The Ref Stop

Am I being held back unfairly?

Gio

Gio

New Member
Level 7 Referee
So I've mentioned on here that I made a mess of my previous level 6 promotion application.

So decided to get my head down and wait for this new one. However I am being told by someone * official title super mentor. Basically guy that sorts out Mentors and assessors that he isn't prepared to okay me to go for level 6 until he has done some work with me and got me to the required standard.

Exchange went as follows:

"As I have explained previously I do not think that you are ready to push yourself through to the next level as I believe you still have a lot of work to do as you change from a player to a referee. When you get over your injury I will organise another mentor visit for you & hopefully I will be able to give you different advice. "

I replied :


Ultimately a move to level 6 where I'll be reffing at the same level as now is completely up to me is it not?

*frustration finally got the better of me here as he has just been such a negative influence over a month or so. I didn't bite straight away!

To which I got :

"Yes it is your choice but Steve who organises the observers works very close with me & I am not sure he will send an observer to a game in Div 7 or 8 especially if I am not sure you are ready.
My advice is if you are desperate to put your name on the list apply & get yourself fit do a couple of games & work on the advice I gave you I will arrange 1 more mentor to watch you & hopefully if all goes well Steve will arrange your 2 observations after Christmas".

There has been a further couple of emails exchanged with the same vibe.

Have had some good advice from old navy and chas through messages and they mentioned putting it to the forum.

I'm fully aware I have a million and one things to learn but I really don't see why I'm being denied the chance to atleast start the journey to level 6.

I'm at 30 ish games now and was really happy with progress. Lots of positive mentor visits and alot of coaches that couldn't believe I was in my first year. Sods law that when this guy came down I had my worst game . Nothing horrendous just positioning sloppy.
The guy was very negative in general not giving any positives . Told me that he didn't know how I didn't send one player off and described him as a fat **** (genuine attempt at playing ball I gave pen and yellow)

Pretty sure I won't be continuing reffing but still feel like I need some closure on the matter.

Thanks so much guys
 
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The Ref Stop
If you have applied for promotion the CFA are required to send Match Day Coaches to report on your performances in the matches they see.
If the person in charge (and "super mentor" is a strange title) feels you need a mentor visit, ask them to arrange it as soon as you are fit after your injury.
The 2 MDC visits will then be around Christmas, or earlier if you are ready, giving you a result re promotion in the current promotion period.
 
Annoying position of.

Wanting to get on with someone who is part of the process.

Vs

Wanting to exercise your right at trying to kick on with the promotion process.

Every time I speak to people they are always super keen for me to wait at a certain level.

Refsecs, FA reps, RA, so on.

As I am sure they are very used to young people coming through who have years of time. However, there is probably a lot of truth behind mentors wanting people to wait and build some experience.

Probably not helped that you had an unlucky or poor show in front of the SUPER MENTOR. So he is of the opinion you have a lot to learn/aren't of the required standard.

You have 3 options.

Ask for a mentor.

Go over his head and take all your concerns to your FAs RDO.

Affiliate with a sister FA.
 
Gio said:
What does the last point mean buddy .. sister FA?

Also super mentor in capitals made me lol
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Maybe sister FA is wrong. A neighbouring FA.

So just like all things, people have issues with people. So I know a few people I referee with do not affiliate with the nearest FA for personal reasons.

It is common that people affiliate with a neighbour FA. one of those reason could be, they think someone calling themself a super mentor is weird and they don't want that.
 
Local league don't care who you are affiliated with. So it shouldn't cause you issues.

The one area it might limit you is the local fa will be best placed to send coaches out as they likely have bodies local on the books.

Also if you want to do the local FA cups, you would need to travel further.
 
OldNavyRef said:
Maybe sister FA is wrong. A neighbouring FA.

So just like all things, people have issues with people. So I know a few people I referee with do not affiliate with the nearest FA for personal reasons.

It is common that people affiliate with a neighbour FA. one of those reason could be, they think someone calling themself a super mentor is weird and they don't want that.
Click to expand...

You can dual affiliate with other CFAs, but promotion will always be dealt with by your parent CFA. Switching parent CFA is nigh on impossible as it is based on your postcode.
 
RustyRef said:
You can dual affiliate with other CFAs, but promotion will always be dealt with by your parent CFA. Switching parent CFA is nigh on impossible as it is based on your postcode.
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I don't know the finer details but I know for a fact people I have worked with individuals who live in one FA area but don't affiliate with them.
 
RustyRef said:
You can dual affiliate with other CFAs, but promotion will always be dealt with by your parent CFA. Switching parent CFA is nigh on impossible as it is based on your postcode.
Click to expand...
Maybe I'm lucky but I live on the border of two CFAs. Tried for months to get on a course with one CFA - no joy - contacted the other and was on a course within two weeks. Latter gave me a choice of who I wanted to be my parent CFA, and I chose them of course and turns out to have been a brilliant decision.

Re promotion, I've been on L7 to L7 for 5 quarters now - due to my lad's football just couldn't get the OA games in last year. Got four more and two observations to go. Just go for it @Gio would be my advice and work on whatever advice was given. Life's constantly a case of juggling relationships with people who can be challenging or difficult, and sometimes you just have to play along.
 
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OldNavyRef said:
I don't know the finer details but I know for a fact people I have worked with individuals who live in one FA area but don't affiliate with them.
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Probably because they have used someone else's address, or not told their CFA after they moved address. The territory rules are generally very strictly adhered to and if you try to register outside of your defined CFA's area it will be rejected.
 
RustyRef said:
Probably because they have used someone else's address, or not told their CFA after they moved address. The territory rules are generally very strictly adhered to and if you try to register outside of your defined CFA's area it will be rejected.
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Certain address in Darlington are given a choice of North Riding or Durham
 
RustyRef said:
Probably because they have used someone else's address, or not told their CFA after they moved address. The territory rules are generally very strictly adhered to and if you try to register outside of your defined CFA's area it will be rejected.
Click to expand...
Warrington, where I originally from, is probably an outlier here but was a mix of Cheshire and Liverpool and again really depended on whom the course was done with.
 
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