No, there is nothing. No pass mark, so maximum number of below standards allowed, no minimum number of above standards, etc. Entirely down to each CFA to decide if they are ready to be promoted every two months.
Far too many L4/5s
- Thread starter Tom_R
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looks promising.
Russell Jones
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I take it posting all the feedback is frowned upon or not allowed.
This is a 6-5 I did on Saturday passed.
Got lucky as the game had two argumentative and feisty teams, that I have refereed a lot and I secretly get along well with them.
My feedback was to keep my arm in the air for IDFK until the ball has touched a second player or gone out of play, and to work hard to get the sun behind me, even if it means going super wide, which was difficult as it was a large pitch, where both sides were just launching it.
Also I got a mistake in my strengths, basically ball went out of play, and I raised my hand the wrong direction, realised what I did, and changed direction, and it could have looked like I was influenced by those around me, but I smiled and joked my way out of it.
This is a 6-5 I did on Saturday passed.
Got lucky as the game had two argumentative and feisty teams, that I have refereed a lot and I secretly get along well with them.
My feedback was to keep my arm in the air for IDFK until the ball has touched a second player or gone out of play, and to work hard to get the sun behind me, even if it means going super wide, which was difficult as it was a large pitch, where both sides were just launching it.
Also I got a mistake in my strengths, basically ball went out of play, and I raised my hand the wrong direction, realised what I did, and changed direction, and it could have looked like I was influenced by those around me, but I smiled and joked my way out of it.
You can kind of ignore this.
Obviously, you MUST raise your arm for idfk and keep it raised until, it touches another player or goes out of play but there was also an addition to law allowing you to lower your arm as soon as it is clear the ball won't go into the goal!
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I believe this is a nationwide issue. There was a shortage of 3 and 4's so the FA priotised getting the numbers filled. Now they have too many. I understand the requirement for a 5-4 has changes, or may be in my county, to 25 middles and 25 lines (of course and passing the observations etc).. As mentioned above the FA may be strict on their retention criteria and thus "re-classify" a few this summer. The other option is to change the league steps that officials referee on thus where a L5 refereed it may change to a L4 covering the middles in that league.
I have mentioned to a few candiates on 5-4 - if they want regular games stay as a 5..
I have mentioned to a few candiates on 5-4 - if they want regular games stay as a 5..
To be quite honest the standard of some promoted from 5 - 4 is way below what it should be.
As a 4 we have to run step 3 lines, so why are 5-4 candidates not assessed on being an AR as well?
As a 4 we have to run step 3 lines, so why are 5-4 candidates not assessed on being an AR as well?
One thing I do that seems to bemuse other referees when I tell them.
I've not had it brought up by an observer afaicr, but it feels nice not having to leave my arm up so long
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RefGod
Active Member
As previously mentioned, the numbers at most levels are wrong and the only real solution, particularly nearer to the top of non-league is to tighten the fitness test and body fat requirements. The standard of ARs around Steps 2/3 simply isn't good enough and this is exacerbated by disillusioned 4's on contrib who line most of the time and promoted 3s essentially not being linos automatically assisting at Step 2 until they specialise.
I remember my regional Level 4 promotional meeting. Neale Barry and many other FA representatives were there. Whilst supply league doesn't seem like a serious standard of football to me now, at the time it was monumental. The money within most Step 3 clubs isn't a joke and the football/referees shouldn't suffer because promotion to level 4 is automatic with ARs simply not caring. Refereeing Steps 5/6 isn't the issue here, it's where 4's assist and do they really want to be there. That being said, with the 4SAR pathway, at least they can now progress through the system which should be an incentive. I couldn't rise above contrib line as a 4, now we have 4's assisting within the EFL.
I remember my regional Level 4 promotional meeting. Neale Barry and many other FA representatives were there. Whilst supply league doesn't seem like a serious standard of football to me now, at the time it was monumental. The money within most Step 3 clubs isn't a joke and the football/referees shouldn't suffer because promotion to level 4 is automatic with ARs simply not caring. Refereeing Steps 5/6 isn't the issue here, it's where 4's assist and do they really want to be there. That being said, with the 4SAR pathway, at least they can now progress through the system which should be an incentive. I couldn't rise above contrib line as a 4, now we have 4's assisting within the EFL.
Doesn’t shock me. I’m a 7-6 and 4W-3W candidate and I’m going round BEGGING appointment officers for games a lot of weeks. Usually because I give availability to one league but most leagues don’t sort appointments until Tuesday the week of. I’m only looking for one game a week and it’s so much chasing to make sure it happens.
Can only imagine as team pools shrink then it must get harder and harder.
Can only imagine as team pools shrink then it must get harder and harder.
Only problem with that is Observations on the line at Level 4 are like playing Bingo. I've literally had the FULL range of scores and the only thing separating the games is the lottery of what happens in front of you. A bit of hyperbole there, but it's not a million miles off the truth
Not the same at L3 and above however. I understand observations get brutal higher up the chain. Different kettle of fish
At Level 4, the observer is really there to observe the Referee. It's almost impossible for them to focus on the ARs to any extent and there's no way of determining the accuracy of offside decisions and the like. If you're roughly in line and it's not a wildly wrong indication, every offside decision is credited. If you get lots of offside involvement, happy days, if you don't you're knackered. Simple as that. Same extends to fouls and misconduct to a lesser extent
It's just had one...
You're not massively wrong but a good AR at this level can and will stand out.
Too many fouls, and to a lesser extent offsides, suggests over involvement. Obviously is does depend on what happens on the right areas, but there are always opportunities to show different skills and a good observer will recognise that. It's also about knowing and thinking about when they will be looking at you.
Assisting is a fine art of when to get involved and when not. I'm pretty certain 1 decision probably cost me a step 1 promotion. Indicated a foul, ref disagreed over ruling me and observer backed ref. In my opinion it was a foul but ultimately I accepted the over arching point in that it was not my foul to get involved in. Ref was closer and it was just outside my credible area. And that's how fine the margins are. Flag for a foul, that's a foul, and the wind blows a different way and you are out of the picture.
Realise that I am speaking from a level 3 perspective and it is a little different at level 4.
Yeah, agree with that. I think I've only pinged an AR once for a missed offside, and that was luck on my part as it was a ground where the only stand is behind the goal so I just happened to be stood directly behind him when he missed it. I'm not criticising an AR for an offside decision when they are level and I'm not, at least not unless it is an absolute howler.