The Ref Stop

Another Returning Ref

S

SpecsSaver66

Active Member
I have just returned to reffing after about a 10 year absence due to a local club official and fellow ref pointing out how most of their games end up with no referee showing up. I referee Junior football up to about Under 16s but referee mainly one particular club's games at different age groups. I have to be honest and say that I do it mostly for a bit of pocket money, but also the enjoyment of being involved with kid's football. I do consider myself mainly a football coach,I hold a UEFA B licence,but believe my years of experience in local football helps me in many different roles within Junior football,especially as a referee. I consider myself a decent referee and have never been interested in advancement and believe top class refereeing in the professional game is at an all time low. I have been watching the game since I was about 4 or 5 and I am 55 years old now. I have never taken myself too seriously in my role and openly admit that I make mistakes when officiating,I never have official linespeople,but they are honest mistakes. I also have to say that the constant fiddling with the Laws of The Game don't really help anybody but the suits who make them to justify their highly paid roles.
Anyway,I look forward to hearing and learning from other referees both young and old as it's a very lonely experience out there.
 
The Ref Stop
Everything you say - I agree - I first started in the mid 70s - on and off for next 30 years - then work forced me to stop - back now having just completed new ref course at grand age of 67!!!

I’m certainly not in it for the £ or promotion 😂😂😂 - I’m in it to help make sure local youth and park footie has access to a proper ref - having done this unofficially for grandsons team/club for past 4 years.

How bonkers am I? Lol!
 
lesbobly said:
Everything you say - I agree - I first started in the mid 70s - on and off for next 30 years - then work forced me to stop - back now having just completed new ref course at grand age of 67!!!

I’m certainly not in it for the £ or promotion 😂😂😂 - I’m in it to help make sure local youth and park footie has access to a proper ref - having done this unofficially for grandsons team/club for past 4 years.

How bonkers am I? Lol!
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Can I ask without offence.....you might have the referee knowledge and skills but, would you consider yourself, or rather, would both teams consider you, fif enough to cover the game?

not the standard answer of, its better than nothing, a reality answer

there is method to the question as until the last few years, I was in the superfit catergory. Am now in the, fit enough to cover a game level
Am 20 years off your age, I just cannot imagine putting in a display deemed acceptable in 20 years time. Note again am not talking, its better than no ref,am talking turning in a performance the players deserve.

small sided yes, but full sized, I cant imagine myself keeping up with play in 10 years, nevermind 20!
 
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 of place at that level. QED I would guess many years before his movement won't be up to refereeing on a full sized pitch & right now if he did basic adult grassroots he would still be fitter than many of the players

I'm somewhere near the middle of you two in age, made it through the new Level 3 test with a bit to spare and still scoring highly on the fitness and movement categories in observations at that level.

Can't stop the ageing process altogether, but if you work at it, the sorts of ages you are talking about don't have to be barriers
 
Quarryref said:
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 of place at that level. QED I would guess many years before his movement won't be up to refereeing on a full sized pitch & right now if he did basic adult grassroots he would still be fitter than many of the players

I'm somewhere near the middle of you two in age, made it through the new Level 3 test with a bit to spare and still scoring highly on the fitness and movement categories in observations at that level.

Can't stop the ageing process altogether, but if you work at it, the sorts of ages you are talking about don't have to be barriers
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it was more based on personal experience, I have noted a decline myself so trying to picture turning in an acceptable display in ten years is hard, never,mind 20
 
Quarryref said:
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 of place at that level. QED I would guess many years before his movement won't be up to refereeing on a full sized pitch & right now if he did basic adult grassroots he would still be fitter than many of the players

I'm somewhere near the middle of you two in age, made it through the new Level 3 test with a bit to spare and still scoring highly on the fitness and movement categories in observations at that level.

Can't stop the ageing process altogether, but if you work at it, the sorts of ages you are talking about don't have to be barriers
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Agreed. And it's also important to consider the context.

As Les says: "I’m in it to help make sure local youth and park footie has access to a proper ref" - there aren't hundreds of 20-30 year old refs being denied those games because he's turned up. That's a context in which having a neutral party who's up to date with the laws and doing their best is massively preferable to the alternative, which is often shoving a whistle into a reluctant coach or sub's hands.

If you're looking to climb the levels then fitness is a factor - but it's a factor that gets assessed as part of the level-climbing process. And anyone not looking to climb the pyramid, but who has still taken the time to do the course, and then come online to further their education here should be welcomed, not made to feel unwelcome with this gatekeeping ageist nonsense.

This is the welcome forum, so welcome to both @SpecsSaver66 and @lesbobly. We're generally a nice bunch, try not to let Anubis immediately put you off!
 
When I started the phrase was "keep fit to referee, not referee to keep fit!" Personally I think it's all relative, and as long as the Referee is fit enough for the level of football he's doing it doesn't matter if he's not particularly fit. Most of the time you can tell what's going on even if not in an ideal position. As Graeme says, knowing the laws helps, and it's hard enough getting someone to run the line. Getting someone to take the whistle will be almost impossible. One of my local leagues says if the game doesn't have an appointed ref the teams have to agree on a replacement. Some of the time they do but not always.

These days, at the lower levels of grass roots most players are blowing out their a**e after about 10 minutes, so quite frankly saying the referee needs to be fit to do the game is rubbish. One of our local referees retired a few years ago after over 60 years service. He obviously wasn't fit, but he didn't have that many problems. He tended to get games where he didn't struggle to keep up, and yes they are around, even in his 80s!
I think it's worrying for the state of the nation's health, because if players are this unfit at 20 - 30 then they are only going to get worse when they get older.

I tend to get mostly the senior divisions - unless there are lower level teams that need to be shown how to behave - and even at 58 if I'm not the fittest one on the pitch then I'm disappointed. I only do Sunday games these days - OA and youth - but I am constantly being asked to do more games. If there are lots of games uncovered then isn't it preferable to have someone who knows the laws doing the game, even if they are not fit? I'm not judging, you may be fitter than me at 55 / 67 - but if you're not, it really doesn't matter!
 
Hi guys
I fully understand the fitness question - but as others have said above - it’s all relative - I have been refereeing over past 3 years “unofficially “ for past 3/4 years - just the local youth sides - I get a call I turn up - neutral with good understand of LOTG and man management- yes I’m not as speedy corner to corner as I used to be - but its not ALL about fitness IMHO.

I have never accepted a fee (I guess this has to change) - I do it because I genuinely want the teams to have the best experience they can have on the day.

I certainly do not expect to get appointments over and above those who need the opportunity - that’s a discussion I will have with the appointment person. Having said that, I’m very happy to provide adhoc/short-notice cover.

I’m sure my fitness/competence will be judged by my marks - and IF they fall below the standards required then I’m sure I will get a friendly phone call :-) lol!

By the way - no offence taken :)
 
lesbobly said:
Hi guys
I fully understand the fitness question - but as others have said above - it’s all relative - I have been refereeing over past 3 years “unofficially “ for past 3/4 years - just the local youth sides - I get a call I turn up - neutral with good understand of LOTG and man management- yes I’m not as speedy corner to corner as I used to be - but its not ALL about fitness IMHO.

I have never accepted a fee (I guess this has to change) - I do it because I genuinely want the teams to have the best experience they can have on the day.

I certainly do not expect to get appointments over and above those who need the opportunity - that’s a discussion I will have with the appointment person. Having said that, I’m very happy to provide adhoc/short-notice cover.

I’m sure my fitness/competence will be judged by my marks - and IF they fall below the standards required then I’m sure I will get a friendly phone call :) lol!

By the way - no offence taken :)
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Yes my post was more me looking at me in years to come. I be amazed if am reffing in ten, maybe even five year in current condition so i was simply trying to imagine 20 years down the line.
 
I have ARd a few times for an older* ref where as we get started and I think "no way can he keep up with play, this is going to be a disaster" as he tries to manage a 16U or 19U game--and been surprised that he always seems to be where he needs to be. With lots of experience, some of these folks are very good at two things. First, reading the game so well that they have to run less than most of us to be where they need to be. Second, closing down as they make calls so that they appear to be in a better position than they are. And I guess there is a third factor that weighs in, too, they all have that aura of confidence and authority that helps them sell their calls. There are obviously limits to these techniques, but they can make a huge difference in the right hands. (And is admittedly easier with ARs than without--I remain amazed at the level of games y'all do without ARs on your side of the pond.) But we do all have to be aware of the effects of father time, especially in connect to what level of game we can physically manage--I'm sure we've all seen the ref who is past his physical limits and hasn't recognized it.
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*Older being relative as I get closer to the category . . . what really qualifies as "older" depends a lot on individual fitness.
 
Anubis said:
there is method to the question as until the last few years, I was in the superfit catergory. Am now in the, fit enough to cover a game level
Am 20 years off your age, I just cannot imagine putting in a display deemed acceptable in 20 years time. Note again am not talking, its better than no ref,am talking turning in a performance the players deserve.
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What level do you currently referee at?
 
Anubis said:
Or who what why when i referee observe is nobody elses biz?
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If you say so.

I can thank of only one reason that a member on a referee forum wouldn't want transparency of their profile and abstain from displaying what level of referee they were.

Nuff said. ...
 
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