zAll,
I did the precessional pass tournament yesterday. I did enjoy it but there were a few things that we as refs thought could be improved. This is this email I sent to them last night when I got home - sorry did any errors - just copied from email - what are your thoughts:
Jamie,
I would like to give you some feedback on how I personally felt the event went today.
When I arrived the car park was rammed and there were no stewards in the car park directing cars to spare spots. As officials as part of the tournament it would have been nice to have allocated parking and not SQUEEZE in between a very badly parked camper van and a car.
I was not told which entrance to go to prior to arrival so had to guess, and got told I was in the wrong entrance and had to go elsewhere.
Greeting the referee is an important aspect of 1st impressions. I heard someone tell the member of staff for me to go to the dug out. Seconds later I was there and no one was there to greet me. I had to wait to be greeted, not the best start.
Experience tells me tournaments never run on time, so why we had to be there at 1430 I don't know when our 1st game was not until closer to 1530. I was told on the phone there will be a referees briefing to clarify anything before we started. This happened out on the pitch seconds before the 1st game and only when we asked for it, and it was very rushed because the morning session had over run SO MUCH. No one seemed to be bothered we were there until seconds before KO. Shocking really.
We were told that a klaxon would start and finish each game. This REALLY didn't work, for a number of reasons, 1. Someone in the crowd also had a horn, which was of putting, 2. If both teams were ready to start and we were already behind time we had to wait for the klaxon, wasting time, also, if to read the LoTG, which I'm sure you would have done, THE REFEREE IS THE SOLE TIME KEEPER. I ended up running my pitch when I wanted, when both teams were ready, I started, didn't worry about the klaxon, no
One complained.
As referees we need food and drink to keep us going. We had to as good a beg for a drink mid afternoon, and it was only after the 2 occasion that we each got a bottle of water. No one asked us if we wanted more, or said where we can get more if we needed it. It was a hit afternoon, so this would have been nice.
Now we come into the food situation. SHOCKING. We kept asking how and when we get it. We finally get told that it will be after the quarter finals. I ref a game, and I went to get my food, AND THEY HAD CLOSED. I didn't know what to say or do. Nothing reserved, no PLAN B, nothing.
We then come in the the extreme lack of 1st aiders. Now looking at the programme there were over 500 players there today. Now, as you are the organiser, if you are not legally, you should have some moral responsibility to have qualified 1st aiders there, like St Johns. I have NEVER been to a tournament where there has not been a 1st aid tent. With that number of kids, I would strongly recommend having a minimum of 10-12 1st aiders there.
I was shocked to see that no one was standing /with the child who was injured at the end of the day. I would have thought someone would be there supporting the child and trying to chase up the ambulance and getting the child some support. It looked like, from an outsider, that you didn't care.
Regards
Dave Evans
Level 7 referee
Registered with Kent FA
I did the precessional pass tournament yesterday. I did enjoy it but there were a few things that we as refs thought could be improved. This is this email I sent to them last night when I got home - sorry did any errors - just copied from email - what are your thoughts:
Jamie,
I would like to give you some feedback on how I personally felt the event went today.
When I arrived the car park was rammed and there were no stewards in the car park directing cars to spare spots. As officials as part of the tournament it would have been nice to have allocated parking and not SQUEEZE in between a very badly parked camper van and a car.
I was not told which entrance to go to prior to arrival so had to guess, and got told I was in the wrong entrance and had to go elsewhere.
Greeting the referee is an important aspect of 1st impressions. I heard someone tell the member of staff for me to go to the dug out. Seconds later I was there and no one was there to greet me. I had to wait to be greeted, not the best start.
Experience tells me tournaments never run on time, so why we had to be there at 1430 I don't know when our 1st game was not until closer to 1530. I was told on the phone there will be a referees briefing to clarify anything before we started. This happened out on the pitch seconds before the 1st game and only when we asked for it, and it was very rushed because the morning session had over run SO MUCH. No one seemed to be bothered we were there until seconds before KO. Shocking really.
We were told that a klaxon would start and finish each game. This REALLY didn't work, for a number of reasons, 1. Someone in the crowd also had a horn, which was of putting, 2. If both teams were ready to start and we were already behind time we had to wait for the klaxon, wasting time, also, if to read the LoTG, which I'm sure you would have done, THE REFEREE IS THE SOLE TIME KEEPER. I ended up running my pitch when I wanted, when both teams were ready, I started, didn't worry about the klaxon, no
One complained.
As referees we need food and drink to keep us going. We had to as good a beg for a drink mid afternoon, and it was only after the 2 occasion that we each got a bottle of water. No one asked us if we wanted more, or said where we can get more if we needed it. It was a hit afternoon, so this would have been nice.
Now we come into the food situation. SHOCKING. We kept asking how and when we get it. We finally get told that it will be after the quarter finals. I ref a game, and I went to get my food, AND THEY HAD CLOSED. I didn't know what to say or do. Nothing reserved, no PLAN B, nothing.
We then come in the the extreme lack of 1st aiders. Now looking at the programme there were over 500 players there today. Now, as you are the organiser, if you are not legally, you should have some moral responsibility to have qualified 1st aiders there, like St Johns. I have NEVER been to a tournament where there has not been a 1st aid tent. With that number of kids, I would strongly recommend having a minimum of 10-12 1st aiders there.
I was shocked to see that no one was standing /with the child who was injured at the end of the day. I would have thought someone would be there supporting the child and trying to chase up the ambulance and getting the child some support. It looked like, from an outsider, that you didn't care.
Regards
Dave Evans
Level 7 referee
Registered with Kent FA
