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Assuming, of course, that the GK was “kicking from hands” and not a goal kick as you can’t be offside from a goal kick. I know you (@Anubis ) know this, but there may be other less experienced colleagues reading this who don’t

I agree that he was probably trying to be supportive but instead of saying I’m tired of the lack of respect referees are shown, he’s said he’s tired of referees complaining and not doing anything about it. So the implication is that it is the referees fault, and the league expect the referees...

“Your the away team, do you want Heads or Tails?” Then, to whoever wins the toss: ”You can have choice of ends, or kick off” Then, if they choose ends, to the other captain “Ok - you’re kick off or if the toss winning team choose to kick, to the other captain say: ”You have choice of ends”...

So basically that head of the league has come in and said that its the referees fault that the referees are getting abuse. As someone who is definitely wavering, and wondering if it is worth continuing, I think that would be a tipping point and I would be walking away from his league. For me...

Another good development route is to get yourself running the line as an Assistant Ref as part of a team of 3. Down here in the south west, we have an U18 floodlight league that plays games mid-week that require a team of 3. Although considerably older than you, I found doing some time on the...

One thing I have found when refereeing girls at this age range is the lack of cues/appeals you get from the players. Eg, when the ball goes out for a throw, in male football (typically) only a player from the side whose throw it is will go and collect the ball. In girls football often the...

Yes, although they are now called DBS

Remember that I’m down here in rural somerset. A beautiful, sunny September morning (on a less than beautiful municipal pitch) Speedy winger pushes the ball past lumbering left back, and turns on the gas. The inevitable happens, the full back scythes down the attacker. Cue cry from someone...

I’ve done this more than once (wait for someone to traipse over and get the ball) - managers love it. I remember when I’d just started on my Sunday league, a few games in, and I was ref-ing a team new to me. Ball was hoofed into the long grass on the far side of the pitch. Manager (who I was...

Can we be sure that the youngster will have a safe place to go when they leave the pitch? Can we be sure that the youngster will not suffer abuse (that could be verbal or emotional) as/when they leave the pitch? As the referee we have a duty of care to the youngsters on our pitch, and this has...

I do wonder whether a lot of those who are advocating strict adherence to the laws at this level actually referee youth football? (And if Im honest, I wouldn’t actually call U11 youth, I’d call it kids football.) Its very easy to write on a forum “you must do this, you must do that”, its much...

But do the missed games have to be from the same competition? eg player gets RC in Saturday County League game & 3 match ban. He also plays in the Sunday Dog & Duck league (still affiliated to local FA) Does missing games for his Sunday team count towards the 3 match suspensio? (I know it’s...

Agree with this completely A few years ago, I started doing a midweek U18 league that had three officials. Most of the time I was on the line. I learned a lot from the experience, but more than that I really enjoyed being part of a team. It transformed my enjoyment of refereeing, even when I...

I must confess, I am seriously considering packing it in. I not suffered any major abuse, and certainly never felt physically threatened, but whether it’s me or not, or whether it’s got worse, I don‘t know but I’m just fed up of the niggling negativity towards me. I’m fed up of the low level...

First and foremost, you got the big, most important decision right, so a big well done on that. Head injuries can be really nasty, and can often present sometime after the event. If ever in doubt stop the game as you did. And I must confess, I’d have probably (incorrectly I now know!) given...

My wife never comes to watch me ref (I think she enjoys the peace with me out of the house!) She did, though, once come and watch me play, many, many years ago. We‘d not long met, and she rocked up to watch me play one Sunday morning. We used to play on the top of a windswept plateau, no-one...

These are kids, 13 years old. Blow the whistle for full time. You are sole arbiter of time on the pitch. Anyone asks, game ran its length (if you are really worried, leave your stopwatch running until full time, then stop it. Anyone asks if you cut the game short, say “no” and show them your...

I thought this was going to be a thread about Colin Neil Warnock. I respect your opinion more than his, so pleased to hear the ref had a good game.

Had a game a few years ago, U14s (I think) low standard. (Weak) Shot some cross, probably heading in. Defender on line instinctively catches it (in his defence, he was in goal for first half, they swapped at half time.) Realising what he’s done, frozen on the spot, he looks at me in horror. I...

… or 4 min 35 per Km. (As a regularly (road) runner* I find this metric more useful as my phone gives me my split time each Km) *meep meep. Although I do have to watch out for Coyotes on roller skates, and I give a wide berth to anything stencilled “ACME”.