The Ref Stop

Too old to take the referee course ???

James goodgame

James goodgame

New Member
I’m 42 just stopped playing and have been helping run my lads youth football team , this is their last season (u16) and I’ve decided to take the refereeing course to try and stay involved with football , on speaking to friends and from my experience most new refs are in their teens , starting to think I’m too old to become a referee !
 
The Ref Stop
James goodgame said:
I’m 42 just stopped playing and have been helping run my lads youth football team , this is their last season (u16) and I’ve decided to take the refereeing course to try and stay involved with football , on speaking to friends and from my experience most new refs are in their teens , starting to think I’m too old to become a referee !
Click to expand...
Apparently Level 3 is a feasible goal when starting out in early 40's
I also started at 42 and can't see any problems with this whatsoever
 
Cheers mate , since I applied for the course been chatting to people reffing mine and my lads games and they all seem to be really young , wasn’t sure if having played would be help or hinderence , did you start reffing kids games ?
 
I did a couple of seasons on junior games then started assisting on supply league games and got the bug for open age. I haven't done junior games except academy U16 and U18 and the occasional county youth cup games for years. Do start with juniors but take a few open age games as soon as you feel ready.
 
James goodgame said:
I’m 42 just stopped playing and have been helping run my lads youth football team , this is their last season (u16) and I’ve decided to take the refereeing course to try and stay involved with football , on speaking to friends and from my experience most new refs are in their teens , starting to think I’m too old to become a referee !
Click to expand...
Do it! I started at 39, now 45. I don’t want to say it’s changed my life, but it’s changed my life. Working with, learning from, competing with 17-60 year olds from all backgrounds has been an important part of it.

That said, it’s not easy at any age, and it’s not the same kind of fun or satisfaction as coaching or playing, it’s very different. What I’m getting at is: it might take time to get it or get into it so don’t be tash to judge, and in the end it’s not for everyone and age is probably a trivial factor compared to handling the concentration, people skills etc.
 
I started about 38, the Premier League called me a few times but I was always busy doing some real work for some proper money without the grief!!! Never mind,
 
James goodgame said:
wasn’t sure if having played would be help or hinderence
Click to expand...

Well, you'll know the tricks of the trade on how to disguise fouls etc, so that should help you with spotting them.

The only early hindrance I can think of is that you might get stuck with player's language. For example, saying it's a 'booking' instead of a 'caution', but that's easy enough to overcome.
 
iamniallo said:
I did my course in October and there was a 60/40 mix in favour of the youngsters but a fair few of us 30+
Click to expand...

I would guess, statistically speaking, that it's the older referees who continue in the job after a year has passed.

I could be wrong of course (wouldn't be the first time :D ) but I'd imagine a lot of the youngsters on the course would be there for "D of E" reasons or suchlike without really having the full intention of taking up the whistle beyond the course. They're also likely to have had a parent pay the course fee for them.
As an adult, you've obviously made the choice to give it a go and more than likely forked out the dosh to attend the course yourself and so for me, there's a greater likelihood that you'll remain refereeing after Season 1.

The trouble we have with refereeing at grass roots in this country is (IMO) that we don't do enough to encourage the older guys (normally ex players themselves) to do the course. These are the people who need to be targeted to ensure that grass roots football at it's base level survives. Sure, the youngsters are the future of EFL and EPL refereeing if they're ultimately good enough, but how many 18-20 year olds want to spend 90 mins in the company of a bunch of snarling thirty to forty somethings on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning? Answer = none of em!! Fact is, in a poll I did on here a few weeks back, of the 77 members that voted, 57% were over 30 and 42% were over 40 years of age. :cool:
 
James goodgame said:
I’m 42 just stopped playing and have been helping run my lads youth football team , this is their last season (u16) and I’ve decided to take the refereeing course to try and stay involved with football , on speaking to friends and from my experience most new refs are in their teens , starting to think I’m too old to become a referee !
Click to expand...
Don’t worry about the youngsters the county FA wants them to go academy for the future and the kudos the RDO will get for it !! I’m in my late sixties I don’t smoke or drink eat fairly well and train three times a week we are needed to ref the under 13s 14s etc and they respect an older ref ( well so they say) inref teo games on a Sunday with no problem and I really enjoy it !! Go for it
 
James goodgame said:
I’m 42 just stopped playing and have been helping run my lads youth football team , this is their last season (u16) and I’ve decided to take the refereeing course to try and stay involved with football , on speaking to friends and from my experience most new refs are in their teens , starting to think I’m too old to become a referee !
Click to expand...

I've just turned 45, did my course four months ago, 18 people only 3 over 18. Kids want to do it for pocket money - £20 for a game beats stacking shelves in Sainsbury's!?
 
James goodgame said:
How did you find the course ? have you done your five games since ?
Click to expand...

It took a while to fit in the safeguarding course (why does a ref need a 3 hour safeguarding course, especially when he's done trustee and scouts safeguarding...). The ref course was good, but I felt like the only person with questions. The youf just sat there, but I wanted to know the why's and wherefores and wouldn't accept woolly answers. I think the instructors enjoyed the challenge!

I've done five games of youth football, plus I've been refereeing my oldest as he's gone u7 to u9, although that's teaching them the game as much as anything else. I've found the youth League games fairly easy, only the second game giving me any challenge and that was because my calves were slowing me down (old knee injury).

I've stepped up to adult now, with my first game tomorrow. I do need to go sit the exam as well...
 
James goodgame said:
I’m 42 just stopped playing and have been helping run my lads youth football team , this is their last season (u16) and I’ve decided to take the refereeing course to try and stay involved with football , on speaking to friends and from my experience most new refs are in their teens , starting to think I’m too old to become a referee !
Click to expand...

Never too old. The only barrier that age might have depends on your ambition. You may be a bit late if you aspire to becoming a top flight professional referee, but if you are doing this to continue an active involvement in football then there’s nothing to stop you.

I did my course when I was 51, and initially I wanted to support the league my son plays in. Since then I have done a lot more but all still mainly youth. I enjoy it, keeps me involved and contributes to my overall fitness.

On my course the ratio of adults to teans was probably 30/70. Most of the younger ones were eithe DoE or in it for the money. The adults were in two camps, like me getting involved in youth football or reached the end of playing and want to keep involved. I have kept in touch with the adults from the course.
 
Just to echo AJPeacock I did my course at 51 just to stay involved after my son moved from junior football to OA. Registered with the local leagues, did my 5 games within 3 weeks and never looked back. Due to my daughter playing on Saturday dinnertime I am restricted to kick off times but always manage to fit at least one game in. I get enough phone calls in the week off teams with no ref so at least one game fits the bill. The Sunday league usually give me two games a week. My advice is go for it, I benefit from the exercise put the fees to one side and hey ho plenty of holiday spending money. And it gets me out of the way of the wife for a few hours .:)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kes
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top