60+ assistant referee
- Thread starter Kent Ref
- Start date
I would imagine that's because at 60 + most peoples bodies can no longer cope with the physical demands of the game, but that doesn't mean that nobodies can. I personally would be delighted if I'm half as fit as I am now when I'm 60.
Russell Jones
RefChat Addict
Generally speaking, the biggest physical challenge to achieving this outcome is passing the sprint portion of the fitness test. 30m sprints in 4.7 seconds is increasingly difficult as time passes. Whereas passing the 75/25 run at 15s/20s remains ok if you are in good physical shape.
incredible if that is their age, there are a fair few much older (similar age) assistants on the local supply league who cannot keep up with play albeit no fitness test required for that, so to still be officiating at a very high level at that age is crazy. as X says I'd be pleased if i could cope with the physical demands in 30 years time still!
LothianRef
Member
I had to double check the details but Derek Eaton retired from being a Premier League AR in 2025, aged 61.
Age is irrelevant really, there are 60 year olds much fitter than 30 year olds. I'm mid-50s and am fitter now than I was 10 years ago, arguably more so than when I was operating at level 3. I'm certainly lighter with a lower body fat percentage.
I was watching a game at Hillsborough a few years ago where AR2 was obviously old, found out after he was 60. The guy sitting next to me, who knows I'm a referee, asked why that was allowed, but I then asked him if he was having any issues keeping up with play. To which the answer he gave back was no, so what was the issue?
A few years ago someone was promoted to the EFL AR list aged 59, and that was after he'd had a heart attack (think he may have had 2 from memory).
I was watching a game at Hillsborough a few years ago where AR2 was obviously old, found out after he was 60. The guy sitting next to me, who knows I'm a referee, asked why that was allowed, but I then asked him if he was having any issues keeping up with play. To which the answer he gave back was no, so what was the issue?
A few years ago someone was promoted to the EFL AR list aged 59, and that was after he'd had a heart attack (think he may have had 2 from memory).
Was the second heart attack when he got the EFL invitation
?I actually got it completely wrong, he was 52 when promoted, 6 years after he had a heart attack. Don't know where I got 59 from, unless that was his age when he came back off.Was the second heart attack when he got the EFL invitation
Even so, being promoted to EFL at 52 is still impressive.
I've had the pleasure of meeting Derek Eaton. What dedication to the cause to be in the prem in your 60s. Man proper looks after himself.
We have a referee in one of our supply leagues who's still going (L4) at the age of 66. They're out there.
Being cardio-vascularly fit enough to pass the fitness tests year in year out and move credibly on-field is one thing but I think that once you get past the age of 55, your ability to possess an explosive sprint really dwindles quickly, especially if you never had much of one to start with.
Being cardio-vascularly fit enough to pass the fitness tests year in year out and move credibly on-field is one thing but I think that once you get past the age of 55, your ability to possess an explosive sprint really dwindles quickly, especially if you never had much of one to start with.
They're almost all whipper snappers
At 6, 3" and medium build, I look frail and unhealthy when hitting the 90kg target of avoiding any sort of overweight BMI label
Despite my VO2max being in the top 10% for over 50's, I can't see how I'll be on the Supply League panel for all that much longer, as I'm not willing to look like Skelator (and Shrek) at the time
Even among much younger age groups, tall referees with a medium to large build are few in number
The "new" fitness test makes it much harder for older officials, no matter how fit you are your speed will decrease over time. The old Cooper test was easy for the distance, and whilst the sprints could be challenging there were no timing gates so those a bit off it often got away with it. That can't happen now and from what I have been told it is the sprints that are killing off the older officials
Rather than killing off our older officials could they have a long & happy retirement instead?
