The Ref Stop

Back to suits?!

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J

JW17

New Member
Level 4 Referee
I saw on a post on Facebook (can’t remember the page) earlier on that said referees in the Southern Combination are being asked to revert to wearing collar and tie to games (as we did pre-Covid).

Can anybody confirm if this is correct? If it is, I think it’s a really poor move. I always thought wearing a suit was serious overkill and totally unnecessary.

I would also be surprised if The FA supported this as over the last year or so the focus has really been on referees in the NLS being treated like more like athletes, with all the additional support with training and nutrition plans. I don’t think that wearing a suit fits in with that ethos.

It might not be true, and even if it is, the consensus maybe different to my opinion but thought it might be interesting and open up a conversation nevertheless.
 
The Ref Stop
I think it is one individual who has been banned from refereeing and has become the self-policed referee renegade. One league asking their officials to wear a shirt and tie to their cup finals doesn't mean it is back to suits, not even if that particular league have mandated it for their league games. He's even given himself a tagline along the lines of banned from refereeing, now I can say what I want.
 
Mmm… I thought said individual had just gone to L4?? Being banned would fit with the general tone of his posts becoming a bit more angry/controversial though!
 
Niceoneref said:
Mmm… I thought said individual had just gone to L4?? Being banned would fit with the general tone of his posts becoming a bit more angry/controversial though!
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Yep, no idea why he has been banned, or even if he has been, but for the past couple of weeks he has launched a barrage of attacks against the authorities, pretty much one a day.

His latest attack is to have a go at people organising charity games for asking if referees wouldn't mind doing the game without a fee, apparently that is outrageous.
 
As a member of the league itself, it’s fair to say most officials aren’t’ happy.
If the league require it, I’ll do it. But some officials have openly said they will refuse to attend games and/ or attend games in a tracksuit.
 
I understand one of the reasons behind it is because it has been reported back by clubs that some Referees arrive scruffy eg wearing shorts etc. So it appears that this is another instance when the minority spoil things for the majority. However, although some may feel wearing a suit/shirt & tie is overkill, I would say it’s also overkill for officials to refuse.
 
I used to think it was totally normal, but now, I feel the idea of us wearing suit and tie to arrive at a step 6 game is an utterly bizarre concept.
I do think it would be a big backwards step. Suits and ties should be reserved for cup finals (where it is absolutely right that we arrive in suit and tie, regardless of the standard imo) but tracksuits should suffice for other matches.
Interestingly, our RDO (who is an active national list referee) implemented it being optional as to whether to arrive in suit and tie or tracksuits for county cup finals last season (but suggested the team of 4 should all arrive in the same, as per the referees preference). He's very much for relaxation of things. I still opted for suit and tie for me and my team.
 
RefereeX said:
I used to think it was totally normal, but now, I feel the idea of us wearing suit and tie to arrive at a step 6 game is an utterly bizarre concept.
I do think it would be a big backwards step. Suits and ties should be reserved for cup finals (where it is absolutely right that we arrive in suit and tie, regardless of the standard imo) but tracksuits should suffice for other matches.
Interestingly, our RDO (who is an active national list referee) implemented it being optional as to whether to arrive in suit and tie or tracksuits for county cup finals last season (but suggested the team of 4 should all arrive in the same, as per the referees preference). He's very much for relaxation of things. I still opted for suit and tie for me and my team.
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Kent Ref said:
Do players at step 6 wear a suit and tie pre-game?

Probably a no.
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Players at Elite football down to Step 6 don’t wear a suit & tie, though I’m not sure that has got anything to do with it. There are many boardrooms from elite football down to Step 4 who will not allow anyone in without a suit & tie or at least a shirt & tie. The main reason why tracksuits were introduced was because of covid with officials not able to use showers, though there was a secondary reason of trying to break down barriers between players & officials. However, if any league wants officials to wear suit & tie/shirt & tie, then surely they should be allowed to do so.
 
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DavidObs said:
Players at Elite football down to Step 6 don’t wear a suit & tie, though I’m not sure that has got anything to do with it. There are many boardrooms from elite football down to Step 4 who will not allow anyone in without a suit & tie or at least a shirt & tie. The main reason why tracksuits were introduced was because of covid with officials not able to use showers, though there was a secondary reason of trying to break down barriers between players & officials. However, if any league wants officials to wear suit & tie/shirt & tie, then surely they should be allowed to do so.
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Must admit, this hadn't crossed my mind, however, and only speaking for myself, I'd rather be allowed to arrive in a tracksuit and not enter the boardroom, than arrive in suit and tie and be invited in to the board room.
 
RefereeX said:
Must admit, this hadn't crossed my mind, however, and only speaking for myself, I'd rather be allowed to arrive in a tracksuit and not enter the boardroom, than arrive in suit and tie and be invited in to the board room.
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I can understand that, though i would say it is likely to be seen as a lack of respect if invited to the boardroom (prior to the day of the game), but not take it up because you want to wear a tracksuit etc.
 
Archer said:
Dress code should reflect the level of hospitality on offer. Sit down hot meal in the boardroom? Sure, shirt and tie.

Shoved in the corner of the bar with a plate of sandwiches? Polo, trackies, trainers.

Boots meal deal and told they’ll BACS you sometime next week? I’ll drive in my kit mate.
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boots meal deal? that's elite
 
DavidObs said:
I can understand that, though i would say it is likely to be seen as a lack of respect if invited to the boardroom (prior to the day of the game), but not take it up because you want to wear a tracksuit etc.
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Of course, and if the rule was that clubs had the option to invite in to board room but specify, then I would absolutely take up that offer and wear the suit, but I'm just talking about what I believe the blanket policy should be.
Id rather see the board room rule quashed than the tracksuit rule, but that's just my opinion.
 
There is a massive difference in facilities at L4. Some are played at actual stadiums, whereas others are played at a gym, in which officials get changed with gym-goers. We also have a supply league ground these ways behind a pub. To get to the pitch and ‘changing room’ you literally have to walk through woods. Then you’re greeted with an old portakabin where the only toilets are located behind a curtain in the officials changing room. Was always fun doing pre-match indoors, only to be greeted by the centre half needing to curl one out.

Proper stadium? Suit, no problem.

Anything else, tracksuit.

If people are turning up in old scruffy shorts, yes that isn’t a great look. But those same people will just turn up in an old scruffy suit.
 
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Additionally there is the shower problem... call me silly, but I don't feel hugely comfortable showering in a public environment, so unless conditions are rather wet and wild, I usually tend to wait until I get home to have a shower.
If I'm whacking a tracksuit back on, this is never a problem, but if I'm putting a suit back on, it doesn't feel great.

Aware this may be a problem exclusive to me though 😆
 
Runner Ref said:
There is a massive difference in facilities at L4. Some are played at actual stadiums, whereas others are played at a gym, in which officials get changed with gym-goers. We also have a supply league ground these ways behind a pub. To get to the changing pitch and ‘changing room’ you literally have to walk through woods. Then you’re greeted with an old portakabin where the only toilets are located behind a curtain in the officials changing room. Was always fun doing pre-match indoors, only to be greeted by the centre half needing to curl one out.

Proper stadium? Suit, no problem.

Anything else, tracksuit.

If people are turning up in old scruffy shorts, yes that isn’t a great look. But those same people will just turn up in an old scruffy suit.
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Much (truth) to be said in your reply & I do agree about those same people would turn up in old scruffy suits, though in this instance, I don’t think the clubs would send complaints to the league as they did (to the league mentioned by the author) when wearing shorts (scruffy or otherwise).
 
RefereeX said:
Additionally there is the shower problem... call me silly, but I don't feel hugely comfortable showering in a public environment, so unless conditions are rather wet and wild, I usually tend to wait until I get home to have a shower.
If I'm whacking a tracksuit back on, this is never a problem, but if I'm putting a suit back on, it doesn't feel great.

Aware this may be a problem exclusive to me though 😆
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Perfectly valid point.
 
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