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As you say, each to their own. Not saying anyone should or should not be eagerly looking them up, just worth reflecting on the value / pain you get from them, which will be different for different referees. I sleep better just ignoring them, but that's just me. That's not to say I don't...

My highest and lowest ever club marks came from the two clubs in the same game. Objectively, it was neither my best nor my worst game of the month, letalone of all time. If you guessed why that happened you probably wouldn't be far wrong, but says it all My approach changed to not even...

One thing I would strongly argue is that at least in the English game at levels where there is a 4O, with 5 subs from 7 or similar and sometimes concussion subs, combined with modern expectations of what the 4O does, there is usually not a lot of time to check paperwork during the game...

This is key for the 5 second countdowns. Back yourself into a corner by using it unnecessarily, particularly early in the game, and you will have a long afternoon of counting and probably annoy participants, not helping your match control or your club marks or pleasing any Observer who no more...

Tried this one yesterday. Heat didn't help, but I found it a killer. For me, 400m is a difficult distance. 300m push hard and stop is not so bad and 2 laps is a different pace altogether, but there is something about that last 100m of a one lapper that always gets me. The 1 minute rest...

I guess many will have seen it elsewhere by now, but for completeness this is the list Promotion to National Group (5) Blades Dan Kent FA Merchant Adam Surrey FA Norton Matthew Hertfordshire FA Sangowawa Tolu Essex FA Smith Lewis Birmingham FA Promotion to National Group Assistant Referee...

Announcement process seems a bit slow this year. Maybe the assessment days were a bit later and the individual comms catch up from that is holding it up.

The big positive is an order of magnitude difference in being able to rely on ARs. Affects optimum positioning as well as the obvious. I would agree there is a much bigger difference between good step 3 and average step 4 than between steps 4 & 5

Apologies if this info is already somewhere on the forum and I haven't been able to find it. Having resisted so far, I think I am finally at the point where I have accepted an ear mould for comms is better than taping my ear up for my AR appointments. Had a very wet and then a very hot game at...

Firstly hands up who would have wanted to be Darren England in that situation where whatever he does leads to a s***show of some kind ? Particularly with his VAR history... For me it's a clear foul with impact. Most of the discussion I have seen elsewhere is actually blah blah about other...

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...