L3 Induction - Warwick
- Thread starter Will_A
- Start date
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Archer
🟨 C1 (BE)
It's a trap! Double lucozades all round.
Steady on, lucozade is high in sugar! You're an athlete!It's a trap! Double lucozades all round.
but yes, lets meet for waters and SIS Gels.
Ciders before an induction day at Warwick is the way to go.
A certain someone in here can confirm with me
A certain someone in here can confirm with me
Runner Ref
RefChat Addict
Nice to see they've still not changed it!
I gave practically the exact same feedback when I did mine years back. There seems to be a bit of an idea that people know how to be a 4th official, when it reality, there's more to it than people think.
Always fun watching a newbie try and do a double sub with the board
Or holding up the numbers the wrong way round!
A lad I know who has had a very quick rise through the ranks to current L2 was 4th official to me in a county cup final 2023/24 season. It was his first ever 4th man at any level and he held up the board for a substitution with literally nothing on it. 2 4th official appearances later, he was 4th man at Southend United in front of 9000 fans. Crazy really.
Will be interesting to see if they retain comms at NL N/S with so many units failing last season, though some on ERDP had the Rolls Royce version, which all need to have really. However, even with the comms kit officials had, it was still good for development purposes etc, where Referee’s quickly discovered less is more (with communication).
Believe they may be giving referees their own comms kits for this season. Not sure if that'll be the better version or still the old ones but at least making an individual responsible for it so they will report any faults etc...
Also, vanishing spray to be used at step 2 next season!
Runner Ref
RefChat Addict
Comms is really what they need to focus on at those events (if it still isn’t)
The worst comms kits were the ones that were initially used on the WSL. The clubs had to look after them and charge them. You just got them handed to you before the game. They were woeful
4th officials are lucky if they have their board still in possession at the end of a game at Roots Hall. At least one I am aware of had it smashed by players having a hissy fit! An expensive lesson to learn - don’t put it down without being right next to it etc.
Referees taking responsibility is so much better. Hardly any of the clubs I visited took any care with charging etc & may also be the case that those officials that used them didn’t place them back in the right order & with bits missing - though this is not confirmed since some clubs may have done that during any potential re-charging. Good idea too with vanishing spray at Level/Step 2.
totally agree, i was fortunate enough to get a 4th man gig in a Trophy game last season, step 3 vs national league north team, absolutely nerve racking for me as i had no idea what to do for the best., due to no previous experience at being a 4th.
Luckily i had only 3 subs to deal with at 3 sperate times. scenarios like this i feel need some sort of instruction, going into next season the anxiety is already at the back of my mind.
if anyone has any tips please drop them below
Runner Ref
RefChat Addict
First and foremost, make sure you understand what the referee wants from you. Just as you would when running the line.
When handing sub cards out, write your name along the top. Can be a nice little ice breaker and means they’re more likely to call you by your name- always makes things a bit more personable.
Don’t rush things, take your time. Make sure the sub is ready to come on before you start any procedures. If they’re still faffing about with tape and so on, they can wait until next stoppage (unless ref wants to use that time to kill things a tad)
Stand in as neutral a spot as you can. Not too close to either bench and not too close to the stadium announcer (I actually got done at Fylde for having a chat with him)
Make sure you have a ball ready, but only roll it on when referee asks for it. And roll, don’t kick the ball! Tip for this; if the ball is needed at other side/end of the pitch, give the ball to the team who are losing. If you give it to the team winning, they’re going to use it as a time wasting tactic
Have some form of sweets
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Clubs all have their own subs cards now (well at step 2 level anyway) so you wouldn't be able to do this, but good advice on the rest of it!
In my first game as a Conference 4th official it was my first time using a board, I had no idea about the Function button so put up 0004 for added time at the end of the first half. I was "educated" at half time
I thought it was poor, waste of time.
Nobody has got to L3 without knowing how to manage a ceremonial free kick or when/when not to play advantage.
More training on 4th man duties, comms and the subs board would be far better.
I've been 4th man twice in my career... once in a grassroots cup final where neither side had a clue what I was there for. The other in a pre season friendly where the ref said not to bother with the board as both sides made 11 subs at half time!
Not a clue how the boards work!
I wasn’t there so it’s not really fair to make comment. However, what I can say is that I can assure you that not only are there some L3’s and L2’s who are only average in managing a ceremonial free kick, but also very average when not to play Advantage. Also, I agree that drilling down on 4th official duties with the use of comms and the sub board would have been a good idea & i am sure Nathan & Ross would have wanted to happen, but not so easy to deliver with the probable requirement of comms kits (not just 1,2,3 or 4, but many so that it can be delivered to all in a reasonable period of time), but also the requirement of a sub board. Last year comms kits were available for the L2 training event at Warwick, though I suspect many are still being refurbished (again) following the many failures during last season. Although not ideal, assuming the 4th official arrives at the ground 90 or so mins before the game, there is an ideal opportunity to get used to the board (assuming that the club are still not charging it up etc).