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This is so true. Our enlightened RDO recognised this and has introduced fitness tests for those going for 7 to 6 (2000m in 12 mins) and 6 to 5 (2400m in 12m) so candidates on the promotion pathway are aware of what they need to do when they go from 5 to 4. Whilst refereeing is good for fitness...

I work many Saturdays and it does, now doubt, limit your options. However, a couple of seasons ago I got promoted from 7 to 6, considered doing 6 to 5, and think I could have done it (based on both my ability & availability. The biggest limiting factor would have been the need to do 5 lines on...

Couch to 5k is a good scheme, well proven and if/when you get to the point where you can run 5k continuously (at whatever pace) you will be more than fit enough to referee grass roots footbal. here is a link https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/get-running-with-couch-to-5k/ When you first...

Players often tell me I must be having a laugh …

A blood pressure test before the fitness test? That’s a new one on me, didn’t have to do one a couple of years ago when I did my fitness test, 7 to 6. Is it a 4 to 3, or possibly 5 to 4 requirement? I don’t think fitness tests are mandatory for 7 to 6 and 6 to 5 in all counties, but they are...

I was at the Somerset fitness tests yesterday (I was there as my school has a track which we let the FA use as long as a representative from the school (me) was there to ensure the referees didn’t burn it to the ground. I would have had a go at the test, just for fun, but tweaked a muscle the...

@Kes i always thought you were a Somerset ref like me? I must be wrong, as it was free for me to register this season

They didn’t teach me how to deal with this at Ref school (best with sound on):

Thanks for the prompt. Took two minutes out of my day to register- super simple.

I hate half time. ok, I’ll caveat that: its nice to have a breather and a drink, but if I’m on my own I dont want a long half time, 5 mins is ample. No one to talk too, I’ll amble around the side of the pitch (it’s worse if we all troop back to the changing rooms - I sit, on my own, in a room...

A few years ago, I was on the line to a ref going for 5 to 4 promotion. On the other line was his mentor. At half time and full time the other line debriefed the ref in the changing room. Listening in, I learned so much that day. One thing that has always stuck in my mind. DFK about 20m(?)...

Personally, I’m not too bothered one way or another - one set of rich people get annoyed at another set of rich people. Top level football is now so far removed from me, I’m not really too interested in it. Purely by coincidence, but turned out to be excellent timing, on Monday night I saw...

Happy to register my interest. if I can get my hands on a copy for less than a tenner, I’d by one.

This is my latest purchase: https://urlsand.esvalabs.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F3eb2QOJ&e=1997c094&h=6be69545&f=y&p=n With changing rooms currently closed, this collapsible stool is great: fits in my bag, no more sitting on wet grass to change into my boots at the side of the pitch. All...

Have a look at this free kick from Oldham. I think it should have been disallowed, when the ball was struck at least one Oldham player was within 1m of the wall. Easy for to spot when watching several replies in my armchair, less easy for our man in the middle. Any thoughts?

I think it does matter. Essentially what they have done is plotted 10 points on a scatter graph, drawn a line of best fit, and used the equation of a straight line (y= Mx + c) to come up with an equation for expected penalties. This is from a data set of circa 1,000, so if you pick a...

An interesting table that suggest this may be worthy of further investigation, but two immeadiate thoughts spring to mind that could improve this work: 1.) To create the metric “expected penalties“ what they’ve done is they’ve taken 10 players (all English) and compared the number of touches of...

Maybe you could have suggested that next week he takes up the whistle again to help out those games that didn’t have a ref .. ;)

Was great to be back. in first 10 mins I was able to play a couple of good advantages - in normal times I suspect both fouled players would have stopped and called for a free kick, but you could just sense the enthusiasm of the players and they just carried playing and, although ultimately...

Somewhat coincidentally, my game tomorrow is for the same club that my first game after lockdown one was. That was a friendly, tomorrow is a league game. Friendly on Sunday (my Sunday league restarts in two weeks.) Aching legs on Monday?! I have done my best to keep fit, but a back injury...