Criteria once Promoted
- Thread starter Redref34
- Start date
Russell Jones
RefChat Addict
If your (or your other half's!) primary criteria is the recompense per hour, then Level 4 is probably not your best bet. It can be a challenging, frustrating level and works best for those who either a) are genuinely excited about progressing through Level 4 to an even higher level of football and / or b) positively relish the opportunity to be involved in semi professional games as an AR.
It's most definitely not for everybody and enjoying regular local middles as an L5 is a perfectly credible choice.
I get this to a degree but I think this comes with the territory of going to L4.
Joint travel with others, so you might miss out on the "bonus" of fuel money, or flat fees for more hours out of the house. I've two kids so I've now got to the point where my MOAS/Closed Dates is up to date until the end of March so family time is planned in.
The money (whether that be total fee or £ per hour out the house) is probably quite low down the list of why I enjoy refereeing, and if it was just about the money I'd stay at L5.
Lots to consider ahead of going for L4, but definitely utilise the L4s you meet at Step 5/6 and on here too for advice.
You would take home a bit more as the referee though which might make more palatable for wife
Yes Ref took home 60 odd plus expenses so probably more worth it, this is why it makes it a difficult decision.
Tempted to go for it and see what happens.
I'm afraid that if money is any consideration whatsoever then L4 won't be for you. You will be away from home for much longer than you would be for grassroots games, and probably take home less money. There will be occasions when you leave home before midday and don't get home before 7, if that is going to be a problem then it would probably be best to stay at L5.
Yes, but in the South East going 50 miles can take as long as it does to travel 100 miles in other areas, especially when the M25 and London are involved.
Very useful information from everyone thank you.
I think in summary it is definitely something that I know I will enjoy and will seriously consider in the future.
I do think it is a shame you can’t progress through the levels no matter what level you referee at but I understand why.
I think in summary it is definitely something that I know I will enjoy and will seriously consider in the future.
I do think it is a shame you can’t progress through the levels no matter what level you referee at but I understand why.
Not sure I understand that last sentence. You can progress to L5 no matter what level of football you referee, but once you go to L4 you are officiating in semi-pro football therefore the level of football you officiate at has to be semi-pro. Until fairly recently it used to be a bit more random as in some parts of the countries L4s were officiating at step 7 and in other parts at step 5, but it is now all at steps 5 and 6.
Understand your point.
You’re never too overqualified to referee a lower level though. I know for a fact if the County FA need me to do a Sunday league cup fixture I’ll be getting appointed to that L4 or not!
Basically, because one might not want to commit to travelling and the time etc you can’t progress any further than Level 5.
Well yes, exactly. The higher up you go the further spread out the teams are... How do you expect to "progress" if you won't travel to referee these teams??
L4s can referee at lower levels as well if they want to. For my first two seasons at L4 I stayed refereeing Sunday mornings, but I don't think it was any coincidence that my performances really kicked on once I quit Sundays.
But your last sentence is absolutely correct, if you can't or won't commit to travelling and time commitments you can't progress beyond L5. It's a pyramid, the higher up the pyramid you go the less the number of clubs that you can officiate, therefore the longer distance you need to go. Not really a lot different for players, if a promising grass roots player wants to play in the semi-pro game he is going to have to spend more time away from home. Arguably worse for players as they will have to travel the entire distance the league covers whereas referees tend to be kept more local.