A&H

First game - How long?

iamniallo

New Member
Afternoon folks,

Recently completed first part of the course, now going into the requirement for a min of 5 games before the next meet.

I was just wondering how long after your course you completed your first game. I have no affiliation with any teams so just doing it for a hobby. Got in touch with bloke in charge of assigning games and passed over my details. Heard nothing back in a month now, should I be chasing or am I being unrealistic. I asked to start off with a few youth games rather than straight in at OA, obviously I have no idea how far in advance appointments are made so dont want to seem like a pest but I also have one eye on the course date in Feb for when the games need to be done.

I also emailed bloke in charge of assigning mentors and they are dealing with a couple of genuine issues that have cause a back log but said I would hear back from him. This was two weeks ago. Again, dont want to nag, but also want to show that I am trying to do something about it so I dont turn up in Feb without having the games done.

Advice would be great, is this normal or should I drop them another email?
 
The Referee Store
Hey, sounds odd you are struggling to get games. I would definitely chase.

I would also contact league ref secretaries directly.

A good start here would be to tell us where abouts you are based, then someone closer to that location can give u a better view of who to talk to
 
Hi James, appreciate the swift response.

The people I have emailed are the Referee's Appointment Secretary and Head of Mentoring for North Riding FA, I assume the former is the "RefSec" (still getting the lingo!)

I will drop them another email then, just didn't want to if it was normal to wait this amount of time.
 
When you say "sign up to" what do you mean exactly?

Is this registering with someone or is there an actual process to sign up.

(I didn't reply to who I have emailed with names as I don't want to throw anyone under the bus as it is likely just a genuine oversight, but I am York/Malton based)
 
Thanks for the reply @es1 I have sent you message on here with names. As I say, Im sure its a thankful task so dont want to name names publicly!
 
Good advice, Im fully wanting to get involved with OA, I just thought for pace of the game I would be better starting with youth
 
I wasn't assigned any games in the county I qualified as they were oversubscribed (mainly with kids who had just done the course as part of their DoE). Received no further help after 3 weeks so I went to the next county and contacted ever single league secretary for every league. 2 weeks later I'd got all my qualifying games in. If your unsure about this or any other issues, such as no contact from the home team of the game you're due to ref a few days before the game, be proactive!
 
I wasn't assigned any games in the county I qualified as they were oversubscribed (mainly with kids who had just done the course as part of their DoE). Received no further help after 3 weeks so I went to the next county and contacted ever single league secretary for every league. 2 weeks later I'd got all my qualifying games in. If your unsure about this or any other issues, such as no contact from the home team of the game you're due to ref a few days before the game, be proactive!
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Initially, I couldn't even get replies to emails and calls from RefSecs, let alone games. The trainee phase I experienced would've been enough to put some refs off; before even getting started
 
Thanks for all your replies and help, Looks like a miscommunication error that hopefully is resolved now. Will let you all know how it goes.

Big thanks to @JamesL and @es1
 
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Of all the things that referees struggle locally for here, getting games isn’t one of them. I could have had half a dozen a weekend back in the day! Once a league get your number the appointments should follow!
 
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Just need to get the right details of appointment secs for different leagues and let them know you need games, once you’ve had one they should put you on regularly.

I reffed my first one the first weekend after I completed the course.
 
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