The Ref Stop

Can only join a league if I register with a specific Referee association

R

RefereeFM

New Member
Does this sound dodgy to anybody else?
I’m a new referee and have applied to join a league. The referee secretary for that league has come back and said one of the requirements is joining a specific Referee Association, of which he is the chairperson.
I’m already a member of a different RA that is my local one. The other one that I would have to join is about 30 miles away from where I live. Of course it’s not that expensive but surely it’s a conflict and abuse of power.
 
The Ref Stop
Don’t want to give too many specifics. But the league covers a very large area compared to the area that the RA is in
 
Unless it's a very small ref panel there's not many places it could be.

Does seem an abuse of position but if it's a local league maybe not strictly banned.
 
It does feel like a conflict of interest. But ultimately which referees any grass roots competition allows onto their panel is entirely down to them, so there isn't really anything that can be done about it.
 
It seems odd, but ultimately it's not really banned (AFAIK). The nearest Cat 1 academy to me prioritises the local RA members for games, and there are that many of us that anyone else has basically no chance of getting a game there, and that's just the way it is. Maybe speak to your RDO and see what they say?
 
Correct me if I am wrong. The requirement to join the RA is for any referee who is a member of a different RA who joins the league, not for any player who joins the league.

This is a realy bad practice and the county FA or even the FA should get on top of it. Because you can remove that requirement by resigning as a referee altogether. Basically they are saying 'referee for us' or don't referee at all. With shortage of referees all over the place, the higher football or referee bodies should ban this practice.
 
Seems like an abuse of power to me. RA's are like unions. They are there for help and advice etc. It's your choice whether you want to be in one at all, so they have no right dictating in this way
 
one said:
Correct me if I am wrong. The requirement to join the RA is for any referee who is a member of a different RA who joins the league, not for any player who joins the league.

This is a realy bad practice and the county FA or even the FA should get on top of it. Because you can remove that requirement by resigning as a referee altogether. Basically they are saying 'referee for us' or don't referee at all. With shortage of referees all over the place, the higher football or referee bodies should ban this practice.
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That isn't quite right, although I agree with the principle. The decision whether to join an RA or not in England is entirely down to the referee, for most of my time I never have as I think (personal opinion) they are outdated and don't really serve the purpose they originally set out to.

But one competition saying you only join us if you join xyz RA doesn't mean you can't referee at all if you don't, you can just join another league, and in nearly 30 years refereeing I've never been prevented from joining a league because I wasn't a member of the RA, let alone a specific RA branch.

But I think @ARF has made the best suggestion, flag it to your RDO and see what he / she says.
 
RustyRef said:
That isn't quite right, although I agree with the principle. The decision whether to join an RA or not in England is entirely down to the referee, for most of my time I never have as I think (personal opinion) they are outdated and don't really serve the purpose they originally set out to.

But one competition saying you only join us if you join xyz RA doesn't mean you can't referee at all if you don't, you can just join another league, and in nearly 30 years refereeing I've never been prevented from joining a league because I wasn't a member of the RA, let alone a specific RA branch.

But I think @ARF has made the best suggestion, flag it to your RDO and see what he / she says.
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Different system here. At grassroots RAs are tightly coupled with local football associations (somewhat close to your counties) all leagues are run by football associations directly and referees are appointed by the RA coupled with that football association. RAs appoint their own members only and unless you are a member you won't be appointed.
Some football associations have their own refereeing department but the concept is the same as an RA. Membership to football association (league/county) and to RA are completely independent.
It works similar at the two higher levels too, state and national.
 
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