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It will be interesting to see the numbers. With the shenaningans at Step 2, has to be likely there may be no midseason promotions at L2, which you would expect will have a ripple effect. That being said, I don't think excess numbers at L3 has been quite as much of an issue this year, although...

There is no perfect observation system, because any system involves human beings, judgement and all the natural variations that come with that. My own view looking at this from more than one angle is that the best observers work within the framework of the process to deliver a report and a...

It will be interesting to see how this works in smaller grounds where the ball disappears over small or non-existent stands all the time. Dorking and Peterborough Sports are 2 examples that spring to mind. Hopefully this will come with clear instructions about how ball retrieval and...

The norm I'm used to for County finals at least is you don't get a match fee, but you do get a medal, well looked after with drinks and food and often a warm up shirt or similar with a county badge. Mileage fees always offered but the done thing is to politely decline unless you really need them.

I think we can safely predict that goalkeepers will want to take it to edge if their team is narrowly ahead in the latter stages. That means marginal calls (oh joy) and the need to be clear when the ball is 'released'. The key phrase is 'controls the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s) for more...

In an ideal world there would be a timetable, so we all know what to expect and when. That would be better than relying on the grapevine to work out what has and hasn't gone out. Where this would help most I think would be : - automatic promotion email date - assessment day invitation email...

The criteria are pretty clear as well based on position in the Annual Review tables, so should be evident from what was sent yesterday. As ever, the margins are tight, we all know there is a degree of luck involved and there will be good officials who have ended the wrong side of the line. As...

Having been out of the loop for a while, any idea where the end of season process is up to with : - communicating automatic promotions and reclassifications - assessment days - publishing final merit tables - announcing promotions .... as June fast approaches ?

What this does show is why the AR has no chance of giving it. Not a still he will be framing

I am the only referee amongst my mates and I always try and give the ref's p.o.v. On this one, I can understand Sam 's decision, although it is a poor one, but I am genuinely speechless about the non intervention from VAR. Indefensible. We have had a couple of SG1s at our RA recently...

Kirsty will know she should have waited a second on that one, but any referee who doesn't have empathy with her has no heart. I do get annoyed with the reporting which all talks about 'a disallowed goal' , which it wasn't, but maybe that's lack of empathy with reporters on my part

Agree - I just thought this month's was particularly poor on that score. I do think this needs sorting - it's not hard to pick questions with definitive answers, rather than creating a game of second guessing what the question setter is thinking Not a problem if they are used for discussion...

Perhaps we can also then have a discussion about the frustrating number of questions in this month's crop that either have more than one answer that is supportable in Law and/or are poorly worded !

No it won't. Self inflicted by a team on their own player and less likely to result in injury than any number of other normal football actions, including many legal tackles

Agree. Feels like the thread is trying to address a problem that doesn't exist - the very definition of refereeing busyness we should avoid ! There is a long enough list of real problems to pick from ....

These can work, but also important to recognise when a response with a bit of an explanation just invites a conversation you really don't want to have. I also like a brief response like 'not for me' that shows you've seen it and made a judgement rather than missing or ignoring it, but doesn't...

You have to be watching the kicker carefully, but it is a clear one. For me, it's also a good reminder of why as referee you should leave keeper off the line to your AR (if you have NARs). You can't possibly be looking carefully enough at keeper, taker and encroachment all at the same time...

I think the issue is as long as the players stay on the pitch, there is nothing in Law that says they can't all congregate in the same few square yards next to the technical area

The problem I have with this argument is that the word 'Consistency' is used as if it's a black or white thing. Anyone who has ever refereed will know that 'it's exactly the same as the last one' is one of the most common starting points for a nonsense argument from players, managers and fans...

Well I'm afraid Michael Oliver has made a rod for his own back there. Fail safe when he brings Walker in to speak to him has to be to make sure he is back in position - same as with a substitution. I think he will be kicking himself on that one - of course Walker should be smarter in getting...