Mooseybaby
Retired big bad baldy in all black!
Since my son started playing for a team at under 8's and started his u15s season yesterday, along with my days with the whistle, seen a fair bit of youth (and occasional OA) footy over the years, not to mention back in the day when I kicked a ball about.
One thing in particular I have noticed especially at youth level is a distinct lack of pre-match pitch/equipment inspections from referees. So many times over the years I have checked players boots and at least one player will ask me why I am checking their boots before the game as "no other referee ever does". Ran the line yesterday as a CAR for my son's team, young referee, not much older than the players, turned up about 10 minutes from KO, not even a hint of a pitch/equipment/kit inspection. Said hi to him, shock his hand, he handed me a flag and then walked off with out even a hint of pre-match instruction/request chat.
Is it referees being simply lazy with an inherent attitude of "it's only youth/grassroots football, so it doesn't matter?", are referees poorly trained or both?
One thing in particular I have noticed especially at youth level is a distinct lack of pre-match pitch/equipment inspections from referees. So many times over the years I have checked players boots and at least one player will ask me why I am checking their boots before the game as "no other referee ever does". Ran the line yesterday as a CAR for my son's team, young referee, not much older than the players, turned up about 10 minutes from KO, not even a hint of a pitch/equipment/kit inspection. Said hi to him, shock his hand, he handed me a flag and then walked off with out even a hint of pre-match instruction/request chat.
Is it referees being simply lazy with an inherent attitude of "it's only youth/grassroots football, so it doesn't matter?", are referees poorly trained or both?