ManinMiddle
New Member
I have started to referee this season. Here in Australia we tend to get thrown into matches with no mentoring observer help (at least at the low, Sunday league level I work at). I have used this and other websites for huge help in understanding the Laws and their application, but I have a real problem I need advice on.
Just about every game I have worked on I have had players telling me about pushes in the back or major fouls I have missed. Very often a player takes me aside at half time and informs me of "dangerous" tackles I have let go, and reminding me that I have to watch the players' safety. Often the incidents they refer to are ones that I saw as an accidental coming together, or even a fair play on the ball. And the huge number of pushes in the back I appear to miss is very disheartening. This leads me to one of two conclusions:
1 I am doing a pretty dismal job of foul recognition, and should perhaps consider giving up refereeing.
2 Players do this kind of thing to all referees and it is not something special to me.
Not having been a player myself I am really unsure which is the correct option. I have watched football all my life on TV, and can usually see fouls there very clearly. Once on the pitch however, I am constantly bombarded with "how did you miss that ref!" cries. I truly care about player safety, and don't want my shortcomings in foul recognition to put anyone in danger.
So, all you experienced refs out there: do you still get this kind of feedback, is this just how players always are? Or would I be advised to look long and hard at my own refereeing ability?
Just about every game I have worked on I have had players telling me about pushes in the back or major fouls I have missed. Very often a player takes me aside at half time and informs me of "dangerous" tackles I have let go, and reminding me that I have to watch the players' safety. Often the incidents they refer to are ones that I saw as an accidental coming together, or even a fair play on the ball. And the huge number of pushes in the back I appear to miss is very disheartening. This leads me to one of two conclusions:
1 I am doing a pretty dismal job of foul recognition, and should perhaps consider giving up refereeing.
2 Players do this kind of thing to all referees and it is not something special to me.
Not having been a player myself I am really unsure which is the correct option. I have watched football all my life on TV, and can usually see fouls there very clearly. Once on the pitch however, I am constantly bombarded with "how did you miss that ref!" cries. I truly care about player safety, and don't want my shortcomings in foul recognition to put anyone in danger.
So, all you experienced refs out there: do you still get this kind of feedback, is this just how players always are? Or would I be advised to look long and hard at my own refereeing ability?