Junior/Youth New league doesn't want me?

Hi all

A bit of background - I've reffed for 2 years at 9 a side (u11/12) now and want to do 11 a side now (u13/14). The way the youth leagues work in my area is one league takes up 5-9 a side games and the other takes 11 a side. Therefore if I want to do 11 a side the only option is to move to the older league.

So I (professionally) emailed the ref's secretary in June to ask about reffing for them - this league is huge for the area and I've heard apparently only 50% of games actually get refs. So I gave a bit of background about myself / past achievements etc. And sent it and waited.

And waited.

Got to about 3 weeks ago, still no response. Understand that people may be logged out / on holiday etc. But waiting over a month frustrated me, so I emailed RDO explaining everything and he kindly emailed them too with me cc'd in asking to sign me up.

No response.

Yesterday I go on to their Full Time page and see they have updated their league news with contact details for all refs for club secretaries 25/26. Obviously I'm not on there. I also see a Google form to register for the league, so I complete that too. At the same time I write one final email saying if I don't get a response in the next week I'm not doing it for him as it will show he's clearly not arsed about me or his job, also cc'd in RDO so he sees it too.

It's so bizarre because they only have 50% of the refs they need and are "crying out" for them, I've started to see posts on facebook asking for refs in that league for the day the season starts.

Any advice on what you would do in this situation? Old league won't have me because I left that too late to sign up waiting on just one email. If my "deadline day" isn't met what should I do, because I won't be willing to do it for them. It's either this league or I think I'm a bit stuck.

Thought it was meant to be leagues needing refs not refs needing leagues

Cheers

I can't really help with how to solve the issue, but I can say this has happened to me with 2 separate leagues for this season (both women's OA). I got a response from one but then no follow up when I provided my details, and the other hasn't bothered. It really is bizarre.

Ring him.

I would ask your RDO to get feedback on you from the original league. Leagues and RefsSecs do talk to each other, so if one has told the other there's some kind of problem with you that might explain them ignoring you. I'm not saying there is by the way, just trying to think of reasons why the new league wouldn't take you.

That absolutely isn't how it should work by the way. If your appointments officer is getting poor feedback from clubs on your performance (and again, I don't know if this was the case) he should be giving you feedback to try and help you improve, as well as feeding this back to your RDO.

Strikes me as strange that your leagues have a "cut off" date for referees - how do they deal with referees moving into the area (e. g. Uni students) and new referees qualifying after completing the course during the season?
Especially strange as you indicate that they are so short of officials.

ChasObserverRefDeveloper said:

Strikes me as strange that your leagues have a "cut off" date for referees - how do they deal with referees moving into the area (e. g. Uni students) and new referees qualifying after completing the course during the season?
Especially strange as you indicate that they are so short of officials.

Click to expand...

My old league had the cutoff date due to there being a waiting list (how long I have no idea) to referee in the league. Complete polar opposite at the new league which slightly concerns me

Sounds like they have naff admin? Explains the ref shortage

I suggest contact your county FA representative who should be able to point out the benefits of using refs etc., good luck.