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1. Listen to the referee briefing and do it the way he / she wants it done 2. Work hard 3. Enjoy it 4. Don't worry - at that level the observer is really there to see the referee. You might get a couple of helpful pointers, but nothing bad is going to happen

This is one I also fell foul of moving from CAR to NAR - the difference is logical when you think about it. Only reason I would go NAR side is to avoid staring into a low sun, which might happen once or twice a season

I've been watching this thread with interest and empathy - I've certainly been to that dark place and I doubt there are many who haven't. To be fair, I've also come off a game thinking my performance was distinctly average and Mr. Observer on the day has thought I was great, so I try not to get...

so if the AR had flagged for offside, would he have been charged with an incorrect KMD ? ... or what if VAR reckoned 5.01 cm offside and he kept his flag down ? either way, we are in the realms of physically impossible to see, so AR either gets lucky or unlucky with their guess. Or is there...

We're in opinion territory, but there is a fine line between legitimately slowing the tempo of a game and time-wasting. I thought he managed that well, but other views are available ! Having just cautioned, 'brave' to go with a second yellow on the next goal kick unless something absolutely...

Agree - I thought he was excellent. LIked the way he dealt with time-wasting - early warning to CP captain was a good tactic, then managed it well and dealt with it when CP legitimately slowing it down overstepped the mark. The only one I thought he got wrong was late on when he gave a FK to...

With respect, I don't agree on the decision being correct, although I have lots of sympathy with the referee - this is a real left-field one to be faced with ! For a substitution to be complete, a substitute has to enter the field of play. That didn't happen, therefore QED the substitution...

I think one size not fitting all is correct. Some keepers will (can) kick it all day into the same area, in which case it's possible to pick a preferred spot with more confidence. I personally like a wide view if it's on offer but other considerations for me are : the wind if the ball's...

You were correct !

100% this is a major change and it often applies to KMIs In fact it changes a call I made on a pre-season line only 2 weeks ago where I kept my flag down. The good news is that whilst I was correct under the old guidance, from a 'what football wants' perspective, I'm pretty sure everyone in...

Interesting .... IDFK from the edge of the goal area always causes carnage (as do others less than 10yards from the goal line), which is one reason many of us err on the side of only giving them if we absolutely have to. This would be a sensible alternative

Which league is that ? I heard on a call contrib fees and mileage are both going up, but haven't seen to what yet. Also see that FA Cup extra prelim is £65/£45 + 40p per mile this season, which unless my memory is playing me up is a significant uplift on last season

LOTG does actually mandate a coin toss (and from this season the referee has to toss the coin). That being said, I can't see that being top of anyone's moan list in a grassroots game. I don't think I've ever done it in an 11-a-side game, but I have certainly done the 'which hand is the grass...

I'm sure we'd all agree that bullying of junior officials by senior officials (or in any other combination) is unacceptable and should be called out. I think where we are all struggling @Anubis is to get from our individual experience of a referee handing us as AR or 4th a coin to bullying...

Age cut off is difficult legally and practically I'm not sure it helps. Surely simpler is we all sign a disclaimer that says we have satisfied ourselves we are fit enough to take the text and absolve the FA and anyone else of any responsibility if we keel over whilst doing it - I can't see any...

Early morning, as soon as possible after a hot bath, with an empty bladder all help. Most important though is being relaxed, which is hard when you are worrying about it = white coat syndrome. Although BP is a poor indicator of any problem you are likely to have during a fitness test, of...

Good luck to anyone doing the second round of fitness tests this Sunday. Looks like we are in for a scorcher - I did wonder whether there is a threshold above which it might be considered too hot to be sensible in some locations? 9am starters should be OK, but the 11am L3 starts, which will...

Good spot - the old diagram was definitely more teeshirt than armpit

I thought at the time that the ref signalled the goal incredibly quickly and wondered whether she had forgotten about GLT and just gone with what she saw. However that wouldn't explain the delay when they were waiting to kick off. There was a (close, but not that close) offside decision in...

We need to be careful making generalisations about age and fitness. I can think of referees in their 20s and 30s in local football who can't keep up with play. Equally, I know of at least one well into his sixties who will breeze through the Level 4 fitness test and certainly doesn't look out...