Pre-match admin queries

[suffolkref]

Hi all, just after a general consensus.

I was at a game on Saturday and there was another fixture in a different league at the club. This ref got their team sheet a little earlier and put all the names on his cards/book so he doesn't necessarily have to ask for names if handing out cards. For me, I'm still doing the way I was taught with team sheets in my back pocket and taking players full names and numbers if handing cards + referring to the team sheet when doing the discipline portal after the game.

Curious to know what the 'correct' procedure is? I find it helpful to write notes in my book mid game if I've issued a warning for example to player 4, and my level especially has been asked not to 'flash cards'. Although still bringing a player in and asking him or her to spell their full name often slows the game down a bit. Doesn't help that often we get team sheets 5 minutes before kick-off.

On another point, I sometimes have the full fixture assigned on Full-Time, other times not. I used to properly write down the goal scorer number + time scored, but a few games I had the managers were writing this down and often it was already completed for me on Full-time. This part hasn't necessarily been explained other than just to "keep score", so now more often or not I'll just keep score and not worry about who scored or when and seeing as Discipline doesn't ask what time a card was issued either.

Thanks

 

[dylanbailey4444]

If you only get the team sheets 5 minutes prior , a useful way might be to write the teams in your notebook but only write their first name and number. If you caution them, ask their surname.
Or, you write their initials in your notebook and their number and just check their initials when cautioning them.
I’m sure there are lots of ways people do. I personally copy every players forename and surname and number in my notebook as we get team sheets 45 minutes before KO.

I would say if there’s an incident that NEEDS a flashed card (such as potentially violent conduct to stop a mass brawl) don’t be afraid to show it. You’re just not supposed to flash cards for every card but if it stops further disciplinary action, don’t be afraid to do it.

 

[RefereeX]

I think this largely depends on level of football. If you're refereeing grass roots, the team sheet is very often wrong, so it's worth taking names to check it.
At step 5 (or 6 in places) and above, the team sheet should not be wrong, and numbers should be more reliable.

 

[Kes]

Always take names (and shirt number) for cards.

Don't bother with scores, timings etc. That's the club's responsibility.

 

[RefJef]

I have never understood this desire/need to write down everyone’s name into your notebook.

I receive the team sheets on two separate pieces of A4 paper - I check they are legible, and put them safely away in my bag. If/when I card someone,I ask them their name, write it down, along with their number. After the game, I’ll check the name on the sheet matches what I wrote down. Job done. If the name differ, I’ll ask the coach; worse case scenario, I can just report the name I was given, and state it was different from the team sheet.

How does having the name copied down into my notebook help? I suppose I could just tick against the name when given, but isn’t that just the same as simply taking the number and ticking against that? If the name the player gives me is different from that on the sheet, what I am supposed to do about that,on the pitch , in the middle of the game? All it’s going to do is discombobulate me, and interrupt my focus.

(Plus, I reckon my notebook is A7 or A8 size, not sure I could legibly copy out two sides of A4 onto that)

 

[RustyRef]

Always take names (and shirt number) for cards.

Don't bother with scores, timings etc. That's the club's responsibility.

I would always note down the score, not the scorers, could be a huge embarrassment if the clubs don't agree on the score at the end and you can't confirm one way or the other.

 

[dylanbailey4444]

I have never understood this desire/need to write down everyone’s name into your notebook.

I receive the team sheets on two separate pieces of A4 paper - I check they are legible, and put them safely away in my bag. If/when I card someone,I ask them their name, write it down, along with their number. After the game, I’ll check the name on the sheet matches what I wrote down. Job done. If the name differ, I’ll ask the coach; worse case scenario, I can just report the name I was given, and state it was different from the team sheet.

How does having the name copied down into my notebook help? I suppose I could just tick against the name when given, but isn’t that just the same as simply taking the number and ticking against that? If the name the player gives me is different from that on the sheet, what I am supposed to do about that,on the pitch , in the middle of the game? All it’s going to do is discombobulate me, and interrupt my focus.

(Plus, I reckon my notebook is A7 or A8 size, not sure I could legibly copy out two sides of A4 onto that)

Everyone’s different. I’ve found my cautioning process has been much faster at level 4 and better. I just tick off the name as I caution them - plus I can also find out other people’s names that I want to know (throwers, goalkeepers names etc) that’s helped massively. If I want to start calling someone by their name , I just check my notebook. So much easier. Also in the past when I’ve found difficult names and players have to spell it out, I’ve found they’ve got annoyed having to spell it out - so for me, having names and numbers copied down has worked a treat. But everyone’s different.

 

[Kes]

I would always note down the score, not the scorers, could be a huge embarrassment if the clubs don't agree on the score at the end and you can't confirm one way or the other.

Hasn't happened to me yet but I'd just simply go with one of em.