didn’t really want to do it so I said I was a referee myself and offered to officiate but he assured me he was an...

I had a match appointed last weekend that got called off due to a waterlogged pitch and so I got appointed to the same rescheduled fixture tomorrow. I hadn’t heard from the manager so this morning I sent him a message asking if the game was going ahead as I hadn’t had any contact. He replied...

I am amazed that the Gusto challenge on Willian wasn’t upgraded to a RC. Studs up with force above the ankle I was 100% sure VAR would recommend a review.

Thoughts on the Bernardo Silva foul throw? Was it down to the ball being released too early?

Not solely related to this game, but it happened again in this match and it was on my mind so why not.... At the 62' mark, Saka gets fouled and is rolling around on the deck when the referee blows up. Villa's Douglas Luiz who by now has the ball then shoots downfield towards the goal and earns...

Just been told that a disgruntled parent who was ejected from one of the U13 teams I am officiating on Sunday has posted on social media that he is planning on coming to the (away) game and ‘beating the coach up’ (he has already assaulted the coach hence his ejection) Hopefully it’s just hot...

Sorry for the long post. It took some time to process... I've heard it said many times on here not to let the game get away from you as a referee.... Well I hate to say it, but I had one of those yesterday. U13s A-League clash, both teams wanting to finish in 4th place so for the they both had...

Checked Sin Bin off my list of 'things I am yet to encounter in a game' U13s MJPL game and away team are 5-1 up. Almost at HT, home team on the attack and the CF gets into the area and there is an accidental trip and I award a penalty. Player that committed the foul starts moaning about how...

Finally back in the middle after weeks of illness (possibly long-covid) with an U13s game. I'm actively trying to be more vocal this season, something I found hard in my first half-season earlier this year. This went well and I found it actually made me more clear myself in the decisions I was...

Having spent most of this summer around cricket pavilions and pitches I made my return to football last week where I was in the middle for an U13s (11v11) friendly. Game went well with no major incidents apart from a short spell of tit-for-tat challenges and name-calling where I had to get the...

Just done my first 11v11 game (U15s) at very late notice as a local team had no ref turn up. So quickly grabbed all my things and headed out. Game went well despite my nerves. I managed to keep up with play and the game went by with very little drama until a late frustration-type challenge by...

Had a good natured U11s game yesterday with some good football played and a generally good attitude from most involved. I say ‘most’ as there was one lad on the away team who let himself down. The first thing that seemed to annoy him was my insistence that he retake a few of his throws (with...

I had a slightly unusual one yesterday in an U12 league game involving a team that is quite well known for being ‘difficult’ (this was my 4th game since qualifying) The first half was almost at a close with seconds left when a lad got ball to the face on the halfway line right in front of the...

I was a spectator at an U16s game last weekend (Reds vs Blues) as a friend's son was playing (for the Blues). Second half, the Red team are leading comfortably (6-1?) and a Red player (who the ref has already spoken to and has also got the captain to speak to) goes in for a challenge in what I...

My son plays in goal for a decent u12 side and there was a minor incident towards the end of his game yesterday that saw him in trouble with the ref. (I was on the line as CAR as I'm currently nursing an injury) As a bit of backstory, three weeks ago, at 2-1 up, the away team equalized. After...

During my recent referee course I became acutely aware of how inadequate my knowledge was when it came to the laws of the game, despite having qualified as a Level 1 coach and done some coaching at a youth level. Now, since doing my course, I often find myself being asked questions and more...

Hello all, After refereeing as a parent volunteer for a couple of seasons, I took the plunge and did the course... As by far the oldest one there, it was really good and I learnt a lot. However, 1 of my 5 games later and I hurt my back mopping up a water leak so frustratingly have been unable...